About life
I live here almost three years. Before that, I worked in Beijing for two years. I wanted to live in a country completely different from England and China, so I chose Kazakhstan. I found a job on the site, which invites teachers to work in schools around the world. People here are fantastic. Also, I was attracted by the fact that Kazakhstan is a rapidly developing country.
I remember that I flew to Astana early in the morning, and it was very hot. I noticed that there are no hills around the steppe. Upon arrival, I settled in the apartment of the house where the Park Inn is located, so first of all, I walked across the Right Bank and Yesil river. The first thing I ate here was a pizza at the Sine Tempore shopping center, and it was a good pizza.
I work with four-year-olds. In England, English is a mother tongue for kids. In Kazakhstan, children are learning to speak English. Therefore, work here has become a challenge for me.
I felt that in Kazakhstan there is more respect for the teachers from parents and children than in England. For example, here on September 1, pupils give flowers to teachers, and in general, the first acquaintance with the teacher is a great event, both for the child and for the parents. It is important to everyone what kind of person this is, and everyone is trying to build good relations with him or her.
Before moving to Kazakhstan, I visited Almaty. Some people say that this city is much more interesting than Astana. Some even call it the Paris of Central Asia. However, I did not want to live there, because it is more like a European city, and I wanted to live in the place, where life is not like anywhere else.
In Astana, I did many things that I had never done before. For example, I arranged several parties at home and began to engage in couchsurfing.
I had no major difficulties with adaptation. I was ready for the cold weather, because in China, it was almost the same cold winters, and I did not even have to buy new clothes in order not to freeze in Astana. I knew Russian language a little before coming here, because for some time I was dating a girl from Moldova who spoke Russian fluently. People around helped me to solve some of my problems.
About the city
I like the embankment of the Yesil river. When I lived nearby, I spent three hours walking along the embankment and in the Central Park on the weekends. During summer, it is so busy here, and in winter, it is lovely on the river, when people skate. I like to walk across the Right Bank, in the area of the Republic Avenue and Kenesary Street. I also like the Artem market.
The main trick I use here is a smile. When you smile, people start treating you much better and everything becomes much easier.
I do not understand why such a large city is not designed for cycling. The city has very wide streets and almost no bicycle path and special ramps.
I like that it is easy to catch a taxi in Astana. It is one way to meet interesting people.
I live in near "Keruen" shopping center and I like this area. There are many shops, cafes nearby. From the window, I see the mosque "Nur Astana". The apartment itself is also comfortable and spacious.
Public services here are more expensive than in China, and cheaper than in England. When I left China, I paid 7 000 KZT for all two years of my residence. Perhaps this is a mistake, but for me, services are more expensive here than in China.
Near to my apartment, there are two supermarkets: "A2" and Galmart, — therefore, I by grocery there. In general, I buy clothes very rarely. Almost for all the time I stayed here, I only bought winter boots and slippers in the national style. Moreover, I was given a T-shirt with the inscription: Keep calm and eat besh (beshparmak).
About food
I like pelmeni with sour cream and compote from the all dishes I tried in Kazakhstan. I like beshparmak too, but it is not something you can eat every day.
Of course, I cannot help saying about shish kebab. I eat it very often. I love manty, plov, kuyrdak, chak-chak, baursak. I often go to "Turfan", restaurants London — Beirut, "Daredjani", "Cafe of Tselinnikov", "Vechnoe nebo" and coffee shop “Coffee Nova”, which is in my house.
About entertainment
I like "Astana Opera", although I was there only four or five times. I like listening to bands in pubs and bars. I really like Galymzhan Moldanazar from the Kazakh musicians.
About people
Kazakhs are distinguished by hospitality. It even affected me. Now, when guests come to me, I treat them not only with a cup of tea, as usual in England, but I set the table so that they can eat fully.
In everyday life, people here are rude. For example, staff in shops or drivers on the road. In England, it is different.
Here people are always open-minded. I easily found friends. Once I stood in the street and took a rather old camera. Then the photographer just talked to me. Once, the owner of the restaurant “The Shoreditch” easily started a conversation with me, and now we are good friends.
I am amazed how traditional and modern values clash in Kazakhstan. Moreover, this happens even within the same family, when the parents are against the marriage of their daughter with a representative of another nation. I do not know why this happened, but this is an interesting phenomenon for me.
Here people are always open-minded. I easily found friends. Once I stood in the street and took a rather old camera. Then the photographer just talked to me. Once, the owner of the restaurant “The Shoreditch” easily started a conversation with me, and now we are good friends.
