“I was born in Naryn and then moved with my family to Bishkek. Currently, my home is Anchorage, Alaska. I work as a cook at Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hampton Inn. I have a diploma from the Tourism Faculty of the Kyrgyz Economic University. My journey in the hospitality industry began when I was studying at university, and I ended up in Turkey through a program. I really liked Antalya, and I lived there for a whole ten years, working as a waitress, at the reception, and as a hostess. At Maxx Royal, I learned the art of pastry making and became a pastry chef,” she shared.
Aigerim decided to move to America by contacting a specialized agency and soon arrived for a year.
“In the hotels, there is a morning service where I work as a cook. Here, you don't have to cook everything from scratch, as the food comes frozen, and I just heat it up. I am happy to be in Alaska — it reminds me of my hometown Naryn. The weather here is wonderful in summer: tall trees and many walking paths. The locals are into sports, and in the mountains, you can pick wild berries like raspberries and blueberries. Fishing here is also great, and in winter, I skate on the ice, where they offer skates and hot drinks. The city regularly hosts interesting events,” Aigerim shares.
According to her, in Alaska, you can often see wild animals such as bears, moose, and eagles.
“The Northern Lights are known to many, and the sunsets and sunrises here are simply stunning. Even at night, the horizon sometimes turns red. The sky seems closer, and the moon looks huge. The streets and buildings often have Russian names; for example, I come across the sign 'ПИОНЕР' (Pioneer). The locals are kind and interesting, always ready to help. Many of them have purebred dogs and walk them every day. The huskies I sometimes saw back home are twice as big here. There are many people from the Philippines and India among the residents who come to work. I often ask them why they chose Alaska, and most often I hear: 'There are good people here, clean air, and no crime.' I love reading, and when I came here, I found that there are free libraries in every corner of the city where you can take books and return them. The selection is very diverse — from children's books to modern novels,” the Kyrgyz woman recounts.
Recently, she encountered a wild moose in one of the parks: “It ran out from behind the trees and chased me. Later, the moose left me and started chasing another woman, who climbed a tree out of fear. I froze because I didn’t know how to hide. In the end, the moose left on its own. Such incidents are not uncommon here, and it can be dangerous,” she shares.
Her husband is a Turk named Doğancan Doğan. “We met when I was working at a hotel in Turkey. At first, I accidentally called him 'Soğan,' which means 'onion,' and he got very angry. However, three days later, he came up and apologized. We both value tranquility, and sincere words and actions are important to us. He admitted that he liked me right away. Our first walk lasted about an hour, and we immediately discussed the details of the wedding. In the end, that’s how it turned out. Some compatriots did not approve of my choice. Doğan flew to Kyrgyzstan with his mother, and they held the traditional ceremony 'сөйкө салуу,' while I made Turkish coffee, just like in the movies. We had a wedding in Kyrgyzstan and then in Turkey. My parents approved of my choice, although they were a bit worried about the distance. I was familiar with Turkish culture, so there were no particular difficulties,” she recalls.
They arrived in Alaska together, and in her free time, Aigerim reads books or goes to explore new places if the weather permits. She plans to visit other states in America and is considering opening a travel agency in Alaska to explore local attractions.
“I haven't met other Kyrgyz in Alaska yet, but I've heard that many want to come here. I want to tell them that it’s not actually that cold here, so feel free to come,” she concluded.
