Today I was at the Baptist Union office. They have a terrific map which indicates the major people groups in the major cities of Kazakhstan and of each oblast (like a state).
Here is the breakdown in the city of Karaganda and the oblast
Russians: 52.1% 42.3
Kazakhs: 27.5 40.1
Belorussians: 1.4 1.4
Koreans: 1.7 1.0
Tatars: 3.4 2.7
Germans: 3.7 3.2
Ukrainians: 5.8 5.3
Others: 4.4
I met with one brother who is of German descent. I asked him about how he viewed himself. He shared with me that while his Kazakhstani passport may report him as a German, he said that he is Russian. He speaks and thinks like a Russian. I asked him about other groups like Ukrainians, Belorussians, Moldovans. He said that he viewed them as Russians as well.
This was interesting insight. I struggle calling people who are Ukrainians (those living in Kstan, not Ukraine) and other Slavic groups as Russian. However, after speaking to this brother and others, I am beginning to understand that the Slavic people here view themselves as Russian.
Great info to know…
2 responses so far ↓
1 max // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:46 pm
That’s because most Slavic (and German too) people here are mixed with each other. My grandma belorussian; my wife half belorussian, half ukrainian. But all slavic people here speak Russian - our most important common thing is language.
2 Joe // Sep 25, 2007 at 9:45 pm
It was really important for me to hear this. It helps me understand the people a whole lot better. And you are right, the language is the common denominator and is what holds you together!
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