December Events in Almaty

On the 4th of December, there will be a concert dedicated to the memory Ermek Serkebayeva

 Kazakh State Philharmonic. Zhambyla str. Kaldayakov, 35

5 December WINTER MUSICAL EVENINGS

 19.00 Grand Concert Hall of the Conservatory

Festive Baroque and contemporary music for soloists, choir and chamber ensemble

The 6th we have the  Kazakh Traditional Concert in Kurmangazy Concert Grand Hall at 19:00.

6 to 14 December Youth Theatre Festival "Revelation"

Prices of tickets will be 1 000 tenge.

Address: Almaty, Abai Ave 43. Phone +7 (727) 267 31 31

7 December TECHLABS CUP KZ 2013

CIS largest eSports Festival continues and this time the match will be the best competitive players in Almaty. Expect spectacular battles and numerous gifts from the partners of the festival. For visitors to the festival will also be organized mini-championship in console games. Admission is free. 

13-16 December The largest Christmas art fair in Central Asia

Central State Museum, Furmanova 44, just below the Ramstore. 

Jazzystan this saterday

Actors' photo exhibition, 34th Anniversary. 29 Nov 2013 - event in Kazakhstan - My Destination Kazakhstan

Actors' photo exhibition, 34th Anniversary. 

The exhibition features approximately 60 black-and-white as well as colour photographs of beloved and respected artists.

The opening of the exhibition will be Friday 29 November at 18.00. The exhibition will run until 19 December 2013 and during the programme there will also be a gathering with the protagonists, the photographic duo of father and daughter Valeriy and Olga Korenchuk.

Actors' photo exhibition, 34th Anniversary. 29 Nov 2013 - event in Kazakhstan - My Destination Kazakhstan

Info from My destination Kazakhstan 

Santa Claus competition

ESENTAI MALL ANNOUNCES A COMPETITION FOR THE POSITION OF SANTA CLAUS

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Santa Claus - the main character on a fabulous New Year's celebration in Esentai Mall. 

Duties Santa Claus:

• Meet, socialize and be photographed with the youngest visitors Esentai mall
• Raskazyvat interesting stories from the life of Great Ustyug ( don't know what this is) 
• Be able to assess children's Christmas poems
• Know all the Christmas fairy-tale characters and their stories
• Check personal mailbox and respond to children's letters
• Kindle first Christmas tree with their children
• Hold various contests Christmas.

Personality:
Kind, responsible, cheerful and honest

Place of work: 
The city of Almaty. Esentai mall. Kingdom of Santa Claus. Atrium, 2nd floor.

Letters of recommendation from grandchildren welcome

Please send your resume with photo to November 29, 2013 to the email address: marketing@esentaimall.com

Contact phone: +7 727 331 00 06

I think it would be great for the expat children if the chosen Santa could also speak  English... dont you agree? 

Pop Up Store at Esentai Mall

The Almaty Pop Up Store 

1-17 December 

Esentai Mall

The Royal Ballet of London in Almaty

 The Royal Ballet of London will perform Giselle in Almaty 

Giselle is the quintessential Romantic ballet. It transformed the dance world when it was first performed in Paris in 1841 and remains at the centre of the classical repertory. Although the choreography and designs have undergone many changes over the years, the essence of Giselle remains the same. The Royal Ballet’s production uses Marius Petipa’s classic version (after the original choreography by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli), first staged in St Petersburg in 1884.

Location 

State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet Abai , 110 Kabanbai Batyra , Almaty

26 November at 19:00

5-7 December 3 great concerts, organized by the German General Consulate

The Consulate General of Germany in Almaty offers, with the support of local partners (State Zhambyl Philharmony, National Kurmangasy Conservatory) and sponsors are inviting you to 3 musical encounters to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas-winter season with the German conductor Kerstin Behnke (Berlin) and the soloists Milena Juhl and Sönke Tams Freier (Conservatory Lübeck, Germany).

The Schedule

1) Thursday, December 5th, 2013, 7 p.m., National Kurmangasy-Conservatory Almaty:

Festive Music from Baroque and the contemporary

(Franz Tunder, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, Francis Poulenc)

Soloists: Milena Juhl, Sönke Tams Freier (Germany)

Students of the National Kurmangasy conservatory

Address: Abilai Xhan, between Kabanbai Batir and Bogenbai

Tickets at evening box office - free entrance for students –

or immediately at the Consulate General of Germany (see mail address beneath)

2) Friday, December 6th, 6.30 p.m., Zhambyl-Philharmony:

Famous men - strong women (Berlin programme)

Compositions for choir and orchestra, XIX century

(Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Robert Schumann, Elfrida Andrée, Emilie Mayer)

Soloists: Milena Juhl, Sönke TamsFreier (Germany),

State Philharmonic Zhambyl - Zhambyl-Philarmonie, Almaty

Address: ul. Tole Bi - Kaldayakov

Tickets at evening box office

or immediately at the Consulate General of Germany (see mail address beneath)

3) Saturday, December 7th, 6.30 p.m. Catholic Holy Trinity Church (Церковь Пресвятой Троицы), Almaty:

 Christmas Concert

Address: ul. Tlendieva, 9 - Алматы, ул. Тлендиева 9

Free entrance - mulled wine and Christmas sweets offered by the Consulate General

- Tickets for Thursday, 5th and Friday 6th December may be ordered from now on through the Consulate General:

 mail: info@almaty.diplo.de

Further information:

Consulate General of Germany, phone tél. 262-83-41 or info@almaty.diplo.de.

The German Consulate thanks their sponsors for their valuable support:

Asian Beer Company/Botchonok, Gold Produkt, HeidelbergCement, Interconti Almaty, Kühne&Nagel Ibrakom, Lufthansa, Metro, Siemens.

Haileybury School Choir performance at Esentai Mall

The Haileybury School Choir will perform at Esentai Mall on the 22nd of November at 16:00 
Location 2nd floor, Esentai Mall, Admission is free 

The Clay house gallery exhibition 22 November

 

Munabiya and Shahidka by Kazat Akmatov

2nd Open Central Asia Literature Festival - 2013 London

Kazat Akmatov’s latest publication in English was presented by Laura Hamilton, editor of its translation from Russian.

Regrettably, due to ill health, the author was unable as intended, to attend the launch.   

The book contains two novellas: Munabiya and Shahidka, originally published in Bishkek in 1987and 2010 respectively. Following the Thirteen Steps towards the Fate of Erika Klaus, it offers English speakers another and much welcomed opportunity to access the literature of one of Kyrgyzstan’s greatest living writers.

Here are two highly emotive and beautifully woven stories, in which the landscape, culture and political climate of Kyrgyzstan play an integral role. Far from romanticising life in this far -off land, the author exposes us to communities constantly dealing with hardship, brutality and corruption, delivered by both the harsh physical environment and the inhabitants themselves. Violence, abuse and murder are commonplace as people from different cultures, Kyrgyz, Russian and Chechen, and from different generations, struggle to maintain family values, traditions and political supremacy.

Fundamental to both stories however, and sensitively explored by the author, is something which affects people worldwide: the feelings of despair, sadness and confusion which arise when we can no longer predict or accept the actions or responses of people we thought we knew well.

Munabiya is the tale of a long term love affair between a jeweller and his mistress, set within a small, rural community where everyone is involved in each other’s lives. It describes the angst and frustration experienced by the sister of the jeweller’s late wife, and his son, as they are forced to come to terms with the situation. This is a harrowing story, narrated by the son who, having neglected his duties to his ageing and widowed father, has been summoned to take care of the old man.

In characteristic style, Akmatov, provides a colourful, almost anthropological, insight into the life and customs of  a typical Kyrgyz village but nevertheless, the  core of the family conflicts so skilfully described,  remain universally recognisable and pertinent to all sectors of society.

Shahidka is a tragic and politically charged love story, set in a small Kyrgyz town inhabited by Kyrgyz, Russians and Chechens. Here, Akmatov’s craftsmanship in multi-layering descriptions of various incidents which contribute to the ultimate fates of the main characters can be compared to the construction of ashyrdak rug in which tradition dictates a rhythmic and interdependent arrangement of multiple patterns and colours to determine the final outcome.

The tale is told by a miller who is tormented by his unrequited love for a beautiful Russian employee. Betrothed from childhood to one brother, she marries another but disappears with her true love, a Chechen outsider, when a violent fight breaks out at her wedding .Subsequent events and flashbacks to past conversations and incidents gradually reveal that no-one, and especially the narrator, knew the true Svetlana; an intelligent, headstrong , romantic and ultimately, suicidal young woman  Through a presentation of hypothetical circumstances and conflicting accounts of the relationship between the Russian and the Chechen, Akmatov, cleverly pulls the reader into the web of propaganda which surrounds the extreme and fatal action undertaken by the shahidka ; a  practice which remains integral to the political instability in this region.

Despite its modest size, this is a rich and multi-dimensional publication which will demand to be read again and again.

Born in 1941 in the Kyrgyz Republic under the Soviet Union, Akmatov was active in the establishment of the Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan and determined to fight for basic human rights in oppressed countries, he uses his writing to continue highlighting problems faced by other central Asian countries. 

Thanks to Silk Road Media for the article 

November 2013 Events in AlmatyNovember 2013 Events in Almaty

The following events are happening in Almaty during the month of November 



The Ritz-Carlton in Almaty opens in November, they are located at the Esentai Tower, Al-Farabi street 

Medeo, has its season's opening also in November



We have a lot of exhibitions during 5th-8th November

• Horex 2013 -9th Central-Asian International Exhibition Everything for hotels, restaurants, supermarkets
• WorldFood Kazakhstan 2013
• Agro World Kazakhstan- 8th Central-Asian International Agriculture Exhibition
• KazUpack 2013 – an exhibiting platform for all types of packaging companies
• CleanExpo Central Asia 2013 –an exhibition of the latest cleaning innovations
• FranchExpo Central Asia 2013 – an annual regional franchising event

The Warsaw Elephant Circus is still in town until the 10th the show is entitled "the mystery of Savannah" 

Running until the 14th at Arvest Gallery  “Journey as a state …” exhibition

The CIS Responsible Mining Forum is taking place on the 26th & 27th of November

On the 29th of November is the American Chambers of Commerce's Thanksgiving celebration

And still running is Alexander Kuvshinov’s exhibition "The second campaign for glory" at 240, Dostyk str., “Dostar” Business Center, office 107

Events in October 2013

Upcoming events for the month of October 2013

•  The World Championship Boxing in 2013, Sports Palace, Baluan Sholak  is  currently underway

• JAZZYSTAN - International music festival -.   4 years ago ago, the musicians and the audience met in the music room space hotel "Kazakhstan" and got acquainted with the format of the festival 

• On October the 20th at the Palace of the Republic will be the next family-friendly Almaty Autumn festival from 11:00 - 17:00.  

• We also have the Kazakh-Chinese TRADE FAIR "Great Silk way through Khorgos" from 22 to 27 October 2013.

World -wash your hands day

Washing hands is really important for healthy living. 

But I have rarely seen people in Kazakhstan wash their hands... And I wonder if they really have these awareness programs available. 

Can't speak the local language

People can be so critical and many are shocked when they hear that you can't speak the local language after being in the country for so many years.

And yes, there are many that would argue that we as foreigners need to learn the local language, which in this case is both Kazakh & Russian. But as these are both considered difficult languages,  I think that people shouldn't be so hard on foreigners that only planned to stay for a year and before they knew it turned into a few years.

Learning a language is tough for some, and I believe it is either an ability that you have or don't have. For me... I have known for a long time that languages are not my strongest point, even at school this was very obvious as I tried my luck with various European languages and can honestly say ... that I have a language disability : )
It is a skill, like remembering names.. another weakness of mine.
But faces... I never forget a face.

I don't consider myself unintelligent... now book smarts is not a problem for me!!! But I just wished that people would understand that not every one can pick up a language like those that have the knack for languages.

So good luck to all of you thinking of learning Russian or Kazakh, maybe you are lucky and pick it up quickly, but don't be too hard on yourself when it is something that just doesn't come naturally.

Boy dies of bubonic plague close to Kazakhstan border

According to Tengri News, the Kazakhstan Government has toughened their border control with Kyrgyzstan since a herder from eastern Kyrgyzstan, close to the border with Kazakhstan and Issyk-Kul Lake, died of the bubonic plague.

The Ministry has suggested that Kazakhstan residents abstain from travelling to Kyrgyzstan, but there are no plans to close the border.


For more information see:http://en.tengrinews.kz/health/113-thousand-people-vaccinated-against-plague-in-Kazakhstan-22172/
Use of the Tengrinews English materials must be accompanied by a hyperlink to en.Tengrinews.kz

The Kyrgyzstan Government has stated that the decease not at a level that would be described as an epidemic as the form of the decease is not conducive to a plague epidemic. The Kyrgyzstan medial officials did state that there has been 105 people hospitalised and isolated with the decease.

The Bubonic plague, is mainly transmitted by fleas on small rodents.

Symptoms include
Gangrene of extremities
Chills
High fever
Muscle cramps
Painful lymph glands
Pain in the area before the swelling appears

Other symptoms can include
heavy breathing
vomiting blood
coughing
extreme pain

Craft fair this weekend

Orchestra Parade in Almaty- 23-25 August 2013

There will be an orchestra parade on the 23 till the 25 of August starting at 7pm

There is a Facebook page created for this event but only in Russian


https://www.facebook.com/events/141833056015466/?ref=3

The Hot Summer in Almaty

The last few weeks have been unbelievably hot for those living in Almaty. Of all the years that I have been here I can not remember that we had such long hot spells with some days even reaching 38 degrees Celsius. This is well above the statistics of the average temperature for August (29.4. degrees Celsius)  

The weather makes it the perfect time to socialise  and enjoy one of the many parks in the city with its many fountains.Did you know... according to the city's Department of Natural Resources the city has 125 fountains with first fountain created in 1948. 


OR  if you can afford it go to one of the many water parks in and around the city like Hawaii Aqua Park; Gorky Water Park; Water park at Aporte; Dolphin Water Park and 8 Wonders and many more...

 

Basic Information about Visas for Kazakhstan

It is really hard to find the latest information about the new visa processes that was implemented this month. The Government claims that they have just  "upgraded" their visa processes, however from my own personal experience over the years and especially having gone through the process now recently again I am convinced that it has just become more and more difficult.

The information that I got about tourist visas are inconsistent and therefore, I don’t want to claim that I have any knowledge of this process!

As a spouse of an expat it seems impossible to get an acceptable visa that will allow you to live in Kazakhstan for an extended period of time without leaving the country ever month/ few months. At the moment I have a visa that only allows me 30 days per visit in Kazakhstan.

For a Business visa you will require a Letter of Invitation by your company, apparently now the LOI takes about 14 days to issue.

Business Visas are only issued by Embassies outside the country, which means traveling and staying for at leased 5 days if not more.

You will need the following:

-Filled out visa application from

- A copy of your LOI, which is also submitted by your company to the specific Consular Services (Please note: where there are more than one Consular Service in a country - make sure that you and your inviting company are dealing with the same office)

- Valid passport

- 1 Passport photo attached to the application form

- And your payment

Processing of Kazakh visas take about 5 working days.

Also check with the specific Consular Services which days they are available... as some only assists Kazakh citizens on specific days. And when planning to get your visa in another country also remember that certain days are weekends and not working days; like in the Middle East - a Friday is the main rest day and Sunday is the start of a new working week.

Also note that the Embassy in Kyrgyzstan is temporarily closed from the 15^th of July until further notice, so it would not be possible to renew visas from Kyrgyzstan. In the past many foreigners used to just travel from Almaty over the boarder, to get a new visa and return. The drive should only take a few hours but the roads are notoriously hazardous and the drivers drive like crazy, so this is not recommended!

Please share with us your experience with getting a KZ visas!