25 September 2024 | 10:11

“I feel like this is my home“: why foreigners choose Kazakhstan

©️ Tengrinews.kz / Turar Kazangapov

Tengrinews.kz - In recent years, Kazakhstan has become an attractive place for many foreigners to live and work. People from all over the world find not only professional opportunities here but also a sense of comfort, coziness, and safety. Tengrinews.kz spoke with expats to find out why they chose Kazakhstan as their home.

Tengrinews.kz - In recent years, Kazakhstan has become an attractive place for many foreigners to live and work. People from all over the world find not only professional opportunities here but also a sense of comfort, coziness, and safety. Tengrinews.kz spoke with expats to find out why they chose Kazakhstan as their home.

A 23-year-old American Sam has been living here for just over a year. He is originally from Tampa, Florida, and currently works in the humanoid robotics research lab at Nazarbayev University. He shared that he moved to Kazakhstan with his wife due to immigration complications. Initially, their plan was to live in Kazakhstan temporarily until their paperwork issues were resolved, and then return to the U.S. However, fate had other plans.

"We decided to move to Kazakhstan because it's her home country, and I had always wanted to live far from home. My goal was to find a job in Kazakhstan, gain experience, and then return to the U.S. when my wife's immigration issues were resolved. It turned out to be very difficult, and I even considered returning to America to earn more money and visit my family in Kazakhstan sometimes.
I was also looking for jobs in other countries like Turkey, Romania, and others. After a long and persistent search, I found a job at Nazarbayev University. Here, I am involved in fascinating research that not only contributes to Kazakhstan's academic reputation but also benefits my career through co-authoring scientific papers.
I’m staying here because it’s the best option for our family right now. My wife and I have jobs related to our careers, and I’ve been able to build strong relationships with her family. There are things I really like about Kazakhstan that I don’t find in America," Sam shared.

Photo provided by Sam

One of the main advantages of living in Kazakhstan, he mentioned, is the sense of community and social cohesion, which is often lacking in the U.S., where individualism prevails.

"In the future, we would like to raise our children in Kazakhstan. The food here is amazing. The sense of community and social cohesion is truly remarkable. In the U.S., there is sometimes an emptiness due to individualism and a lack of unity.
I would like to work again in America or Europe, go to graduate school, and travel more. Unfortunately, the industries I want to work in don't exist in Kazakhstan, and salaries here are significantly lower than in the U.S. If I had the opportunity to visit my American family more often and advance my career, I would have no problem living here for a long time," he shared.

Photo provided by Sam

Ahmed Magdi, a 31-year-old engineer from Egypt, initially came to Kazakhstan on a temporary basis to participate in a construction project in Astana. This was in 2015, when Kazakhstan's capital was preparing to host the international "Expo-2017" exhibition, and the city was experiencing a period of active construction. At the time, he hadn't even considered staying for long. However, life in Astana gradually won his heart.

"After my first year in Astana, I started getting used to the city. People here were very helpful in helping me adapt. I began to feel almost at home. I became attached to Astana, especially because it’s a young capital with a promising future. After finishing my work in construction, unlike my colleagues, I didn't return to Egypt but decided to stay. After learning the language, I had more opportunities to work as an engineer.
Now, after nine years, I feel like this is my home. The people here are very welcoming and eager to learn more about other cultures and countries. They take pride in their heritage, which reminds me of my fellow countrymen," Ahmed noted.

Kazakhstan impressed Ahmed not only with its opportunities but also with its rich culture, unique cuisine, and vibrant celebrations.

"The food here is very tasty and unique, unlike traditional dishes in other countries. The holidays and celebrations are very lively and joyful, and everyone participates – from young people to the elderly. What we recently saw at the Nomad Games is convincing proof of how hospitable people are and how much they enjoy welcoming foreigners, showing them their rich history, traditions, and local dishes," he concluded.

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