Bakyt A. Azimkanov

Bakyt A. Azimkanov, from Jalal-Abad, was an exchange student in the Tri-Cities (Pasco), Washington. He was one of the brightest students from his school. One strong characteristic of Bakyt is his honesty and creativity that you will see below.

When he was studying in 3rd grade Bakyt dreamed to see the Disney World, then in 6th grade he wanted to see the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, the Capitol Building and the White House in Washington, DC.

Bakyt applied to exchange programs starting from the 9th grade but never was selected. In 11th grade when one of his friends asked if he was selected Bakyt even forgot that he applied to the FSA FLEX. As he now recollects, “It was rainy day of April. I was in Bishkek for my spring vacation. I called the ACCELS office. Lady said that I was selected and they already informed my parents in Jalal-Abad two weeks ago. I was too excited and bought return ticket to Jalal-Abad right away”.

Bakyt had a good family. “I didn’t have a family when I came here. I lived in Richland and went to school in Pasco. It was 45-minute ride every morning. I ended up sitting with Sergey Nesenchuk, Ukrainian student in my English class. Mr. James Brown, my English teacher thought that Sergey and I were talking during the class even though I never understood Sergey’s Ukrainian. So Mr. Brown reseated me. I was sitting right in front of the teacher near Hans Esterhuizen, which became my host brother. I was so desperate to find a host family. I asked Hans if his family would host me. He told me that Séan, his father is African-American and originally from the Republic of South Africa. Séan was en exchange student from South Africa when he was my age, 17. I had that idea that my host father is a Black person.

I came to the Esterhuizen residence: Séan greeted me and pointed Kyrgyzstan on the world map. I still couldn’t figure out if he was Séan or not. I asked him, “Sorry, are you Séan Esterhuizen? Aren’t you an African-American?” He laughed and said, “Yes, I am African-American but I am not Black. I am from South Africa which makes me Afrikaner”. I figured that people don’t know the difference between African and Afrikaner, and that’s why people refer to him as African-American. I had really good family. I was loved just like the other kids in the family, and I loved them just the way I love my own family. I think I was very lucky. I had a host family that I wanted to have”.

Just like he dreamed, he saw Space Needle, the Capitol Building, the White House and the Disney World.

In the summer of 2003 he visited his host family, friends, teachers and people whom he care about in the Eastern Washington. He traveled a lot: Washington, DC; Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, California, Utah, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada; Baltimore, Alexandria, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Portland, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Nashville, Vancouver, Calgary, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, Tri-Cities, etc.

Bakyt is studying Public Relations and Advertising Business at the American University--Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and working as Public Relations Assistant at the same university. He also runs the faculty newsletter. Currently Bakyt is studying in Latvia.

Click for larger images

Bakyt

Lincoln Memorial

Afrodita in DC

With FSA KG students at JFK Memorial

Bakyt with Tolik

Awakening in DC

DC

DC

DC

Winter Dance in Pasco

Space Needle in Seattle

Masquerade Party

A new blond Bakyt

Bakyt with his host family after his play

Party Cake

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