We have about 2 hours left on our 14 hour train ride to Chiang Mai from Bangkok. We decided to take the train instead of flying for several reasons. The first is cost. Together, we have about 100 kilos of baggage and Thai airlines only allow a passenger to have 15 kilos. So we each would have had to have paid a large sum for overweight baggage. The other reason is that we weren’t in a time crunch, so we could afford to take the slower, cheaper mode of transportation. Also, the Thai landscape is gorgeous and includes rice paddies, forests, small, inviting towns, warm air, thick forested mountains, and small paths running throughout the woods. The train is a nice way to see all of this.
As always though, there are a few lessons learned. The biggest one is book in advance to reserve a sleeping car. We didn’t know how to do this in Almaty, so we bought tickets a few hours before the last train of the day departed once in Bangkok. We could only get reclining chairs (they don’t recline much) in the AC car. This was ok, but not the best sleeping position.
The days leading up to our departure from Almaty were busy. I finalized a few syllabi for the film study class I taught last semester and helped with entrance exam checking. I also did research on CM and took care of the check-out process at KIMEP. It was similar to a scavenger hunt and much easier than I expected. So that was nice. Gulmira, the secretary, gave me a list of people that I had to visit and get their signatures. Some people took more effort than others, but overall it was pretty painless.
On Friday, my last day, most of the Language Center staff at KIMEP gathered in a conference room and thanked for me for time there and regretted that I was leaving. They also gave me some gorgeous Kazakh presents – a Kazak purse with a pastel colored thread pattern and a cell phone holder. Both are made out of the traditional Kazakh wool felt that is especially good for the cold winters. Evidently in some places up north, they make boots out of that felt. The boots are incredibly warm, resistant to some water, have no bottom sole, don’t slip on the ice, are cheap, and last a while. They don’t have those boots in Almaty because they are considered unfashionable and peasant-like. They sound pretty useful though; I might have worn them if I could have figured out how to obtain a pair.
As always though, there are a few lessons learned. The biggest one is book in advance to reserve a sleeping car. We didn’t know how to do this in Almaty, so we bought tickets a few hours before the last train of the day departed once in Bangkok. We could only get reclining chairs (they don’t recline much) in the AC car. This was ok, but not the best sleeping position.
The days leading up to our departure from Almaty were busy. I finalized a few syllabi for the film study class I taught last semester and helped with entrance exam checking. I also did research on CM and took care of the check-out process at KIMEP. It was similar to a scavenger hunt and much easier than I expected. So that was nice. Gulmira, the secretary, gave me a list of people that I had to visit and get their signatures. Some people took more effort than others, but overall it was pretty painless.
On Friday, my last day, most of the Language Center staff at KIMEP gathered in a conference room and thanked for me for time there and regretted that I was leaving. They also gave me some gorgeous Kazakh presents – a Kazak purse with a pastel colored thread pattern and a cell phone holder. Both are made out of the traditional Kazakh wool felt that is especially good for the cold winters. Evidently in some places up north, they make boots out of that felt. The boots are incredibly warm, resistant to some water, have no bottom sole, don’t slip on the ice, are cheap, and last a while. They don’t have those boots in Almaty because they are considered unfashionable and peasant-like. They sound pretty useful though; I might have worn them if I could have figured out how to obtain a pair.
In the evening, I had my final English Club with KIMEP. The theme was your favorite vacation. James and I gave short presentations about our most recent vacations, Bulgaria and Thailand respectively. We did some word play games and exercises as well as role plays with different travel scenarios. The participants then presented these scenarios to group, which was entertaining. Dinara and a few students also gave me a few thank you gifts, which were wonderful but unnecessary. My time with that group was very enjoyable and allowed me to see many different things in the Almaty area.
After English Club, Dinara invited EC helpers, Joey and me over to her apartment for tea. I made some brownies that afternoon to bring. So we headed over there for tea, desserts, dried fruits, photos and talking. I don’t think it was Joey’s ideal night, but he managed.
Saturday was busy with last minute packing, apartment cleaning, and visiting. Joey also went to the post office to check on a package that he has been expecting for the past month and half. It had come in early in the morning; just in time. Thank you northern PA!
As far as visits, we had lunch with Meeja, Jay, Aaron, and Alyson at the Ramstore cafeteria. They came directly from basketball practice, so were pretty hungry. We exchanged a few gifts and hope to keep in touch with them. They are expecting to leave Almaty within the next few months, which will be a nice change for them. They have lived there for about 2 years now. I hope they are transferred somewhere warmer with good schools for the kids. I also hope we can visit them, or they can visit us, in the future. They are a very nice family.
After English Club, Dinara invited EC helpers, Joey and me over to her apartment for tea. I made some brownies that afternoon to bring. So we headed over there for tea, desserts, dried fruits, photos and talking. I don’t think it was Joey’s ideal night, but he managed.
Saturday was busy with last minute packing, apartment cleaning, and visiting. Joey also went to the post office to check on a package that he has been expecting for the past month and half. It had come in early in the morning; just in time. Thank you northern PA!
As far as visits, we had lunch with Meeja, Jay, Aaron, and Alyson at the Ramstore cafeteria. They came directly from basketball practice, so were pretty hungry. We exchanged a few gifts and hope to keep in touch with them. They are expecting to leave Almaty within the next few months, which will be a nice change for them. They have lived there for about 2 years now. I hope they are transferred somewhere warmer with good schools for the kids. I also hope we can visit them, or they can visit us, in the future. They are a very nice family.
After lunch, Joey and I completed more cleaning and packing and I baked some sugar cookies for later that day. Around 4:15 pm we left to go to Yelena and Paul’s for lasagna. Paul made some very good lasagna and the company was wonderful. Paul has been in Kazakhstan a while; he served in the Peace Corps here. While serving, he met Yelena and they started dating and eventually got married. Yelena is from the northern part of Kazakhstan, near the Russian border, and told us about those warm felt boots. She has worked at KIMEP for a long time and Paul works at an environmental company.
After two servings of lasagna, two different Kazakh salads (both with mayo; they love it!), tea, the pink sugar cookies I made and chocolate, Joey and I excused ourselves, thanked our guests and got back to packing. Yelena and Paul kindly gave us each a hedgehog, which is the animal they collect. Mine is in the pattern of a Russian china piece. I am starting a collection now I guess because I have a cat figurine in a similar pattern.
After two servings of lasagna, two different Kazakh salads (both with mayo; they love it!), tea, the pink sugar cookies I made and chocolate, Joey and I excused ourselves, thanked our guests and got back to packing. Yelena and Paul kindly gave us each a hedgehog, which is the animal they collect. Mine is in the pattern of a Russian china piece. I am starting a collection now I guess because I have a cat figurine in a similar pattern.
Once back at the apartment, the real last minute packing started. Dinara and Gulnar were coming over later in the evening for more tea and snacks, so their visit was good motivation to get things done. Around 10 pm those two girls came by and we exchanged presents (Dinara made me a camel!), talked, and ate. They also wanted to see pictures of my family, home and Duke, so I showed them some of those. Around 11:30 pm we said our final goodbyes and Joey and I went to bed.
The next day we woke up around 6 am to get things tied together. The driver from KIMEP picked us up and took us to the airport. In the car, Joey and I said our final silent goodbyes to Almaty. The plane was only 30 minutes late this time, not the 10 hours as before, so that was a relief. We also only had to pay for 20 of our 38 overweight kilos. The airline staff was very lenient towards us about this, which was a nice break. We both got through migration without any problems and found a place to sit down for a while. The only downside about the Almaty airport experience was that is was COLD! The airport doors must have been open or something because I was in my coat and scarf the whole time I was sitting in the lounge.
The last few days in Almaty were pleasant. It even warmed up a bit, close to 30 F. J
Here are a few observations about the Kazakh people, after talking with people those last few days. Kazakhstanis identify themselves by their citizenship and nationality. There, a person’s identification card says both, citizenship: Kazakhstan, and nationality: Russian/Kazakh/Korean, etc. Your nationality is important and is a status symbol. When dealing with Paul, or other ex-pats in the country, the Kazakhstan government can’t quite understand why Americans don’t have a different nationality than their citizenship. For Americans, their nationality and citizenship are the same – American. They do not date back to their original ancestors. For me that would be a nightmare. I would have about five different nationalities listed.
Another thing I was told is that very little is manufactured in Almaty or Kazakhstan except natural resources, like oil, potassium, etc. They also make their own power, but most other goods are imported into the country. This helps explain the high costs of items.
While showing pictures, Gulnar made a good observation. One good way to recognize the uniqueness of your own culture is to visit another country. The people in that country want to hear all about your parties, family, lifestyle, etc. Only by explaining each of those things do you realize how beloved and distinct those features are to your culture.
Most people say they want to study abroad, for a masters, undergraduate, or anything else. I don’t actually know how many people do this. I suspect money is a restraining factor, but I don’t know. I am not sure where they would get the money if it isn’t. All the people aren’t extremely wealthy.
Joey and I have repeatedly experienced a cashier giving us back money and asking for exact change. Instead of accepting 2000 tenge for a 1234 tenge purchase, the cashier would pressure me for smaller bills, such as 1534 tenge. That way it was less work for the cashier in getting change together. The cashiers have even denied us a few items because we didn’t have exact change to buy them. This is extremely unusual to us as Americans, where no cashier would ever refuse money, even if they did have to give the customer back a lot of change.
Lying is something else that is prevalent. However, lying isn’t unique to Kazakhstan; it is found in most developing and developed countries. But there it is so widespread. My students would often tell me they were sick as a reason to skip class, but I would then see them walking around with friends, smoking, etc. I guess my students thought I was a little thick. I would confront a few students if this happened more than a few times.
On my teacher evaluations by students, they said I was strict and kind. Strictness is sometimes an unusual characteristic there for teachers to have. Most teachers are lenient on due dates, will re-grade things, etc. In the States that would never happen. No teacher re-grades things; that is unheard of. If you are late turning in homework, it doesn’t get graded unless you have a really good excuse. So I followed the procedures I grew up with and they were surprising to most KIMEP students.
I am not sure why, but whenever I walked outside I had a coughing attack. Never fail for the past month, as soon as I step outside I cough for a minute. I don’t know what it was in the air that caused that reaction, but I suspect it had to do with the air pollution and cold, dry air.
The next day we woke up around 6 am to get things tied together. The driver from KIMEP picked us up and took us to the airport. In the car, Joey and I said our final silent goodbyes to Almaty. The plane was only 30 minutes late this time, not the 10 hours as before, so that was a relief. We also only had to pay for 20 of our 38 overweight kilos. The airline staff was very lenient towards us about this, which was a nice break. We both got through migration without any problems and found a place to sit down for a while. The only downside about the Almaty airport experience was that is was COLD! The airport doors must have been open or something because I was in my coat and scarf the whole time I was sitting in the lounge.
The last few days in Almaty were pleasant. It even warmed up a bit, close to 30 F. J
Here are a few observations about the Kazakh people, after talking with people those last few days. Kazakhstanis identify themselves by their citizenship and nationality. There, a person’s identification card says both, citizenship: Kazakhstan, and nationality: Russian/Kazakh/Korean, etc. Your nationality is important and is a status symbol. When dealing with Paul, or other ex-pats in the country, the Kazakhstan government can’t quite understand why Americans don’t have a different nationality than their citizenship. For Americans, their nationality and citizenship are the same – American. They do not date back to their original ancestors. For me that would be a nightmare. I would have about five different nationalities listed.
Another thing I was told is that very little is manufactured in Almaty or Kazakhstan except natural resources, like oil, potassium, etc. They also make their own power, but most other goods are imported into the country. This helps explain the high costs of items.
While showing pictures, Gulnar made a good observation. One good way to recognize the uniqueness of your own culture is to visit another country. The people in that country want to hear all about your parties, family, lifestyle, etc. Only by explaining each of those things do you realize how beloved and distinct those features are to your culture.
Most people say they want to study abroad, for a masters, undergraduate, or anything else. I don’t actually know how many people do this. I suspect money is a restraining factor, but I don’t know. I am not sure where they would get the money if it isn’t. All the people aren’t extremely wealthy.
Joey and I have repeatedly experienced a cashier giving us back money and asking for exact change. Instead of accepting 2000 tenge for a 1234 tenge purchase, the cashier would pressure me for smaller bills, such as 1534 tenge. That way it was less work for the cashier in getting change together. The cashiers have even denied us a few items because we didn’t have exact change to buy them. This is extremely unusual to us as Americans, where no cashier would ever refuse money, even if they did have to give the customer back a lot of change.
Lying is something else that is prevalent. However, lying isn’t unique to Kazakhstan; it is found in most developing and developed countries. But there it is so widespread. My students would often tell me they were sick as a reason to skip class, but I would then see them walking around with friends, smoking, etc. I guess my students thought I was a little thick. I would confront a few students if this happened more than a few times.
On my teacher evaluations by students, they said I was strict and kind. Strictness is sometimes an unusual characteristic there for teachers to have. Most teachers are lenient on due dates, will re-grade things, etc. In the States that would never happen. No teacher re-grades things; that is unheard of. If you are late turning in homework, it doesn’t get graded unless you have a really good excuse. So I followed the procedures I grew up with and they were surprising to most KIMEP students.
I am not sure why, but whenever I walked outside I had a coughing attack. Never fail for the past month, as soon as I step outside I cough for a minute. I don’t know what it was in the air that caused that reaction, but I suspect it had to do with the air pollution and cold, dry air.
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