Kazakhstan stands out among other countries of the former Soviet Union. The republic is not poor, like Tajikistan or Uzbekistan, but in terms of living standards it lags somewhat behind Russia or the Baltic states. The Turkic population predominates here, but a significant proportion of Russians also live.
Instructions
Step 1
Such different regions
It is wrong to think that Kazakhstanis live the same throughout the country. Here, as in Russia, the regions are very heterogeneous in terms of prosperity. If you come to Astana or Alma-Ata, you will see modern megalopolises with an established infrastructure. But if your visit is limited only to these cities, then the impression of the country will not be entirely correct. Other large settlements such as Kostanay, Pavlodar, Karaganda look quite ordinary and do not fundamentally differ from many Russian regional centers.
Step 2
The regions are very different ethnically. If in the north of the country most of the population is Russian, then in the western and southern parts Kazakhs predominate. The same goes for the language. If in the north of the country Russian is the main language for many Kazakhs, then in the west and south of the country the situation is different. The economic situation is also different. In the oil-bearing regions of the western part of the country, wages are much higher than in other cities. And, of course, the population of Astana and Alma-Ata lives much richer than the inhabitants of remote villages and small towns.
Step 3
National flavor and Soviet past
Visiting various regions of Kazakhstan, sometimes one gets the impression that little has changed here since the days of the Soviet Union. The setting is conducive to nostalgia. Friendship of peoples, caring leaders of the country, all this is still in Kazakhstan. But there is also a special national flavor. Kazakh cultural centers and schools are actively working, where teaching takes place exclusively in the state language.
Step 4
Integration with Russia
Kazakhstan is an active participant in the creation of the Eurasian Union. A common currency, economic policy, open borders with Russia and other participants - all this is in an uncertain perspective. Integration is now mostly only on paper. It remains to be hoped that in the near future the inhabitants of Russia and Kazakhstan will be able to visit each other as easily as they once did in the Soviet Union.
Step 5
Rural life in Kazakhstan
Historically, steppe inhabitants were engaged in cattle breeding. In Kazakhstan, to this day, villagers graze horses, sheep, and cows. Camels are bred in the southern regions. Agriculture is also developed in Kazakhstan. In the northern regions, vegetables and grains are grown. In the west, corn, sunflowers and many types of vegetables grow. In the southern part of the republic, cotton, tobacco, rice, and fruits are grown.
