Letter to the Editor

I am writing to see whether there may be a possibility to write an article or series of articles for a magazine or newspaper publication in Kazakhstan. I am a graduate student in San Francisco and am also teaching courses in Middle Eastern Politics and Comparative Politics at San Jose State University. I graduated from Georgetown University with honors in International Economics. At Georgetown I was the John Humes Junior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and was one of about 10 seniors to be given an academic award in the Economics department. Following my studies at Georgetown, I pursued a graduate degree in Middle East studies at the American University in Cairo and worked on international legal issues related to migration and refugee studies. Now that I am continuing my studies in the Bay Area, I am actively writing on a number of issues that may be of interest to your magazine: economics, Middle East, internet and technology in the US and in developing countries, US foreign policy, US domestic politics, Europe, North Africa, Islam. This next year I am planning to enter a Ph.D. program in Economics and Political Science and apply myself to the field of real academic research and teaching. Any kind of publishing or work that I could share with you would be great since it will enhance my experience and make me even more qualified for further advanced study.

My interest in Kazakhstan comes from the time that I moved to Almaty when I was 15. My father, Dr. Hartmut Fischer, was chosen to lead the Kazakhstan Institute of Management and Strategic Research and I entered the 8th grade at School #105. I learned Russian, played violin, swam with the Kazakh national water polo team, skied at Chimbulak, went ice skating at Medeo, and traveled all throughout Central Asia. It was a really good experience. In fact, it was also during this time that I read the newspaper that you created and that experience encouraged me to see the value in quality journalism. The website that I helped to create for your newspaper inspired me to take my website design skills to the next level and I have now done work for a number of prominent companies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and prominent individuals. I continue to play violin in a prominent orchestra known as the San Francisco Sinfonietta and also exercise just as hard as I did in Almaty.

As a result of my Russian, I also direct a San Francisco Foodbank Program where I am the only Russian language speaking person on the executive staff. As a fully volunteer run organization, I have managed to raise funds, recruit long term volunteers, and this Fall I am even teaching a class to 100 students at the premier high school in San Francisco on issues of hunger and San Francisco politics. This program has received special awards for the work that it does to alleviate the hunger problems that face some of the poorer populations of San Francisco, many of whom have difficulty integrating into America because of the language and age barriers that exist. Even if I have not been back to Almaty since 1998, I think that the education and experience that I received during my stay in Kazakhstan has stayed with me and had a major influence in the person that I am today. As for my personal life, I am not married, do not have a girlfriend, and do not have any children. I am busy with my studies and have made time to meet for plenty fo dates with girls and go out a lot with friends. I had a party at my house recently and a girl from Kazakhstan came to the party. She was particularly attractive and friendly and plans to return to San Francisco after working in Kazakhstan again this summer. Who knows, maybe something will happen? While the women in the United States are attractive and intelligent, I find that the women that I have met from Kazakhstan are even better and remind me of the wonderful time that I had in your country. Perhaps I will return sometime again in the near future and we can catch up in person. I am attaching a photograph along with this email. Please let me know what kinds of opportunities you might have to write articles for your magazine and what topics might be of interest to your readers. My email is ericfischer23@hotmail.com and my cell number is (415) 624-7706. If you need to mail me something that address is:

Eric Fischer
2856 Union Street, San Francisco CA 94123.
I am looking forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Best regards, Eric Fischer

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