Almaty, Kazakhstan! Take a look around and breathe in the fresh air. I’ve been in this city for a month now and I’ve been loving it. The people here are very friendly…
Category: Blog Posts
Posts written as Blog Posts
Nazarbayev University: More Than Just a Second US Embassy
Like many other important buildings in Kazakhstan, the entrance to Nazarbayev University in Astana is located behind a tall gate, flanked on one side by a small, box-like structure containing a turnstile…
Exploring Alzhir: Looking Beyond the Horrors
As we sought refuge from the pouring rain, we found ourselves inside the Alzhir Gulag Museum. The dismal weather seemed to foretell the somber and enlightening experience that awaited us. Alzhir, one…
Under Such a Vast Sky
It’s evening, before the sun has gone down. I’m lying in my bed in Forum Hostel, Astana and suddenly the entire city disappears. I fall five feet to the ground and hit…
ALZHIR: The Akmolinsk Camp of Wives of Traitors to the Motherland
Recently we returned from a trip up north to Astana (the capital of Kazakhstan). There, we went to the ballet, saw the main attractions of the city, and visited the university that…
Nazarbayev University: A Transplanted Institution
12 students. 1 professor. 15 hours on a train. On the eve of April 12th, 2023, we set out on a 15-hour train ride to Astana, the capital of Qazaqstan. In Astana,…
Language, Art, and Literature in Almaty: Catching Up with Modernity
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but they never ask if everyone can read those words. In Almaty, the answer is not clear. This is a city in transition….
Inside the Gulag: Our Tour of Alzhir
*** Warning: This post contains mentions of events that some readers may find disturbing. *** As we learn about Kazakhstan’s history in our classes, especially their history as part of the Soviet…
Where is Modern Qazaq Art?
Who was the last Qazaq author you’ve heard of? What about poet? Or director? Or musician? Or even the last Qazaq you’ve heard of at all? Before I got here a…
The sleeping giants I met in Kazakhstan: Mountains and their presence on Almaty
My first impression of the city of Almaty was the presence of the mountains. When I rode home from the airport the first morning, I was exhausted and too overwhelmed to respond…
