If you’re like me, the first week of sheltering in place had its benefits—no commute! More pajamas! But it didn’t take long before it felt restrictive. Now, folks need a break. But how do you take a vacation if you can’t leave your house? There are online experiences, but…
I’ve been in Kazakhstan for the past two weeks on an exchange program, but just realized some friends don’t know much about it. Below, I’ve listed a few key facts you might store in your head and share with others: It’s an enormous land. Think of the world’s ten…
I’ve previously shared what I know of modern Kazakh names, as have other authors. But what about ancestral names? My motivation here is a growing connection to the SCA, a group fond of historical fencing, archery, brewing, and crafts. These American hobbyists connect to European history by developing a historical…
In the post-socialist era, Mary Kay and other multilevel marketing companies offer dreams of wealth and a life of meaning. First published on Sapiens.org.
Most books are made in factories, and even boutique presses use machines alongside hand labor to create a small run of books: But you can also craft a high-quality book by hand. A few years ago, I got to watch British bookbinder Jonathan Smith, at his craft in southern Kazakhstan. It can…
I get a lot of readers curious about Kazakhstan, and about working as a librarian abroad. In this post, I’ll share how I got abroad, moved up, and then transitioned back to my home country, the United States. This is one story, so be sure to check out the…
I moved back from Kazakhstan last year, but I still have posts that never quite made it to the blog. Here’s one on the good life: Seven is a popular numbers among Kazakhs, as our language teacher reminded us the other day. First, you listing your seven grandfathers (jeti ata), telling you…
Below, Murat and his Kazakh family build a yurt in the highland plains of Western Mongolia. I made this draft of a children’s ebook two years ago for the pupils at my school in Kazakhstan. View pictures of how a yurt is built, below, or download the PDF and read it…
I’ve been taking a free course on statistical inference online, which mentioned the World Values Survey. For this survey, interviewers ask people about religious, political, sexual, community, and life values. I haven’t looked at whether sample size, selection, fear of interviewers, or bias may affect the results. I suspect there…
March 21st, First Day of Spring Annie calls at 10am, and I roll over to pick up the phone. “Banya, at 10:45, you coming?” “I… maybe,” I say, gravelly-voiced. “Call you back in five.” I contemplate the possibilities. Sleep in and lounge around having coffee all day, or undertake…