My trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan was the farthest I had ever traveled before. Thus, I was nervous about this new adventure. However, since my senior year of high school in 2023, I had been determined to improve my Russian language skills and experience life abroad in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I had only been studying Russian for two years, so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to speak or understand anyone, especially my host family.
However, the minute I stepped off the plane and met my host mom, I realized that I had underestimated my abilities. She welcomed me with a friendly hug, easing any concerns I had about making a good first impression and I was able to understand her better than I thought. I didn’t realize at the time how fast my Russian would soon improve or the amazing experiences that I would have.
Since arriving in Kazakhstan, I’ve seen a huge improvement in my Russian. The first week of living with my host mom (and her adorable cat), I had to constantly ask her to repeat herself or say that I didn’t understand. In addition, the first day of classes were rough, because I was struggling to understand my professors. However, I was patient with myself, and as the next week came along, I already noticed amazing progress.
I started to respond faster to my host mom without thinking too hard about what she said to me. I could understand my professors in class and know what the homework was without having to ask my peers. I was even able to have short conversations with locals. The complete immersion in Russian has drastically improved my language skills in just the first two weeks!
In addition to the improvement in my Russian, I have slowly been adjusting to life in Almaty. During the first week, I had many moments where I felt homesick, especially after tiring from hearing and speaking Russian all day. However, the more I got to know the city and people, and the more my Russian improved, I felt less homesick and more excited about the opportunities I had every day to explore Almaty and meet locals.
Sometimes after class, I venture out to explore new places, including local malls and restaurants. I got a taste of Kazakh culture when some friends and I tried a restaurant that served local dishes. For the first time, I tried конина, horse meat, and кумыс, fermented horse milk. I think the fermented milk might be an acquired taste, but the horse meat was really good! I told my host mom that I tried it, and she seemed thrilled about this and pulled out a container of horse meat she had in her fridge!
A place I really enjoyed exploring was First President’s Park, which I had read about previously and was really excited to see! From the park, you get a gorgeous view of the mountains, which I’ve had my eyes set on since seeing them for the first time when I arrived in Almaty. I was able to go on a hike through the mountains one weekend with friends, even seeing snow once we reached the top! The trail was gorgeous, and I hope to explore the mountains further during my time here.
Studying abroad in Kazakhstan has not only helped to improve my Russian through talking to locals, but it has also changed me as a person. Navigating the city on my own, using local transportation, and relying on my Russian to get around has not only improved my language skills, but it has also made me more confident in myself and my ability to adapt to new places. Studying abroad so far from home has drastically strengthened my independence and unlocked a desire to travel more. I am more dedicated than ever to improve my Russian. Throughout the rest of this trip, I hope I can make the most of my experience and hopefully make lifelong friends along the way!
Dan E. Davidson Fellowship Recipient
Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP)
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU)
Almaty, Kazakhstan, Summer 2025