My name is Kirstin, I'm originally from Pennsylvania, USA.
When and how did you decide to move to Kyrgyzstan? Is it complicated to settle down there?
I was working in Baghdad in 2009/2010 when I decided to move to Bishkek. My husband and I had been working in the Middle East and we wanted to start a research company in a less competitive environment. We wanted to live in Central Asia and decided that Bishkek was the best choice, since it's relatively stable and easier for Americans to start a business in than some of the other countries in Central Asia. We moved there in August 2010. There were some difficult parts about settling down, just little things like figuring out how to pay bills, receive mail, various bureaucratic things, etc. It definitely became easier once I made a solid group of friends.
Have you ever lived abroad before? How many countries have you visited?
I had lived abroad before, but never as long as I lived in Bishkek. I had studied abroad in Amman, Jordan for a semester and I worked in Baghdad for eight months. Before moving to Bishkek, I visited 15 countries.
What do you like the most about Bishkek (or Kyrgyzstan)?
Bishkek in the summer is a very green and vibrant city. The weather can be beautiful and there are a lot of meticulously maintained public parks and squares that were great for people-watching. Plus the produce is fantastic and super cheap; I'll really miss being able to buy fresh, ripe raspberries for a fraction of what I could buy them for in Europe or the US. Although once winter hits, I do find myself second-guessing why I wanted to move there in the first place!
How is/was the cultural shock? What are the main differences with USA, your home country?
For me, I went through waves of culture shock. Some days (or weeks) I'd try to avoid leaving my apartment or interacting with too many people because my Russian isn't great or I wasn't sure how to do certain things. Other times I'd feel empowered to push through any activity, even if I had to resort to hand gestures to communicate. The biggest obstacle for me was definitely the language; in my experience, fewer people there speak English than any other non-English speaking country I've been to. The biggest differences between Kyrgyzstan and the US were all little cultural things that I could never really wrap my head around, like how people in Bishkek believed that breezes would make a baby sick, so cab drivers always wanted to close the window when my son was riding with me, even if it was super hot outside!
Do you miss anything from your homeland?
I think the biggest things that I missed from the US are just the accessibility and variety of things. Sometimes I missed having certain ingredients easily available in the grocery store, mostly baking supplies that I was used to using a lot in the US. Usually I made due without them though.
Any 'memories of an expat' you would like to share with us? Your best souvenir? Or maybe your worst experience?
My favorite souvenirs were all sorts of antiques and quirky treasures that I bought from Orto Sai bazaar, a weekly flea market, or my collection of Soviet-era film cameras that I bought all over Kyrgyzstan. I've really grown an interest in film photography since moving to Kyrgyzstan and it's been great to be able to purchase so many old cameras in decent condition for such cheap prices.
What does a typical day as an expat in Bishkek look like?
My typical day is pretty boring, I think. My husband leaves in the morning to head to the office, I'm currently staying at home for the time being to take care of our 8-month-old son, Darwin. Darwin and I might take a walk, which involves me dragging the stroller out of my apartment and courtyard, over countless crooked stairs and potholes, usually while my neighbors stare at me. Sometimes people will stop me and want to hold Darwin; Bishkek is a very family-friendly city and I'm happy to hand him over for a few minutes. In the evenings we might get together with friends, mostly other expats, and either meet at an outdoor restaurant or somebody's house for drinks and food. It's an easy city to have a comfortable life, I'd say.
When did you start your blog? For what reasons?
I started my blog in 2008 when I was still a university student in Washington, DC. It was a food blog at first, because I really enjoy baking and I used it as an excuse to make a lot of cupcakes.
Did you make new friends with your blog?
I have made some friends through my blog. Some of my very best friends in Bishkek came through connections that started when somebody emailed me through my blog.
Why did you register on
https://www.expat.com and what do you think of the website?
I registered on https://www.expat.com because it was one of the top websites that came up when I searched online for other expats in Kyrgyzstan. I like the website because I can pop on every once in a while to answer questions on the forum.
Which advice would you give to the other Expat blog members who would like to settle in Bishkek (or Kyrgyzstan)?
My biggest advice for anybody moving to Bishkek is to learn some basic Russian before you arrive, it will help immensely!
