Kazakhstan

Archaeological Heritage Site Researcher (2012)

I was an Archaeological Heritage Site Researcher and Russian translator for an archaeological field school with the Centre for Applied Archaeology, an affiliate of University College London (UCL). I managed on-the-ground logistics for a U.K. archaeologist and nine UCL students at a Silk Road-era archaeological excavation site in Taraz, Kazakhstan. 'Ancient Taraz' is the name given to this ongoing excavation, located beneath a bustling, modern-day bazaar.

In addition to excavation, I conducted in-depth research for my master's thesis on the issues related to the government's plans to close the bazaar and move sellers to the suburbs. I interviewed more than 20 stakeholders including: government officials, market owners and sellers, history teachers, NGOs, UNESCO, tour operators, and international tourists. The conflicting values among the various stakeholders make this an enormously complex and challenging site.

Click on the image to download an article I wrote about Kazakhstan's tourism industry (2015).

Excavating at the site.

'Ancient Taraz' excavation site at a bazaar along The Great Silk Road. It includes a hamam (Turkish bath).

My discovery of an 8th-Century Chinese coin became the most compelling artifact.

Editor, Writer & Communications Specialist (2003 - 2004)

I was the Communications Specialist for the USAID-funded, Abt Associates' Health Plus Project. The aim was to reform the healthcare programs of Central Asia.

I conducted field research and first-hand interviews during site visits to program areas including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and throughout Kazakhstan. I proofread, formatted and revised field reports generated by technical experts and delivered them to USAID officials in Washington, D.C. to evaluate the effectiveness of the healthcare programs.

I wrote several "Road to Results: Success Stories" detailing specific project achievements (see right).

Click on the image to download a 'Road to Results' story.

United States Peace Corps Volunteer (2001 - 2003)

I was an Economic Development Volunteer for two years as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan. My cultural experience was intense and in-depth, as I lived at the local level and earned local wages. For two years, I taught business concepts and English in a former Soviet, predominantly Russian-speaking country to over 200 students per week. I designed and implemented my own lesson plan curricula using limited resources.

As one of my cultural heritage projects, I created and led a group of students to update the city of Pavlodar’s section of Lonely Planet Publication's "Central Asia" guidebook. The project received accolades from senior staff at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and students received recognition in print by the author in the new edition.