Amanat was born in Bishkek in 1994 and received his education at the Kyrgyz Economic University, and he worked in the film industry back home.
The move to America was prompted by financial difficulties. "I have been living here for about 2.5 years and work as a truck driver. I never thought I would end up in the USA. Being behind the wheel of a truck is real work; sometimes I have to drive for 18-20 hours straight," he said.
Amanat also noted that there are peculiarities in America that distinguish it from other countries. For example, about 30% of the population is unemployed and receives government benefits.
"Here, people often smile and try to be polite. The weather varies in different states: in some places there is snow, in others — heat. The economy is actively developing, and laws are enforced," shared the Kyrgyzstani.
At first, he responded to everyone with: "Yes."
"Once, when I decided to save on tolls, I activated the 'free roads' feature on my GPS. At first, it took me along a paved road, and then — down a dusty path among cornfields. I asked local farmers how to get back to a good road and ended up on a normal one, but it was a toll road," Imanaliev recounted.
According to him, many Kyrgyz people in the USA work as truck drivers or in the information technology sector.
"It's not worth comparing Kyrgyzstan and America. Unlike many countries, here the housing and food situation is more or less normal, especially in Chicago, where many cafes owned by Kyrgyz are open. If you work hard, you can earn from 2 to 3 thousand dollars a week, but a significant portion of that money goes towards rent, insurance, and truck rental," Amanat added.
In his free time, he communicates with friends and relatives who remain in his homeland.
"In the future, I plan to open my own company and contribute to the development of Kyrgyzstan," Amanat shared.
