February 9, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Kazakhstan, Moscow University, Nazi Germany, Omsk City, Russia, Shymkent, Soviet Union
My grandfather Mirkhaidar was born in Omsk City of Russia, October 28, 1922. He was a great man, good soldier and best grandfather. At my age, he fought for freedom against Nazi Germay in World War II. When I was a child he used to tell me the sotires about war, some of them were funny but most were scary and sad. That war injured him from both physical and moral sides. He attended the war from the first to the last day and earned a lot of honor medals.
After the war, he studied in Moscow University and had two high education degrees. His student life was very hard because of lack of money and unemployment of his parents. Later after university, he became a teacher in the college, he was teaching planned economy lessons. While his first year of working as a teacher, he met my grandmother and married her. He became a professor of economy.
As a normal Soviet family, my grandparents had two sons and were living in Shymkent, the southeast city of Kazakhstan. A junior son is my father. Grandfather never stopped teaching until he retired, even after retirement he was working at home, preparing some economical projects and consulting a newspaper.
However, he left all his work when I was born. I can say that my grandfather brought me up. All of his time he spent on my education and looking after me. He left us when I was already an adult. I can say that he was my real father because of Kazakh tradition, the first son is raised by the grandparents. Even now, my relationship with my father is like he is my older brother.
February 8, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Akhmetullah, Kazakhstan, Sartai, Tore tribe, Uahli
There are always people who are close to you, your mother, father, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles and of course your grandparents. They love you, raise you and by some strong feelings, you can’t stop caring about them. Especially when you get older you understand that there are no closer people than your family.
I remember that day very clearly when I was 14 years old. At school we had a special assignment, to write our family tree. That was a rather interesting task because our teacher told us to interview our grandparents and ask about our family, our ancestors. That was actually what I did afterwards, I went to my grandmother.
I went to her house as usual without a call. She was always at home after six. And as usual she kissed me on the cheek and started asking about my health, studies, and grumble at me and my elder brother that we don’t come to visit her very often. As we were talking again, I didn’t notice how I found myself in the kitchen, sitting at the table, ready to have some traditional grandmother’s dishes like ‘plov’ and ‘manty.’ That is quite peculiar how grandparents like to treat us with some tasty food. Well, my grandmother is not an exception.
She also found my assignment very interesting, “Yes, you must know your great grandparents…” She told me that we belong to “Tore” that is a much respected Kazakh tribe. I was attentively listening to this significant information about my family as she was writing names on the paper: Akhmetullah, Sartai, Uahli. It was surprising how my grandmother was telling me about it, with admiration and respect to those people who lived long ago and whose blood we inherited.
After all these years, I remember that day. A few months ago I looked through my things and found that list of paper, where my grandmother wrote the names of my great grandparents. Now, it is always with me.
February 7, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, World War II
Even though I was not as close to my grandparents as I wished to be, I know that they were good people and hard workers. That is, the Soviet society demanded hard work from them at that time. They were caring parents for my future mom and dad and trustworthy neighbors in the country. My grandparents from my father’s side were from the south of Kazakhstan and the grandparents on my mother’s side were from west of Kazakhstan.
The eldest of my grandparents is my grandfather from my father’s side, his name was Islam. He was born in 1923. He became handicapped from getting injured in World War II. As a result, he was never able to work, but he was a person of strong will and kept himself very disciplined, requiring the same from people around him.
My grandfather from my mother’s side, Karen, was one year younger than my grandfather Islam. He was born in 1924 and was a very good looking man. He claimed he worked in a phosphate fertilizer factory but my mother believes that he was connected to the production of military equipment for the Soviet Union which was kept a secret.
Aimkhan is my grandmother from my father’s side. She was a magnificent person spreading harmony but unfortunately I did not have a chance to know her due to her untimely death when I was three years old. My eldest sister, who spent her initial four years of life with this grandmother, once mentioned that I look most like her (my parents’ four children look very different from each other). From the same source, I know that she had “tasty hands” for cookery. Her elegance in everything is what made her incomparable.
My mother’s mother, Zhupar, was an iron lady compared to her soft-tempered husband. Her demanding policy in quest for perfectionism had different effects on her children. This does not erase the fact that she wanted only the best for them. Even though she had her favorite grandchildren from her two sons, saying that I did not receive enough of her love would not be fair. She was very attentive and the most willing to give advice concerning any aspect of your being, like, “Spend your time wisely, since nobody is going to get your work done.”
February 6, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Kaskelen settlement, Kazakhstan, World War II
I want to tell you about my grandmother on my father’s side. Her name is Kuldeinesh and she was born in 1918 and lived in Kaskelen settlement. The reason why I chose my grandma is that because I’m thinking that she was a great and wise woman especially for our family. When she came to our house, she was always talking about her childhood.
When she was 17 years old she met my grandfather and they got married. After two happy years which they lived together when they already had three children, the World War II started. My grandpa went to the war, and my grandma became a nurse in the hospital. She thought that exactly in such way she could contribute to our victory.
My grandfather was injured during the WWII battle and finally he returned home. But unfortunately he lived only 10 year after that. Nevertheless they had another 3 children during this period. After his death my grandma became widow but she brought up all 6 children herself and she never lost her enthusiastic and hope that everything will be ok. Later when children were still too young, at the age of 2-12, she decided that it is better to change her job. She told us that in that time it was too difficult to bring up so many children alone. She was needed to sit with little children, but at the same time she was needed to earn money in order to feed her big family. She didn’t have money for some time, and she had to borrow from all her neighbors. Then she started to in kindergarten as the teacher. This work gave her chance to look after all her children who were with her all the day. She worked as the kindergartener even after all children grew up. I’m truly believe that she was great women, who didn’t been scared with all troubles and difficulties in her live. She spent all her live to up bringing her own and other’s children, which is I’m thinking is the truly Kazakh women’s burden.
February 5, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Kazakhstan, Taldykurgan
My mom’s parents died when she was a little girl. My father lost his mother when he was only five years old. Consequently, I have seen only my grandfather, who is the father of my dad. His name was Zharakhmet. He was born in Taldykurgan, in 1920. My grandpa was the calmest person I have ever seen. It was too hard to make him talk. He only answered our questions. Even when he was hungry, he did not ask if there was anything to eat.
My grandfather had been working on the railways for over 43 years. In the beginning he just repaired railways, but after some time, step by step, he became a manager of the railway station where he was living. All his employees loved him, he never berated anyone, and he liked the entire job they did. By doing so, no one told anything bad behind him.
My grandfather lived with, because my father is the youngest boy, in his family. Most of us do not like, when grandparents live with us. However, I liked it. He always supported me in any situation. I was his most loved grandson. Two months ago* he died. It was a tragedy for me, but I know he lived a very wonderful, happy and long life. I am very proud of my grandpa and I will never forget his kindness.
[*Written August 2009)
February 4, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Kazakhstan
Grandparents are, to a certain extent, the most important people in our society. They are the ones who indirectly ensure our existence on this planet. Times have changed but their roles in our families have not. They continue to be sources of support and encouragement when we are feeling low. Grandparents help to look after the children of the ever-busy working parents.
They also help to reinforce and instill good morals and family values in the young. My grandparents’ names are Kadira and Tokan. They are my father’s parents. My grandmother lost her husband when he was fifty four years old. Hence, I did not see him. But in spite of her lost, she brought up five children herself making them feel as if they had both parents. One of them died because of illness at the age of eighteen. Looking at her I can not help but think that she has experienced such a grief, which shows how strong she is.
She is a doctor. But she treats not only her patients but also everybody around her. Grandma brings only warmth and kindness everywhere she goes for which I love her so much. I try to visit her every weekend if I have free time. I like listening to her stories of her youth. I go there not only to listen to what she tells me but I just like spending time with her.
I hope very much that her life is long because I can not imagine how I will live without my lovely grandmother. I am very proud of being the granddaughter of such a woman.
Some people may think that grandparents may be just another bunch of old folks with nothing better to do than boss them around. However, this is completely untrue. Those who think like this have to change their mind because when they realize the importance of grandparents it will be too late. So cherish them as much as possible.
February 3, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Kazakhstan, Kostanai, World War II
My grandfather and grandmother both are not alive anymore, and I remember my grandmother only as I was three years old. Her name was Kazyna, and she was in her 80’s when together we read books and played in the garden; moreover, my grandma taught me the Kazakh language, so when I was a little girl, I spoke Kazakh fluently, wish it was now the same. I know that my grandma was a very brave, kindhearted and honest woman. She had to bear about seven children, however, only two of them are now alive.
Grandmother Kazyna had lived in the north of the Kazakhstan, namely in Kostanai. In Kostanai winters are freezing and windy with a high snow level. The nature in the north of Kazakhstan is beautiful; there are a lot of forests and lakes, which make the atmosphere of those places unforgettable. In the summer we would collect berries and in the autumn we collected mushrooms, in winter people usually tend to play snowballs and to ski. It is wonderfully amazing at any time of the year where my mom was raised up. Nowadays, maybe few women may say that they have such a big number of children, and that is a really prominent deed for any woman in the world, and especially for my grandmother, who had lived during hard times.
My grandparents had to live during World War II, which was a horrible time to live, and my Grandfather Turgan had participated in the War, and had injured his leg when he returned from the front. Since the war worsened my grandfather’s health, his life did not last as much as the grandmother’s. In my opinion, my grandparents had strong personalities, since to live and to bring up the children during such hard times had required a lot of strength and braveness. I truly believe that my grandparents’ life experience is unique and I respect them for what they did, and that they had brought up my mother who has a great personality and is a strong woman as her parents were.
February 2, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Aktobe, Almaty, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union
I think I have an amazing grandmother. She is my dad’s mother, and she always lived in our neighborhood, so we are very close with her. In her spare time she likes to tell us her stories, so I know a lot about her and my grandfather’s life. Her stories are always very interesting and I like to talk with her. She is a strong woman, politically active, intelligent and a leader in her community.
About 50 years ago, when she was 23 years old she graduated from the state university, and worked as a teacher in a small school in a small town of Aktobe region, but she had great plans for her future. She was very ambitious, at first she founded a music band among small students and organized their concerts. At that time, most of the people were illiterate, and she wanted more people to be educated. For this purpose she wanted to open a new school in that town, so she went to Almaty to find people who could help her. Two years later finally a new school was opened, and till this day, the citizens of that town still remember her. After that, she met my grandfather and fell in love with him, but he was very modest, so my granny made a proposal of marriage to grandfather herself. They had 5 children, and now 11 grandchildren, last year we all celebrated their 50 years wedding anniversary.
Even though she had 5 small children, her social and political life was very rich, it was the Soviet Union time, and she received a Medal of Honor for her achievements in the social sphere. When she was 44 years old she became a Chief Magistrate of city called Kandyagash, and made a lot of good and useful things to citizens, opened new schools, hospitals, and organized concerts. Nowadays that city has a kindergarten named in honour of her.
I admire her, because I think she lived very balanced life, she had a happy family and she fulfilled herself in a successful career. She had a huge influence (in a good way) on all of us, she taught me the importance of helping others and of fighting injustice. She told me to be myself at any time. I hope when I’ll be at her age, I’ll be as respected as she is.
February 1, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Baltic, Civil War, collectivization, Great Patriotic War, Kursk's Arc, Russia, Soviet Union, Ukraine
My ancestors from the father’s side were farmers and lived in Ukraine, which at that time was part of Russia. In the beginning of 1900s the agrarian reform of the Russian government allowed people who lived in European part of Russia to move to the low populated areas in the Asian part. The government provided people with agricultural land. The family of my great-grandfather Aphanasiy decided to use this opportunity and moved to the Northern Kazakhstan in 1910. Land which he got from government allowed my great-grandfather to develop a strong farm with several employees. In 1914 my grandfather Ivan was born.
This period did not last long because of the 1917 revolution and at once it started the Civil War. During this unstable time, the family of my grandfather collided with great difficulties such as shortage of food, and threat from the new Soviet regime. In early 1930s, the Soviet government decided to conduct intensive industrialization. It was decided to provide enough food for urban population by forced Collectivization. As a result, the land and all harvest of wheat done by my ancestors became state ownership.
In 1941 Great Patriotic War started and my grandfather served in the army at that time and immediately was drafted to the front. He arrived at the front in winter to get a “baptism of fire” in the battle near Moscow, but he was injured in the first combat and went to the hospital. When he recovered, he was sent to the biggest tank battle in 1943 that took place near Russian city Kursk and so was called “Kursk’s Arc”. In 1944 he took part in the liberation of Baltic countries. Since my grandfather had good handwriting, he worked on staff before the end of War, so he no longer participated in operations.
After the War he worked as an accountant at a leather factory. He could reach a great age despite the serious wound that he got during the War as he had a splinter from a grenade in his body. Unfortunately, I almost do not remember my grandfather as I was a child when he died. However, I am delighted with my grandfather because he had to live in a very hard time and defend the motherland from enemies with risk to life.
January 31, 2010
· Filed under Blogroll · Tagged Almaty, Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Mecca, Namaz
I would like to write about my grandmother who had passed a thorny road of a life from the beginning and up to the end with endurance and optimism. For me, such a woman is a hero. She was born in 1944 in the small city Dzhezkazgan. She had never seen her father and her mother had died while in childbirth. In total, there were four children in the family. The elder brother and sister were born from the first marriage of the father, and the grandmother and her elder brother from the second wife. Having lived in a boarding school up to his teenage years, her elder brother took her away to his family. She was brought up in severe conditions, she did everything about the house, cooked meals for the whole family. Since no one ever supported or helped her, so she had to give up her studying at school. Sometimes she had to do lessons at night in a street toilet in darkness and when her brother knew about it, he left her in the street in winter for two hours.
Consequently, at an early age she had to get married because of the insistence of her brother, she couldn’t resist him and it was necessary to obey the will of her elder brother. Having given birth to her child, she had to start back to work. And as it is usual, some kind of problems began to develop between them. The husband began to drink and beat her without reason and she understood that she could not raise her child up and give all necessary for education in such conditions. After her divorce, she moved to Almaty city knowing that there would be no support from relatives and friends.
Later, having risen up to a significant position and having an excellent reputation as a business woman earning money with blood and sweat, everybody began to appear and ask for her help. And now it had already been a lot of years as our relatives lived in Almaty near to us, on a regular basis getting support up to these days from a 65 year old grandmother. Our childhood had passed carefree and without any refusing to us. But now, recollecting all this, you can understand how actually it was difficult to bear the burden of a single life, on your own on fragile shoulders of a woman, without support from her relatives, friends, or favorite person.
After getting married the second time and having lived together for 40 years, she still considers herself a happy woman though she has to look after her sick husband even after receiving an insult. Not desponding, she reads namaz for 5 years and learned the Arabian language. Every year she goes to Mecca, where the sacred prophet Mohammed had been buried. Now my grandmother Khadzhy. It means that she is sacred, innocent and everyone for whom she asked in front of God.
Thus, she’s remarkable, best grandmother for us and for her great-grandsons. She has raised worthy and fair people. She is like a core for all our families and no one ever dares disobey her. What’s amazing is her internal strong spirit, stability, courage, in spite of the fact that she’s simply a woman!
