How American Katie Delgado turned out to be plov expert

Katie Delgado came from the U.S Atlanta city. She is a Peace Corps volunteer. In the past 18 months, she has been teaching the students of Arabayev University English and heading the English talking clubs in K.Bayalinov library.

Story of Katie’s acquaintance with Kyrgyzstan is very interesting. She learned about our country when she went to Germany to work as a volunteer and got into the family of immigrants from Central Asia. Her German family, instead of acquainting the American with European life, kept telling about Kyrgyzstan all the time.

— They moved to Germany in the 1980s, but are still missing Kyrgyzstan, especially their grandparents.

But I also planned to visit Turkey, so after Germany I lived in Istanbul. Then I decided to visit Kyrgyzstan.

— And did Kyrgyzstan disappoint you? Did your German family not deceive you?

— No, it did not. At least I did not have any difficulties with the local cuisine. My stomach got used to it. Here I got into a family from Batken region, so now I’m a plov expert.

Some Turkish and Kyrgyz customs are similar, the language too. So I quickly got used to it. The German family was right: people here are hospitable and friendly. I found friends and acquaintances already in the first month of my stay here. Now I visit someone of them all the time.

— You speak Kyrgyz very well. How did you learn the language so quickly?

— I like to study foreign languages. Of course, there are languages ​​that I can’t do. For example, it is the Korean. I studied it at the university. But, having arrived in South Korea, I realized that I did not understand this language at all.

Before coming to Kyrgyzstan I have learned a few words in Kyrgyz. On the first day in Bishkek, when I got acquainted with my Kyrgyz family, my local mother could not remember the translation of the word «sometimes». She asked her daughter. I answered her in Kyrgyz: keede. Everyone laughed and said that, apparently, not they, but I will teach them Kyrgyz. We speak the Kyrgyz, Russian and English at home.

— What do you like to visit in Bishkek?

— I really like the multilingualism of the city. Young people speak English well. It is wonderful. I already know where and what language I should speak. For example, in a minibus — in Kyrgyz, with taxi drivers — in Russian, and I get a discount for my Kyrgyz on the market.

I like to visit Erkindik Boulevard and Ala-Too Square. I like the design of Ala-Too Square, especially in the summer, when with the help of lighting a wonderful flag of the country was made.

I often go to theaters. In winter, I attend theater performances at the Opera and Ballet Theater 2-3 times. Artists are very good.

I with my friends often visit Ala-Archa. I have traveled to Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, visited Kel-Suu Lake.

— What do you miss in Bishkek?

— First, I lack the sun in the winter. I’m from Atlanta. Last year, winter in Bishkek began in the middle of October, and it was very cold. I also miss my father’s cooking. He cooks very tasty.

— What would you change in Bishkek?

— I think Bishkek should solve the problem with the public transport. Universities need repairs and good libraries. All universities should be like AUCA.

— Do you want to return to Kyrgyzstan one more time?

— Yes. In a year, I’ll leave Kyrgyzstan and stay in Toronto for a while. A daughter from my Kyrgyz family works there. After Canada, I want to return here.