Tyler (Talgat) Blotter: one day for a thousand days in Kazakhstan

  We have already written several times about the fact that users of the Kazakh American Association on Facebook find relatives of girls and boys adopted by Americans within half a day. Through the same network, there are enough people who communicate with their relatives and learn languages to understand each other. But there are few cases when they arrived at their historical homeland and visited the region where they were born and grew up.

 Tyler (Talgat) Blotter, who found his brothers and sisters through the same community three years ago, arrived in Kazakhstan last month and spent about twenty days there. Taking his adopted American mother, Tami, and his wife, Madison, along with their friends Paul and Nate, who are determined to search for relatives, he said that the twenty days he spent in Kazakhstan will be spent in a thousand days.

 We contacted and talked to Tyler, who wants to live in Kazakhstan, work here, and open a fund for children who left without parental care.

 -As you write on your page on the social network, you can really make a movie about you, who reunited with your brothers and sisters in twenty years. Before you share your impressions of this trip, firstly, introduce yourself widely to the reader.

 "My name is Tyler Blotter. My American name is Talgat. I was born in Pavlodar region. We have seven kids in the family: three brothers and three sisters. I am the youngest in the House. At the age of three, after the death of my mother, I was admitted to one of the orphanages in the region. I was there until the age of five. Then I was adopted by an American couple.

So, from the age of five I lived in the American city of Michigan. In my American family, I have three sisters and two brothers. I am the youngest in the House too. My father's profession is a doctor. And my mother is self-employed.

Since childhood, I have gone to various sports sections. In addition to martial arts, I grew up doing several sports.

-When we talk with adopted Kazakhs like you, the majority of them say that because of their appearance, sometimes they were negatively attracted to their peers from school. They said that growing up, they wanted to look for their parents and found out where they came from. Is it the same with you?

- I also saw a lot of bullying in elementary school. That’s why I learned to defend myself. I was going to repel those who ridiculed me. After moving to the higher class, there were not many such cases. The older I got, the more I became indifferent to it.

Everyone talks openly in the USA. Americans often tell their child at an early age that he or she is adopted - They would rather find out for themselves from foster parents than from someone rumored. Moreover, I don't look like my American parents. That's why I knew that I was adopted. In the environment where I grew up, it is important to know my origin, my roots. I know the origin of my American family. However, I don't know anything about myself, about my Kazakh family.

I wanted to find out, and started the search for my relatives in Kazakhstan. In February 2020, I wrote to about fifteen people on Facebook who have the same last name as my biological mother. One of these fifteen people said they weren't related, but replied that they could help find my relatives.

So, he referred to the Kazakh American Association page on Facebook and asked me to report everything there. After I wrote about myself on that page, I instantly had a lot of personal letters. Gradually, the number of people who wanted to help find my family has increased. A few hours later, someone wrote that they found my older sisters. I was on cloud nine when I got in touch with all my brothers and sisters. Thus, in just one day I found my relatives who I had been looking for twenty years (smiling).

- Last month you visited Kazakhstan for twenty days. Following you through the social network, we noticed that in twenty days you traveled to several cities and got a special impression. Have you been thinking about going to Kazakhstan for a long time? Or did you come at the invitation of your brothers and sisters?

- It was my idea to visit Kazakhstan. We met in the same chat with Paul (Kazakh name – Sardar) and Nate (Kazakh name – Ruslan), who were adopted from the same country as me. Then we met and became friends. Wanting to find relatives, I told them that I was going to go to Kazakhstan, and if they wanted, they could come with me. So, last month the three of us came to Kazakhstan.

Tyler with his native brothers.

- The video recording of the meeting of relatives in Kazakhstan at Astana airport did not leave anyone indifferent.

 - Yes, my relatives carefully prepared to meet us at the airport. At first, I was a little confused. Because I don't know anything about the place where I got. I don't know the Kazakh language, I don't know the Kazakh culture. At the age of five, I crossed the ocean and came to Kazakhstan after twenty years. But on the other hand, I was full of joy.

When I landed at the airport, I walked through the waiting hall and saw my relatives holding papers with inscriptions and waiting impatiently, my heart kept beating. It was as if a hot flame had poured into my heart. I felt like I was coming home. I felt that my roots were connected with this place. This is an indescribable feeling.

It was a little late at night, so we ate, got tired and fell asleep. Early on, my brothers, sisters and I walked around the city. I really love my brothers and sisters from America. I am proud of them. But it's not even worth talking to my native relatives in Kazakhstan. When I spoke to them, I said to myself, "Here are your brothers." I felt that there was a special connection between us. They can't speak English, and I don't understand Kazakh. Still, I had a special feeling that they were my relatives. Between the three of us, Nate has been working in Ukraine for some time, so he is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian. He helped me get in touch with my brothers. Without his help, the situation would have been difficult (laughs).

The moment when Tyler met Kazakh relatives at the airport

- When Paul (Sardar) visited the capital city on the first day, he was surprised that everyone around him looked like him. Maybe you were also in a special state of mind when you first walked around the city?

- Exactly! It was the most amazing feeling! At that time, I was very happy:" how pleasant it is to come to Kazakhstan and see all this with my own eyes." There are many white people in the USA, where I grew up. As a child, I thought, " Why am I not like them?" Sometimes I was angry though. And then, on the first day, when I walked around the capital city, I was surprised to see that everyone around me looked like me. On the same day, we went to the airport to meet my mother Tami and my wife Madison, who came from the USA. Early on, we met with other relatives and had been talking for a long time.

Then we went to my hometown, to the city of Pavlodar. One of my six brothers lives in Astana, the other five in Pavlodar. Therefore, we met there with all my brothers and sisters and went back and forth. It felt like I spent a thousand days there.

By the way, at the entrance to the city, I stopped by a sign with the inscription "Pavlodar" and took a picture with my American mother. My mother, who took me from Pavlodar when I was a child, came with a grown son in twenty years. What's wrong with that?"! We visited the dazzling Bayanaul, ate in nature and had a wonderful evening.

It turns out that Kazakhs know how to go out into nature! I was amazed that everything was worked out and organized. In America, recreation in nature is not organized at the same high level as here.

Then we went to my mother's grave. A week later, I arrived in Astana and took my wife and mother to America. Nate also had a change of plan and went back to America. Then I went to Almaty, met my mother's sister, her family, and refreshed myself. After wandering there for four days, Paul and I went to Taraz and tried to find his relatives.

It is a pity that during the three days of our stay in Taraz, we did not find any names. Then we returned to the capital city in the morning, and the same night we returned to the USA.

By the way, I thought that maybe I gained excess weight because I ate a lot of delicious food in Kazakhstan. When I returned home, I weighed myself, but on the contrary, I lost five kilograms. Dishes in Kazakhstan are prepared from healthy and young meat. And in America, processed foods are most often used. In Kazakhstan, we ate Kazakh meat with pleasure. I wanted to eat horse meat, hoping to talk to you about the food (laughs).

A few days ago, my wife and I tried plov for the first time. But still there is not enough taste of plov in the USA, which was eaten in Kazakhstan.

"We're glad you brought Nate, Paul, your mother and wife to Kazakhstan.

- Mom liked everything. In fact, my American family is committed to religion. He always does good deeds. Mom brought me up. I was a very irritable child when I was little. I was often drawn to feverish. At the time, it seemed like something was missing. My mother, who helped me overcome all this, was relieved when she saw me talking to my native brothers and sisters. And she is very pleased to witness these special moments.

She feels guilty that she took me from the orphanage. But I told her that it was all in vain, and I conveyed my boundless gratitude for the fact that she was able to become a caring mother to me, to give me a good life. I am so happy that she is my mother. I am proud of my mother.

And before I married my wife, I promised that we would travel to Kazakhstan together. She was especially impressed by this trip too. She especially liked the national cuisine.

Tyler with his wife Madison.

At this time, Tyler's wife Madison intervened:

- In fact, I didn't eat much. But seeing that Kazakhs eat a lot of food, I forgot my habit (laughs). Every day in Kazakhstan was special. I really liked it. Especially I liked the tradition that family members communicate so closely with each other, firmly adhere to unity and spend time together.

Then Tyler noted another feature that he noticed:

- It turns out that they want to help others, even if they do not have such funds. I used to put the needs of others above all else, rather than correcting my situation. I think that this is a characteristic of the Kazakh people. If they see that someone is suffering, they want to help with all good intentions and honest attention.

– Could you ask your relatives the reason for taking you to the orphanage? As far as I know, your brothers and sisters have been looking for you all these years.

-When I was taken to the orphanage, my brothers and sisters were too young. Only my grandparents were responsible for the elders, but according to the law, it seemed that I had to be taken to the same house. And they would not be able to support us equally. My grandparents took care of my three older brothers, and the three of us, Arystan, Turar, were sent to an orphanage. But they were admitted to another orphanage.

My mother, who came to adopt me, said that the staff of the orphanage told me that I had brothers and that "you can't adopt Talgat until you find the brothers." Mom says she waited there for four months. When no one was finally found, I was allowed to be adopted. I clearly didn't know if the children's home was lying. But my brothers and sisters knew that I was in an orphanage, they were calling. But they have no right to adopt us until they turns 18 years old.

So I went to America. And my brothers and sisters took care of me in other orphanages after the 7th and 8th grades. But I have relatives who are waiting for me in Kazakhstan. I love them very much. I think about them every day. When I think about the time I spend with them, I feel special. I am glad that I met them face to face, and from the very beginning I established a strong connection. I want to help my relatives in any way I can

Now I also have my own family. I have a personal State. I am proud that my brothers and sisters did not break during the difficult period , but managed to overcome it. I am also grateful that they are gradually increasing, becoming good parents for their children and caring for each other.

Tyler with the pupils of the Taraz city orphanage "Kamkor zhurek".

– During the visit to Taraz, we saw that you got acquainted with the work of the Public Foundation "Kamkor zhurek", created by American Victoria Sharbano, and pleased the children brought up there. As I noticed, it seems that you have been planning to open such a public fund for a long time.

- Yes, when we went to Taraz, we visited the Center under the leadership of Victoria, where we got acquainted with the work. We were surprised that the staff there, without sparing warmth from the Kazakh children left without parental care, poured out their kindness and upbringing.

The next day we bought 18 boxes of pizza and distributed them to the children who were brought up in that center. It was an unforgettable evening.

In fact, my wife and I plan to open such organizations in Central Asia. Especially in Kazakhstan, we want to help children left without parental care get back on their feet. When I was a little I dreamt about building an orphanage. “I will be very rich. I dreamed that I would spend all the money I earned in the same orphanage." I really want to help children who are stuck in orphanages and are unlucky in life. Because I was lucky in my life. My American parents, who adopted me, are lovely and successful people. He does not spare what he has. They are generous souls. So I grew up without any shortage. I was in good shape.

However, when I see low-income children from orphanages, I feel nauseous. Their condition will not leave my mind for a long time. Therefore, I would like to take part in improving their way of life. I don't want to be lonely. I want to convince them that they are not as useless as they think, because they can become a big person. I intend to open a fund where the same conditions will be created and opportunities will be provided.

If you know, children in orphanages are very smart. All we have to do is to show the way in time and point the direction.

Tyler’s mother Tami was brought up in front of an orphanage for the kids before the age of 5 in Pavlodar city.

I mentioned above that I was angry as a child. Growing up, I realized that I didn't grow hair out of anger. If you give in to anger, you will not be able to live as you want. It is necessary to take care of yourself in a timely manner, without exacerbating anger and other psychological problems.

"I don't know," he said. Every day we encounter obstacles, even the smallest ones, we run and solve them. But if we do not act, then one by one the barricades will easily slip away from the course we follow. Therefore, I try to look around as positively as possible and help as many people as I can.

It feels like God himself wants me to help those in need.

– So you will come back to Kazakhstan in the future?

"We'd like to stay there for a while before we come back." I want to know the culture of the country. I want to speak the Kazakh language fluently. My wife also set herself the goal of learning Kazakh. I note that learning the Kazakh language is not as easy as it seems. But if I take lessons from a language specialist, I will learn, no matter how difficult it is. In America, there are enough specialists who teach Russian, but I can't find a specialist or teacher who teaches Kazakh.

And then it would be even better if I found a job in Kazakhstan or got a job in an American company that allows me to work in Kazakhstan. In this regard, I would like to tell you what I did when I visited Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is a very rich country. But it is now a developing state. Kazakhstan was formed as a separate state, but has not yet formed as a country with a high economy.

As a specialist, I see a huge potential in Kazakhstan, like an undeveloped Valley. In itself, it is rich in oil and non-ferrous metals. Kazakhstan should become a country where tourists come from all over the world. After all, there are many beautiful places on the territory of Kazakhstan. Many Americans imagine Kazakhstan as represented by Borat. Although Borat's film is not shot in Kazakhstan, he has no connection with Kazakhstan, but he sees it through his eyes and speaks for himself. But I am sure that if they stop in Kazakhstan not for a day, but even for an hour, they will immediately like this place.

I saw the potential and development of Kazakhstan. Therefore, I also want to contribute to the growth and development of the country. You can only help if you live there and be a part of that country. Many are interested in the wealth that is called the "American Dream" within the country and want to achieve a comfortable life. Even if I have all this, it is inappropriate for me only to take care of myself and burn myself. Because I can't improve myself  if I don't share with others what I know and what I collect.

– Let the idea come true!

 Thank you for your story!

 Interview: Aliya TLEUZHANOVNA