Student Profiles

Clara Ferguson, College of Wooster, Astana

When I arrived in Kazakhstan for Middlebury’s Russian language study abroad program at Nazarbayev University, I was admittedly out of my element. Although I had studied Russian for years, I wasn’t convinced I was ready to live in another country. I was embarrassed to speak in a foreign language in which I knew I would make mistakes. During my first month in Astana, I rarely ventured far from campus on my own. A new country, unfamiliar systems, and the pressure of operating in a foreign language felt overwhelming.

However, over time, I began to not only survive but flourish in this new environment. The structure provided by the program, which organized group outings, taught classes in Russian, and placed us with Russian-speaking roommates, gradually built both my confidence and vocabulary in situations far beyond the classroom. I began making friends through my roommate and her peers and even made a few outside in the city. I began with walking the city (yes, in the brutal cold) before a friend eventually showed me the ropes to using the bus system. At one point, I even walked all the way to Ailand, home to the aquarium furthest from any ocean in the world. My phone died from the cold more than once during those early weeks, but I quickly learned not to panic. I could always find and duck into a coffee shop or convenience store, or, if I was close enough, I could use the distinctive Expo sphere to navigate my way back to campus.

Outside the classroom, I participated in horseback riding trips just outside the city with the University’s Adventure Club, where I saw a Kazakh tazy up close, tried an altybakan (a traditional Kazakh swing) and met even more friends. Those experiences helped Astana begin to feel less like a setting for my studying and more like a place I was living.

Our group excursion to Burabay taught me how Kazakhstan’s train system worked, and our spring break trip to Shymkent and Turkestan gave me something even more valuable: confidence. Having free time to explore an unfamiliar city, knowing help was available if I needed it, made me realize that independent travel was within my reach. Train tickets were affordable (and funding available) and I had enough Russian to solve problems as they arose with persistence and patience.

After this epiphany, I spent whatever free time I had on the weekends (whenever I wasn’t hanging out with my new Kazakh friends, that is), exploring somewhere new. I traveled to Karaganda, Kokshetau, the village of Aqmol, and Pavlodar, each trip bringing their own thrills and tribulations…

For me, the most valuable thing gained in Kazakhstan wasn’t stronger Russian, but confidence. The version of me who landed in Astana didn’t think she was ready to live abroad, let alone board an overnight train alone to a city she had never seen simply because she wanted to explore it. By the end of the semester, that had become normal.

I’m incredibly grateful to Middlebury, Nazarbayev University, my professors, and everyone I met along the way. Study abroad encompasses far more than language practice—it taught me to trust myself, adapt when things go wrong, and live life to the fullest by saying “yes” to experiences even in the face of intimidation. Рақмет, Қазақстан.

Ernesto Gallego, Middlebury College, Almaty

I count myself lucky because [my fall semester abroad was] my second time living in Almaty; therefore, I had a rough idea of what to expect in terms of daily life in Almaty. I was living with my very familiar host family from when I lived in Almaty the first time. Nonetheless, adjusting to life with a host family has its difficulties, which in my case was eating the same cutleti and grechka for an entire week. But there were only positive memories with my host family, from eating a traditional Kazakh meal surrounded by my host dad’s family to small conversations about the unique Kazakh mentality. While some may feel nervous to live abroad with a host family, I find it to be the root of language and cultural immersion. 

Outside of my small Soviet-style apartment, there were an infinite number of things to do. My Kazakh friends truly introduced me to Almaty in a much different way than I had experienced during my first time in the city. Hospitality, openness, and laughter felt like the norm of everyday life, even when it was hard to follow the mixture of Russian and Kazakh in our conversations. I wish anyone could have the opportunity to spend time in Kazakhstan, because of the people. Kazakhs are some of the most inviting, kind, generous, humorous, and delightful people I have met. Going into this study abroad, I knew I would experience difficulty as the only student in my program, but my local friends who surrounded me, as well as Anna (the on-site coordinator) and Alexei, truly made me feel as comfortable as ever. 

Lastly, a lot could be said about Almaty, but I will keep it brief. Almaty, a metropolis of over 2.5 million people, known as the city of a thousand colors and the birthplace of the apple, is hard to describe. It is bright, active, loud, hospitable, and simply wonderful. Medeu, Kok Tobe, and several of the nation’s top museums, theaters, and opera houses, as well as historical landmarks, are in close proximity to the city center. Most of all, everything is accessible by efficient and cheap public transport (each metro station, especially, is unique and filled with its own design). I will say, coming from a small town, Almaty is quite daunting at times. All drivers live on the edge, and there is constant noise, but fortunately, due to easy and widespread access to public parks, it is easy to escape the at-times chaotic atmosphere that Almaty has to offer. And if you have time to get out of the city, I highly recommend visiting Lake Kolsai, Lake Kaindy, Cherny Canyon, and other notable destinations like Aktau. 

Annie Mulvaney, Wheaton College (MA), Astana

I studied in Astana during the spring semester of my junior year and it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. My Russian vocabulary has grown immensely, I learned a lot about Central Asia and a lot about myself.

I really appreciated the program’s coordinators. They took us on vacation, invited us to museums and shows at the Astana Opera such as the Tchaikovsky ballet Swan Lake, and were always there for us if we had problems or worries. Without them I would have been lost and would not have seen a lot of what Kazakhstan has to offer. I also had an amazing Kazakh roommate who taught me a lot about Kazakh culture and a bit of the Kazakh language. 

During your semester abroad I highly recommend traveling whenever you get the chance. I went on two special trips provided by the program to Burabay and Aktau, and also went to Almaty and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan with some friends for Spring Break! I loved spending time with horses and deer in Burabay, climbing mountains in Aktau and visiting the grave of my favorite singer Murat Nasyrov in Almaty. I also enjoyed exploring Astana and going inside Baiterek!

Cultural immersion in general is very important as well. I learned how to play the dombra, a traditional Kazakh instrument, and everyone in the program participated in Nauryz (New Year) festivities. You must also go out to restaurants and try delicious Central Asian dishes such as lagman, plov and beshbarmak. I even miss the Nazarbayev University cafeteria food, as silly as it may sound.

This program improved my Russian language level a lot. Taking classes only in Russian and speaking Russian with other students in the program, my roommate and the locals really helped. The Middlebury Language Pledge was scary at first, but do not put too much pressure on yourself. Say what you can in the target language and if you don’t know a word it is always okay to ask. Being part of the conversation is better than being silent. 

Brenae’ Ervin, Middlebury College, Astana

The time I spent abroad in Astana, Kazakhstan with the Middlebury program was one of the best experiences I have had! The immersion program is set up in a way that provided me with so much opportunity for growth in the Russian language and also time to just explore the culture of Kazakhstan! The professors and coordinators are always there to support your Russian learning journey and there were so many fun activities that students in the program could participate in, both on and off campus. For example, we were able to go to a play based on the Russian short story ‘The Nose’ by Gogol, we went to the Astana Theatre, ordered and ate at local restaurants, and were even able to travel to other parts of Kazakhstan such as Semei and Barabai to learn more about the history and see the natural beauty of the country.

I would definitely recommend the Kazakhstan program because it helped me gain confidence in speaking and I also just learned to speak about different topics I had never talked about. In Kazakhstan, I met so many people that I can now call friends. All the interactions and experiences I had contributed to my progress and helped me improve my Russian language skills and at the end of the study abroad program I could see how positively it impacted me!

Maya Watson, Middlebury College, Astana

During my time in Astana, I had the opportunity to pursue both traditional academics and experiences outside of class. In some ways, the structure of the Middlebury program itself makes this possible, and in others the experience is really what each individual chooses to make of it. Thanks to our Middlebury program coordinators, I went to more plays, operas, and ballets in four months in Astana than I have in my whole life in the United States. The class schedule itself was also set up to allow students freedom for their own excursions. For example, a group of us took a trip to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where we rode horses in the mountains surrounding the city and used Russian to barter at the local bazaar. The classes themselves varied in intensity and covered a wide range of topics. I definitely felt as though my Russian-language skills improved over the course of the semester, especially thanks to many conversations with taxi drivers and various random encounters with people in the city (especially in the rock climbing gym!).

John Paul Oberst, University of Cincinnati, Astana

When you picture a typical American college experience, you don’t see yourself studying intensive Russian in the steppe of Kazakhstan, however for the students who seek adventure, experience, and a chance to see the unknown, Kazakhstan is the perfect place to study. I had always known that I wanted to study abroad and study Russian immersively, however like many students my studies were shifted due to events in Russia, so I applied to Middlebury and was excited to start studies in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This step in my life was scary at first, and all students should understand that entering a program like the language school at Middlebury will be intimidating, but don’t be scared because everyone is on your side and the program is designed to help you grow. 

Through my four months in Kazakhstan, I made so many lasting memories and got to explore three amazing countries within one of the most underrated regions of the world. Not only were the Middlebury courses incredibly well put together, they all uniquely helped me grow my language skills to the point that I feel more confident in Russian coming out than I did going in. I was always told that studying abroad would change my life, but truly studying in Kazakhstan gave me a better idea of who I am, where I want to go, and who I want to be in the future.