September 9, 2017 / BLOG
USA Pavilion Brings People Together at Close of Expo 2017 Hundreds of thousands of visitors from Kazakhstan and around the world experience American culture at the first World’s Fair in Central Asia ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – As the 2017 Expo ends, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have visited the USA Pavilion, with […]
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September 5, 2017 / BLOG
The Future of Energy BY AES Kazakhstan AES recently had the pleasure of hosting USA Pavilion (USAP) Student Ambassadors and other USAP team members at the two hydroelectric power plants we currently operate in Eastern Kazakhstan. It was a great opportunity for us to share how we’re delivering on our mission of improving lives with […]
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September 4, 2017 / BLOG
Thailand Cultural Exchange By Jonathan Poser, Quentin Heilbroner, and Alexandra Bustamante USA Pavilion (USAP) Student Ambassadors Jon, Quentin, and Sasha switched places with three staff members from the Thailand Pavilion as part of USAP’s second ambassador exchange. Representatives from the Thailand Pavilion greeted us in the morning and posed for pictures in front of […]
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August 29, 2017 / BLOG
Cielito Lindo: An Unexpected Gift from EXPO By Alejandro Perez-Reyes Each day, the Latin American Plaza holds concerts showcasing the cultures and traditions of its member countries. As I walked past this morning, I saw a woman standing alone on the stage, preparing to sing to what was then an empty atrium. I almost continued […]
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August 28, 2017 / BLOG
USA Pavilion Welcomes Presidential Delegation from United States to Expo 2017 Delegation highlights America’s ‘Source of Infinite Energy’ during tour and lunch presentation ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – Today, the USA Pavilion at Expo 2017 welcomed a Presidential Delegation from the United States, led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan R. Brouillette and other key […]
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August 25, 2017 / BLOG
Astana’s best feature By Paulina Knoblock The student ambassadors at the USA Pavilion are often asked about what we like best in Astana, whether we are most impressed by the food, the locals, or the Expo itself, and people seem surprised when I answer that my favorite activity in Astana is going on evening […]
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August 24, 2017 / BLOG
Meet Kathryn and Robert, the talented dancers from the USA Pavilion Main Show video! Both dancers were invited by BRC Imagination Arts to create the energetic film for our pavilion at EXPO 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The song the dance to, WE, was also written and recorded exclusively for the USA Pavilion. Kathryn is known from […]
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August 23, 2017 / BLOG
Get off the plane By Anthony DeAngelo Tomorrow, I leave for Kazakhstan. It’s my fourth trip this year with one more to go. At this point, I can make it with my eyes closed. The security lines at Dulles, the stopover in Frankfurt and the final checkpoints in Astana before heading to my temporary home […]
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August 19, 2017 / BLOG
A photographer’s notes on Astana By Ellen Yang In a photogenic universe, the search for that one, brilliant capture never ceases. Such is the universe of the Expo – saturated to the brim with geometric symmetry, vivid color palettes, and blissful nights and days of bizarre, once-in- a-lifetime events. In other words, a habitat ripe […]
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August 16, 2017 / BLOG
Pavilion Exchange with UAE By Grace Garrett Today the US Pavilion welcomed Khoolood and Mohammad, two volunteers from the United Arab Emirates Pavilion. UAE has a setup similar to ours, with student volunteers helping to run the show. One difference is that these volunteers rotate out, with a new group taking their place every month […]
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August 14, 2017 / BLOG
A City with a Soul By Izabel Trizlova A spontaneous decision to take a day trip to Karaganda, a four hour train ride south from Astana turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made since coming to Kazakhstan. The trip began with my friends and I almost missing the train from […]
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August 11, 2017 / BLOG
Pins: The Currency of the Expo By Ferris Samara As an American working at the World Expo, the aspect of the international event that surprised me the most was not the gigantic sphere plopped right in the middle of the Expo grounds, nor was it the futuristic looking buildings that surround it. Of all the […]
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August 10, 2017 / BLOG
Next Generation Ambassadors at USA Pavilion EXPO 2017 By Dr. Joshua W. Walker, the President and CEO of the USA Pavilion at World EXPO 2017 Astana, Kazakhstan. Thousands of miles from home, these Americans are shaping our nation’s image abroad and on the frontlines of public diplomacy on the largest international stage this year that will […]
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August 9, 2017 / BLOG
FC Astana vs Legia Warszawa 3-1 By Ozoda Tojiboeva The Astana Arena was full of cheering soccer enthusiasts, cheering for the Astana Football Club and using their clapping booklets, conveniently left on their seats, to make as much noise as possible. You could hear them from the parking lots. I would know this because I […]
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August 4, 2017 / BLOG
The 13th Eurasia International Film Festival 2017 By Svetlana Popovic I enjoy watching a good film and I had an opportunity to attend the 13th Eurasia International film festival in Astana, Kazakhstan which went from July 22 until July 28th. Ambassador Krol from the United States introduced the 48 Hour Film Race. The short films […]
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August 2, 2017 / BLOG
Student Ambassadors Visit ALZhIR By Mark Dovich A few days ago, a group of student ambassadors visited the Akmolinsk Camp of Wives of Traitors of the Motherland, or ALZhIR for short, outside of Astana. On one hand, ALZhIR was just one island in the “Gulag Archipelago,” the Soviet Union’s infamous network of forced-labor camps. On […]
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August 1, 2017 / BLOG
USA Pavilion Releases Official Song for Download Song heard throughout the USA Pavilion, ‘WE’, has captured the spirit of Future Energy ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – The USA Pavilion has made its official song, ‘WE’, available for download on its website, according to USA Pavilion President and CEO, Dr. Joshua Walker. “The source of infinite energy is […]
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July 31, 2017 / BLOG
On Liberty: Representing American Values Abroad in 2017 By Alejandro Perez-Reyes About a month ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and participate in several programs organized by the local American Corners. I have found myself lately reflecting upon a conversation from one of these events. I believe that it exemplifies both […]
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July 27, 2017 / BLOG
USAP Goes to Borovoe By Nelly Dimov On July 20-21, several members of USAP left Astana to visit Borovoe, an area known for its lakes and beautiful nature. For two days, we enjoyed one of Kazakhstan’s natural treasures together. We rented a house overnight, which allowed us to see the beautiful night sky, far removed […]
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July 25, 2017 / BLOG
USA Pavilion Reaches Over 400k Visitors as Expo 2017 Reaches Half-Way Mark Visitors from around the world are experiencing the USA Pavilion in person and online ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – As Expo 2017 hits the half-way mark, over 400,000 people from around the world have either visited the USA Pavilion in Astana in person, or experienced […]
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July 18, 2017 / BLOG
Well Worth It By: Jonathan Poser Last Thursday, after greeting guests from GE at the USA Pavilion, I and six of my fellow Student Ambassadors set out on a trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The promise of eagle shows, hiking, and panoramic views of the country’s former capital were particularly welcome after a couple of long […]
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July 16, 2017 / BLOG
Men on Stilts By: Ruslan Lucero July 15th was the National Day celebration of the Czech Republic, and I attended with two fellow Student Ambassadors; Kelly and Priya. The amount of pride that the Czech people performing in the event had for their country was evident, as they were full of energy and seemed extremely excited […]
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July 12, 2017 / BLOG
National Day By Yoshiharu Hewitt July 4th is a day of much emotion for the American people. All that we as a people appreciate, criticize, are proud of, and wish to improve, come to mind on our independence day. This year, these thoughts and reflections have reached new heights of emotional fervor, as a new […]
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July 6, 2017 / BLOG
A Hopeful Message By: Nelly Dimov As countries gather in Astana for the 2017 World Expo, they do so in an increasingly complicated international system. Globalization has both connected people and forced them to turn inward, as evidenced by an upsurge in nationalism throughout the world. Terrorism continues to shake citizens and governments. Economic crises, […]
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July 5, 2017 / BLOG
A Little Taste of Madagascar By: Logan Hardy Last week was Madagascar’s national day and I decided to visit their performance. Nelly, another Student Ambassador, and I started out the day by heading to the national day stage and anxiously waited for the people of Madagascar to present their country to us. The magical event […]
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July 3, 2017 / BLOG
Celebrating U.S.-Kazakhstan Ties at World EXPO 2017 Dr. Joshua W. Walker This year America’s Fourth of July Independence celebration will be shared with hundreds of other countries and countless guests on the other side of the world at EXPO 2017 here in Astana, Kazakhstan. Since June 10 our USA Pavilion has opened its doors to […]
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July 1, 2017 / BLOG
What I Did on My Summer Vacation By: Izabel Trizlova It was mid-April, I was still in Madrid, Spain and my final exams were right around the corner, when many of my colleagues asked me what I was planning on doing during my summer vacation. “I’m just going to relax and go to the beach,” […]
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June 30, 2017 / BLOG
My Friend from the Plane By: Kelly Pysmennyi On May 29th, 2017, I set out on an adventure unlike any other I had ever experienced. I boarded my flight to Kazakhstan; the country where I am spending the summer working as a Student Ambassador at Expo 2017 in Astana. Though I had previously traveled to […]
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June 29, 2017 / BLOG
Finding the Familiar in a Foreign Place By: Anthony DeAngelo Familiarity is important when you’re in a foreign place. It can be hard to find when you’re nearly 10,000 km from home. Being in a foreign land, struggling to understand foreign languages and adapt to foreign customs can make it seem like so much more. […]
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June 29, 2017 / BLOG
Why? By: Tyler Gonzales-Aguirre When I tell Russians (and Russian-speaking individuals) that I am studying Russian language and literature at Portland State University, their response is always “Why?”. My response is simple, I’m just very interested in the culture and language. Therefore, when I learned about the opportunity to represent the United States of America at […]
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June 28, 2017 / BLOG
Across the river By: Kanstantsin Ivanou Since I landed in Astana I discovered that there are in fact two different cities wrapped up into one. There is of course the Astana that proudly shows offs its architectural attractions with Bayterek, the over-the-top Khan Shatyr tent mall and many others. These buildings seem to symbolize the […]
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June 27, 2017 / BLOG
Korean Pavilion Visit! By: Jon Poser and Sasha Bustamante Today, Sasha and I decided to visit the Korean Pavilion for our first cultural exchange adventure. Along the way, we came across a Korean marching band playing Beatles songs in one of the main walkways, and watched as visitors gathered round singing along to ‘Hey Jude’. […]
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June 26, 2017 / BLOG
By: Clarissa Rodriguez I first traveled to Astana by train in August 2015. At the time, I was a participant of a summer program offered for American students in the Philology Department at KazNU. At the end of our program, the other students and I visited the new capital of Kazakhstan, where we had a […]
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June 21, 2017 / BLOG
Welcome! By: Svetlana Popovic Sixteen hours on the airplane, two sunsets, two sunrises, one bag, three months, new country, new culture, new language. The event World Expo 2017 Future Energy in Astana, Kazakhstan is finally real. I took the road less traveled by and I know this journey will make a great difference. I read […]
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June 20, 2017 / BLOG
Assume You Know Nothing By: Alejandro Perez-Reyes A month ago back at university, I would have likely heard such words in a philosophical debate on Socrates. Here in Astana, however, they were spoken to me by Khalid, a volunteer at the United Arab Emirates Pavilion. I’m writing today to tell you how we met and […]
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June 19, 2017 / BLOG
What Brought Me to Astana By: Rachael Rosenberg Сәлеметсіз бе, здравствуйте and hello from sunny Astana, Kazakhstan! It is an honor to be here as a Student Ambassador for the United States at Expo 2017. I am so excited to participate in the international event of the year, the first of its kind ever to […]
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June 16, 2017 / BLOG
Our First Week By: Paul Gallo The first week was a roller coaster! After catching up on sleep, I began to put down roots. Our CEO, Josh Walker, upon learning that I and Alex Resnick spoke some Turkish, invited us to a high-key Turkish press conference to kick-off the opening of the Turkish pavilion. Using […]
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June 15, 2017 / BLOG
By: Michael Schiumo Of the thousands of interactions that I have had over the course of the past 2 weeks, one in particular remains vivid in my mind. I was walking with a group of fellow Student Ambassadors when a visitor of the Expo turned and sought my attention. I turned, greeting him in Russian, […]
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June 10, 2017 / BLOG
USA Pavilion Opens at Expo 2017 Senior U.S. Government officials and USA Pavilion Sponsors welcome visitors ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – The USA Pavilion officially opened today with a welcome ceremony led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Rosenblum, USA Pavilion Commissioner Ambassador George Krol, USA Pavilion President and CEO Dr. Joshua Walker, Expo 2017 CEO […]
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June 7, 2017 / BLOG
First Impressions of the World’s Fair: What Expo Means to Me By: Michael Schiumo, Student Ambassador What is it that unites the human spirit with another? A flag? A credo? Maybe, a language? At present, the answer seems to be more-so abstract: the will to overcome. Thus, as June 10th quickly approaches, Expo 2017 in […]
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June 2, 2017 / BLOG
The story of the USA Pavilion is the story of ‘infinite energy’ – the story of America’s invention, innovation and most of all; it’s people. Yesterday was the first day of orientation for our Student Ambassadors. They’re 40 amazing young Americans who will greet you at the USA Pavilion, answer your questions and help you […]
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May 31, 2017 / BLOG
Welcome to a Tradition of Progress: The USA Pavilion at Central Asia’s First World’s Fair in Astana, Kazakhstan By: Dr. Joshua Walker, CEO, USA Pavilion Ever since I had the honor of being appointed President of the USA Pavilion at this year’s World EXPO in Astana, Kazakhstan, I’ve been struck by the rich history of […]
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May 31, 2017 / BLOG
Want to see the team behind the USA Pavilion for Expo 2017? Look no further than Kazakhstan’s own TV 24, which aired a feature on the USA Pavilion’s ‘send off’ event last week. You can watch the segment featuring our CEO, Dr. Joshua Walker and Executive Director, Andrew Snowhite by clicking here.
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May 26, 2017 / BLOG
Here’s a sneak peak at what visitors will see when they step into the USA Pavilion: Theatre 1: A Room Full of Energy Visitors are greeted by a question at the heart of the Pavilion Experience: “What is the Source of Infinite Energy?” As they enter, they are surrounded by images of the United States and […]
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May 25, 2017 / BLOG
The USA Pavilion held its official ‘send-off’ to Expo 2017 Astana, Kazakhstan at an event in Washington, D.C., featuring U.S. and Kazakhstani representatives previewing the world’s most prominent energy, innovation and person-to-person global event of 2017. The project is a public private partnership, led by USAP Expo 2017, the nonprofit organization selected by the U.S. […]
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April 20, 2017 / BLOG
By: Dr. Joshua Walker, President & CEO of USAP 2017 This year’s Expo in Astana is the single largest international event of the year, equivalent to the Olympics. And Kazakhstan is the event’s first gold medal winner. One thing has become apparent over the last several years: Kazakhstan is where important things get done. Whether it’s […]
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April 12, 2017 / BLOG
Every week, we will feature one member of our executive leadership to share a little bit about themselves. This week, USAP’s Director of Communications, Anthony DeAngelo. Where are you from? I was born in Miami, Florida, but have lived in Washington, DC for most of the last 15 years. During that 15 years, I’ve briefly […]
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March 29, 2017 / BLOG
Every week, we will feature one member of our executive leadership to share a little bit about themselves. This week, USAP’s President and CEO, Joshua Walker. Where Are You From? While I was born in North Carolina but consider myself a proud Virginian, I actually spent the majority of my childhood in Japan, living there […]
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March 17, 2017 / BLOG
On Friday, February 24, 2017, the U.S. signed a Participation Contract with Astana Expo 2017 Organizers to participate in the International Exposition. The U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan, George Krol acting is his capacity as the Commissioner of the USA Pavilion, represented the US in signing the Participation Contract.
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March 17, 2017 / BLOG
As Commissioner of the USA Pavilion, I am pleased to announce the participation of the United States at Astana Expo 2017. Expo 2017 “Future Energy” will be the largest and most prominent event hosted in Central Asia so far in the 21st century, and the USA Pavilion will showcase American ideals and innovation in energy […]
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