AUCA Students Present Kyrgyzstan in the U.S.

April 23, 2014

AUCA Students Present Kyrgyzstan in the U.S.

“I was very glad that such a small, but beautiful country as Kyrgyzstan was presented this year here at Bard College. I believe it was a wonderful experience for the whole Bard community, it is always good to find out something new about the world we live in,” – Mary Buckland, Vice President for Student Affairs at Bard College, said during the International Cultural Festival organized by the International Students Organization of Bard College on Sunday, April 20.

For the first time, a group of AUCA students presented Kyrgyzstan in front of the American community at Bard College. “When we heard there was such an opportunity to present our motherland here, in the U.S., we immediately started preparation for this event. We had planned some things to do: firstly, we wanted to make our national food, and secondly, we were going to perform the Kyrgyz dance in front of the large audience to show the treasure of Kyrgyz culture and traditions and to demonstrate the bright diversity of the Kyrgyz nation.” – Aiymbubu Dzhaparkulova, a visiting student to Bard College from AUCA, discussing the event.

Six students from AUCA actively participated in preparation for the cultural event. It was one of the few opportunities for them to present Kyrgyzstan as a beautiful and unique country on an international arena. “Of course, we faced some difficulties while preparing for the event,” Aiymbubu said, “For example, we did not know where we could get organic ingredients to make good national food; moreover, to perform our national dance we needed the Kyrgyz dresses which, obviously, were tough to get in the U.S.” However, these difficulties did not stop the AUCA students and they found a way to solve these problems. One of the students emailed Nazgul Koilubaeva, part of President Andrew Wachtel’s AUCA team, asking for help in preparing for the event. “We were looking forward to the help from AUCA, and we have gotten it." Aiymbubu credits AUCA's help in making the performance a success. "Nazgul Koilubaeva sent to us four Kyrgyz national costumes, which we needed to perform our dance.” 

In course of the event the Kyrgyz representatives regaled American students, faculty, and staff with plov, shakarap, and borsook. The Kyrgyz food turned out to be very popular among the American audience. “I really liked the plov made by the Kyrgyz delegation. I did not expect it to be so delicious, as I have never heard of this meal before. Now I know what plov is, and I might try to make it one day!” Brian Christopher Harris, a student from Bard College, said.

The Brightest and most colorful moment of Kyrgyzstan’s presentation was the Kyrgyz national dance performed by three AUCA students on the stage of Bard College hall. The flowing movements of the Kyrgyz dance, harmonious sound of Kyrgyz musical instruments, and original beauty of national costumes amazed the international audience. “It was so exciting to see the national Kyrgyz dance! I have heard of Kyrgyzstan before, but I did not know it had such beautiful and rich culture. I was totally struck by this dance!” Jean Baptiste Hache, an international student from France at Bard College and one of the event’s organizers, is quoted as responding.

International Cultural Festival is an annual event organized by the International Students Organization at Bard College. The event is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding between the representatives of different countries and communities all over the world, and the creation of strong multilateral relations between students of different countries. This year representatives of 18 states participated in the event. Besides Kyrgyzstan, the citizens of Turkmenistan, Russia, China, Egypt, Israel, China, and other countries were presenting their unique cultures and traditions at Bard College. “I am glad people are interested in such kind of events, they can really help us find out more new things about the world and people around us,” said Jean Baptiste Hache.

Authors:

Daria Kondrateva, Journalism and Mass Communications

Zukhra Iakupbaeva, International and Comparative Politics

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