Personal stories

Can I tell your story?

We love the weekends so much because this is the time when we can stop and walk along the street in a measured step. In the morning, lazily stretch, smile at the morning sunbeam and quietly drink a cup of coffee. And Sunday morning is just like  “love at first sight” (imagine here is playing a song by Etta James “A Sunday kind of love”)! And do not blame yourself that every Monday you quickly want to return to a warm and cozy weekend.

This weekend we celebrated the International Women’s Day and therefore rested much longer. I calmly walked around the bazaar, looked at the old town and drank coffee with a croissant at Starbucks. Looking through the distorted windows of a coffee shop, I had the opportunity to observe people and even come up with miniature stories for each character. This turned out to be a very entertaining exercise. Here some results.

This woman sat on the bench for about half an hour talking on her phone for a long time. By her appearance and stern expression, I concluded that she is a  businesswoman with a lot of work on her shoulders. She seemed interesting to me because she clearly and in a very focused manner wrote in her diary what her smartphone whispered in her ear. After sitting for a while, silently looking away into the distance, she got up again and ran to conquer this world!

This couple sat for a long time and chatted about “sweet nothings”. They looked at each other with such affection. Probably married for almost a lifetime! The time around them stopped and was not going to go again. Sitting and chatting, they did not need anything or anyone around in this world.

It turned out that these two love birds were the parents sitting in anticipation of their teenage daughter. She went shopping choosing her next pair of jeans and bright sweatshirts. I looked at her with kind jealousy because she was wearing a very beautiful sweatshirt of my favorite color. Looking down at her parents through her trendy glasses, she called them to walk further through the mall.

The day off is a time when you can finally meet with friends who you have promised to for a long time to find time for them. Weekends and miniature “Meeting of girlfriends.” But our gadgets won’t allow us to communicate in a reality – this is the curse of the present time.

I witnessed the first date. They were so tense and shy to look at each other and move closer than one kilometer from each other. But he bravely decided to look into her eyes and tell some joke. She liked the joke and laughed. One point counted in his favor, good job!

She started at me and looked right into my soul!

On weekends, you can also take yourself on a date, as they say, “treat yourself”! She looked at her new purchases for a long time and then delightfully put it in the bag. Finishing her frappuccino, the girl followed my example and also carefully and with interest looked at the people around her. Maybe she was looking for inspiration?

For twenty minutes, these young people looked at the Instagram of a young lady who they liked so much. A friend helped him out to make the first step. Because now it’s so hard to just ask “How are you?”.

Minutes went by like days, months, years…  She never returned, and there was no news from her either. But she promised to return. She promised that she would look at a couple of blouses in the store and quickly return to her husband. And he is faithful to her and believes in a miracle that his wife will not try on the dress.

And this is exactly the same situation just a moment right before she made a promise to return in just 15 minutes. But we all know that she will return only after she has found the right thing, which means it will not be soon.

Here no words needed. “Dear Lord, when will the baby’s parents return? I need to go to the restroom.”

It seems to me that I have a new hobby now.

Best friends

Toys are the best gifts for children. Remember your first toy in childhood? Was it a Barbie doll, a teddy bear, a wooden horse, a plastic rattle or something else? Do you keep it still?

I have a two-year nephew. When he was born, I wanted to buy him a toy that would be his best friend and protector from the monsters under the bed and in his dreams. When I saw this dog I realized that it’s perfect and I need to gift it!

I really like this toy because it is plush and soft, but at the same time, it is like a hand doll that can be used for mini-theater performances. We often do that. I play of course the main role.

My nephew misled this dog Volcano (“Vulcan”). Such a strong and unusual name came as a suggestion to him for a reason. He loves nature and all its manifestations.

I was also told a version of the origin of this name. Our relatives who live in a country house have a dog. This large but very kind dog breed of a German shepherd and his name is Vulkan. Our baby boy is very afraid of him and avoids him but admires his barking and strong character very much. Of course, the name and the dog itself sunk into the memory of a two-year-old child.

When my nephew was younger, he was very afraid of this toy, she scared him to hell. Now he sleeps with her, goes to the toilet, cleans his teeth, eats, watches cartoons and walks outside. The very best friend and partner in stealing candies from the kitchen.

In childhood, for happiness, we need so little. All we ask for is the best friend in the face of a plush toy. And nothing will scare you in this big world!

My nephew with his Best friend

“All important phrases”

All important phrases should be silent.

Do you agree?

I always say: “The word love is too strong.” People increasingly scatter “I love you” to random strangers every single day. What is it for?

I hate people who is screaming and bragging about their “feelings”. And I’m not talking about crazy and beautiful romantics, who rush headlong towards each other. I am about those, who are desperately looking for warmth and cling to each one assuring them of what never was and will not be.

The most honest thoughts you hear in the kitchen at night.

The kitchen in my house is one of the most important rooms, where we all gather together. So many events our kitchen saw, and even more words this walls heard. Anyone would envy such “experience”. I still hear, how after tea drinking, as usual, my mom tells me that in spite of everything she loves me, at 1 a.m.

You live and start planning your future, hoping for the best. In your head you see clearly the perfect picture that “must” be realized! It won’t be like that and everything will go awry! But you don’t have to worry about it. All you need to do is buckle up, sit back and enjoy the moment. Don’t be afraid of anything.

If you want to change something, start with everything.

If you decided to get something –  take/get it right now! And if it’s “not yours”, then make it and achieve success at any cost. Now is time for the bravest of us. There is no time for your whining and apathy.

Actress Ravshana Kurkova reading poem by Ok Melnikova

My experience as a volunteer

In 2017, the 29th Winter Universiade has held in my hometown Almaty city, which ran from January 29 to February 8. It was a very significant event in the history of our city. Students from different countries came together for the competition in winter sports, which by the way are very popular in our country. I was lucky to become a part of this event – I worked as a volunteer!

Happy me after the openening ceremony

At that time I was in school in 10th grade. I was very glad and happy that I would have an official exemption from classes for the duration of the competition. I didn’t have any volunteering experience at that time. I had a rough idea of what kind of work it was, but I had no idea how difficult it could be.

I still remember the day when we were given our volunteer form: jacket, hat, scarf and all other winter clothes we needed. I have kept this outfit to this day. I liked the way we (volunteers) differed and stood out from the crowd. We walked around the city, as people were calling us then, “green minions”.

The whole atmosphere from beginning to end was saturated with student and youth spirit! All young people stood together in order to show and conduct this event at the highest level. I liked the mood of our volunteers. We were happy to see each other on the street, although we did not know each other at all.

Happy lil green minion

I was in the team of people responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Universiade. Later we were based in the Almaty arena and held figure skating competitions. I was very lucky with such work, rather than the guys who worked, for example, on springboards. But this does not mean that it was easiest for us to work.

Our team! We’ve worked so hard to keep the show going on

It was hard because of the hard work schedule. We finished work at 3 am and the next shift could begin in 3-4 hours. That winter was very cold and it was difficult to cope with the weather conditions. I remember with horror how cold it was in my winter boots while looking for a source of heat while I was hungry and sleepy.

BTS of rehearsals for the opening ceremony

But everything was not so bad, do not think anything! All of the hard labor was compensated by pleasant and warm communication with my colleagues. I met incredible, lovely, clever and incredibly cheerful people who warmed me in the coldest days. I was the youngest in my group since everyone else was either university students or adults. At first, many were surprised and embarrassed by the fact that I was a schoolgirl, but then everyone got used to it and treated me with care and sweet concern.

Diana and Moldir – sweethearts that cared the most about me! ^^
Other sweeties – Inkar, Diana and Erkin ^^

It was very interesting to watch and be close to see how such major sporting events are held. It’s hard but worth it! I think that I gained invaluable experience and understood that, as with everything in life, there are negative and positive sides to volunteering. But this is a lesson and a lifelong experience of which I will not cease to think and thank for receiving this opportunity.

The proudest moment – started playing Hymn
I must confess, I started crying at that moment
Closing ceremony

I always say that 2017 was the best year of my life so far. This is all because that year was opened by the Universiade and laid in me the vital qualities, that I try to develop to this day.

How I fell in love with The Addams

I have this sweet old memory from my childhood when I was sitting alone at home watching “The Addams Family”. It was vintage and black-and-white TV series about crazy-ish gothic family. Whenever I was watching a series it was my favorite part of my day!

TV series I used to watch in childhood

Fun fact: Addams first appeared in journalist comics drawn by cartoonist Charles Addams, who in 1938 began to publish comic pictures about the “gothic” family in the popular intellectual magazine The New Yorker. Over time, Addams gave this clan his own last name.

Comics by Charles Addams

Charles named this family after himself, not because of his ego but simply emphasizing how relatable the humor of the Addams cartoons is to him personally. Charles as a child became interested in death, cemeteries, skeletons, and that he gladly portrayed all this when he became interested in drawing. He was really attracted by what disgusted others, although at the same time he was completely balanced, friendly, peaceful and sweet human being.

Speaking of Addams, this is the image of the most ordinary family only in a sarcastic light. They are aristocratic and polite with their neighbors but only differ in their gloomy look and image. The Addams family was kind of representation of migrants from faraway countries who behave strangely and frighten new neighbors, but in fact, are completely harmless.

The Addams Family

What attracted me to this family in my childhood is that they were very similar to my family. The same crazy attitude sometimes has conflicts, but more often makeup afterward. A big family that loves and respects every member. Only one aspect – we don’t have so many black clothes in the wardrobe (which is a pity and I’m working on it!).

The Addams Family (1991 film)

To turn Addams into full-fledged characters, the cartoonist, at the request of the creators of the TV show, came up with names for his characters and deepened their images. Thus, the couple Gomez and Morticia Addams, the children of Pugsley and Wednesday, the grandmother Addams, Uncle Fester, the butler Lurch and the magical disembodied Hand, acting as a servant and companion of Gomez, appeared.

The Addams Family (1964 TV series)

Each of them was comic and bizarre: Gomez threw knives and made toy train crashes, Morticia grew predatory plants and cut flowers from roses, leaving only thorns, Fester played with dynamite and grandmother made magic potions.

Now that I have grown up, I sincerely admire a pair of Gomez and Morticia, they inspire me. Both radiate such love and respect for each other and at the same time, both are equally crazy. Power couple that has become an ideal and standard of healthy, beautiful passionate relationships for me. I, myself, aspire this kind of love.

I mean… See?!

Such sincere, funny and bizarre, Addams won my heart and mind with their humor and pureness of the plot. At the heart of the story of this series, films, comics, are the values of the family, which are so important, especially for me. To this day, I call “The Addams Family Values” my favorite movie, which I watch every time.

The hero I want to be

#10yearschallange

I think you already heard of it. Everyone post pictures by the difference of ten years of themselves. I think it’s fun to look at those pictures and see how someone totally (or not really) changed externally.

But how all of them have changed internally?

I want to become some kind of hero in ten years. A hero to my family, my nephew, friends, loved ones – a hero to myself. Nothing dramatic, just I have a huge excitement from one thought of how I’ll change in ten years.

In ten years I will be 28. That is crazy for me, especially now when you just starting to dive into the sea of adult life. I never liked to say something in advance about my future, but I’ll try it. Let me paint this picture for you.

I want to fulfill my future dreams. My dreams are about fulfilling success in my future career. I want to learn how to use my voice and how to express colorfully, yet ethically, all of my thoughts that I want the world to know. And maybe I’ll enter the number of human beings who left their own legacy. (See? Nothing special or dramatic.)  

. My dreams are about fulfilling success in my future career. I want to learn how to use my voice and how to express colorfully, yet ethically, all of my thoughts that I want the world to know. And maybe I’ll enter the number of human beings who left their own legacy. (See? Nothing special or dramatic.)  

When you are already 28, I think it is time to think about creating a family or maybe already having it all. I never considered myself as a girl who wants to marry and have kids. I never wanted to be a wife and never set it as a priority or a purpose of my whole life. But I think that is wonderful to have someone who you truly love. To the question “What would you do for love?”, I always answer: “I would have children.”

One of my main goals is to be better. Become better in everything I want to. I aspire to overcome my anxiety and encourage myself to be bolder, brighter and fierce. I’m getting on my way to the braver version of myself and I am already enjoying the change!

I wish I am a hero to my little nephew. This little baby boy melts my heart every time when he calls me by my name. I want to teach him how to be strong and vulnerable at the same time. I don’t want him to be raised in an atmosphere of toxic masculinity. I want to show him how to treat people with kindness.

I thought of that it is impossible to stay true to your goals. I think I was afraid of such drastic changes. But now I get all excited and ready to face all of the opportunities and all the pain that I will turn into my remedy.

Viva la Vida!

Woman (exclamation mark).

My name is Aidana, as you already know. I am a kazakh. From my mother language “Aidana” stands for two things. The first syllable “ai” translates as the moon, second “dana” means wise or smart. Also, from the Arabic language, if I’m not mistaken, it means “pearl”.


The correct pronunciation of my name.

My name was given by my older sister. She actually proposed a list of names and my mother picked “Aidana”. So, my name truly describes me.

I was a very shy, quiet, short-spoken child. But, what I want to point out, is that I was born and raised by the generation of women in my family. Women in my family are the strongest, phenomenal, marvelous, smartest and simply irreplaceable human beings I’ve ever seen in my life.

Yes, I want to talk about women today!

Woman. What a beautiful word. I am amazed and inspired by women every single second of my life.

As I was saying, I’m raised by the generation of women. Matriarchat always reigned in our household, represented by my grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister. This is the four figures that I always look up to this day.

My mother’s name is Saule. She is indescribable in words. Powerful is the word for her. Why powerful? Because she is a human representation of the power of the mind. Everything she puts her mind into comes to life immediately. Every day I learn vital lessons from her. My favorite is about trusting to yourself and do the work by yourself, for yourself only. Of course, we have friends and people in our lives we can count on, but they won’t build your life and dreams for you. If you like something and want it, then get it.

Our first selfie with my mom, back in ’06

And my mother always followed this advice that she gave to me. She is a strong and outstanding businesswoman. I am brave enough to state this: my mother is an image of a modern woman. I am looking forward to becoming, at least, a part of her in the future.

I can’t describe how proud I am of my aunt and sister. My aunt is a physicist and natural philosopher. How cool is that?! I mean, I always tell people that if I had the ability to understand science and calculations, I would become a nuclear physicist or something else. In school, I always had problems with algebra, geometry, and physics, and I would be jealous (in a good way) of people who could easily understand trigonometry or what isotopes are!

My sister is an economist, who is currently getting a degree in microeconomics while raising her 2-year-old son! I don’t know what this is, but I am extremely inspired by her.

And of course, the queen of our kingdom – my grandmother. She is among the people that are called “tough cookie”. She was born during the World War II, lost her family, parents, home, property, but managed to raise her two little brothers and become a wonderful, sweet and loving person, despite all the difficulties. I was always amazed by the fact of how people born and raised during the war, who witnessed all the horror, caused by human race itself, still grown as happy, cheerful and hardworking people we know today.

Winter of 2001. Grandma holding me.

These women are all still with me and I love them with all my heart. I’m sure anyone could point out to the phenomenal woman in their life and that’s wonderful. Shout out to all the mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, girlfriends, wives, because they are killing it every single day! Here’s to generations of physicists, astronauts, economists, artists, writers, models, university graduates. Here’s to generations of strong and independent women across the globe.