He was born in 1986 in Naryn and is the youngest of four children in his family.
Currently, Kanybek lives in Chicago with his family. He completed his studies at the INIT faculty at I. Arabaev University, earning a degree in "Informatics," but has not worked in his field.
“Our move to the USA became possible thanks to winning the green card lottery. We applied every year, and on the fifth try, we succeeded. However, winning is only half the success; the other half is related to preparing documents and undergoing medical examinations. Don’t think that after winning, you will immediately leave. The invitation to the consulate comes as your turn approaches based on your case number,” Kanybek shared.
According to him, initially, they were unaware of the green card lottery until friends informed them. After that, they began gathering information and waiting for the right moment to apply. “We came to America legally. I even thought about trying to get there through Mexico, but due to my wife's health, we constantly had to postpone the trip. In the end, we found a simpler way,” he added.
More than a year has passed since their arrival in the USA. Currently, Kanybek works in a taxi service and does delivery orders. He also obtained a commercial driver's license, although he has not yet started working in that field. “If you know the language, there are many job opportunities in America,” he noted.
Kanybek shared that locals do not look down on migrants. “On the contrary, there are rallies in Chicago in support of migrants. We appreciate their kindness and friendliness—people smile and are patient. Drivers on the roads behave respectfully and do not curse. Of course, there are dangerous areas, and in my work as a taxi driver, we try not to go there. If we do end up in such a place, it’s better to leave quickly,” he explained.
Ismailov noted that salaries in the USA are quite high, and government support for citizens contributes to social stability.
He also pointed out the differences in climate across various regions of the country. “Winters in Chicago are cold, like in Naryn, but there is less snow here. Summers are hot and humid due to the city’s location by Lake Michigan. We like that there is no smog in winter,” he added.
Kanybek emphasized that comparing the economies of the USA and Kyrgyzstan is impossible: “The difference is simply colossal. For example, at the beginning of the school year, children receive free backpacks and school supplies. Free food is regularly distributed in every neighborhood, and school buses pick up children and bring them home. In most schools, children are fed twice a day. This is just one of many indicators of the level of economic development.”
He also shared his surprise regarding American behavior. “For example, I was stopped by the police for a traffic violation. The fine was significant, but they did everything with a smile, which seemed unusual to me. Once, while delivering orders, I accidentally mixed them up, and when I returned after 15 minutes, I found that the owner did not want to return the items. That surprised me,” Kanybek said.
Kanybek highlighted healthcare as one of the main differences from Kyrgyzstan. “Our system is simpler and more convenient. Here, treatment depends on insurance; it is free for children. Adults pay for insurance monthly, but for some, it can also be free. If you work officially, insurance is provided through the employer, and medical services can be very expensive,” he explained.
He also added that there are many Mexicans in the USA, and he is often mistaken for one of them. “Once, a saleswoman in a store spoke to me in Spanish for a long time, and only at the end did I say that I didn’t understand and asked her to switch to English, although my English isn’t perfect,” Kanybek recalled.
There are also many Kyrgyz people living in Chicago. “We often meet at gas stations and in stores. When we first took our son to school, it turned out that there were nine Kyrgyz kids in his class. In the summer, we met regularly; now, with the cold weather, it has become less frequent. Most meetings take place in parks where there are all the necessary facilities,” he added.
Kanybek shared his plans for the future: “My main goal is to give my children a good upbringing and return to our homeland as soon as possible.” Their family consists of four: him, his wife, daughter, and son. Their daughter is 12 years old, and their son is 9 years old,” he concluded.
