I have been in Bishkek now for three and a half months. This semester has absolutely flown by. I can't believe I am heading home to Miami in less than two weeks! I am definitely excited to see my family and friends, but sad to be closing this chapter of my life. Luckily, I will be returning to Bishkek after winter break to study at the American University of Central Asia for the Spring 2026 semester. However, none of my American friends in Bishkek are staying, and I will be moving out of my host family's home into a dormitory. I will miss them all dearly!
Looking back on this semester, I am so happy I pushed myself to get involved in the local community. I joined an amateur women's soccer league, taught English at my host sister's high school, participated in Kyrgyz traditions and celebrations, organized an English talking club at the U.S. Embassy's American Center and explored Kyrgyzstan every week. Sometimes, doing these things seemed intimidating, or it felt like a burden. I learned so much from every experience, though. Every person I met had their own story and their own thoughts to share about life in Kyrgyzstan. Even choosing to live with a host family was a big decision for me, and it was challenging at first.
