A fe fellow teachers from school.  It has been ages since I wrote, and I look back at my time in Kokshetau fondly.  Here are two colleagues I became very close with.  Miriam (rainbow hat), and Anne (red hat). We were at a football match in Kokshetau, enjoying a day out. 

Train ride across Kazakhstan

I took a train from Kokshetau to Karaganda.  The ride was 9 hours, and amazing.  Karaganda is a very historic place, with mining roots, and history of one of the largest Gulags from Stalin's time.  I visited the Gulag museum, and was amazed at what went on, and what these people have endured.  I have a totally new respect for the Kazakh people. Below is me having tea on the train.  The silver contraption is the hot water heater for tea.

Traditional Kazakh meal in the village.

I have been in kokshetau, Kazakhstan for the better part of eight months now.  This continues to be an enlightening experience both as an educator and as a person.

As an educator, and an American,it it amusing, and frustrating to teach English at times.  I find myself wondering if my colleagues and I actually speak the same language ( and they are native English speakers as well!).  More often than not I will come across words and phrases that  I am dumbfounded by.  I was under the impression my language difficulties would be with the local language! Lol!! I have learned a new vocabulary, a new curriculum,  a new grading system, a new scheduling system, a little Russian, even less Kazakh, and my year isn't even over!

The curriculum continues to morph as we move along, but basically follows a version of Cambridge CAE English curriculum.  I have worked on IELTS testing, and found the structure quite interesting.
I continue to work on the assessment strategies of the four strands of the test, and find it fascinating and quite wonderful to have a speaking and listening section, as well as writing and reading.  Developing practice tests, and lessons for speaking and listening in class has been both challenging and exciting.  I was thrilled to see the common core develop these two strands as well, if I'm not mistaken.

Culturally, I have become friends with quite a few locals, and happily visit and break bread with them often.  I continue to learn a great deal about the people of this unique and marvelous country.

Official introduction!

Students welcoming us to school for our official introduction and orientation. Playing traditional Kazakh music in traditional Kazakh garb

The market!

Ok, so I have been pretty much settled in  Kokshetau for a week.  There are  over 20 other international teachers now, and the "settling in" has been arduous.  Finding the right accomodations, making sure we had everything we needed, such as Internet, and ...Internet!!  But seriously, some places needed more vamping up than others, and the local teachers who helped us have been great!

I have gone to the local veggie market( pictures to come), and it is amazing!  Pretty much every vegetable you would like ( sans spinach sorry Dad!) you can find at a vendor, and they have literally just pulled the stuff from the ground!  My first experience in the market was hilarious, I wandered around looking at the wares,, as I ventured to a carrot vendor to seek a price, the difficulty ensued!  She began shouting about her produce in Russian ( which I do no know), and I could only say please, and how much! Haha.  I believe she became so frustrated/ sorry for me, that she GAVE me two carrots!  

Inside in the meat market was a different story.  Fresh meat hanging ready to be cut the way you want.  There are sections- horse, cow,goat are together.  On the other side there is pork and poultry.  Can you imagine, the whole animal, you just ask for what section you like!  Great steak, and bacon-0oooh boy, good slab of bacon!

The most wonderful thing i have found is the people are so friendly.  Everywhere we go, people are kind  to us.  When people hear us speaking they come over and try to talk with us.  Everyday, I try to learn a little more Russian and Kazakh, so that the local teachers and neighbors will see I am trying, just like they are.

Trish