Almaty, Kazakhstan

September 4th 2025

Sand and sea gave way to steppe and mountains, Kazakhstan. Kazakh the decedents of over 1000 nomadic tribes. Kazakhstani the diversity of peoples who live in Kazakhstan.  Russians from the Russian empire, and again from soviet occupation. Korean refugees resettled hear by the Russians in WW2. Uzbeks from the lines of mapmakers drawing there homelands just outside of Uzbekistan. Various other ethnic groups, such as Germans, Ukrainians, and Chechens.

Here in Almaty, a city of 2million the Kazakh horse has turned into a scooter. flying over sidewalks weaving in and out of crowded streets carrying there passenger at twice the speed. Instead of traditional horse games boys jump the scooters off steps and dive in to deep bowls at the local skate parks. Just outside the city horses are still king. We have seen them in pastures and watched riders demonstrate the full range of nomad games. Horse meat and mares milk are also in abundance but more on that latter…

Staggering mountains lie to the south. Almaty is the city of Parks. Around every corner is a park with swings, and slides. The children explore the city keen with the hunt for a new park. Almaty means apple, the origins of all apples is just a few valleys away.

We are staying in old soviet housing. Three gray six story U-shaped apartment buildings, exactly the same in look and style sit on one city block. Flanked to the north by 3 nine story, gray, identical  apartment buildings built a few years later. There are at least six small parks tucked amongst the builds as well. We quickly learned not to judge its cold drab appearance. It is most definitely a place to congregate with families rich with happy life.

We came to Almaty to participate in a World School Pop up Hub. We spent a  week with seven other families, visiting historical sites and playing in the mountains. It is such treat to get to meet up with other families and share the experience.