u/Beneficial_Plane_706

Hi, three days ago I have arrived in plane to Astana, have been there for one night, then got on a sleeper train (17 hours) to Almaty. Right now I am resting in my apartment, after walking and riding a scooter thru Almaty.

I really liked Astana, there was a lot of walking space, the people really seemed nice, and the architecture was just so amazing. I felt really safe, and I have barely seen any trash there. I spent the night in a pretty bad hotel but i survived and just took trips around the city a lot. The taxis werent expensive for me, so I visited some farther parts of the city. I love the way post soviet living blocks contrast the modern skyscrapers and the parks were soo damn pretty. I also took a boat trip in the river and visited the Bayterek tower. One thing I have to say that the traffic was hella crazy and you guys kinda lack trash bins and the windows on the tower were dirty and the photos turned out mid 😭

The train trip was SUPER nice, the beds were comfortable enough to sleep, the countryside was just wonderful and I also talked to some very interesting and friendly people.

After I got to Almaty I got into my apartment I rented and then went out for a long walk. The city is very clean and I feel very safe, just like in Astana. What i like much more is that the city is much more dense than Astana andthe views... oh my... the city blends soo nice with the Tien chan and theres just soo much trees and the city is so green.. im so in love.

About the people: I have talked a LOT with the taxi drivers and co-passangers. Theyre really friendly and nice, its really nice to hear their stories and stuff about their lives. By the way, Kazakh women are so beautiful in my opinion, although i dont know how they are like but they seem really nice and i would like to get to know some. Funny story: One of the taxi was talking with my father, and he said that I really fell in love with Kazachstan already and the taxi driver replied that I will fall in love with Khazak girls even faster and then wanted me to contact his daughter LMAO (my dad refused cuz im a teenager actually, not an adult yet and the guy was talking about marriage already but idk if he was joking)

I really love the sense of community I see here. The people spend a lot of time together, rest together, go on walks and are really social, which we really lack in our western world. Kazakhstan really reminds me of the way my parents and grandparents used to talk about 90s Poland.

I really pray that the values, friendliness and hospitality of the Kazakhs wont change a lot with the rapid development of the country as it happened in Poland and I pray that the vibe wont change too much to the time when i will be able to visit it by myself and maybe even try living there for a couple of months.

It kind of hurts to think that it might become like our plain and introverted western societies.. May God bless this nation and every one of you. I am praying and blessing this nation.

(Additional question: how are the women here? I geniuelly after talking to the taxi driver thought of having a Kazakh wife in the future, and im impressed by them)

So basically in a week im going to a trip to Kazakhstan for 10 days. The first two I spend in Astana and then travel by train (19 hours) to Almaty where I spend the rest of the holiday (On the last day I fly by plane back to Astana and then to my homeland)

So I know that Astana is more of an artificial city with less culture and history than Almaty, so I wont be there for long. Im planning to walk around the city centre and the main attractions, and in Almaty im planning atleast a couple trips to Tien Shan and around the city (I really wanna see a mosque and an Orthodox Church)

Also either in Almaty or Astana im going to like markets, because I've heard a lot about them and I will definitely have to buy some clothes there as things in Kazakhstan are really cheap for me.

Do you have any suggestions on what could I do? (Also i took the trip by train to see the countryside, and maybe talk to some people)

So basically ik this is very unrelated but I just found this subreddit and I kinda wanted to share my thoughts lol

So I was born and raised in poorer Eastern Europe and have always looked at the U.S with a fascination. Ever since I found out about the existence of the country it really impressed me and I really wanted to live there as a kid.

I used to compare US states one to another in books and Wikipedia, researching which one would be the best for me to live in and at that time I decided it's going to be Maine, seemed connected with nature and much more peaceful (atleast I think) than other states.

I used to stare at US maps for hours, and once bought a map of Maine, which I still have to this very day. I used to look at cities I would wanna live in and I if I remember good i first thought of Portland and that Bath town, but then I got really interested in Biddeford.

Around like a half year later I started doing a lot of research and even making a plan on how to move there once im 18 XDD (I didint do it yet lol) and I was even researching housing costs and staring at the street view so much.

Im sorry if this story is irrelevant to this group, I just wanted to share my experience. And how do you all People from Biddeford like it there?