About
My husband is the scout in our family, he is the one who leads and goes before me. He did in 1992 when he first was assigned to Almaty, Kazakhstan. I followed in May of 1993 when we met my second day in country. My husband is the nomad again now as he is scouting out the territory in Almaty and giving me blow-by-blow accounts of what he is experiencing in Kazakhstan. Not an easy place to live especially after having lived in Kyiv, Ukraine for 6-7 years of the last ten years. Many similarities, of course, but many differences and that is what my Kazakh Nomad is reporting on. With the 11-12 hour time difference I at first relied on his e-mail reports to keep me updated though we have been able to communicate through Skype sometimes. Now that I have joined him as of last October 2007, I am able to see for myself all the changes that have occurred in the town of our courtship from 14-15 years ago. The following blog posts since my arrival are my own impressions and photos of this GREAT country of Kazakhstan!!!
Andyz said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
Hello from Atyrau!
Thank you for nice diary, for me is very interseting, have been reading all you notes for 2 hours. Unfortunately have to go to sleep. (will continue tomorrow) I am 21, young lady from west KZ, working for Italian company as Docunment Control. I will be happy if you reply me, take care.
Andyz
Atyrau city
kz.kazakhstan.neweurasia.net » Америка блогшысымен кездесу said,
June 20, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
[...] да едім. Осы апта ішінде сондай блогшылардың бірі Kazakhnomad (қазақ көшпендісі)мен кездесудің сәті [...]
lily said,
July 6, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
your story is interesting. i like your writing style, it flows along and takes me with it. thanks. x
Funny said,
July 16, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
Hello,
I am seeking an advice from you about writing.
how did you learn to write? do you have any practical advice?
thank you.
kazakhnomad said,
July 16, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
Funny, the best way to improve on writing is to keep writing and doing a blog is an excellent way to go about that. For me, it is a daily discipline every morning and it is manageable to do if it becomes your priority. With incremental steps, you might note improvement especially when your readers start giving you praise for your writing. (btw, I have never thought of myself as a writer) Thanks for your compliment, I’m glad you are one of my faithful readers.
One other thing that helps is to have a passion about your topic. I happen to have a very strong desire that westerners know what happened in Kazakhstan in the past, what is going on presently and the hope we all hold for Kazakhstan’s future. This all started when I found out Ukraine’s sad and recent past.
Frank R. Thoms said,
September 5, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
You cannot imagine the surprise, goosebumps, and delight in discovering my writing from nearly twenty-years ago on your blog! Only a few weeks ago did I find old floppy disks with the book (if its still there), as I had lost all contact with the writing in a move. Now I see you have it – and respect its ideas.
Do you have the whole book? I am trying to visualize Tatyana to whom I must have given a copy.
I am eager to hear from you!
Frank Thoms (I rarely use the R.)
Lowell MA
kazaknomad said,
October 16, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
Some Kazakh, by the name of Rustem, deemed it fitting to put rude and crude remarks in this “About” section. Rustem wondered why I don’t write all my stories about Kazakhstan’s history and the people who are being honored on this blog in the Kazakh language!?!? I guess his nationalistic spirit has gone to seed. I am an American teacher trying to reach my western audience about Kazakhstan’s sad past in the language I know and which happens to be considered an international language.
If Rustem has the energy or skill, he can translate whatever is on my blog but perhaps he is too lazy to do so. I know my blog has been translated into Russian and Italian and other languages. I pity those Kazakhs, like Rustem, who have a chip on their shoulder and want to blame others for their misfortune or backwardness.
For me, I am refreshed surrounded by young Kazakh and Kazakhstani students who want to improve their knowledge of English and other subjects taught in English in this westernized university where I teach.
Paul said,
October 29, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Dear Kazakhnomad,
I am a British journalist writing about some of the great undiscovered cities of the world for a British newspaper. I am trying to get three or four sentences from an Almaty resident about what makes the city worth visiting – it could be about the cuisine, the atmosphere, the architecture, the nighlife, arts & culture etc. Do you think you could send me a few words about your city and a name I can attribute them to?
I know this is an odd request, but it would be helpful if you could share with British readers why Almaty is a city to visit.
Thanks, Paul McCann
kazakhnomad said,
October 30, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Thanks for your interest Paul. Please check out my blog for today and tomorrow and you will see the answers my students gave about why Almaty is a GREAT place to visit (and to live!)
m said,
December 2, 2008 @ 10:51 am
hi,
Really enjoying your blog posts.
I was in Astana, Karaganda and Dolinka last month (early November 2008).
I was wondering if it would be possible to correspond with you by email re: these places.
I’m a writer working on a project, part of which has to do with the KarLag system.
Hope to hear from you.
kazakhnomad said,
December 4, 2008 @ 8:35 am
M.T. sorry I haven’t gotten back with you sooner about your interest in the KarLag system. Busy with end of semester projects to do. I will respond later about your interest in this. I hope to keep up a dialouge with you since your last e-mail seems that you are blessed with a rich heritage of your grandparents or great grandparents being sent down to Kazakhstan during the purges.
Jose Luis said,
January 13, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
My name is José Luis Mejías, spanish photographer from Madrid aged 34.
I am looking for documentation about the kazak nomads today, specially in China: lifestyle, traditions, festivities, culture.
I have been granted by Casa Asia, the spanish cultural institution for Asia issues, to develop a non profit art and educational photographic project about kazak nomads in China (called “NOMADAS LIBRES”), that I proposed to Casa Asia on 2008.
There will be held and exhibition with my photographs about these peoples in Spain.
This is part of my artwork http://www.awarenessphotography.com
I must document the project and I wonder if you have documents or contacts in the region
I should be travelling to Atai Mountains in march. If you had further suggestions, that could help me a lot
Best Regards
kazakhnomad said,
February 6, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Seems I’m getting several Russian speakers/WRITERS who prefer not to write in English. (I systematically delete all comments written in Russian) Apparently they are regular readers of my Kazakhnomad blog but object to the content of my daily blog entries. Hmmm…please, if you really must comment, make it understandable to my readers of English what you intend to write, whether you agree with me or not. No one is forcing you to read my blog, or are they?
Anne Marie said,
February 22, 2009 @ 1:38 am
I enjoyed reading your blog tonight and the submissions of your students. I came across your blog as I was googling Kazakhstan so that I could learn more about the country where my newly-adopted great-niece was born 6 months ago. I’m so excited for my niece and her husband on the adoption of their new daughter, I want to create a small book for her that contains some stories — folk tales, love tales, fairy tales, or even lullaby songs — from her native country. Would any of your students possibly be interested in helping me find English translations of some stories that would be appropriate for a young Kazakh girl growing up in the USA?
Kazakhnomad said,
February 22, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
Anne Marie, I enjoyed reading your comment and encouragement about finding out more about this GREAT country of Kazakhstan. I have some friends who have lived here in KZ for about 10-12 years and have learned the Kazakh language. They wrote a book in Kazakh with some folk tales in it and and it has wonderful pictures painted by Nelli Bube to help illustrate the stories. I think it has an ISBN number so if you looked up their names on Amazon, Erik and Kim Aasland, you would perhaps find it. If not, let me know okay?
Kazakh in UK said,
February 22, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Hi, just stumbled upon your blog, must say it is very well writen! Became imbued to it straight away. Nice to see a western person like yourself talk about your experiences in Kazakhstan.
Keep it up, believe in your students, tug, push and lead them to the next plateau, and sometimes poke them with a sharp stick called ‘truth’.
Sincerely,
Kazakh in UK
Kazakhnomad said,
February 22, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Kazakh in U.K., I take your praise as a high compliment. Especially since I am writing about YOUR culture while you live in another somewhat simliar to my own, well we speak the same language anyway. I DO very much appreciate my Kazakh students!!! Yes, if only I would NOT feel harassed by those Kazakh middle managers (read former communist and current day Soviet thinkers) and other top-heavy administrators, life would be almost perfect in Almaty!!!
Truth, aye, I will do what I can to build in my students a curiosity to see outside the prescribed boxes they have pencilled in for them. While at the same time I will demonstrate to them how I am seeking after truth about what happened in their culture in the not so distant past, the extremely sad history of Soviet Union’s domination in this very fair land of Kazakhstan!!!
Thanks again for your encouragement!!!
Mia Olsson said,
February 23, 2009 @ 11:10 am
I found your blog when googling for information on Kazakhstan and I’ve been following it with great interest. I am a PhD candidate in Political Science at Lund University in Sweden and planning a research trip to Kazakhstan in September. The topic of my dissertation is “Puzzles of (non-)Democratization”, or why there is very little political opposition in some Post Socialist states. In Kazakhstan I plan to interview politicians (both incumbent and opposition), other persons who are politically active and some members of the business community. All depending on the possibilities of doing that type of research of course. I have some contacts within some opposition parties, but still struggling to find politicians in office.
Seeing as you are teaching at a University, I was wondering if you have any students who would be interested in working as an interpreter for my project. Unfortunately, I do not speak Kazakh and my Russian is very poor. I will be able to pay for their work. It may be a good learning experience for them.
In any case thanks for a very interesting blog, which has really contributed to my general knowledge of Kazakhstan.
kazakhnomad said,
February 23, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
Mia, Thanks very much for writing and for your encouraging words. I never really know who are among my blog readers until they write me something first. Thanks!
I actually do have someone in mind that might be compatible for your expressed needs. She is a young teacher in the Economics department and studied in Sweden a few years ago. I will let her know of your interest for the fall (by copying your note to me and send to her) and get back with you on that.
Otherwise, I will scout around to see if there are other former students of mine who might help you. One person I also have in mind actually is from Astana and perhaps her parents would have some connections. To survive here, it is ALL about connections!!!
ex-student from UK said,
February 26, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Hi!
I have to say your blog must be visited and read by those willing to know what really Kazakhstan is about. I’ve read tones of traveler’s-view-on-Kazakhstan themed blogs, but you know mostly they’re “2-3 days visit” travelers POVs and only reflect the first impression. Yours is deep and complete, entertaining and reader-friendly. Good luck!
Kazakhnomad said,
February 27, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
Thanks so much for your most welcome comments!!! I take it that you are perhaps a former student of the KZ university I write about? If so, then you may have an understanding of what a challenge it is to be here as an “expat” teacher. You might possibly be a graduate student in U.K. and know about the complex cultural differences that exist. In any case, you have to take it all in long strides of humor, right? Note my blog for today, I continue to marvel at what I learn from my teaching colleagues.
In any case, I’m glad you find what I write worthy of your time, it is always nice to be complimented. Believe me, these are dismal days for those of us who are going through the pains of downsizing because of dropping enrollment.