By Chance…..or Not

Informational resources on the country, people, and adoption process for the country of Kazakhstan.

My blog posts relating to this country and the adoption of our child: http://bychance.wordpress.com/category/kazakhstan/

Adoption Process and Resources

• Joint Council on International Children Services: Kazakhstan- http://www.jcics.org/Kazakhstan.htm Current updates on Kazakhstan adoption.
• Kazakh Aul- http://www.kazakh-aul-us.org/ Association for American and Kazakh families.
• Kazakhstan Adoption- http://kazakhadoptivefamilies.com/adopt_index.html An incredible resource of information for families adopting from Kazakhstan.
• Kazakhstan Adoption Procedures- http://www.usembassy.kz/consular/adoption_kz_procedures.shtml
  
• U.S. Department of State, Overview for Kazakhstan- http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_408.html
• U.S. Department of State, Dossier Instructions- http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_2783.html
• Adoptive Family Stories- http://www.cwa.org/adoption_stories/adoptstoriesmain.htm from Christian World Adoption

Personal Blogs

Adoption-

• Recent Adoptions from Astana-
  • Jennifer’s Adoption Blog- http://jentrumanadoption.blogspot.com/ Dossier at the MFA.
  • Kazmo Adoption-http://kazmoadoption.blogspot.com/ They just returned home on 12/25/07.
  • Wonderful World of Kaz, July-Sept. 2007- http://wonderfulworldofkaz.blogspot.com/
  • Stanward Bound, July-Sept. 2007, http://www.stanwardbound.blogspot.com/
  • The Van Sant Family Adoption, July-Aug. 2007, http://babygirl-kaz.blogspot.com/

Recent Adoptions from Kostanay (also spelled Kostanai and Kustanai)

• Our Adoption Adventure- return Oct. 2007- http://www.sarahandandytokaz.blogspot.com/
  
• Our Adoption Journey to Kazakhstan, Feb.-May, 2007- http://www.watrous2kaz.blogspot.com/
  
• Welcoming SPW, March-May, 2007- http://www.wolfecub.blogspot.com/

• More Adoption Blogs
  • Frank and Regina’s Journey- http://ruopoliadoption.blogspot.com/- Newly found and current blog. They seem to be on the same time track that we’re on. How exciting!
  • Aviva’s Adoption- http://www.bederson.org/aviva/index.html
  • Our Journey to Kazakhstan and Parenthood- http://msnv2kaz.blogspot.com/ Very informative post trip blog!
  • Kazakhstan: Baby Diary- Linked at Tango Diva
  • Kazakhstan Adoption Blog- http://kazakhstan.adoptionblogs.com/index.php A collection of personal comments and information relating to adoptions and Kazakhstan.
  • Karen’s Adoptive Family Stories and Blogs- http://www.karensadoptionlinks.com/stories.html#kaz
  • Kazakhstan Adoptive Families Stories and Blogs-http://kazakhadoptivefamilies.com/families.html A large collection of stories organized by city of adoption.
  • Kazakhstan Adoption Sites- http://internationaladoptsites.blogspot.com/2007/02/kazakhstan-adoption.html

• About Kazakhstan
  • Kazakhstan Travel Blogs- http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Kazakhstan/blogs-page-1.html A collection of blogs from people traveling to and throughout Kazakhstan.
  • KZ Blog- http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/category/about-kzblog/ A personal blog from someone living in Astana.
  • Susan in Kazahkstan- http://s-wunderink.blogspot.com/ A dated but informational blog from a Peace Corp volunteer.

Qostanay, Kostanai, Kostanay, Kustanay

• Kazakh Adoptive Families- http://kazakhadoptivefamilies.com/cities/qostanay.html
  
• Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kostanay
• Kostanay.net- Links to the translated page.
• Panoramas of Kostanay- http://www.360pano.eu/kostanay/
• Weather
  • Do I Need A Jacket? http://www.doineedajacket.com/dinaj.asp?dinaj=UAUU

Current Events

• Kazakhstan News from the WN Network- http://www.kazakhstan.com/
• Kazakhstan New Eurasia Net- http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/ Current news.
• Official Site of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan- http://www.akorda.kz/www/www_akorda_kz.nsf/index?OpenForm〈=en
• U.S. Embassy, Almaty, Kazakhstan- http://www.usembassy.kz/usis/alumni.html
• Finding the Real Kazakhstan, U.S. Today article- http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-11-16-kazakhstan_x.htm

Location, History, and Culture

• The Almaty Expat Site- http://expat.nursat.kz/ Excellent resource!
• The Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Thailand- http://www.kazembassythailand.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Excellent overview of KZ and current events.
• Kazakhstan at a Glance- http://www.sitara.com/kazak/index.html
• The Country of Kazakhstan- Great overview of the country by a native Kazakh.
• Kazakhstan- http://www.asianamerican.net/kazak.html
• Kazakhstan: A Comprehensive Book Emerges- linked at Tango Diva
• Eurasianet Kazakhstani Links- http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kazakhstan/index.shtml
• Kazakhstan Arts and Culture links- http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kazakhstan/links/arts.shtml
• Welcome to Kazakhstan- http://www.cac-biodiversity.org/kaz/index.htm History, culture, and more!
• Infoplease Country Profile- http://www.infoplease.com/country/profiles/kazakhstan.html
• About Kazakhstan- http://www.kazakhstan.orexca.com/index.shtml
• National Items from Kazakhstan- http://www.kazakhcrafts.com/?id=almaty_kazakhstan_kazakstan Things to order but even more information to learn. Customs and traditions are well explained on this site created by a business in Almaty, KZ.

Language Resources

Russian

• Super Russian Resources- http://www.uni.edu/becker/Russian2.html#grammar
  
• Language Guide- Foreign Language Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading- http://www.languageguide.org/index.jsp
• Russian Grammar Charts- http://www.pitt.edu/~slavic/sli/russian/1/charts.html
• Listen to Russian- http://listen2russian.com/
• Getting Started Learning the Russian Language- http://www.russianlessons.net/lessons/getting_started.php
• Russian Test- ESL Language Studies Abroad- http://www.esl-languages.com/en/study-abroad/online-tests/russian-test/index.htm
• Russian Alphabet Flash Cards- http://www.flashcardmachine.com/russian-alphabet.html
• Russian Alphabet Flash Cards- http://www.flashcardexchange.com/flashcards/view/444414
• Learn the Russian Alphabet- http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/track/7635/alphabet.html
• Learn to Speak Russian- http://www.unforgettablelanguages.com/frames_a6.html
• Learning the Russian Language Beginning to Advanced- http://www.masterrussian.com/
• Russian Vocabulary- http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/russian/vocab1.html

Other

• Kazahk and Russian Store- http://kazakh-arts-and-crafts.netfirms.com/index.html
  
• Silk Road Painting- http://www.silkroadpainting.com/