You are welcome!

In Kazakh culture inviting guests to your house is a very big event, which takes a long and serious preparation. I remember from my childhood, I somehow did not enjoy so much this tradition. Because I am a girl, and I am suppose to help with with everything at home, especially with such events like inviting people to our place.
However, after coming to the USA I realized that this procedure does not necessarily have to be so time and effort consuming activity. I had a great opportunity and honor to be invited by several American and international families to their houses. Everything was very nice and we had very good time even without five different servings, without spending more than 4 hours at the table, without dessert and tea being served separately. Most of all I was very surprised that everything is quite informal and relaxed; moreover, to some parties many of quests were bringing their food with them. At first, I was very embarrassed asking whether we were supposed to bring something with us, or were we assigned in advance to buy any drinks. Nevertheless, later I was explained that usually people bring something, so that they can share food with everyone and help the "party holder" with the dishes for quests. Although no one requires you to bring anything, it could be a very nice gesture. I really appreciate this tradition because it makes the event of inviting guests easier.
In addition, I have learned that we don't have to prepare a tight schedule for quests because they can easily just relax on your sofa having a nice talk with other quests.
As a result, I have learned one more very useful and interesting American tradition, which I think could be rather interesting to implement in my family. (At least I would try to upgrade my parties when I would go home..))))

Pease park brough peace to my heart

Being alone in a foreign country made me more independent and responsible. However, sometimes I am just tired of taking care of myself and knowing that I am responsible for every single action that I do. Additionally, I miss those days when I could spent the whole day on the playground not being worried about anything. Of course, I am not telling that today I have so many problems and things to do; nevertheless, during these 10 months spent in the US I had been in a park and on a playground only twice. I really enjoyed those times.

The weather that Friday evening was amazing. It was not very hot or cold; the mild wind was gently playing with tree leaves, making a very quiet whispering music. My friend and I decided to have a walking trip to the Pease park. It was a great idea because it was the end of the week, no classes for two days, at least for one evening no assignments, no obligations...our minds were just free. Consequently, we had fun!
Riding swings makes me feel free, free from work, from studies, from assignments. The feeling of freedom makes me happy.
Being happy with simple things is one of the first lessons that I learned being independent.

Therefore, let's enjoy every opportunity to be happy!

Do I Look Good?

I have two elder sisters who are 11 and 9 years elder than me, so when they were teenagers they lived their own life, where I was only an observer. I was always watching them like a role-model in my life, how they dress, how they do their make-up, and I was always imagining myself doing the same things. I remember, how everyday they were getting up two hours earlier to take a shower, to set their hair, to wear make-up, which would be the same color as their blouse, to iron all the clothes. Finally, when they were ready to go, both of them looked like models just before the run. So I thought that all students look like this everyday, and when "my time" would come I would also have to wear high hills and fancy clothes every single day.

Now I am 19...I can say that "MY TIME FINALLY CAME!!!"

But my time came when I was in the US, far from family and sisters. Can you imagine how much I was surprised to see American students during week-days?! No hills, no make-up, no skirts, I am not even talking about costumes. Almost every girl, that I see everyday, is wearing a $5 t-shirt, Nike shorts and flip-flops; nice pony-tail is bouncing from left to right, when they run, bent under the weight of The North Face back-pack, with the fulminating bottle of water on it.

I was very surprised, but I made a conclusion that, probably, American girls just don't like to show off and they just lead a more ascetic style of life, which I, being very lazy and preferring to sleep an extra hour rather than ironing my dress or a blouse, appreciate. However, I was even more shocked when the week-ends came, and I saw all bunches of GORGEOUS ladies going out of the dormitory. Those girls, whom I saw yesterday in a Tyler's t-shirt, were in absolutely trendy clothes, with an outstanding make-up and hair style. Exactly at that moment I started to analyze the situation, and I realized that it is a totally cultural thing, it is even deeper than personal preference or weather difference. It is something that people are not taught to do, but it is the way it is. It is not bad or good, but it is various for different cultures.

From that moment I did not try to find the same type of Tyler's t-shirt or learn how to make the pony-tail that it would bounce in exactly the same way, as it does on American girls. I just realized that I am a reflection of my native culture, I am a representative of my country in the USA, and I have to be proud of it. However, it doesn't mean that I spent two hours in front of the mirror everyday, I still wear blue jeans and casual outfit; moreover, I wear my make-up only on special occasions...))) Nevertheless, the point is that I don't try to be the person that I was not born, and the culture is something that comes "inclusive" in our blood.

So, let's just enjoy everyday of our life without being concerned about the way we look, but just being ourselves.

I still don't like them, but love the momeries which they trigger...

Everyday we learn something new. Sometimes it sparks our interest, and sometimes we even don't recognize that we have discovered a new experience. However, despite our acknowledge and personal attitude toward these discoveries, we change. Consequently, our preferences and dislikes about many events and things vary according to our personal background and environment that we live in.

As for me I have experienced these changes and realized their influence on me after coming to the US. The first several weeks everything was new for me: the weather, cars, roads, buildings, people. I was totally impressed with the American infrastructure and people's attitude toward the nature and other people, I am still amazed with the attitude toward sports. Everyone is doing sports, it is not an activity, it is inseparable part of life. However, after the "cultural shock" ended, I started to see very small things, which triggered warm memories about my home and family. Moreover, I think this memories are valuable and precious only for me because, as I previously mentioned, every person has his own personal background and history. So one object for ten people would associate with different things. So, I have one simple question for my reader, "What do you think about when you see a boiled egg?" (Please, can you answer in the comments prior reading the rest part. I am just curios...))))))

Ok, for some people it is associated with farting(I was also very surprised), for others with breakfast, but for me boiled eggs evoke memories about my grandfather.

I was growing on my grandparents hands. As a result, they taught me almost everything I know, they put the first of brick in building my personality. However, being a child means that sometimes we just hate what elder people try to teach us. So did I. I remember every morning I was arguing with my grandfather who was trying to feed me with one single boiled egg. Every morning, EVERY morning (I am not exaggerating) my granny was patiently explaining me how the boiled eggs are useful for our bodies, that they consist of irreplaceable micro-elements and vitamins, extreeeeeemely needed by our organisms. Sometimes I ate it, sometimes I did not; nevertheless, my grandfather boiled one egg for me, every day.

We don't appreciate all the gifts and presents in our life till we have them. No, I still don't like boiled eggs, but I love the memories which they trigger. I can spend more that 15 minutes explaining how eggs are helpful for our bodies...)))

I miss my grandpa...)))

My first real Halloween

Halloween...trick or treat...Before coming to the USA I did not wholly understand all the "power" of this words in the American culture. At the beginning of October almost every one was so excited about the upcoming holiday: the stores were full of Halloween stuff, starting from costumes and finishing with candies; everyone was asking about the plans for the Halloween, about the costume, and, of course, about weather or not the person is going to the 6th street.

Honestly, I just did not think about any plans on either costume or 6th street because I had another things to do. Nevertheless, I had a very nice, full of emotions and memories Halloween. Moreover, I had even a Halloween Eve. One of my friends invited me to her place to start celebrating the Halloween on Friday, 30th of October because she had prepared more than one costume and she wanted to have an opportunity to show us all of her dresses. So, our Friday Halloween Eve was very nice. Sojin, my prepared friend, have cooked some dishes in the theme of Halloween, also she decorated her apartment, so it felt like the Halloween day really had started the Friday evening. The rest from laughing, taking funny pictures and enjoying food time we have spent watching movies on Sojin's "home-cinema."

It was a very good beginning of my first real Halloween! The Saturday, October 31st I have spent in my usual Saturday activities, but the evening activities were more than unusual. I have visited couple of parties at my friends places, each of which was really fun; honestly, I was very pleases being invited by them. However, I was not planning to go to the 6th street because I did not have a real costume and I anticipated that I would be off the general theme on the 6th street. On the contrary, I was mistaken, when we finally came to downtown, I was partially shocked and amazed with all the terrific "show" that was going on there. Even though it was not "a show" with tickets and assigned seats, the whole action taking place there was completely out of my anticipation and imagination. Everyone was a piece of modern art! So many ideas and energy in every person! I realized why we should KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD!



It was one of most incredible and unforgettable experiences that I have had in the USA!

P.S- however, I hope that it would be my unique experience...))))))