Galina Antonovna is Russian by nationality, who moved to Batken for an internship in her youth and later married a local resident. She was born and raised in Bishkek.
“I was 18 years old when I came to the Tört-Gul state farm for an agronomist internship, and soon after, I married Kalmat from the village of Chon-Kara,” she shared.
After getting married, Galina learned the Kyrgyz language.
“Now I am 59 years old. I have spent most of my life in the village of Chon-Kara. I have three brothers and a sister. My parents are Russian. I studied at the Bishkek National Agricultural College, and it was here, during my internship at the Tört-Gul state farm, that I met my future husband. We got married when I was 19 years old. During the internship, I met two girls who turned out to be classmates of Kalmat. They introduced us to each other. Life in the village was not difficult for me, as I had always been around domestic animals. My husband had 5 cows, 100 turkeys, ducks, and chickens. I milked the cows and baked bread in the tandoor. I easily adapted to the rural lifestyle. Kalmat's parents welcomed me warmly, and I learned Kyrgyz with a 'Batken accent,'” Galina shared.
In their family, they are raising twin daughters and two sons, as well as 16 grandchildren.
“In the near future, we plan to hold a sünnöt toy for the grandchildren. Currently, I work as an inspector in the power supply system and actively interact with people. My husband and I have married off our sons and daughters, made matchmakers, and we observe local traditions,” added Galina Antonovna.
