Fifteen-year-old Batyrkhan Kuldybayev is a foreign exchange student from Kazakhstan who has embarked on an incredible journey to experience life in the United States. With a passion for learning, Batyrkhan chose to leave behind his home and embrace a new culture, schooling system, and way of life.
One of Batyrkhan’s main objectives as an exchange student is to enhance his English skills and fully experience the American education system. “I wanted to try something new and explore the United States to its fullest extent” While he is enjoying his time here, Batyrkhan mentions that schools in America are significantly different from those in Kazakhstan. For one, students in Kazakhstan do not use laptops or cell phones during class; everything is done on paper, and the use of phones is impermissible. Additionally, students don’t get to choose their classes and stay with the same group of classmates from first grade through eleventh grade. Another notable difference is that the use of formula sheets and notes is not permitted in schools in Kazakhstan.
“What’s most surprising about American schools is their differences.” Although facing difficulties in adjusting to a new system, Kuldybayev values the ability to select his own clothing and loves delving into topics he loves, such as precalculus and computer science. Math, especially precalculus, is his preferred subject, and he’s eager to follow a future career in cybersecurity. Batyrkhan envisions going to an Ivy League school or Nazarbayev University, a renowned institution in Kazakhstan.
Outside of academics, Batyrkhan has joined the school’s swimming team and enjoys activities like paintball. Kuldybayev is also a fan of rap music, with Friendly Thuig being his favorite artist. In his downtime, he enjoys reading physics books and watching the Fast and Furious series.
Kuldybayev’s path has faced its share of challenges. Batyrkhan acknowledges that the most challenging aspect of being an exchange student is managing his academic obligations from back home while adapting to a different system and being separated from his friends and family. Nonetheless, he has discovered methods to remain linked to his heritage. He longs for the cuisine from Kazakhstan, particularly some favorites like Beshbarmak, a class meal consisting of boiled meat and noodles. Kazakhstan food is Batyrkhan’s favorite aspect of the culture.
Celebrations in Kazakhstan are also quite different from those in the United States. For instance, Thanksgiving is celebrated in March, and Nauryz, the new year of Turkic people, is a major cultural event. These differences highlight how unique and rich Kazakhstan’s traditions are.
When asked what advice he would give to his classmates, Batyrkhan said, “Host an exchange student!” Kuldybayev believes the experience fosters cultural exchange and helps build lifelong friendships.
