Domestic Services

Domestic Services

Domestic Services are available at reasonably price, but other Asian and African countries are cheaper. There are various agencies to use or word-of mouth referral. Daily rates could be as little as 3000KZT and anything upward for full day. The problem is that most do not speak English and you have to try and communicate in Russian, which can be a bit of a problem, although online translation websites have worked wonders for me as I would just type and translate, but it means that not having a Russian keyboard on my computer they are not able to respond using the same method. Unlike the Middle East the domestic help are local and hardly speak any English, finding someone that could speak another European language might be even more difficult. Generally, the key is to have either a co-worker or friend that could communicate with them on your behalf.

What must I bring to Kazakhstan? Part II

What must I bring to Kazakhstan? Part II – Clothes and beauty products

This is maybe more specific the female expats out there, but even men find it hard to obtain proper suits and office attire that are not over priced!

This post carries on from the previous post that covered part I- things to bring with you when coming or moving to Almaty, Kazakhstan. In my previous post I mentioned the necessity of bringing your personal medication but on a lighter note we will look at other things that you might consider bringing.

Cloths of course are also packed in my suitcase... of course you need them : ) but here I am referring to more than what you need to travel with. I tend to buy most of my stuff at home and bring it over as it is just either too expensive and/or there is always a risk of paying the real price and getting a genuine fake. I suggest the best way to know if it is a authentic product is to check the company’s international website and if they have the Kazakhstan location with the exact address on their list... I am sure that it is then the real deal (see my previous post entitled guide to shopping in Almaty-clothes for more on this subject)

I do trust the few department stores that have recently opened in Kazakhstan, but they tend to much more expensive than back home. Additionally, local friends have commented that even these department stores sell a lower quality product here than they would in other countries and even they (my local friends) prefer to buy those items abroad or online... so only when I am desperate for a new item will I buy it here otherwise I will wait until I am either in the Middle East or back home.

Food is important to me ... there are these special biscuits and chocolates that I can only find at home, and they also make it into my suitcase. Yes, it might sound strange but it just makes living in a foreign environment so much easier, if I am not cut off from those few items that I crave... and its only a packet or two that gets savoured over a few months, so it is not as bad as it sounds : )

Other (female) expats might find that they can’t live without a certain cosmetics creams or hair products, but if you are happy to use Schwarzkopf, Pantene, Garnier, Lumene or P&G products, those are readily available in shops in Almaty. And every now and again one shop that I know of stocks a few Neutrogena products : )

What is expensive is the middle to higher-end beauty products like Clarins, Clinique, and Shiseido etc., but luckily they are available at special cosmetics stores in the city. But again I would suggest buying at a reputable store, which could also be tricky to distinguish from other shops that LOOK reputable (send me an email if you want my suggested stores for beauty products). Some salon hair care products are also available at some salons, but I have not been able to compare the prices (most probably as it is Kazakhstan it would be more expensive than back home)

Things that I haven’t seen is Dr Hauschka, MAC, Olay, Jergens, The Body Shop, Dermalogica and other high-end products that only seem to be available in the US : )

So in conclusion, those things that you can’t live without pack it if you have the space! Those items that you will happily switch to an alternative... don’t worry about as I am sure you will get something here.  

Please leave your commends below as I would love to hear from you

Living in Kazakhstan, Relocating to Kazakhstan, Expat Life & News | Expatify

This page below is an articles from Expatify.com which might be helpful for anyone that is thinking of moving to Kazakhstan. It is a short article but with useful information about the sub-cultures found in Kazakhstan and what to expect when inviting by locals. So check it out

http://www.expatify.com/kazakhstan/learning-the-social-customs-of-kazakhstan.html

What must I bring to Kazakhstan? Part I- Medicine

What to bring to Almaty part I- Medicine

Knowing what to bring and what you can find in Almaty is very important and is a question asked by many newcomers and expats that are planning to move to Kazakhstan. What I might bring in my suitcase and what someone else will bring might be entirely different as each person as their own set of prioritise, but maybe this section will help you establish what you need to bring if you are planning on moving to Kazakhstan.

I have broken this post up in to more than one part, as this will become quite a lengthy topic and I am sure I will remember something else later and will want to add it with a follow-up post : )

The most important thing to pack in your suitcase when coming to any new country and especially a country like Kazakhstan is medication. I have failed to find some of our family’s medication here or a Russian (local) equivalent and just fill new prescriptions every few months when I am able to go home. It sound hugely impractical, but it works for me.

You could possible go and see a doctor in Almaty and see if they could provide you with a local substitute, just keep in mind that local (Kazakh) doctors might not be familiar with the medicine and going to a foreign (International) doctor is hugely expensive. But if you are one of the lucky few that has access to the foreign hospitals and doctors I am sure they will be able to help you.

The nice thing about Kazakhstan is that you don’t need a prescription (well, I have not been asked for one as yet). All you need is the name of the product and any pharmacy (if they stock it) will give it to you. 

I do struggle to find good antihistamine that works for me, but maybe that’s just me. Another thing is cold medicine, when I have a cold I need a strong tablet that will kill the pain, stop the runny nose and make me feel much better. Personally, I have not found such a product here and think that the cold-medicine available in Almaty only contains a bit of vitamin C and a bit of Paracetamol ... and I can not stand those hot drinks they are so nasty ... so this is also on my list of items to bring to Kazakhstan as a foreigner. 

I hope you have found this helpful and please leave some comments below, I would love to hear from you. 

Socialisation Opportunities for Expats in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Socialisation for foreigners and expats in Almaty.

When arriving in Almaty, Kazakhstan on assignment, you might not know much about living and working here let alone know other people that you could socialise with. I believe that socialisation is truly important for increasing expatriate adjustment. If you are lucky your co-workers both foreign and local will take you under their wing and show you around to meet other like-minded individuals. However, many expats come here not having any idea on how to meet new people and find little support from the work environment.

The socialisation opportunities in Almaty can be rather slim compared to other countries; however, there are more and more get-togethers being established to fill this need. So, excluding co-worker socialisation there are also other ways of meeting other expats and locals.  

A great club for expat-partners or spouse is the International Women’s club of Almaty (AIWC). An annual fee is required to be a member. Meetings are every Wednesday and it provides great opportunities to join activity groups and charity events for spouse and family. This club is not exclusive to expat wives only, as more and more men are accompanying their female spouses on assignments and are also welcome at the club. http://www.almatyclub.org

Inter Nation event is held once a month and is more focused on getting foreign and English speaking locals working in Almaty together and networking. Meetings are once a month and you need to be a member, just sign up online http://www.internations.org

“Friday Almaty” is a group that is on Facebook, with the goal of  “after-work-drink-mingle for professionals”.  Every Friday might be at a new event so check out their Facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/fryday.almaty/info

My favour Facebook page is called “Whats on Almaty”. It is a great place to pose various questions about finding about things in Almaty and other fun things to do in Almaty. The sister page “Market place Almaty and Astana” is for advertising things for sale, jobs and other specials also for the region.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/214618305398/ and https://www.facebook.com/MarketplaceALMATY?fref=ts

I hope this has provided you with some useful information. I wish you all the best with your adjustment in Almaty and Kazakhstan and please leave comments and questions below.