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Tengrinews.kz – An American national who recently relocated to Kazakhstan has spoken about why he chose to leave South Korea for the city of Kokshetau — and why the move exceeded his expectations. Francois Mark shared his story on his YouTube blog.
Francois spent around 15 years living in South Korea before deciding to make a drastic change. According to him, Kazakhstan stood out because of its atmosphere and closeness to nature.
“I was afraid to come here because I had lived in Korea for 15 years. You can imagine the technology, the convenience, the global status — and how many opportunities I thought I would lose,” he said.
“I was wrong. Korea has all of that, but Kazakhstan has more. There are more opportunities here because there is less competition and fewer native English speakers. I can achieve more in one year in Kazakhstan than in several years in Korea.”
He added that the sense of open space and the ability to spend more time outdoors played a major role in his decision.
“I’ve already fully settled into my new city. I don’t understand every part of the culture or every social nuance yet, but overall I’ve found my rhythm — I know where the shops are and where to spend my time,” he said.
Discovering Kokshetau
Francois has been living in Kokshetau for about a month, and the city, he says, completely overturned his expectations.
“This city turned out to be nothing like what I imagined after googling it. I’m very happy here. Some people say it’s a small, boring town — I don’t agree. It’s a fairly large city with a lot going on, and I enjoy all the little details it offers,” he shared.
One thing that particularly impressed him was the country’s bilingual environment.
“What I really love about Kazakhstan is that almost everyone here is at least bilingual. As someone who speaks multiple languages myself, it feels great to be around people who understand and share that part of my life,” he said.
He also jokingly compared one of Kokshetau’s intersections to Tokyo’s famous Shibuya crossing.
“I call this place the Shibuya crossing because it’s a four-way intersection where you can walk in any direction — even diagonally. So this is Shibuya of Kokshetau,” he laughed.
Another surprise was the sharp weather changes.
“Today it’s about plus 27 degrees, and according to the forecast, by Saturday morning it will be minus one. The temperature drops from +27 to –1 in just a couple of days,” he said, adding that he assumes geography plays a role.
Fear, risk — and new opportunities
Francois admitted that leaving a stable life in South Korea was frightening.
“Before coming here, I was really anxious. I kept thinking: what am I doing? I’m leaving Korea and going to Kazakhstan. Why? That’s crazy. What sane person would trade stability in Korea for uncertainty?” he recalled.
But his perspective quickly changed.
“I thought Korea had more technology, comfort and opportunities. But I was mistaken. Yes, Korea offers all of that, but Kazakhstan offers something else — fewer people and less competition. Because of that, there are even more opportunities,” he said.
As a native English speaker, he noticed strong interest from local residents and educational institutions. One visit to a school left a lasting impression.
“I thought it would be a casual meeting, but they organized a whole ceremony. I was seated at the head of the table, my name and title were written out, and I was asked many questions about English, studying abroad and career opportunities,” he said.
That experience pushed him toward a new decision.
“I’ve thought about it a lot, and today it became clear: I’m going to open my own English-language school in Kokshetau — but it won’t be like a typical school,” he announced.
Francois added that while he once dreamed of moving to Africa to buy land and grow watermelons, Kazakhstan unexpectedly unlocked a wave of creativity.
“I don’t know if it’s the air or the new experience, but I’ve had a flow of creative ideas here. Maybe it’s because I spend more time in nature instead of sitting in an apartment. People say the more time you spend outdoors, the more creative your mind becomes — and I definitely feel that,” he said.
In closing, Francois said he plans to keep exploring Kazakhstan and immersing himself in the culture.
“I’m incredibly happy I chose Kazakhstan. Despite the initial fear, I have so many opportunities here — to discover Kazakh culture, share American culture, and most importantly, grow as a person,” he said.
“Life has many paths to reach your goals. I’ll enjoy my time here, dive into the culture, and make the most of this unique chance — especially as an African American — to discover Central Asia and myself.”“Always believe in yourself,” he concluded. “If you’re scared, it’s only because you haven’t done it yet. Once you do, the fear disappears and turns into experience and knowledge.”
