In 2022, he was able to fulfill a childhood dream by winning a green card.
Now, Ilgiz has settled in Chicago, lives in an apartment with friends, and works as a marketer in the logistics field.
On the Path to a Dream...
Ilgiz was born in the city of Naryn into an ordinary hardworking family, where he is the second of four children: he has an older sister and two younger brothers. He had never left the country before, but dreamed of a trip to America since childhood and did not consider other destinations.
For many years, he aspired to enroll in American universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia, and sought legal ways to do so.
In 2022, his dream came closer when he won a green card, which gave him the opportunity to work and study legally in the U.S. After moving, he immediately began exploring the places he had dreamed of, including New York, Indianapolis, and Wisconsin. He particularly remembers the small town of Cincinnati in Ohio, where he plans to buy a house and move in with his family in the future.
Life in America and the Social Environment...
Today, Ilgiz works as a marketer in a logistics company founded by his fellow countrymen.
His life in Chicago is stable — he shares an apartment with friends. The city is famous for its large lake, one of the five Great Lakes of the U.S., but the recreation here cannot compare to Issyk-Kul.
Locals are friendly, always smiling, greeting, and wishing a good day.
Ilgiz noticed that migrants from India and Pakistan have become very close to him, after Kazakhs and Uzbeks.
They live in the same neighborhoods, visit mosques, and halal restaurants. Ilgiz also notes that he understands their accent and mentality well, as there are many students from these countries in Kyrgyzstan.
The Political Situation, Competition, and Future Goals...
In the U.S., the population does not show much interest in politics; there are mainly two major parties: Democrats and Republicans. Ilgiz believes that the Republicans' policies are closer to him, as they pay more attention to family values and traditions.
The laws and mentality initially seem unfamiliar, and the behavior of some people can be frustrating. However, by studying the language and understanding society, it becomes easier to adapt and accept their views.
Competition in America is very high, and getting a job is considered a significant achievement. Despite this, Ilgiz sets ambitious goals for himself and continuously moves forward.
In the future, he plans to obtain a quality education, gain experience, and return to Kyrgyzstan to contribute to the development of his homeland. Regardless of where he lives, he will always be Kyrgyz and wishes for his children to receive a Kyrgyz upbringing and speak their native language fluently.
A Memorable Episode...
In the U.S., conversations usually start with the question: "Where are you from?"
To which Ilgiz replies: "From Kyrgyzstan."
After that, he is usually asked: "What? Kurdistan? Kazakhstan? Where is that? Is that Russia?"
Every time, he has to give a mini-lecture on "Where Kyrgyzstan is, who we are, and what we are known for" for about 15-20 minutes.
However, sometimes, after 15 hours of work, he simply has no energy for a conversation.
Once, while working part-time as a taxi driver, he met a young American woman who first asked: "Are you Korean?"
Not wanting to explain, he replied: "Yes."
She turned out to be a K-pop fan and spent an entire hour asking questions about his favorite BTS songs and whether he had been to Seoul. Ilgiz, using all his imagination, invented Korean words and phrases, such as: "Yes, in Korea we say 'kambu-hana' for good luck!" or "My grandmother lives near Busan, next to a kimchi shop."
The girl was amazed and ended the ride by wishing him a good evening, leaving Ilgiz with the thought that to locals, we, Asians, all look alike.
