Last week our belongings from Almaty finally arrived in Istanbul. The six big boxes in which we had packed the last five years of our lives, were finally here. As each box revealed its prized contents, a kaleidoscope of memories, moments, emotions, all exploded in my mind at the same time.

As we unpacked, my mind immediately went back to the last few days in Almaty, when we were in a frenzy of packing. Only Arnav and I had remained, the rest of the family having already left two weeks earlier. We were busy sorting and packing and remembering and cherishing and feeling sad and nostalgic at the same time. Arnav and I had begun our new adventure in Almaty together and were now bringing it to a close side by side. Life had come full circle in a way.

Arnav, who had come to regard Almaty as home. Not the house in India where he had spent the first 9 years of his life, but Almaty, where he grew up, where he acquired his sense of independence, where he outgrew his childhood and started making sense of this world. To him, leaving Almaty was like leaving a piece of himself behind.

And not only him, Almaty meant something to each one of us. In these five years, this city has become a special part of all our lives. It gave all of us a sense of peace, a sense of freedom and a lot of joy. It gave us a lifetime of memories.

To me, the move to Almaty was a long-cherished career dream, an exposure to the world beyond India, an opportunity to apply what I had learned all through my career to a new context. These five years were fulfilling to say the least.

To the whole family, it was an adventure that we stepped into without knowing much of what might come our way. We all took that leap of faith together. When I was offered this opportunity, we did not know how we will manage – my husband could not move because of his work in India, my twins were just 2.5 years old and I had no idea whether or not the family will be able to adjust in Almaty. But my super supportive family said, “You move, we will manage”. And I moved.

Winds of Change

It all began sometime in 2017. My twins were still infants, Anvay’s condition had been diagnosed and as a family we were still grappling with what it meant for all of us. I had joined back work. I remember being exhausted. Coping with the shock of Anvay’s disability. A little frustrated at work, feeling stagnated. Life was topsy turvy. My computer password those days used to be “things will get better”.

In response to my chaotic emotions, my mind instinctively turned towards internal job openings.  Whenever I’m feeling down or frustrated in life, I find comfort in looking ahead – envisioning a future where things are better – when there is more sunshine in our lives – and more optimism.

And in the next couple of weeks/months – I don’t remember now – I ended up applying for two positions – one in Almaty and another in Sydney – and got interviewed for both. And my awesome family, rather than questioning how I could even consider moving with infant twins, jumped right into discussing which city would be better – Almaty or Sydney!!! My dad preferring Sydney and Kapil arguing that Almaty is near and therefore more practical. All pipedreams then, as I had not received a job offer for either position!!

As things turned out, I didn’t make it for the Sydney position and the Almaty position was deferred. Life went on. Early 2018 brought yet another heartbreaking shock—the loss of my father. It felt like life’s challenges had no limit, and there was no end to my struggles.

The start of a new life

I heard back about the Almaty job in mid-2018. The position was opening up again and would I be interested. But I was not so sure this time. With my father gone, how would my mum and Kapil manage three kids if I moved out? The manager suggested some cross support while staying in India and travelling to Central Asia. I agreed. By early 2019, things were firmed up and the decision to move to Almaty was made. We were still not sure how would we manage. But I think, to all of us, Almaty was a beacon of hope, a call for change. We just followed the light.

I arrived in Almaty at the crack of dawn on 1^st May 2019. The evening before had been one of the hardest I’d ever faced. Saying goodbye to my babies, uncertain of what the future held, was incredibly difficult. It was still dark when I landed, morning light was just coming through, but the sky was overcast, with a steady drizzle. The air was chilly. It mirrored my own heart – cold, heavy and threatening to pour.

I arrived at my Airbnb and slept. I can still remember the desolation I felt at that time and sleep was a welcome alternative. By the time I woke up, the sun had broken through and soon there was a bell at my door – my colleague Luiza, who had travelled from neighboring Kyrgyzstan to make me feel at home. And she did, bringing with herself some food and lots of sunshine.

And just like that, the weight on my heart lifted. Of course there would be challenges on the way, but I knew I could handle them, our family could handle them. A little kindness goes a long way.

And there was no looking back after that.

Building a new life

I said at the beginning, Almaty meant peace to almost all of us. Perhaps, for us coming from a crowded and noisy India, the silence and serenity that Almaty offered, immediately calmed our senses. But it was more than that. The beautiful Tien Shan mountains, that can be seen from anywhere in the city, the flaming colors of autumn or the beauty of spring, the dazzling snow and the crisp winter air, the little brooks that bubbled through the city, the lovely walks in nature. The natural beauty of the city added joy and happiness to our lives. When my father in law passed in 2023, Almaty was where we brought our mum in law to come to terms with his absence.

Almaty was an easy city to settle into. I can’t really remember any teething troubles. My then 9-year-old, Arnav, adjusted to his new school and surroundings beautifully. The city was as safe as could be and the mother son duo had a lot of fun together – we would go out every Saturday, chill at home on Sundays and shop for the coming week. Language was a huge problem – but Google Translate or kind strangers helped us get through everything.

Post Covid the rest of my family moved. Abeer was old enough to join school now and we found the right therapy centres for Anvay as well. We slowly built our support system around us. Shireen, our Kyrgyz housekeeper became our backbone, who was with us all of the five years. Our Pakistani driver Sher Ali, who not only took the kids to school and Anvay to therapy but was available whenever needed. Sergei, the first ever person I met in Almaty (November 2018) who also drove us to and from airports and wherever. Nur and Nihan, Anvay’s excellent therapists. Asem, who looked after Anvay before our nanny could come and Kairat, our property agent who not only helped us find apartments, but was ready to pitch in when needed. These were not just people who provided us services. They were part of our village. Part of our lives. People we came to love and those who loved us back.

The Indian community was also a huge support system. They became our first point of contact for every question or challenge we faced, from navigating visa issues to adjusting to life in a new country. More than that, they provided a deep connection to our roots. We got the opportunity to celebrate Indian festivals together, share our traditions, and speak our native languages, keeping us closely connected to our culture and heritage, even while being far from home. In many ways, they became our extended family, offering both emotional and cultural support.

I also joined AIWC – a women’s expat club soon after arriving in Almaty. Even though my busy work schedule meant I couldn’t meet many of the members in person or attend many events, the group was a lifeline of sorts. They always had answers to every question one could possibly have about life in Almaty. While I didn’t get the chance to know most people deeply, the WhatsApp chats became a constant source of support and comfort for me. In the end, it was this very group I turned to when it was time to part with the things we had lovingly collected in Almaty, making that difficult transition a little easier to bear.

Weaving new memories

Under the shelter of the towering, snow-capped mountains our family thrived in more ways than one. Almaty became the backdrop to our children’s childhoods—the place where they found new friends, immersed in a new culture, where they experienced snow for the first time, and where their laughter echoed through the beautiful mountains and parks. Where my mum rekindled her passion for painting and where my husband fulfilled his adventurous spirit.

And not only us. My sister and her family visited us for the first time in 2022 and then couldn’t stay away, making it an annual ritual. Almaty gave us beautiful memories and as a family we came even closer and bonded together.

Almaty was there for every high and low, from our quiet celebrations of Diwali in a faraway land to our growing confidence in navigating a foreign city that no longer felt foreign at all. Almaty is where we learned to thrive in the unfamiliar, where we created a home in the midst of change, and where we experienced five years of life that we will never forget. It has changed us, shaped us, and will forever be a part of who we are. There are so many cherished moments that they deserve a blog of their own – stay tuned in for the next one.

But how do you say goodbye to a place that has become so much more than just a city? We all want to go back – to visit if nothing else. And we are hoping to come together in Almaty again in November. So perhaps, I should not say goodbye – but ‘phir milenge’ – till we meet again!

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Regards, Sakshi aka tripleamommy
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