Frequent trips to Issyk-Kul to visit relatives left vivid memories. "We also spent two winter seasons in Karakol. Looking back, I realize that my life has been rich and diverse; I managed to explore different corners of Kyrgyzstan," Aigerim noted.
Her father, the late Kaparov Suinbai, worked for over 40 years as an editor at the newspaper "Bilim Bulagy," and her mother, an excellent student in Kyrgyz language and literature, is currently enjoying retirement at the age of 72.
Aigerim's husband, Vyacheslav Vsevolodovich Salmanov, was born on September 9, 1990, in Cuba, as his father was serving in the army. Vyacheslav is from Moscow; he worked as a captain and a district police officer and graduated from the Ministry of Internal Affairs university. Aigerim graduated from Osh Technological University with a degree in municipal management.
Their acquaintance happened in a café in Moscow. "After just two hours of conversation, he declared, 'I will marry you.' The next day, he introduced me to his parents and informed his friends of his intentions. I still smile when I remember how he asked Kyrgyz people in Moscow how to say 'I love you' in Kyrgyz, and then approached me and said: 'men seni süyöm'," she shared.
When Vyacheslav came to meet Aigerim's parents, they invited a mullah, and he converted to Islam, receiving the name Salman. "We held a small nikah ceremony, and three years later, we registered our marriage at the Cholpon-Ata registry office. We have been together for seven years now, and this is the second marriage for both of us. Vyacheslav has a 15-year-old daughter, and I have a 19-year-old son. He has become a true friend and support for my son during his studies at the 'Sapat' lyceum. My son received a scholarship to a university in Malaysia, and Vyacheslav's daughter visits us during her vacations; we have a very good relationship," Aigerim said.
According to Aigerim, her mother was initially a bit worried, but after talking to Vyacheslav's father and learning that his family has Bashkir-Tatar roots, she calmed down. "Both sides were agreeable, and Slava turned out to be very close to our traditions. When he came to Kyrgyzstan, the relatives greeted him with jokes as 'küyöö bala' (son-in-law), and he was happy to have a big family now," she added.
"In 2022, we started thinking about the future. I am a master of the highest category in permanent makeup and worked in Moscow, while Slava was a district police officer. He retired with the rank of captain after studying at the police school since the age of 14. I even joked, 'Maybe after retirement, you will work as a security guard?'" Aigerim recounted.
Every summer, they would come to relax at Issyk-Kul, and Vyacheslav liked the local climate. "My sister suggested we buy a guesthouse and engage in this business. That's how we ended up here. Now we live in Cholpon-Ata and manage the guesthouse. After retiring, we thought for a long time about what to do, and ultimately chose the tourism sector. Currently, things are going well," she summarized.
Previously, Vyacheslav did not pay much attention to religion and traditions, but now he respects Kyrgyz customs and tries to follow them. "In our free time, we love to walk by the lake, and I recently took up painting," Aigerim added.
"We hope that we can serve the Kyrgyz people and our land through tourism. When there is love, respect, and understanding, nationality and distance do not become obstacles. I am sure our fate confirms this," she concluded.
