Share this:

Hi everyone, especially those who likes extreme sports. Never have I thought that I’m an extreme kind of a person. Well, I like climbing the rocks, hiking for long distances, travelling without conveniences (extremely unusual), but never dared I to skate down with a head from the slide, or ride a scooter. Indeed, in a very short time I’ve arranged the trip to Borovoe, packed, arrived, had fun, went back home. Only two days in the country were helpful both for my sister and me. So much relief, joy and health we`ve collected on the lake of Katarkol lake. Here some photos reporting my lovely weekend. Enjoy!

Share this:

Image via Wikipedia

what is the best way to gain energy and relief from stress? cinnamon cakes? or may be chamomile tea? for me, it`s better to go to the country. even on my visits to Almaty, the city I adore,  the plenty of time I spent out of city, in the mountains. you can go skiing, or just walk around, whatever. all in all, you`ll be thrilled. no one can stay indifferent to the beauty of Alatau.

however, I have no opportunity to go to the South, actually, I haven`t seen my family for half a year! after long discussions my sister and I decided to go to Burabay on the weekend. thus, it cost I did not regret. so much childish happiness I`ve got after riding on a scouter. I loved skating down the rock and then drinking hot mulled wine on the frosty day!

it was a short but remarkable women`s day weekend, which I spent for my pleasure. now back to work with fresh brains, if any has been there before)))

Share this:

All in all that happened, we made our presentations in front of the audience: native speakers, colleagues and classmates. But, there were some teachers among the expats too.

I speak the last. People, it`s really tremendous to speak at the end, as an overall of the whole presentation. I was sitting and listening to the other people`s speeches, their voices trembling and heads constantly turning back to the screen, as if there`s a  shelter.

Nurbolat`d finished his talk and it was my turn now. My heart nearly jumped out, but I put together the remnants of my thoughts and stepped into the unknown.

The beginning was good, my head`s clear, the voice`s strong but suddenly something went wrong. I forgot what the next slide was about. From that very moment the logic and cohesion of my speech disappeared, and a tiger turned into a lamb.

The topic and visuals were fine, the biggest part of the presentation consisted of the findings from surveys. Unfortunately, I missed to dwell on the conclusions, which made my points to look controversial. I chewed the conclusion, it sounded clumsy.

Indeed, I need to work out the strong voice (it should sound like a pioneer`s horn) and learn to keep eye contact with the whole audience. Moreover, it`s necessary and even vital to prepare real, exact, adequate conclusion for any type of speech.



 

Share this:

Mama Is a Sunrise

Evelyn Tooley Hunt

When she comes slip- footing through the door,

she kindles us

like lump coal lighted, and we wake up glowing.

She puts a spark even in Papa`s eyes

and turns out all our darkness.

When she comes sweet- talking in the room,

she warms us like grits and gravy,

and we rise up shining.

Even at night – time Mama is a sunrise

that promises tomorrow and tomorrow.

 

what a shame, I don`t have my Mother`s photos with me!

Well, let it be dedicated to any woman being…

Share this:

She`s the same human being like anyone, she`s the same flash and blood, but…

What a power does she have on me! Without saying a word she knows my fears and anxieties, without a medicine she cures my pain. She`s too distant now, and contact only over the phone and a couple of times per week, just to hear my voice and gossip about the last doings of siblings. There`s no need to her to ask if I`m feeling good or bad. She knows it already, I wonder how?

One night, coming after work and having dinner I was deep in thoughts of how to manage project work of a student and my own project at the university at one and the same time. That obstacle made me wildly unhappy. Mom phoned, she was worried about me as she`s feeling like this. But, I did not feel like talking to her, as I would have made her heart ache. Mom insisted, she talked some bulshit, that her cell phone didn`t work and she couldn`t find the reason, then, she opened the manual and read it! Actually, mom never deals with all that stuff; it used to be my responsibility.  My dear mommy continued describing her adventures with phones whereas, my fear started to fade. Without saying a word of she melts my heart, without a touch she makes me strong.

All the mothers in the world are angels! They are undiscovered power of nature.

I`m working on my final paper and waiting for mom`s call. I`ve congratulated her with the International women`s day this very morning and sang a song in Kazakh and Russian. She`s busy accepting congrats from friend and siblings and inviting them to dinner, she promised to call back in the evening. I`m happy that mommy does not feel alone now when I`ve moved to Astana. Well, dad is near her but she misses her girls, so noisy and unbearable. And I miss her, all kindness and beauty of the nature.

Share this:

The Gift to Stalin is a 2008 Kazakhstani film that tells the story of a little boy named Sasha who is sent to Kazakhstan. He is saved from death by an old Kazakh man, Kasym, who takes the boy to his home. The film is set in 1949. The title, The Gift to Stalin has two significances. In 1949, the Soviet government carried out a nuclear test for the anniversary of Stalin’s 70th birthday. Many innocent people fell the victims to the nuclear test. The other significance is about Sashka’s dream. He hopes that if he gives Stalin a gift, he will be able to see his parents again, not knowing that they were killed.

Share this:

my classmate sent that poem, just for fun like it was said in her message. teens in our country like to send lyrical poems with the title: if you send it to as much people as you can, your dream`ll fulfill! i`ve got used to such kind of jokes and take it easy, but this time it`s a bit hurting. the poem is about lost friendship, lost opportunity to tell about your feelings. the theme is right, nothing to tell against. my classmate is younger than me and she has no idea (I hope) what one can feel when a best friend is dead and main words remained unspoken. half a year has gone but still i can`t keep my tears when i think about my friend. i didn`t tell him, i missed 

Share this:

 

My working day starts at 6.05 am daily, except Sunday. That early get ups will kill me one day, because I`m an owl, that means night person. So, every morning I have a bad mood and hate my job, but when I come to school something happens and it looks quite different now, I mean my job as a teacher. I come at 8 am, classes are at 8.30. When I enter the room #10 there are already some kids (I teach first grade) playing or preparing for the lessons. They say hello and run up to me to hug and kiss. Look, how can I keep myself from kissing and hugging them back? My heart melts like an ice-cream and the morning sadness goes away, I love my job. Here the photos of my pupils. Aren`t they lovely?

 

Share this:

Image via Wikipedia

The Asian Games coming to the end in glory and splendor the great sporting event caught everyone`s attention. So many impressions, remarks said about the organization. Though there were some insignificant accidents with logistic, the whole organization is done excellently. 3,500 volunteers were scouted among the students from Astana and Almaty students, sporting facilities were built in both cities. I was lucky to admire the Opening Ceremony personally. The feelings heat when all people cried “Kazakhstan” and our national anthem was sung. I saw the excitement in the eyes of people, especially kids were happy. My colleague who watched the ceremony on TV said afterwards, she felt proud for our country for organizing such a big event.
Despite all the expenses and inconveniences, Asian games were necessary for our country. People feel proud for their country and confirm in their beliefs that Kazakhstan will be among 50 great countries in future. Those games are essential for our children, that`s very inspiring to see victories of your country. Especially when you`re abroad and have to explain, that Kazakhstan is not the same as Pakistan.

Share this:

Image via Wikipedia

There was once a wise man who said that the tears of an orphan were heavier than the Earth…

I remembered that Kazakh saying while watching “Cocktail for a Star”, a modern Cinderella story about Kazakh orphan girl who dreamed about being a star. That girl wanted to become famous so that her mother sees her on TV and return back. Moldir, an orphan, was lucky to meet famous producer Bayan, also she met her Prince of Charming. The happy end! It`s just a fiction story, easy and pleasant. However, the reality is just the other way round. There are several precious episodes for which that film is worth seeing. I won`t retell it. Indeed, there are described difficulties the orphan encounters. After leaving the orphanage that children have no place to go and no one to show them the right way. Happy we are, who has moms and dads, lots of relatives who protect and teach us how to survive, but who cares about the orphan? The destiny is so cruel and anyone can abuse them. In the film, when Moldir became famous, the competitors sent a woman, who pretended to be her mother. The fake mother fell on her knees begging for pardon. The girl burst into tears, her dream fulfilled, her mother has found her! I`ve cried for an hour after movie. Just imagine, so many children are abandoned and have to struggle for living.

Yesterday I talked to my colleague about Asian Games and then suddenly we switched to the problem of orphan children. You know, many Kazakh children are growing up in the orphanages, though their parents are alive. Why I stress the word “Kazakh”? Well, no other nation has so many sayings and traditions about treating the orphan. Our ancestors used to follow tradition called “amengerlik”, which means that when a man dies, his family is adopted by the other relative. The same happened when my great grandfather was arrested and shot during the Stalin’s repressions.

My colleague talked about a group of people that constantly help poor families. Their point is that to solve the problem you are to find out the root, the cause of it. So, these Kazakh men gather money and agitate the wealthy to invest money for the charity.  Every Kurban Bairam, a Muslim holiday, they contribute money to buy cattle for slaughter. One third of meat is taken by organizers; the rest is shared among the poor. This activity has a religious background. Look, they don`t only support people with money but also they try to encourage people to struggle, or at least give up alcohol drinking to keep their children at family.