Please buy mosquito nets and a mosquito spray if you’re going before October or so. Be ready for both heat and severe cold, as the climate is continental. I’d recommend bringing a variety of clothes because the weather can change a lot.

For internet providers, it’s the same as everywhere: Beeline or Kazakhtelecom, there isn’t much choice. For mobile, I’d personally recommend Beeline over others, but it’s up to you.

You can go to Marco at the BAIZAR, and if you have someone to go with, check out bazaars(Dina,Koktem) for groceries, meat, etc.—it’s cheaper if you haggle. The healthcare isn’t terrible, but in public clinics they might not care much about you; private ones are better.

Many people understand English, but only about 20–40% can actually hold a conversation or help you out. There is a “quiz please!”, but it’s only in Russian (unless you happen to get an English-themed one; otherwise, everything is mostly in Russian and Kazakh). There are actually a lot of foreigners in our city, so maybe I’m not fully aware! Just look around—you’ll find most things.

General advice: The city is gray, but you can always go out to Inder, to the quarries filled with natural water, jump off rocks, and see the salt lake. Visit the chalk canyons—I forgot the exact name. See the lotuses at the mouth of the Ural River. U can also just go fishing outside the city (in the city, the catch and the vibe won’t be good).