Kamal Fatehi
Chair and Professor, Kennesaw State University
Field: Business Administration
Host: International Academy of Business, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Dates: May 5, 2006-June 4, 2006

My Fulbright Specialist assignment was with the International Academy of Business (IAB) in Alma Ata (Almaty), the capital of Kazakhstan. Alma Ata means the father of apples, as it is the birth place of the modern apple. My arrival was before the Victory Day celebration, which was taking place at Pontiov Park. There was music, dancing and re-enactment of special events of World War II that had local significance. The veterans of WWII were proudly wearing their uniforms and displaying their medals. When an old female veteran learned that I was American, she wanted to tell me about her war experience. She had an interesting uniform with a lot of medals on her chest.

My apartment was close to the IAB. My daily physical exercise consisted of the 15-20 minute walk to campus. Every morning I would say “Dubre Utra” (good morning) to the security guards at the gate and the main building. They would laugh at my accent and the mangling of the words.

Upon my arrival, the Rector (President) of the IAB asked me to consult with her on the administrative processes of the IAB and its organizational structure. This necessitated a review of the daily work of the administrators and staff. The faculty members and staff were very interested in talking with me. Most of the time, our discussions were in Russian and required translation.

There was one recurring question that I was frequently asked, “Why are you here? We don’t pay you, and we know living in Alma Ata is not easy for you.” Later on, I learned that this was a more sanitized version of a claim by some that I was probably a “spy!” Of course, after several days, I was considered a friend and we often joked about my being a “James Bond” and doing all sorts of exotic deeds. My response to the question of why I was in Alma Ata was simple and compelling, and often would elicit the response, “We should have thought about it ourselves.” I told them that the Fulbright program is for the purpose of building friendship and understanding between Americans and others. Using my academic preparation in business administration, I made it even more tangible. I told them “If we learn about each other and become friends, there is less need to spend valuable resources on the military; and more resources can be allocated to productive social and commercial projects. Also, if we have friends who are prosperous, they can become good customers and suppliers for us.”

During my stay at the IAB, I dealt with a number of academic issues, including participation on graduate students’ thesis defense, presentations at two conferences, and consultation on organizational and administrative issues. But I also got involved in cultural events and visited a number of interesting places in the city. On the second week of my stay, I was invited to a tea ceremony (Chai) in a “Yurt,” the traditional circular, domed, portable tent, the abode of Kazakh nomads. The Yurt was set-up exactly the way it would have been used by the nomads, including all of the typical items it contained.  On the third weekend of my stay, I went to a Sunday market with a Kazakh friend who had spent one semester at Kennesaw State University, on a grant from the U.S. Department of State. Because the market is very crowded, some locals call it “Taalkuchka” or a place where you have to shoulder your way around. All sorts of products were offered by the vendors, from electronic gadgets to fruits and prepared food.

Eventually it was time for me to leave Alma Ata and my new friends. Saying good bye to them was not easy for me and it was evident that they felt the same. I asked them to keep in touch with me by e-mail. I promised to help them in any way that I could, and I really meant it. I was not expecting to feel uncomfortable leaving Alma Ata, but to my surprise, leaving Kazakh friends was difficult. They told me that they would welcome me back anytime I have an opportunity to visit. I assured them the feeling was mutual and I would welcome them to the United States.

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