KZBlog

Even though the population of Astana is around 600 000, everyone seems to know everyone and news travels fast.

For example: As I mentioned, I had a problem back home and had to leave fairly quickly. I work as a consultant/writer/translator for three different companies here. For two of them I have a permanent contract and one of them works a bit like a temp agency; if I show up, I get work. If I don’t show up, no work. I had time to reach the first two organizations and get a leave of absence, but I didn’t have a chance to get in touch with the third organization, which was fine because I have no contract there.

The day I returned to Kazakhstan, I called the third organization to let them know I had been absent but was ready to work again. My supervisor said, “Yes, we heard about your bad news.”
“How did you hear?” I asked.
“X [who works at one of the other companies I work for] applied to work here and your name came up. He told us about your problem.”

Not ten minutes later, my cellphone rings. It’s my boss from Company #2, where X works. “Aha,” I say, “X must have told you I called Company #3, right? That’s how you know I’m back.”
“No,” says my boss, “Our accountant saw you in your car taking your wife to work this morning.”

There’s no hiding, even in the capital. Everyone is watching you and everyone in your life knows everyone else!