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...