Adrian, a young man from France, chose Kostanay as the destination to complete his mandatory overseas internship as part of his university political studies program in 2022. But why Kazakhstan — and specifically, Kostanay? Adrian had his own reasons for the move.
«I studied Russian for two years before coming here. I also took a very interesting course on Central Asia at school, which really motivated me. I had the opportunity to do an internship at the French Cultural Center in Kostanay, and I was really happy to go there.»
He also noted that obtaining a Kazakh student visa was surprisingly easy. The only delay he encountered was due to the Nauryz holiday.
«I got it in less than a month, and it was only delayed because of the Nauryz celebrations.»
Adrian added that Kazakhstan is visa-free for tourists from France, but only for stays of up to 14 days.
A key part of his internship involved working at the French Cultural Center, where he helped organize French-language educational and cultural activities and supported teaching staff.
«I was helping French teachers organize courses and events. For example, we held weekly film screenings followed by conversations in French.»
Like many foreign visitors to Kazakhstan, Adrian was struck by the warmth and hospitality of the people — and said it’s something France could learn from.
«I really appreciated the people who helped me integrate, and especially the chance to discover a country so different from mine! What I liked most in Kazakhstan was the truly warm welcome. Sometimes, tourists returning from France say the French are too cold — and I think we could definitely improve on that.»
Of course, no stay abroad is without culture shocks — especially in a place so far away with such a different cultural background. While tourists often mention surprises like Kazakh cuisine (especially dishes made with horsemeat), road rage or even unexpectedly high accommodation costs, Adrian pointed to something else entirely: the architecture.
«The first cultural shock I remember was, of course, the architecture! The brutalist style is often criticized, but personally, I thought it was great and very telling of the country’s history. I find it more ‘moving’ than more traditionally admired architecture.»
Despite his two years of Russian study, Adrian also encountered a language barrier.
«People in Kazakhstan don’t often speak English, and my Russian is a bit weak. But I was lucky to find people I could communicate with, in English or in French.»
During his stay, Adrian visited other parts of Kazakhstan — although his destinations weren’t particularly off the beaten path: Astana and Almaty. And yes, he had opinions.
«I visited two big cities: Astana and Almaty. I was disappointed by Astana, which I found artificial and cold. But I really liked Almaty and could go back there.»
While he’s now back in France continuing his education, Adrian isn’t done with Kazakhstan just yet.
«I haven’t visited the south of the country yet, and I’ll probably come back to explore it,» Adrian said.
