Cecile Joyce is originally from the Philippines. She first came to Kyrgyzstan last fall for work. Her contract was for a year, but the woman decided to extend it for another 12 months.
In an interview with 24.kg agency, she told what impressed her about Kyrgyzstan and what national dishes she does not eat.
— How did you get to Kyrgyzstan and why?
— I am a doctor by profession. I work for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders/MSF). It is implementing a pilot project in Kyrgyzstan on screening and early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer in Sokuluk district.
I am the Project Medical Referent and came to Kyrgyzstan on October 9, 2022 with my husband.
Cecile Joyce
I was supposed to work here for a year, but I decided to stay for another year. I have been working at MSF for about eight years now and I believe that my mission in life is to be part of a medical humanitarian organization where I can be useful and share my experience in health promotion.
— What surprises you about Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan?
— Even though I am Asian, I didn’t know much about Kyrgyzstan.
When I first arrived, I was very surprised by how picturesque the nature is here, how colorful the culture and beautiful people are in this country. I immediately fell in love with Kyrgyzstan!
Cecile Joyce
— What in Bishkek reminds you of your hometown?
— People have similar facial features. Most of the time they take me for a local. That’s why I feel comfortable in Kyrgyzstan. There is a lot of everything here, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. The only thing is that I can’t buy some ingredients for cooking, in particular sauces and pastes (e.g. fish sauces, shrimp paste). But in general, you can find almost everything in the city.
— What is your favorite place in Bishkek?
— I really love parks. I am so glad that work is being done to keep them in good condition! My husband and I often go to the park on Erkindik Boulevard, where we live, as well as Oak Park. It’s nice to watch people walking around these places.
It’s also worth noting that there are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby, which is very convenient.
Cecile Joyce
— What national dishes do you prefer and what are you afraid to even try?
— I love plov. I like meat, and plov has different tasty meat fillings plus spicy rice. I can’t say I’m afraid to try anything. Rather, there are some dishes that I don’t eat. For example, I have a story with horse meat.
One of our colleagues offered it, and I tried it, even twice, to be sure whether I liked it or not. Since I like horses very much, I decided that horse meat was not for me after all.
— What did you like most when getting to know the local people?
— Kyrgyz culture is very similar to Filipino culture. But there are differences, of course. The Kyrgyz are much more hospitable than we are.
Once we were invited to a housewarming party and the feast lasted four hours!
Cecile Joyce
— Are there any moments that have disappointed you?
— I can’t say what was disappointing. Rather, it’s a local feature that’s worth taking into account. I’m Filipino and my husband is British. And from time to time, when we walk around the city and hold hands, we meet disapproving looks, mostly from people of the older generation, but sometimes from younger people too. Perhaps, this is due to the fact that I look like a local and my husband is European.
