Poly GIP Kazakhstan

      We kicked off our journey meeting up at LAX, ready for our 13 hour flight to our 6 and a half hour layover in Istanbul. Excitement filled the air. Once we arrived in Istanbul, we enjoyed some Turkish food and played some games to get to know each other. After getting some time to explore the airport, we boarded our flight to Almaty.      Despite not sleeping enough, it was suddenly 9:00 am, leaving a full day ahead of us in Kazakhstan. We grabbed a quick lunch and the bravest of us tried horse meat sandwiches. After lunch, we managed to catch the end of the Nowruz celebrations in the city. Justin and Jerry arm wrestled some locals and lost terribly while Max and Lauren went about holding an eagle and Celine tried archery. We got dinner at a Georgian restaurant where we enjoyed some Khinkali and Tarhun. Those of us who didn't already fall asleep at the restaurant got the much needed rest after checking into our hotel, thus concluding our first experien...

Today, we took one last stroll through the neighborhood, visited a beautiful gallery, trekked to a well-renowned artist’s shop, and explored a supermarket. Suffice it to say, on this last day, we helped contribute to Kazakhstan’s economy. We also stopped in at the US Consul’s Space Maker for a Q & A with a US diplomat. The discussion lasted much longer than expected. The diplomat was very generous with his time, addressed many complex and challenging questions, and was forthright about representing the US. We closed the evening with a time of reflection, acknowledging how our group members made this travel program so fun for each other and highlighted key themes from the two weeks. It is now 2:20 am, and we are packing up for the airport. We cannot believe that this adventure in Almaty has ended, but the memories, the lessons, the conversations, the discoveries, and the pushing of our comfort zones have certainly made this travel program a truly transformative experience. We thank ...

  At the AIS and Tien Shan Schools, we were fortunate enough to experience a melting pot of diverse cultures that had previously been inaccessible to us. Coming from a traditional private school environment, we often see an assortment of different racial backgrounds, but rarely do we come face to face with a diverse array of nationalities. On our first day, we visited American International School (AIS), where we experienced a “day in the life” with a typical international student. Highlights for us included visiting a yurt classroom, playing capture the flag in PE, meeting with the student leadership team, and engaging in some interactive games with the students (including Dance Revolution). While we were struck with the robust academic curriculum that was taught, as it was similar to that of Poly, we were especially impressed by the various activities and extracurriculars that were consistent with many of our own personal experiences halfway across the globe. Yesterday, on our se...

Yesterday was yet another unique day- very special and memorable (capped off by a fabulous meal only exceeded by incredible guests who joined us). We started the day with a trek to rural Almaty to visit a joint KZ-US business venture. We met the Kazakhs and American who run a popcorn business here in Central Asia. What was supposed to be a 30-45 minute tour turned into Popcornology 101...2.5 hours later. We saw, heard, felt, held and even tasted the multiple dimensions of popcorn... and how this process is soooo different from raising corn. Quite a science to be exact:-)  From the testing of seed, to developing hybrids, to partnering with farmers, to the delivery process, to drying, sorting (to eliminate rocks, small kernals and dense objects), to packing and transporting the final product, we came to understand the complexities of international business (particularly in this era of sanctions on the country to the north). What a fabulous morning (and afternoon).   We late...

Hi Everyone! (Hi mom!) We're having a great time here in Kazakhstan! Today was a change of pace for us. Today, we explored the Shymbulak mountain range! We started off the day at 8:30, taking two buses out of the city to the summit of the mountains. Unlike the trek to Big Bear in California, it was only a 45 minute ride! We then took a gondola up to an elevation of around 7,000 feet to the bottom of a ski resort. We left the hustle and bustle of the resort to find a more peaceful area. Walking up a road along a forest, we experienced a beautiful, serene landscape filled with snow! Off to the side, we saw signs of spring--water flowing down the mountain. After a long hike, we stopped on the side of the road at a large snowy clearing surrounded by a hill. First eating some yummy snacks from the city's magazinhs (stores), we then made snowmen and snow angels, threw snowballs (mainly at Mr. Caragher), and took turns sledding down the hill. Many of us began a competition to see who ...