Going back to my roots
It felt so unreal and exhilarating to finally visit Kyrgyzstan. This is where my family is from and where I spent the first three years of my life.
My cousins met us at the airport and we drove to my uncles old house where he used to live with his family. His earlier paintings decorated the walls. The green trees and mountains set a beautiful backdrop to the busy city of Bishkek.
We spent the week walking the streets my parents used to enjoy taking walks on. We ate traditional food, walked through markets, visited family, and met new friends. At our old church we played with children. Later we visited my old house which my dad and grandpa built with their own hands. The street we used to live on still looks very similar to what it was like back then, except many of the houses have been fixed up and others rebuilt.
Family and friends
We met my grandmother’s brother and cousin and visited my parent’s friends that chose to stay in Kyrgyzstan while others were leaving. I was also blessed with the opportunity to meet my grandmother’s best friend. She used to work at the market selling Korean homemade salads and as a little girl I loved going to the market to eat her salads.
When I called her and told her I was in Bishkek with my husband, she invited us over to her house and prepared a delicious feast for us. We had “Kuksi” noodle soup with many different toppings like meat, pickled cucumbers, fresh herbs, minced egg, tomato and more. She talked about my grandma and their freindship and everything that it has meant to her. I felt like I got to know my grandma in a different a way. As if I had peeked for a moment into the past.
Historical Places
During my visits to familiar places and streets, I would try to imagaine what it was like back then and soak in the moments of what I was experiencing now. Everything seemed so close and dear to the heart.
As immigrants into the US, at times there is this feeling of separation. This feeling of uprootedness and not quite belonging. Being here and seeing those places gave me a sense of connectedness between the past and the present. The girl who swung on that swing came back to sit on it once again.
One of the days we visited my grandfather’s gravesite. He left us too early, at the age of 48. My mom was only 10 years old at the time. At home, in Spokane, we would gather together every June, make his favorite food, “Manti” (steamed dumplings with meat and onion) and remember him. My grandmother would tell stories and share photographs of the happy days they had together.
As a young girl I would always ask my parents and grandparents to tell me stories from their past. I would listen and try to imagine what it all looked and felt like. I admired all the traditions we had as a family and the Slavic culture my parents shared with us. I’m so grateful that I can speak Russian and that I was encouraged to learn how to read and write in it. Without it I would have lost a big part of who my family is.
Hiking in Ala Archa National Park
During the weekend, we ventured out of the city to enjoy some hiking in Ala Archa National Park. It’s a beautiful national park with many hiking trails, mountains, a gorge and it’s located only several kilmoteres out of the city. We hiked this gorgeous national park with one of my uncle’s friends from his years of mountaineering. We decided to go big and hike all the way to Ratsek Hut, a base camp for climbers.
During our hike we talked a lot with my uncle’s friend, “Tanya” who shared old photographs of what the park looked like back then. She shared photos of their mountaineering group and told us stories of their adventures together.
In a way this time with her helped me understand my uncle from a different side and appreciate who he is more than before. His love for nature, mountains and photography – there’s something in common between us. By meeting people who know him I was able to get to know who he is from a new perspective.
It takes a Community
It takes a community to know a person. There are parts of us which are only revealed in relationship other people. This is one of the important things I learned during my time in Kyrgyzstan. Through the reunions of friends and relatives in Kyrgyzstan I was able to understand my family from a whole different perspective. I was able to appreciate and feel a deep gratitude.
My hope is to start a family tree and write down everything I’ve learned and get as much as I can from my grandparents who are still alive. I want our future children to know where their ancestors come from and their story.
Alpine Lakes, Yurts & Horses
The next few weeks we ventured out on our own to visit the most beautiful places! We went on an incredible three day horse trek to Ala Kul Lake where we learned how to gallop on horses, we visited the second largest lake in the world, Issyk Kul, and spent several days in the valley of Altyn Arashan! We were blown away at the beauty of Kyrgyzstan and the great mountains, lakes and beautiful red rock formations it had. The Kyrgyz people were so hospitable and kind. Our dream to come back on a camper van and explore more of this breathtaking country!
I’m curious to hear, do you have a family tree? Where do you come from? Have you gone back to your home country? Let us know in the comments below.
Next, we are going to Ukraine to meet Alex’s family and dig deeper into his roots.
-Katie
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