Is moving to Kazakhstan a good idea?

Pat McCurran

I'm from Dundalk and have a long history of wanting to move to this country, preferably Almaty or Astana, to live and work there. I'm a single male.

Is this a wise move?

Is it safe?

Any suggestions/pros and cons?

Am I being ridiculous?

troyzer

Lol

98q76e12hrflnk

Watch the first 10 mins of "Borat" very good documentary on the place.

Neyite

Is nice!

Pique

There are no more bears in Kazakhstan.

Just FYI.

Tabnabs

Borat, is that you?

troyzer

OSI wrote: »

Is number one exporter of potassium

Nope, never was.

Fake news.

JohnCleary

Don't lie, you're heading over there to pick up a mail order bride

McMurphy

Not if you're a jew or a gypsy - that's for sure.

artanevilla

JohnCleary wrote: »

Don't lie, you're heading over there to pick up a mail order bride

They are the cleanest in the region. Except, of course, for Turkmenistan.

troyzer

artanevilla wrote: »

They are the cleanest in the region. Except, of course, for Turkmenistan.

Not like assholes Uzbekistan.

Sabre0001

For serious answers, maybe the Living Abroad or Travel forums could help.

How's your Kazakh or Russian? Table quiz facts: largest landlocked country in the world (and 9th largest by area). Astana is the second coldest capital city in the world after Ulaanbaatar (isn't Wikipedia wonderful?).

If you're into corruption, this is one of the places to be though. Brown envelopes for everyone!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Great research OP; ask AH.:)


You'll love it. Almaty is rife with thieves, scammers and corrupt police. What's not to like?

Poor effort. 2/10.

troyzer

Sabre0001 wrote: »

For serious answers, maybe the Living Abroad or Travel forums could help.

How's your Kazakh or Russian? Table quiz facts: largest landlocked country in the world (and 9th largest by area). Astana is the second coldest capital city in the world after Ulaanbaatar (isn't Wikipedia wonderful?).

If you're into corruption, this is one of the places to be though. Brown envelopes for everyone!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan

And home of the Russian space agency.

And soon to be home to Russia as well: annexing a country near you.

Midnight_EG

Arthur Daley

Big country. Huge. Interesting idea.

Sure it's as safe as a wander down the Castletown road at 3am

squawker

Aryan Mango Fortune-teller wrote: »

Watch the first 10 mins of "Borat" very good documentary on the place.

that was rural Romania

10000maniacs

Federal Republic of Kazakhstan is good place for how you say?, Naughty naughty girls.
Well according to Borat.

JohnnyFlash

I was there a few years ago. Grand spot. Some of the people can be a bit rude as they aren’t used to tourists. Almaty is much nicer than Astana. Always felt safe there.

Apiarist

Pat McCurran wrote: »

Is this a wise move?

What are you trying to gain?

Pat McCurran wrote: »

Is it safe?

Yes, it is quite safe.

Pat McCurran wrote: »

Any suggestions/pros and cons?

Do you speak Russian at all? If not, do spend 6 months at least to learn basic spoken Russian.

Pat McCurran wrote: »

Am I being ridiculous?

ridiculous adj. "deserving or inviting derision or mockery"

So far, based on the responses you have received, yes.

Ursus Horribilis

I can't see why not. What could possibly go wrong?

Ragnar Lothbrok

It's a great idea. Go for it, and ignore the Naysayers

Working class heroes

Well it’s a step up from Dundalk, that’s for sure.

LirW

Ah people are always saying you'll basically dig your own grave if you're not emigrating to Australia, Germany, Canada and the wealthy parts of the states.

Learn russian, make sure you have a job lined up before you go. Outside of the cities there's very little and everything is pretty basic. Almaty is nicer and culturally richer than Astana and it's pretty close to the Chinese border with a pretty nice national park.

Don't know if you've ever travelled any Ex-Soviet country before, it's pretty much like that, just poorer and a bit rougher. I'd totally go for it if the circumstances are somewhat right.

Zebra3

Pat McCurran wrote: »

I'm from Dundalk and have a long history of wanting to move to this country, preferably Almaty or Astana, to live and work there. I'm a single male.

Is this a wise move?

Is it safe?

Any suggestions/pros and cons?

Am I being ridiculous?

Go there on holidays.

Will give you a better idea before moving.

Tho I’d imagine a work visa will be very difficult to get.

riffmongous

Reid Disgusting Bus wrote: »

Great research OP; ask AH.:)


You'll love it. Almaty is rife with thieves, scammers and corrupt police. What's not to like?

Poor effort. 2/10.

So just Dundalk without the Harp?

JohnnyFlash

Reid Disgusting Bus wrote: »

Great research OP; ask AH.:)


You'll love it. Almaty is rife with thieves, scammers and corrupt police. What's not to like?

Poor effort. 2/10.

Didn’t meet any thieves, scammers, or corrupt police there. Plenty of unnecessary bureaucracy, but that’s to be expected.

Very contrary and petty people as well.

Big Nasty

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Didn’t meet any thieves, scammers, or corrupt police there. Plenty of unnecessary bureaucracy, but that’s to be expected.

Very contrary and petty people as well.

:D:D

blingrhino

You would be safer in the away end in oriel

backspin.

Would you not consider Dagastan or Chechnya instead.

topper75

Weren't all those comedians above fantastic? So many Borats. One of them funnier than another.

I know a chap who went out many moons ago and still working there. I reckon he is looking to retire early.

I don't know what Russian he speaks now but he spoke none on departure. Work is done through interpreters.

I think the expat Anglophone element is sufficiently large to get by within it.

He doesn't go into much detail as he spends his time there working (eng projects). But he seems generally quite fond of it and is fascinated by the temp differentials on the steppe, as any Irish person would be.

Pat McCurran

I know basic Russian and could learn Kazakh.

I was looking at Almaty in particular. Any advice on there?

What about Astana? It’s not my intended place to live but can anybody offer any suggestions?

What about Kazakh citizenship?

Is there any hostility towards Irish people etc?

Any potential dangers that I may encounter whilst living there?

Loves_lorries

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Not if you're a jew or a gypsy - that's for sure.

Just like home then.

Donald Trump

Pat McCurran wrote: »

Is there any hostility towards Irish people etc?

Kazakhs are notoriously racist against Irish people. It's actually in their constitution as the National sport.



They take the piss by honouring both the nordies and the republic by burning effigies of St. Patrick on a bonfire of pallets while marching around with lambeg drums played my Macnas-looking creations and gimps dressed up with leprechaun hats and wigs. for their national holiday.

mzungu

Cost of living wise, Kazakhstan would be the more expensive than its neighbours. Once you have a decent job you should be ok. I am assuming if you have basic Russian and no Kazakh you will not be working with a local company, but more than likely a western based one?

Trouble wise, you will not need to worry. You never really hear of any major problems for tourists in Kazakhstan.

Donald Trump

mzungu wrote: »

Cost of living wise, Kazakhstan would be the more expensive than its neighbours. Once you have a decent job you should be ok. I am assuming if you have basic Russian and no Kazakh you will not be working with a local company, but more than likely a western based one?

Trouble wise, you will not need to worry. You never really hear of any major problems for tourists in Kazakhstan.

That's because they shoot them on sight.



Foolproof way of preventing bad tripadvisor reviews


Just don't bike into Tajikstan unless you get on well with them ISIS fellas.

Gimme A Pound

I recently watched a BBC documentary about it. It's a dictatorship but a benevolent one I guess. It's doing well economically, which is key to contentment of course, but be extremely careful of the police and of publicly voicing even mild criticism/making fun of the government.

Interesting region though, if a bit grim for me personally.

biko

It will be fine
Move asap and let us know in a year or two how it worked out

Donald Trump

Aliyah Unkempt Apathetic wrote: »

I recently watched a BBC documentary about it. It's a dictatorship but a benevolent one I guess. It's doing well economically, which is key to contentment of course, but be extremely careful of the police and of publicly voicing even mild criticism/making fun of the government.

Interesting region though, if a bit grim for me personally.

I'll have you know that all dictatorships are benevolent


~ Donald J. Trump

Sycamore Tree

Pat McCurran wrote: »

I'm from Dundalk and have a long history of wanting to move to this country, preferably Almaty or Astana, to live and work there. I'm a single male.

Is this a wise move?

Is it safe?

Any suggestions/pros and cons?

Am I being ridiculous?

I have been there briefly with work in 2011. 3 days in Astana. Grand spot, surprisingly modern. Very safe too. What do you plan to work at there?

The locals have no idea where or what Ireland is and they couldn't care less. Some still think we are British.

Donald Trump

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

I have been there briefly with work. 3 days in Astana. Grand spot, surprisingly modern. What do you plan to work at there?

He wants to take Borat's sister's title of "best sex in mouth" in Kazakhstan

Pat McCurran

How safe is Almaty? At night, for example.

In terms of work, where would be best suited? Any suggestions?

Can anybody give any precautions on how to stay safe whilst living there?

dubstepper

At a minimum, it has to be an upgrade.

The Bollocks

Is moving to Kazakhstan a good idea?

It is in its bollocks.

Sycamore Tree

Pat McCurran wrote: »

How safe is Almaty? At night, for example.

In terms of work, where would be best suited? Any suggestions?

Can anybody give any precautions on how to stay safe whilst living there?

Whoah there horsey...

What do you do? What qualifications have you? Why did you pick Kasakhstan? What makes you think you can compete with the locals? Have you oil industry or utility industry experience? IT expertise?

silverharp

Reid Disgusting Bus wrote: »

Great research OP; ask AH.:)


You'll love it. Almaty is rife with thieves, scammers and corrupt police. What's not to like?

Poor effort. 2/10.

so just like Dundalk then

Hector Savage

silverharp wrote: »

so just like Dundalk then

ah now it's safer than Dundalk!!

PowerToWait

I have 2 Kazakh friends. Husband and wife, claimed asylum here years ago. The way they tell it the place went to fūck after independence, though it is beautiful. As is the general population it seems.

These are super smart, highly motivated people.

Lots of corruption and orchards. It's where apples originate.

Has to be better than Dundalk.

BrokenArrows

JohnCleary wrote: »

Don't lie, you're heading over there to pick up a mail order bride

Wouldn't be mail order if he has to collect.

Sam Quentin

Coming from Dundalk which is a beautiful safe town with lovely friendly people and beautiful coastal scenery with beaches and mountain or hill walks etc.
I think you will feel home-sick but stick it out and it will pass.

Ragnar Lothbrok

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Wouldn't be mail order if he has to collect.

Well spotted. Very pedantic though