Big city life in Almaty

07. - 11.07.2014

Our first fieldwork round is over. Now we are back in the big city of Almaty.
As we arrive in Almaty, Prof. Nurtazin welcomes us back from the Balkhash area, where we did our fieldwork. The students of the working group also meet us and accompany us to the students residence, where Clare and me are suppose to stay during our time in Almaty. We are not too enthusiastic about this accommodation. The students residence is under construction, so the showers are not working. We could only wash ourselves over the sink. Also our room with two beds and the toilette is dirty ... I'm really happy, that Clare feels sick because of the nasty painting color smell. So Margulan organises, that Clare and me can stay with him in the house of Prof. Nurtazins daughter, Dina.

Our new residence is in a wealthy urban district
in the south of Almaty close to the mountains.



Clare and me

We are really enjoying the supermarket next door. During our fieldwork we don't have the opportunity to just buy everything we want. So we are feeling really spoiled right now.

In the evening Clare and me help Margulan
to build up the pool for the son of Dina.



The house minder, a German shepherd, is watching us.



Margulan in action



View from our residence to Көк-Төбе (Kok Tobe).

The next moring we have a meeting at the Kazakh National University (KazNU). Dina takes us with her car and brings us to the Republic Square, one of Almaty’s main squares.

Republic Square



Monument of Independence



Алмалы ТРЦ, the Almaly underground shopping center






Clare



улица Жарокова
Zheltoksan street

After our meeting at the university, where we organised the next fieldwork round and my trip to Kyrgyzstan for the renewal of my visa, Clare and me are going for some shopping at the green bazaar.

зелёный база́р



The mountains of Almaty



Тянь Шань
Tian Shan

The next days I'm getting closer to the mountains, because Azim and me will go to Kyrgyzstan and visit Azim's village.

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