Valeria Amirova Posted on 30th May 201914th June 2022 by nr NR · WorldPublished · Online Kazakhstan My mom and I left Almaty, Kazakhstan for Canada in 1994. I was 9 years old. When you’re a refugee, you can’t go back to the country you came from for at least 3 years. We went back after 5 years. My mom was sent to prison for obscure reasons almost immediately after our arrival in Almaty. We left as soon as she was released. I always hated Kazakhstan. I never missed the mountains that my mom always talked about. I never felt any connection to the place where I was from. Growing confused about my identity, seventeen years later I decided to go back. I hiked the mountains where I grew up, slept in yurts, ate the food and spoke the language. Being back home felt wonderful! Credits Photography and Words · Valeria Amirova About Founded in London in 2016, NR is an independent bi-annual print publication dedicated to showcasing diverse content in the realms of art, culture, design, fashion, music and beyond. Based in Milan since 2021, NR aims at providing in print and online, an archive of features and conversations between emerging and established creatives with a focus on empowering voices. Through the exploration of themes that transcend boundaries, challenge norms, and inspire change, NR aims to elevate the cultural conversation and celebrate the beauty of creativity in all its forms. Distribution WhiteCirc Ltd Publishing NR WORLD Printing Rota OfsetCreative Director Jade Removille Art DirectionCountersubject(Pietro Amoruoso, Giovanni Murolo and Federico Sargentone) Explore InstagramSoundcloudResident AdvisorArchiveNR 17NR 16NR 15 StoreContact Stockists Boutique MagsWorld Magazines, SeoulTerminal 27, Los AngelesDashwood Books, New YorkVillage Books, LeedsVillage Books, ManchesterDover Street Market, LondonGood News, LondonMagCulture, LondonShreeji News, LondonNews & Coffee, BarcelonaIMS, AntwerpIMS, HasseltPapercut, StockholmOFR, ParisPalais de Tokyo, ParisAnouk, ViennaRosa Wolf, Berlin Reading Room, MilanBrot Books, BratislavaDorbeetle, Hangzhou © NR 2022 All Rights ReservedNR is the property of NR WORLD S.r.l. Made with sustainability in mind, nr.world is cleaner than 70% of web pages testedLegal About Founded in London in 2016, NR is an independent bi-annual print publication dedicated to showcasing diverse content in the realms of art, culture, design, fashion, music and beyond. Based in Milan since 2021, NR aims at providing in print and online, an archive of features and conversations between emerging and established creatives with a focus on empowering voices. Through the exploration of themes that transcend boundaries, challenge norms, and inspire change, NR aims to elevate the cultural conversation and celebrate the beauty of creativity in all its forms. Distribution WhiteCirc Ltd Publishing NR WORLD Printing Rota OfsetCreative Director Jade Removille Art DirectionCountersubject(Pietro Amoruoso, Giovanni Murolo and Federico Sargentone) Explore InstagramSoundcloudResident AdvisorArchiveNR 17NR 16NR 15 StoreContact Stockists Boutique MagsWorld Magazines, SeoulTerminal 27, Los AngelesDashwood Books, New YorkVillage Books, LeedsVillage Books, ManchesterDover Street Market, LondonGood News, LondonMagCulture, LondonShreeji News, LondonNews & Coffee, BarcelonaIMS, AntwerpIMS, HasseltPapercut, StockholmOFR, ParisPalais de Tokyo, ParisAnouk, ViennaRosa Wolf, Berlin Reading Room, MilanBrot Books, BratislavaDorbeetle, Hangzhou © NR 2022 All Rights ReservedNR is the property of NR WORLD S.r.l. Made with sustainability in mind, nr.world is cleaner than 70% of web pages testedLegal