Hi my dear friends...

One of my volunteers, an 11th grade student named Ayagoz, has been working on a social science project that I've been helping out with by getting responses from other Peace Corps volunteers. She wrote out thirteen questions in order to find out more about language learning, living with a host family and cultural adjustment. Below is the questionnaire she sent out (in bold) followed by the answers written in by various volunteers around the country (bulleted). Shout out to Ayagoz for a job well done and thanks to the volunteers that replied!

Hi my dear friends,
I am Ayagoz Ali from gymnasium #8, in Shymkent. I am an excellent 11th grade student. I am also a volunteer like you, but in school. I love the United States very much, and I am interested in learning more about your culture. I know that there are many beautiful places in the US, and if I will have the chance to visit any country it will be America.
We have been meeting with Sipra almost every day. In a short period of time I will defend my scientific project about adjustment of foreign volunteers’ in Kazakhstan, and Sipra helps me with this project. I decided to choose this theme because I am interested in this. It’s very important for me to get more information about you. Here some questions that will help me with my project.

1. Do you like Kazakhstan?

• I like Kazakhstan very much, although it is very different from America.

• Yes, I have come to enjoy living in Kazakhstan. It was difficult at first but as I learn more about how to live, the people and culture it becomes easier.

• I like Kazakhstan very much- I am having a very big adventure in your country!
• Yes, I love Kazakstan. I think that it is a vast, beautiful country that more people should know about.

2. Do you like the people from Kazakhstan?

• I like the people I work with and the young people I meet at English clubs and trainings. I randomly meet some people out at the bazaar or on the street who are very nice. On the other hand I have met some very rude people.
• “People” is a very broad term; there are 15 million of them in Kazakshtan. There have been many people I have liked and many people I have not liked. There have been many traditions I have liked, and many traditions I have not liked. Generally, I find that the people here are not intentionally rude, and they are generally friendly. Some rudeness is because of cultural misunderstanding.
• Yes. They are very hospitable.
• For the most part yes. There are good people and bad people just like everywhere. People are people, and people in Kazakhstan are no different.

3. What relations do you have with Kazakh people?

• I work with local people every day. I work at an office with locals, teach English clubs with local students, have local friends, etc. All of these people are important to me, and I have loved being their friend, colleague, and teacher over the past two years.
• I am friends with them. I have a Kazakh girlfriend.
• I have friends, coworkers, students, roommates, and a landlord.
• I have lots of Kazakhstani friends and I love all my students and co-workers. I have been here for one year and I know many people already!

4. Is it hard to learn our national languages?

• Learning a new language is always hard.
• Very difficult. Especially in the south. I learned Russian, but many people here do not speak Russian or maybe speak with a mix of Kazakh. This is very difficult for someone trying to learn a language. It would be like if you went to America and lived in south Texas where many people’s second language is English and they speak predominately in Spanish and mix in English words.
• Since I live in the north, I am only learning Russian. It is a difficult language, but I love studying and learning it.

5. Where are you living? (in what city)

• Shymkent
• Ecik
• Taraz
• Aksukent
• Zhanatas
• Kostanay

6. Do you like this city?

• I do like Ecik. It is pretty, has mountains, and lots of Kazakh history (Golden Man)
• I do! It has become my home.
• I love this city. It is my favorite in Kazakhstan. It has become my home.

7. How is your relationship with members of your host family?

• Great, they are Kazakh and I haven’t lived with them for over a year. But I still go visit them. I am especially close to my younger host sister who is 11 years old now. When I go over there, we usually play cards and sing karaoke.
• I live by myself now but I try to keep in touch with my host family through SMS.
• I don't live with them anymore but I go back often to visit. They are really important to me.
• My relationship with my host family is great. I just moved out but I know I will still see them often. I had a host mom and a host sister. My host sister calls me her sister. We have a lot of fun talking together.

8. Is it hard living in Kazakhstan? (in your city)

• There are some difficulties. I live in a village so we only have water a few hours away. I am also very far from other volunteers.
• No, it is not hard. It was difficult adjusting at first due to language difficulties. Things, however, are much better now. Also, I definitely miss my family and friends from America. But, through the internet, I am able to communicate with them so that helps too.
• Sometimes it's really hard, when I miss home, but usually it's not hard, just interesting! I love living in Kazakhstan because I am always learning something new.

9. What did you think about when you first came here?

• This place is an interesting mix of Central Asia and Soviet cultures.
• Learning the language
• I thought about my family and friends.
• I didn’t really know what to think because I didn’t know much about Kazakhstan. I do remember getting off the plane at the airport in Almaty and thinking, “Those policeman hats are huge!” This is my first tangible memory of a thought I had about Kazakhstan.

10. Do you miss your Motherland?

• Yes, of course. I miss my family, friends, and American way of life.
• Every day.
• I miss many people from America, and I miss many things about American culture, but I'm happy to be here right now!
• Yes, I do. Everyday. I love Kazakhstan, but I miss my home.
• Of course!

11. What new hobby did you get here?

• I love singing Kazakh music!
• I’m taking dombra lessons.
• I enjoy baking more.
• It’s not a new hobby, but I did start to read a lot more once I got here. I think I was just hungry for English!
• I have been learning Uzbek and Kazakh dances!

12. In which language do you speak with the people around you?

• Russian or English
• Mostly Uzbek and some Kazakh.
• We all speak Kazakh.

13. Why do you think it is difficult to learn our national languages to fluency?

• It’s always difficult to become fluent in a language that isn’t your own. For foreigners, I think its hard to learn Kazakh fluently because many people also speak Russian, and mix the two languages together so its easy to get confused.
• All languages are very difficult to learn to be fluent. It is of course easy to have conversational speech.
• Because Kazakh and Russian have different alphabets, sounds, and grammar than English.
• Turkic languages are very difficult, but it is also difficult to find resources for learning these languages. On the internet there are millions of resources for learning English, but not for learning Kazakh or Uzbek.

14. Can give your photo with people from your city or students.

Thank you very much for your answers, I sure it will help me to win the competition.