Lee Family

1. Government Officials:

1.1. Interact with the Lee family in their cultural preservation efforts. Support or resistance based on their stance.

2. Elders in the Community:

2.1. Provide wisdom and historical context on cultural preservation. Emphasize the importance of preserving Kazakh identity.

3. Media Reporter:

3.1. Journalist covering the Lee family's initiatives. Raises awareness about the language crisis and cultural preservation.

4. Russian-speaking Neighbor:

4.1. Language shift in Kazakhstan. Initially skeptical but engages in cross-cultural exchange.

5. GrandParents:

5.1. Inspired the family to return to their homeland. Tried not to lose connection with their national identity/spirit while staying in China.

6. Kazakh Repatriator (from China):

6.1. Symbolize the positive impact of the Lee family's efforts. Signify a successful revival of cultural and linguistic identity.

7. Event Participants:

7.1. Represent community members skeptical of the Lee family's efforts. Source of conflict during the story's climax regarding Kazakh vs. Russian.

8. Local School Principal:

8.1. Responsible for Zhibek's initial disappointment at school. Highlights the language crisis in Kazakhstan's education system.

9. Educators and Language Instructors:

9.1. Teaching the Kazakh language. Face challenges in advocating for the language in education.

10. Community Volunteers:

10.1. Help to promote Kazakh language and culture. Organize cultural events, seminars, and language courses.