Almaty JW Marriott Hotel

... are expecting temperatures to rise back up towards 50 degrees! Such weather, while a lot of fun for me, a southern California girl who claims that weather in California is boring, is terrible for the health. Almaty is already the most polluted city I have ever experienced, which lends itself to lots of hacking and hawing and random asthma attacks. Now, with the weather turning hot and cold, and with the climate being a damp one, moving inside and outside from ...

... Kazakh government is trying to revitalize a language that was virtually extinct because of Soviet Russification policies. While Kazakh language is definitely making a comeback (in fact, you cannot serve as a public servant without knowing how to speak Kazakh), many believe that Russian will never be just a memory. Russian language and Russian culture are too much a part of everyday life in Kazakhstan. In fact, I would go so far as to argue that they ...

... but yet are very much aware that it is still a developing country and has a ways to go to become a truly respected force in the international arena. But this is their goal. I am taking several fascinating classes at KIMEP: Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan, Development Studies, and Domestic and Foreign Policy of the Post-Communist World (focusing on the former Soviet Union). It is so interesting to hear the professors and the students talk about the state ...

... ber stand nur Pik Abaja weiß vergletschert über der Stadt. Des Weiteren hat pünktlich zum 1. September die Schule wieder angefangen, was sich vor allen Dingen im morgendlichen Straßenverkehr bemerkbar macht. Man hat sich den Sommer über wirklich daran gewöhnt, dass man hin und wieder mal durch die Stadt fahren kann; das hat sich wohl jetzt für die nächste Zeit erstmal wieder erledigt.<br>

... and some hints to the answer, we asked the question, then we gave the answer. We introduced ourselves in our native languages, then we asked all of our questions in English. Clearly, English is the new valuable language to know. They will finish shooting the show with the children, and then air it, on August 31. We have been invited to come watch the final filming at the studio. The show will be in both Kazakh and English. People in Kazakhstan ...

... a long day of running to and from medical clinics, I met Joo-Hee at an internet café close to KIMEP. While I was there, Ainash, my host counselor, gave me a call and asked if I had had dinner yet. I had not. She asked if I would be willing to come over to her apartment for dinner. Her mom is visiting this summer and had wanted to meet me and cook for me ever since I arrived. The plan had been that I would go over to meet Ainash&#8217;s family today ...

Today's been a bit of a faff, we woke up a little later than intended and I headed into town get some passport photos. An hour and a bit later I returned and we set off to find internet, change money, find a map and send a parcel. My god it took a while and cost an arm and a leg (£40 for postage!) but we got there in the end and ...

... DHL but was told they were in customs and they could take 3 days to clear. We did not have 3 days and the agent Amilia was soon on the case! <br><br>We also had to sort out our new visas for Tajikistan as our current visa had expired. We jumped in a taxi and said Tajikistan Embassy please and we arrived at the Liberian Consulate. How could the taxi driver get it so wrong but none of us were complaining as the woman who came to our assistance was stunning. I am sure when ...

... which is displayed in the front windscreen. Then off you go. But this takes at least 2 months of admin on the part of your local tour company to achieve. There are approvals from all sorts of Govt departments. If you are contemplating doing a driving tour, there are people who have expertise in this field and can arrange it all for you. All you have to ...

... zur Stadt eingestellt hat war der Aufenthalt doch eher von kurzer Dauer. Auf dem Rückweg noch mal in ein kleines Restaurant eingekehrt. Wie ist das Essen in Kasachstan? Vor allen Dingen fleischig und fettig. Das trifft's eigentlich am besten, Schaschlik gibt's an jeder Ecke, aber auch die anderen Gerichte entsprechen dem Grundsatz. Dazu ein paar Gurken und Tomaten für die Statistik und natürlich schwarzer Tee.