It's strange to think that when I initially got on the plane to embark on the Great Adventure that I never considered staying in Kazakhstan for more than a year. In some ways I wish I had stuck with my original plan (which is not exactly a great way to start a blog post), but when all is said and done (lol idiom!!!!11111one) I guess I can't really fault it; it was my choice after all.
Needless to say, here I am in Kazakhstan. Like most people though even I require a change after a while, so with great trepidation I decided to make the big jump from small Soviet backwater to big-city capitalness (if that's even a word) and join the ranks of the мамбетский город in Astana, capital of the Glorious Republic of Kazakhstan.
But not straight away. True to my loyal, well-disposed self I went back to Karaganda for two months to help out there until their new native-speaker arrived. It was great to see all of my old students again (and some new ones too). It was still a very sad occasion, with such a big life change ahead of me, but ultimately it was the right thing to do. Sort of.
Life continued like it normally does; the students came, they were taught, I drank, and the world turned on its axis. Nothing especially bad or good happened in Karaganda, but I still think about it with a warm attitude, mostly because of its people (and the selection at the supermarket, omg it sucks in Astana). I like to think of Karaganda as a unique place in all of the world; a post-Soviet city that still retains much of its Soviet spirit and charm.
But like all things, change comes in its own time. Before the new native-speaker even arrived I was whisked away by the giant StudyInn-machine to take over the responsibilities in Astana of a teacher who left (hi Pat!). It's a very hard thing to try and talk about Astana in a positive light, and I have tried to think positive thoughts ever since I arrived, but ultimately I have come to one undeniable conclusion: I really hate this city. Really. Hate. A lot.
Where does one start on the subject? Well, I could reel off a list of exact reasons (in fact I have saved this for a series of future blog posts! Lucky you!) but instead I will suffice to say that it's like Karaganda with none of the good parts (and a lot of other bad things, thrown in). I'm not too sure why exactly everything is so bad here, but I have it on good authority that there are plenty of people who agree with me. Srsly. Whether or not I'll be able to last out the rest of the year here I have no idea. Your support is always welcome.
Now for the chronicling of events! Hmmmm.....which events?
Well, ok, so there haven't really been any events as such. The students here are a lot different(more lazy) and the work here differs somewhat(more IELTS classes and corporate clients). Of the latter I can only say has been an improvement; I enjoy the dictatorial-ness (?) of telling students what to do and them doing it, such as IELTS' classes normally are, and the extra pay is always welcome. Corporate clients have also been an interesting addition for me. I have taken on two that are particularly noteworthy: KazMunaiGas, Kazakhstan's largest oil and gas company, and the National Neurological Medical Centre (I have no idea if that's the correct name, and I don't care!). So yes, I am now a whore to the oil industry. Shame the pay is still shit.
I actually teach a man who was embroiled in a massive national political scandal. He is a nice, friendly man.
Of course, it wouldn't be "Kazakhstan" unless my students take me out for dinner, and, well, one of them did! The Director of the Geological Department at KMG, Murat Mukhanov, took the four of us (me, him, Bayan and his wife) to a Bavarian styled restaurant in the old part of town. I will try and get a photo to demonstrate that even some people in Astana are nice.
New Year was the biggest event on the calendar, and this year I celebrated it with my beloved. We watched Ирония Судьбы twice, attempted to toast with Nazarbayev (unsuccessfully) and ate more than our bellies could handle. Just like last year things didn't really feel festive, but perhaps they felt a little more normal. Pictures will come later. Maybe.
In a strange way, it doesn't really feel all that different here from England. Astana is trying to be a modern city with everything that that entails. Maybe that's why I hate it so much.
But summer is coming. Looking outside, the snow is starting to melt and people are starting to wear less layers. Hopefully in summer I can see something good. Who knows?
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| Astana, capital of nowhere in particular |
But not straight away. True to my loyal, well-disposed self I went back to Karaganda for two months to help out there until their new native-speaker arrived. It was great to see all of my old students again (and some new ones too). It was still a very sad occasion, with such a big life change ahead of me, but ultimately it was the right thing to do. Sort of.
Life continued like it normally does; the students came, they were taught, I drank, and the world turned on its axis. Nothing especially bad or good happened in Karaganda, but I still think about it with a warm attitude, mostly because of its people (and the selection at the supermarket, omg it sucks in Astana). I like to think of Karaganda as a unique place in all of the world; a post-Soviet city that still retains much of its Soviet spirit and charm.
But like all things, change comes in its own time. Before the new native-speaker even arrived I was whisked away by the giant StudyInn-machine to take over the responsibilities in Astana of a teacher who left (hi Pat!). It's a very hard thing to try and talk about Astana in a positive light, and I have tried to think positive thoughts ever since I arrived, but ultimately I have come to one undeniable conclusion: I really hate this city. Really. Hate. A lot.
Where does one start on the subject? Well, I could reel off a list of exact reasons (in fact I have saved this for a series of future blog posts! Lucky you!) but instead I will suffice to say that it's like Karaganda with none of the good parts (and a lot of other bad things, thrown in). I'm not too sure why exactly everything is so bad here, but I have it on good authority that there are plenty of people who agree with me. Srsly. Whether or not I'll be able to last out the rest of the year here I have no idea. Your support is always welcome.
Now for the chronicling of events! Hmmmm.....which events?
Well, ok, so there haven't really been any events as such. The students here are a lot different(more lazy) and the work here differs somewhat(more IELTS classes and corporate clients). Of the latter I can only say has been an improvement; I enjoy the dictatorial-ness (?) of telling students what to do and them doing it, such as IELTS' classes normally are, and the extra pay is always welcome. Corporate clients have also been an interesting addition for me. I have taken on two that are particularly noteworthy: KazMunaiGas, Kazakhstan's largest oil and gas company, and the National Neurological Medical Centre (I have no idea if that's the correct name, and I don't care!). So yes, I am now a whore to the oil industry. Shame the pay is still shit.
I actually teach a man who was embroiled in a massive national political scandal. He is a nice, friendly man.
Of course, it wouldn't be "Kazakhstan" unless my students take me out for dinner, and, well, one of them did! The Director of the Geological Department at KMG, Murat Mukhanov, took the four of us (me, him, Bayan and his wife) to a Bavarian styled restaurant in the old part of town. I will try and get a photo to demonstrate that even some people in Astana are nice.
New Year was the biggest event on the calendar, and this year I celebrated it with my beloved. We watched Ирония Судьбы twice, attempted to toast with Nazarbayev (unsuccessfully) and ate more than our bellies could handle. Just like last year things didn't really feel festive, but perhaps they felt a little more normal. Pictures will come later. Maybe.
In a strange way, it doesn't really feel all that different here from England. Astana is trying to be a modern city with everything that that entails. Maybe that's why I hate it so much.
But summer is coming. Looking outside, the snow is starting to melt and people are starting to wear less layers. Hopefully in summer I can see something good. Who knows?
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