Matta
@Art teacher man
American expat in Kazakhstan
Forum posts
33
Contacts
3
About me
American
Lives in Aktobe
Speaks english
Registration: 08 June 2013
J-2 Visa/ Residence permit and eligibility to work
While your question and topic is legal it has a foundation in the motivation and ability to get things done by the manager or employer. I worked for the state with a school that bears the president's name so we rarely ran into issues. Still, it ... Read More
Driving in Kazakhstan by Maximilien
Hi, What do you think of the way people drive in Kazakhstan? How different is it from your home country? Respecting the road safety rules, driving etiquette such as general courtesy, speed excess what are the characteristics of the driving ...
Each individual drives differently, of course, but a general assessment on driving in Kazakhstan, particularly Aktobe, I would say that the differences are seen in three ways: how people respond to the traffic systems themselves, attention to the ... Read More
Certificate of Good Conduct...how to obtain it quickly.
As in a certificate from the police stating that you did not commit a crime while in KZ? I know a guy on here by the name of Jamin was able to get one. Didn't seem that difficult. Read More
VPN required? by Guest9764
Has anyone in KZ found that it's better to have a VPN? I know many sites were blocked in the UAE. Thanks.
Go to www.target.com I have to use Hola to watch netflix It's just a retail store in American that I wanted to buy and send presents with---but that's the point. It's just a retail store. Maybe America is too protective? Or maybe ... Read More
VPN required? by Guest9764
Has anyone in KZ found that it's better to have a VPN? I know many sites were blocked in the UAE. Thanks.
BEST EVER: Hola https://hola.org/download?list=1 Others http://www.proxyserver.pk/proxy-list/ Read More
Looking for teaching job job
Have you seen the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools posting? It's pretty much the only game in town. Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
Forgot to mention. When the tenge to dollar dropped- 150 tenge: 1 dollar to 180 tenge: 1 dollar- I personally lost a good bit. Not because they removed tenge or my balance was changed, rather my exchange bought fewer dollars. I've heard that ... Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
<<as i="" understand="" it="" my="" tenge="" cannot="" be="" transferred="" to="" usd="" or="" euros="" ... Read More
obtaining Kazakhstan visa... a little warning by kazprincess
Hello everybody. Just FYI. Lots of visa and migration laws were changed (and still being) since march 2013. It looks like Kazakh Government making it impossible for foreigners to come to this "Paradise" country. I'm local married to ...
What a nightmare. You wonder how these things happen but then turn the question around and ask why they, mostly, don't in some, not all, countries. Getting a straight answer seems difficult unless you know someone that knows someone that knows ... Read More
marrying a kazakh girl! by arshad_rhm
Hi guys!! My name's Arshad. Well I am into a kazakh girl. I really like her. Hopefully I want to marry her soon. But I still didn't propose her. I'm also trying to learn russian languages because we have problem in our communication. I ...
Link: Tips on dating a Kazakh man or woman.... Oh, is she Kazakh or Kazakhstani? Possible cultural and traditional factors may apply. Read More
Sports bar in Aktobe by Janna12
Hello, Please advise is there any sports bar/pub in Aktobe to watch rugby games. Thanks in advance
Taksim is across the street from the football stadium and the Sheraton. If you walk 10 minutes down the street with Taksim on your right and the stadium on your right you will see Kemer on the right. They are both popular cafes and taxi drivers ... Read More
Sports bar in Aktobe by Janna12
Hello, Please advise is there any sports bar/pub in Aktobe to watch rugby games. Thanks in advance
KEMER TAKSIM You may have to request that they put the game on. Not usually a problem especially if the game is early afternoon. You can usually find a few expat teachers from NIS at Kemer. Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
That's a pretty large topic. Depends on where you are, which subject, and those specific things that you need in your life. Message me with specific questions and I'll do my best to help. Read More
KZT to USD "devaluation" by Jaming
Someone informed us here in Aktobe that the KZT has just been devalued to USD1 = 175/180 KZT from 155KZT. Is that true? Are other currencies affected?
en.tengrinews.kz/finance/Currency-devaluation-in-Kazakhstan-25939/ Read More
Australia to Kazakhstan money tranfer? by NucMed
Hi, has anyone had any experience with transferring money from an Australian bank to a bank in Kazakhstan? (I'm with Sberbank in Kazakhstan). The ATM fees are starting to bite ... Australian banks don't use the SWIFT IBAN system ... Cheers, Peter
Yep. In Aktobe there is one teacher from Australia and two from New Zealand (not the same but thought it was relevant) that use Visa to Visa successfully. You need an account in KZ, they use Kazkom, and a Visa debit card from your other bank. Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
I too sent a wire transfer home before the holidays. It only took 2 days for the funds to go from Kazkom bank to my bank in the US. There are fees involved but I haven't quite figured out how much. I was just happy to complete it. It is better to ... Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
We were told, I believe, that Kazkom can do online transfers but without asking someone all I know for sure is that they have ATM transfer abilities. We have contacts and know where the people work that presented but walking in off the street ... Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
Hey Lyaz. After 7 weeks and two banks later we have it nearly figured out. Here in Aktobe some teachers have used western union and money gram but I've been holding out for a bank to bank transfer. We all opened accounts with Halyk bank, one of two ... Read More
bringing prescribed medicines into Kazakstan
Yes, but I believe you can only carry with you a three months supply. Check that out though. I am ordering prescriptions I cannot get in town from an online pharmacy. They are on the way so we'll see how it all plays out. Pharmacies here are like ... Read More
US work visa processing by Art teacher man
I will be teaching with the AEO NIS this fall. After finally securing my official letter of employment I started reviewing the Kazakhstan US embassy's website for the visa Procedures. The process is simple enough but they do not accept applications ...
After spending four days in Astana and one day in Aktobe, I have a sense of the difference between the two but think I'll like Aktobe. From what I've heard of Almaty it's definitely a must see before I leave the country this summer as well as some ... Read More
US work visa processing by Art teacher man
I will be teaching with the AEO NIS this fall. After finally securing my official letter of employment I started reviewing the Kazakhstan US embassy's website for the visa Procedures. The process is simple enough but they do not accept applications ...
Travis has a special expedited service like I mentioned but the Kazakh embassy doesn't offer a faster service. All Travisa can do is use their connections in the embassy to have yours processed first. All visas take 5-7 days. I requested mine to be ... Read More
US work visa processing by Art teacher man
I will be teaching with the AEO NIS this fall. After finally securing my official letter of employment I started reviewing the Kazakhstan US embassy's website for the visa Procedures. The process is simple enough but they do not accept applications ...
Go through Travisa. I paid an extra $200 and had a personal case manager. Expensive but it got done. You are going to need to overnight them your passport, application, and evidence of the invitation to work. Read More
Help me decide! Aktobe, Uralsk, or Kokshetau? Or go UAE?
His name is Nathan Lawler. I have his contact if you need it. You said that you were in contact with a woman but maybe he mostly helps with the western part of the country. He is really helpful. I asked a lot of questions and he answered each one. ... Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
Thank you for your quick insights. I have a major banking account (Schwab) but wanted to know specifically what people are using to convert their tenge payments into dollars. What I'm most interested in is avoiding some type of "we'll look into ... Read More
Cost of living in Kazakhstan by expat.com
Hi everybody, It would be very useful to talk about the cost of living in Kazakhstan. Don't forget to mention where in Kazakhstan you are living. How much does it cost to live in Kazakhstan? > accommodation prices > public transportation fares ...
Love of stamps! So true! Read More
US work visa processing
I will be teaching with the AEO NIS this fall. After finally securing my official letter of employment I started reviewing the Kazakhstan US embassy's website for the visa Procedures. The process is simple enough but they do not accept applications ... Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers by Art teacher man
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ...
Wow, this is an excellent response. Much thanks. While I don't have the first-hand experience to fully comment, these are my impressions: It didn't take me long to figure out that the pet project of the President is an uber governmental one. From ... Read More
State expat employees or NIS teachers
Hi everyone. I will be working as a teacher with the new Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Aqtobe and was wondering if anyone here was doing the same or is working for the State. I'm trying to get a better idea how the State handles pay and ... Read More
Life in Aktobe by slimchung
I noticed that a lot of the thread here deal mostly with Astana and Almaty. I am applying for a job in education in Aktobe so might be there in 4mos or so. For those of you living there, native and foreign, what makes the city unique in ...
Domi- I will be arriving in Aktobe at the end of August. My biggest hurdle has been shipping. To send using UPS or FedEx, a 20"x20"x20" box from the US it will cost nearly a thousand dollars. Nothing is worth that much to ship. Of course, I can pay ... Read More
Life in Aktobe by slimchung
I noticed that a lot of the thread here deal mostly with Astana and Almaty. I am applying for a job in education in Aktobe so might be there in 4mos or so. For those of you living there, native and foreign, what makes the city unique in ...
Did you ever end up teaching there? I've been offered an art teaching position in Aktobe. Trying to decide if I'm going to take it. How's the Internet service? Can you pay for better Internet if you need it? Can you buy fresh fruits and veggies ... Read More