There is no growth without discomfort July 14, 2026
By A student (N/A) - abroad from 08/25/2025 to 12/08/2026 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Astana
EXTREMELY worthwhile! I highly recommend the Astana program to anyone who is interested in learning Russian. Not to mention, many students will be interested in talking to you and learning more about you! Many have never met someone from America and are curious to hear what you have to say.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program is what you make of it. The professors provide a reasonable amount of work, not too much, not too little, but just the right amount. Also, upholding the language pledge is constant work itself. At times it would get overwhelming, but it just takes time and practice! As my Russian and familiarity with the environment improved, this feeling became less intense and prevalent. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The food in Kazakstan is varied and tasty! The food from the dinings halls is affordable ($4-6), filling, and good! If you are used to eating fine dining, and are a picky eater, perhaps you will not like it. However, there are plenty of restaurants nearby where you can grab something to eat. If you like fried chicken sandwiches I recommend trying the hamburger chain Frito! It was founded by a student from Nazarbayev University (NU). Other recommendations: 1) Every season in Astana and Almaty, they host this event called "Kudofest" - where certain restaurants offer three-course meals for discounted prices. I HIGHLY recommend trying this. 2) My favorite restaurant in all of Astana is the chain Basilic. They have a wide variety of options at extremely affordable prices. If you are someone who likes to try a little bit of everything, but doesn't want to break the bank, this is the place for you! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I appreciated how we were able to go on excursions to different parts of Kazakhstan, and thereby see different regions, and how people lived. The area around NU can feel like a bubble at times, especially if you are short on time. There are few places excluding the nearby mall, and grocery stores, that you can walk to in less than 20 minutes. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
What you should know about Astana, there are two sides to this city. There is the right side (правый берег) and the left side (левый берег). The right side is more historical and Soviet style, the left side is more modern, and feels almost futuristic. Nazarbayev is located on the left side. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It is fairly easy to live on a student budget in Kazakstan, especially if you regularly go to the canteens (столовые). You will likely spend between $4-7 depending on what you order. If you go out to eat the number increases, and you can expect to spend between $8-13. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Yes, I have some tips I hope people will find useful! 1) You can choose to purchase water bottles from the canteens, but if you would like to save some money, you can use the cups provided and fill them up with the provided (hot water) canisters. You will have to wait for the water to cool, but it saves you a little bit of money. Also, there are discounts for the first order you place on food delivery apps like Wolt and Yandex Eats for example (up to 50% off). I recommend downloading these and using your provided Kazakhstan number to make the account. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I LOVED the Middlebury language pledge! It was not easy whatsoever at first, but persevering and being comfortable with making mistakes is what helped me advance my skills! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You DO NOT need to bring a lot of heavy clothes for the winter. They have a skywalk, from your dorm to the classes. I saw many people wearing T-shirts during winter because the building is heated and you do not need to walk outside to go to class. |
