Ah, I love Christmases and New Years. It's time when you're ready to turn the page of outgoing year and make a step up to a new ones.
I love that Christmas bustle. :) All these sparkles and fir-trees all around the town. And it's hard to imagine Christmas without gifts. I do love to give and receive presents. Who doesn't? But did you ever think why we do give presents to each other on Christmas? People do give gifts for many reasons. People who love and follow Jesus give gifts to remember the true "Gift" - Jesus. Giving presents also reminds us of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They also give gifts to show their love for their families and friends.:)
Some people tell the story of Santa Claus as an image of whose kindness in giving gifts originates with Saint Nicholas who did, in fact, give gifts to the poor. But Santa Claus has nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas.
Today, we all give gifts at Christmas for our own reasons. For some, it's a way to celebrate the Christian holy day. For others, it is a special time to let family and friends know that you care by giving gifts. At times, giving gifts at Christmas becomes almost mechanical and a chore. But we should try to put as much love and care as we can to a present we give or own. So, this year has been hard, but great to me. I finished my school and entered the University and saw how my life completety has changed. I look at the people that surrounding me now and realize that these people are the greatest gift to me from GOD. I never hold grudge at people who are not in my life anymore. They left for some reasons, because everything has a reason. I will always remember them as a little fairytale :) And I wish you a Merry Chrsitmas and a Happy New Year filled with love and joy which cost nothing, but mean everything. I love you. God bless you.
My University life is so hyper, that I couldn't find some minutes to tell you about my five flawless days which I spent in English Summer Camp 2014 since 24th to 29 August. :)
So, here we go --
That all begun when my friend texted me the other day and said "Ayee, do you remember we visited English Summer Camp in 2012? They gonna have this camp in August again, but this camp is gonna be on the road, and I need your help with sharing" :) I was so happy to see this message, because I did remember how awesome it was two years ago. My friends and I got to some flyers and we started to invite people to these camp for meeting new friends, for pracrising English and for having much fun. And in the camp there were about 110 people. People came from Astana, Karaganda, Almaty and even one guy came from Ust-Kamenogorsk (which is 15 hours drive from here), he came to Karaganda just to join the camp. *Clapping our hands* :)
So our road begun on August 24th at 3 pm. People from Karaganda took a bus and three hours later we got the place recreation area "Immanuel" where the others were waiting for us :) In a few minutes we had a surprise (aka) "Backing Challenge" becasue we had got poured a bucket of cold water. That was so cool ;) Yeah, it was! So, as I said before in this camp there were people from Karaganda, Astana, Almaty and of course people from America, our teachers and volounteers :)
Our camp were spilt into several groups and each of us was given a colorful ribbon. Each color signified a level of English. Then we were divided into groups (colors), our team was the yellow:) We met with the volunteers and the people in the group. We had to come up with the name of our team and the motto. Thename of our team was "Yellow Monkeys". Why? I HAVE NO IDEA. :) That same evening we were informed that the camp would have a talent contest and everyone could take part in. Despite the fact that they didn't give us a chance to change our clothers, and we felt exhausted after riding in a bus and besides I got a huge stain because of the grass on my jeans. I decided that I couldnt miss this chance to perfrom tonight :) I was very excited, but the warm atmosphere in the camp and my lovely friends gave me such a great support and satisfaction to perfrom there. Plus, in the middle of the song, the Christion band "The Light" put some drums and piano sounds to my song which made it so perfectly. You guys are great, thank you!
The first day went flawless, and all days went the same way. If I begin to talk about every minute in this camp, I think It will become a book :) So, I will tell you about this in short.
We lived in separate houses, each house had five rooms, in each room had eleven beds. In our room lived ten people, but then two of our friends (volunteers) they sadly needed to fly home back, as they had been in the recreation area for a very long time before. And there were eight of us in the room.
We woke up at 8 a.m every day, we did some morning exercises, then had breakfast. That was not easy to enter the dining room everytime, becaue they made funny challenges for us. And they were truly funny. What about the food in the camp? Everything was TRULY DELICIOUS! A huge THANK YOU to our cooks. After breakfast everyday we had three lessons with Native Speakers. There were reading, speaking, listening, writing and more. To me that was a big practise for my English. Then after the lessons we had luch and afther luch we had some active time. There were some clubs with Russian Americans (those Russians who immigrated or born in America). We had a movie club, a drama club, a cooking club, a karaoke club, a guitar club, a fun club, a poerty club, an intellectual club and I think even more. Everyone had a chance to choose any club he/she wanted to. Or even joining several clubs in one day. And that was really fun!
I enjoyed a drama club first, and we had some practise how to show our feelings and emotions on the stage! And...at the end of the camp we had a huge concert, where we showed my favorutie skit ever which is name "Everything". The skit is about how great our Lord. And no matter what, it's never too late to go to Jesus. I also was so thankful that the drama club gave me a chance to take part in this skit with our volonteers and even played the leading part. I really hope people got us this way as we tried to show. Amen.
Then I enjoyed Karaoke club. They made their own X-Factor Show. And woah, they gave me a chance to perform my original song " I love you" at night perfromances for the public. And that was fabulous.
Then I enjoyed "Fun Club" where we were makig our own colorful T-Shirts. We did have a ball doing them :)
After the clubs, we had some sport time, which Nadya missed all the time. Such a shame. I am not a good runner, or jumper or ball-player . :) But moslty I just got some rehearsals for the night shows during sport time.
After sport time we had dinner. And after dinner we had my favortie thing in this camp. --Evening activities. We gathered in the great hall together. We sang songs together, played, perfromed, did all that stuff. And every evening we had a discustion about faith. We talked about our Lifesaver. And also we were able to ask questions in what we were interested in. And everyone was able to tell opinions about that. I did love these discussions. These considerations showed me the truth that we sometimes do not notice.
After all these we had evening tea and about 11.00 p.m. it was time for sleep.
As the great russian writer Griboyedov said "Time flies when you are happy". I can say that I was the happiest person in this camp. Because those five days flew too fast. I really hope they will come back next year. :)
And I want to THANK the organizers of the camp for made such a perferc camp for us.
And we all thank GOD for united all of us in this camp :)
Plus every Friday we try to meet each other and talk, eat, play, sing. We try to continue the camp by our own ways :)
Happy Birthday to YOU, happy birthday to YOU, happy birthday my lovely
Mummy, Happy Birthday to you.
Today the sun shines brightly more than ever, because today is a special day. It’s your BIRTHDAY, my dear Mum. I am very fortunate to have you as my Mum. And I am wishing you a day loaded with love, warmth and happiness. I wish you the hugest health. And may your life be as wonderful as you are.
There is no other Mom like you. You stand by me all the time. And you teach me that there is always the sun after the rain. :)
Happy, Happy Birthday :) Please, forgive me all my mistakes that had ever hurt you. You are the most wonderful person in my life. No one can ever take your place in my heart because you are my one and only Mum.
Thank you for made my dreams come true, thank you for your lessons, support and endless love.
When I was 5, I used to say in my kindergarten that “My Mum has a golden heart”. I am 18 now and I hadn’t changed my opinion, and I never will. I will always love you with all my heart! GOD bless you
It seems like it was yesterday Marina and I were standing on the same stage. And on the 8th of August (this Friday), she gets married! She is extremely young, but everyone has their own right age to get married. All I want her to be happy. To be happy all the long married life.
Thank you for invited us to share your happiness with you! : )
And...we had so much fun on Bridal Shower. It was the last breath of girl's freedom for you. Now take a deep breath for a new chapter of your life.
Just took part in the singing competition "Мы Карагандинцы". Got new friends, experience and fun. :)
Then I got my first ever little interview. This Channel gave me a chance to intoroduce myself as a songwriting artist and showed a small part of my perfomance. I have never been too excited to see me on TV!
This is how sounds a hyphen of such a wonderful country band, whom I met on August 8 in my town. Their name is Blended 328.
It was a usual morning of July 8. My friend Venera phoned me and said that an American band came to our town, and anyone can come and meet and greet with them. I love meeting new people. Especially if it is knowing talented people and I decided to go.
Before that I googled this band and I discovered that this band is from Nashville and they sing country music. Woah, from that moment I wanted to meet them so much more. I also listened to some of their music and immediately became a fan of their music.
When Venera and I reached the place of meeting, we saw how open, lovely and talented the band is. They performed some of their songs, they also told us about life in America and more. And they asked the audience some questions, and when it was my turn I told them that I am such a lover of country music since 2009. And then I saw how we became soul mates ;) And then...they asked me to sing. I was super nervous about this. I performed “Tim McGraw” by Taylor. Well, two country singers in one song. I was so blessed to hear that they became a fan of my voice. Can you believe it? They told me keep writing my originals and never give up. And I felt so blessed for their warm words to my side.
I took a picture and hugged everyone of them. I blushed and shone all the way home then.
And now, you guys should check out their music and see how flawless they are :) They also had a concert in my town, but my Nadya couldn't go...AYE! You should see them :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9-XbjlXRSM
And this is a collage of the pictures with Blended 328.
I wish I could share a picture with Kimberly Philips and me too. But my phone didn't retain this photo :(
Now I think we have a reason to meet each other again...hahah :)
Woah, the most severe and terrible educational months finally behind. I am not a school girl anymore, I have finished my school. :)
I have been waiting for this for 12 years? Yeah, for 12 years. I look back and I can see a little girl with big white bows, with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, stepped into the world of a school life. I remember my very first lesson. My very first day at school. I met my future classmates for the first time and just had no idea how many wonderful, painful and unforgettable things school would bring to me in 12 years.
I won't focus on how many things happened to me at school. We all know that everything came first at school. Friends, lessons, feelings, relations, treasons, the first performances and etc. We met these all at school. I better tell you about the most beautiful things that happened to graduates at the end of the school year.
1. Successful delivery of exams.
2. The Last Ring. (May 25th).
3. The Prom Night.
The UNT exam is actually hard. And I had to study a lot. I had to leave things like singing, writing, hanging out and etc.
So, all the graduates in Kazakhstan worked so hard the whole year just to pass the UNT exam. UNT means the United National Test. This test includes 5 subjects in. Mathematics. The Russian Language. The Kazakh Language. The History of Kazakhstan. And we have a chance to choose the 5th subject. This should be a profile subject in your future profession. So I picked the English. Each item has 25 questions. Taking this examination - three and a half hours. Date of delivery of our exams was -- the 5th of June. We waited for this day. It was the most difficult and important day in our school life. But before the UNT, on May 25th in every school of our country the graduates hear the last ring. We heard our last ring. Danced our farewell school waltz. Sang our last school song and visited our last school lesson. Graduates were in the spotlight at the event. The was such a sad, but such a happy day in our lives. :)
Our first teachers :)
The city Mayor came to visit us. We were happy to see him.
The last bell rang. And before the UNT remained more than a week. Graduates still tried hard to prepare for the exam. We felt like we did not have the strength any more. And that day has come up. The UNT day. Everyone were so nervous about this. We had to wake up at 5 a.m. We reached the school at 6. Everyone got on the bus and it started. When we got the right place, we could also see other schools students too. Everyone was very excited. We were seated in auditoriums and three hours flew so quickly. For someone this exam was very hard, for someone not. To me it was of average difficulty. When I came out of the auditorium, I can't even describe what I felt.. Feelings like indefinite happiness and freedom. Finally it all behind. We got the results in the evening. Our school took the first place among the other schools in the city. I was in the third place result in our school. Everyone was very happy and satisfied. All examinations have been passed. And the most enjoyable part of school life was coming up. The school Prom.
Our prom night went flawless. That was the best night of my life. Everyone and everything looked so gorgeous. The proms here differ from proms in America. We don't go to proms as a couple. Everyone goes as a single. We spend our Prom night since 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. The whole night :) We always spend our Prom night with parents. The first part of a prom is called an “Official Part”. In other words there is a prom concert at school. School principal presents us school certificates. And then we sing, dance and speak words of gratitude to our teachers. This concert lasts about two or three hours. Then, all the graduates and the parents go to the restaurant where we eat, laugh, dance, cry till the morning light comes up. And about at 6 am, we go home. It is how our proms look like :)
I have been waiting for 12 years. My school -leaving certificate.
I am playing a teacher ;)
Singing
Romeo, save me, somewhere we can be along.
We were playing a pantomime of UNT. #forfun
At the restaurant.
Mummy <3
Dancing :)
I couldn't help but cry.
We greeted the dawn at 6 a.m.
Our last picture together.
We also need to say Thank You to our head teacher who supported us all the year long. And gave us an amazing time:) She is also my Mum.
School life is over for me and my classmates. We turn over the page and enter a new era. Each of us chooses his or her own way. And I hope no one will regret what way they will choose. Hopefully we'll see each other sometime. Just learn how they are doing. Well, I go to study in the Karaganda University, the Faculty of Foreign Languages. I hope it will be good 4 years for me. Now I have more free time. And I can go back to their normal daily life. And also continue to maintain this blog.
People are people. They come and leave. But life goes on :)
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