Central Craft Fair

The Central Craft Fair is back in Almaty 2-3 March 2013

It will be at the Central Museum on Furmanova Street (opposite Ramstore)
Entrance will be 100KZT
This is a great place to find gifts for family and friends ... or yourself

Almaty in the News

Maybe you have noticed that Kazakhstan and Almaty is in the international news again, as the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program are continued in Almaty today. Good publicity for KZ!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/25/us-iran-nuclear-us-idUSBRE91O0J120130225

http://www.bnews.kz/en/news/post/126503/


  

How is life in Almaty?

The most difficult question is when someone asks you to describe living in Almaty.

As with any situation, your experiences, personal life, and personal outlook plays a large part in your perception of how a certain destination is like.

For some it might not be harder than any other place that they have lived in before.

For others it is just not easy.. it is just not like HOME!!!

Looking at the facts might put this question in perspective.

Many expats do not choose this destination purely for its metropolitan attraction or quality of life... they choose this destination for career and job opportunities and/or better salaries. Therefore, it can be difficult to compared it to other attractive expat destinations like Dubai, Beijing or Singapore. 

Living costs in Almaty is relatively high while the quality of life is relatively lower than in some other expat destinations.  Of course living in Kazakhstan cannot be compared with living in a developed country nor can you compare it with the top developing countries like South Africa and Brazil.

Many people are divide on the subject about living in Kazakhstan with many educated locals looking for better opportunities abroad and various expatriate and/or their partners/spouses finding it hard to live here, while others see great opportunities for starting their own business or getting a career jump.

There can be various cultural, climatic and other general aspects that might decrease your ability to adapt successfully.  The most important aspect is to make the best of your new destination and emerge yourself into the local culture and try to link into your new community as soon as possible as this will increase your adjustment.  

Earthquakes

On the 28^th of January 2013 the Almaty region experienced another large earthquake of a magnetite 6.3 in Eastern Kazakhstan.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000ewqq#summary

There is a Facebook page called Earthquake Preparedness for Almaty to keep the local citizens of Almaty aware and allow them to share necessary information.

Preparation is key and an emergency kit is essential to living in Almaty.    

What is necessary in your kit?

There are various international websites that will be able to provide you with a standard list of items necessary in your emergency kit.

  The most essential items for any emergency kit

• -       Copies of important documentation especially as a foreigner certified copies of passports, visas etc.
• -       Essential medication
• -       A change of clothes (winter and summer)
• -       First aid kit
• -       Torchlight
• -       List of essential information like phone numbers and family details
• -       Local maps
• -       Towelettes, garbage bags and other items for personal sanitation

     For more information about preparing for such events check out this website

http://www.ready.gov

http://earthquake.usgs.gov