Issyk-Kul lake and the national cuisine won the heart of Janusz Krzywoszyński, Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan in Poland. He believes that the republic has great potential for development, including of the tourism industry, and is ready to help with it.
— How did you became a consul? Have you ever visited Kyrgyzstan or did you know something about the country?
— Several years ago in Vienna (Austria), I met with the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Lidiya Imanalieva. She is a very serious woman and a great politician. We began to talk, and she said that she would like to see me as a Consul of Kyrgyzstan. So it happened.
Of course, before accepting the offer, I read information about the country on the Internet, talked to people in Poland about Kyrgyzstan, who have been to your country.
— Are there many people in Poland who know about Kyrgyzstan?
— I can not say that there are a lot of them. The truth is that a few people in Europe know about Kyrgyzstan, maybe, that there is such a country and more or less where it is located. But there are those who have visited Kyrgyzstan.
— When did you come to Kyrgyzstan for the 1st time? What surprised you in our country?I will say that as soon as a person comes to your country once, that’s all, he or she is already yours. They already love Kyrgyzstan.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
— I first came three years ago. It is difficult to surprise me: I’ve seen so much in my life. I am 66 years old. I am not only a citizen of Poland, but also of Italy, I had lived there for many years. I really liked Issyk-Kul lake. I tell everyone about it, your nature, the mountains. I was surprised that so little is invested in Issyk-Kul. There should be more investments for foreigners to come, see this beauty, spend money. Then more people in Kyrgyzstan will get a job, and they will not have to leave the country to earn money.
And I must say that I have seen many foreigners there — groups from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia — young people, students. I have been to Osh. It is warm over there. And we went to the mountains. I stayed in a yurt overnight. I do not want anymore.I liked Naryn. It is such a beautiful and calm town. Everyone should visit it. There is something that makes you miss it.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
— Have you frozen there?
— No, I have not. When I was there, the stove was heated with dung bricks. This smoke, the smell stupefied me. It was so calm and quiet at night that I could not sleep. I got up, went to the yurt where the women were sleeping, and shook it a little. They thought it was some beast and started screaming. They texted to Poland for several days about the incident, until I did not confess on the fourth day.
— When you met with the tourism sector representatives, you mentioned Kyrgyz cuisine. What did you like the most?
— I eat all the dishes that have meat in them. For example, I tried beshbarmak. I really liked it. Unfortunately, I do not remember all the names.
You have the first grade meat, the best in my life.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
I have lived in Italy for more than 35 years, so I know a lot about the cuisine and know what I’m talking about.
— What didn’t you like?
— I tried kumyz, maybe I just do not know how to drink it. Maybe after some time I will change my mind. I also tried chalap and airan. This is delicious.
— We have a tradition to offer an honored guest to eat an eye of a sheep. Were you offered it?
— I’m still afraid of it.
— What are your impressions about Bishkek?
— In Bishkek, I liked mosques, new buildings. I was in Panfilov park near the White House several times, watched the people. People in Europe have no time, everyone is rushing somewhere. And the people there have spare time. This is very good for my psyche.
There is another philosophy of life. And I really like it.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
— What, in your opinion, is this philosophy?
— First of all, it is peace of mind. You see everything, but calmly take what is happening. And our people want everything at this very moment — here and now.
— Since we are talking about the population, what has fascinated and disappointed you in close acquaintance with Kyrgyzstanis?
— I can’t say what I don’t like in Kyrgyzstanis because I don’t know you well enough.
— Foreigners often pay attention to the strong family ties of the Kyrgyzstanis. Did it stick to your memory?
— Yes, of course.
Kyrgyzstanis are similar to the Italians in this. Family is the most important thing for them.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
In addition, Kyrgyzstanis keep in touch with their fellow countrymen.
— You have dual citizenship. Probably, it is incorrect to ask where do you like to live more?
— It’s not a problem for me. I prefer the Italian mentality, but I am a Polish patriot, two in one. I see that the problems that exist in Poland now were in Italy several years ago, and vice versa.
You also have problems in Kyrgyzstan, which then lead to good. You need to wait and work hard to make Kyrgyzstan better and stronger.
— What exactly do we need to do?
— Kyrgyzstan needs to be more open to foreigners. You need to help them come here. For example, I met with representatives of travel companies, cited Croatia as an example. This is a small country. They paid half of a ticket cost to foreigners. As a result, a tourist will spend twice as much in hotels and restaurants.
— Does something in Bishkek remind you of your hometown?
— My hometown Gliwice is located 50 kilometers from the Czech border. 220,000 people live in it, there is a large polytechnic institute. I opened the Consulate of Kyrgyzstan there. There is a Kyrgyz flag on the building.
What reminds we ... Probably, the park about which I have already told.
It reminds me of the one that I went to with my mother. Now it is gone.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
— Why did you open the Consulate not in the capital?
— Why should I open it there if my hometown is Gliwice? There is only one family of Kyrgyzstanis now, but I would like to see much more Kyrgyzstanis there.
— What does an Honorary Consul do?
— In fact, the work of an Honorary Consul is not very different from what an ordinary consul does, but he does not receive money for it. I help businessmen to establish contacts, citizens who have problems in Poland, assist in building cultural ties.
I have freed many from prisons. But there are limitations. For example, if you lose your passport, I can only tell you that you should contact the Polish police, get a special document, and go with it to the Kyrgyzstan’s Embassy in Berlin. I am the only person in Poland who represents Kyrgyzstan.
— Do you often come across deportation of Kyrgyz citizens from Poland? Why is this happening?
— Quite often. Many people get fake documents. These are often Czech or Lithuanian national Schengen visas. People need to know that there are two types of Schengen visas. If you get national one, you can live and do something only in this country. It is banned to go to other countries.
— What do you miss in Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan?
When I come to Kyrgyzstan, I miss only my family.
Janusz Krzywoszyński
I hope I will come with my wife in the summer.
— Is there something that you would like to change in Bishkek?
— I cannot say exactly. I was there only four times. But, perhaps, I would repair the roads. I met the family of a citizen of Kyrgyzstan who died in a traffic accident in Poland. I assisted in transporting his body to Kyrgyzstan. It is a good family, but the road where they live is far from good. It is cratered.
I would like to see more contacts between young people in Poland and Kyrgyzstan, would like the people to learn Polish in order they can work in our country and then return to Kyrgyzstan, build a house, open own business.
