.JPG)
From Kabul to Bishkek
By Humira Noorestani
Gulghotai Subhanzada AKA “Marwa” is a graduating senior from the International Comparative Politics department. Marwa’s character has always fascinated me, especially her sense of humor. She is an outspoken young Afghan woman who can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. Marwa feels that these past five years, beginning as a student at AUCA’s preparatory program, have changed her as a person drastically. She has grown to become a confident and independent woman and well aware of her place in society.
After residing in Bishkek and going to AUCA, Marwa believes that she can make and has made a change in Afghanistan. When she went back to Kabul during the summers for example, she would take with her innovative ideas and an openness that she gained while studying at AUCA. Her younger sisters would be intrigued by this new Marwa whom encompassed so much knowledge about many different subjects and the world. Marwa’s sisters, unlike herself, have never left Afghanistan. Thus, they haven’t really been exposed to the outside world. Their world consists of Kabul and Kabul only. At AUCA, Marwa learned of her rights as a human being, a woman, and a student. She has spread her knowledge to her family and friends back home.
“I have always lived in a patriarchal society in Afghanistan. Although there are now more facilities in Afghanistan’s universities since the fall of the Taliban, the ideologies haven’t changed. A student in Afghanistan is not free to express his or her views, especially on politics and religion. There have been many instances where students are arrested for voicing their opinions. Here, I am free to express my opinions; there is mutual respect between instructors and students. As an Afghan, I can even criticize the Kyrgyz government inside and outside of AUCA and not be punished for it; that is what makes a democratic system. As women are not given much voice in Afghanistan and in the educational system, I feel like a man here because I am free. I am free to express my opinions in class without being reprimanded, I am free to choose my courses within a given major because there are many options, I have a variety of elective courses I may select and the General Education program has allowed me to become well rounded,” Marwa said.
When asked how she felt about coming to a new society five years ago and the challenges she faced, Marwa responded by speaking of her difficulties in a positive light. “I was unfamiliar with this new society, the ideologies here, the American credit system and a university with so many available resources. In comparison with Kabul University, where I was initially studying agriculture, there is a strong difference in studying conditions. For example, in Kabul, I would attend classes where there were 80 or 90 other students. I was shocked to be enrolled in classes at AUCA with on average, about 10 or 12 students. This small student to instructor ratio allows the students to be more interactive in class and provides the students with a comfort level to raise questions. In these classes, instructors and students actually get to know one another and instructors are readily available to provide assistance to their students even outside of class time. “Since the 2005 Tulip revolution when I was a student in the preparatory program, I have seen drastic changes in Bishkek and AUCA. The society here has become more democratic and you can hear everyone talking politics inside the university and within the city.”
Marwa admits to having faced many difficulties, especially her first year since she didn’t speak Russian and only had knowledge of limited English. “It was hard to buy groceries or do other errands given the language barrier, however, these barriers were a learning experience in of itself and helped me grow as a person, it helped me become more independent.” These obstacles encouraged Marwa to strive harder in tackling the English and Russian languages as a prep student. The preparatory program helped her improve her English where she was able to pass the TOEFL exam and learn Russian to a level where she could perform daily activities in Bishkek. “When many of us Afghan students first came to Bishkek, we had preexisting beliefs that we would be discriminated against, we would enter a society where there was no respect and many other negative conceptions. However, once we were able to assimilate a bit in the society, we learned that the only barrier we had was a language barrier.”
One of the main reasons why Marwa loves AUCA so much is that she is exposed to so many different cultures. “Diversity week every fall, allows me to come together with my classmates and learn of their cultures by listening to their music, admiring their traditional attires and tasting their food. Diversity week also allows me to exemplify my culture and try to show people what it really means to be an Afghan, not the many stereotypes that are dominant via the media.” She has pointed to a famous Afghan proverb to express her views on communication with other faiths: “Issa bah deen khod wah Musa bah deen khod” translated this simply means that “Jesus has his own faith and Moses his own.” In other words, this proverb that Marwa finds truth in is that everyone has their own faith and that we should learn to get along in this world together. Marwa believes that at AUCA there is a dialogue of civilizations where people can learn from one another and live together peacefully. Marwa continues by pointing out that she has many friends at AUCA from different cultures and faiths and that there is a presence of mutual respect between them. Marwa giggles as she points out that in Afghanistan women students are rarely able to express their opinions or be active in extracurricular activities but here she has observed that women are even more active. “This helps women build confidence and it will allow me to help build my own society when I go back,” she said.
When asked whether Marwa felt that she was less privileged than her Kyrgyz classmates when she first entered the university, she answered by saying that she felt her Kyrgyz classmates and the many other classmates not from Afghanistan had a sort of head start because they may of had freedom from a young age which helps them with their confidence level. “Many of the students coming from Afghanistan didn’t go to school for five years during the Taliban regime,” she said. “One can only imagine how much knowledge and confidence is lost during a five year gap. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get back to my studies after spring break week!” Marwa especially, learned a great deal by observing the 2006 Crisis Game where there were ongoing debates by students.
Nevertheless, after five years of studying at AUCA Marwa feels like an empowered women on the same level as her Kyrgyz classmates and she is ready to bring about change in her society. She wants prospective students to come here with an open mind, ready to meet other cultures and ready to be active. She hopes that these students take advantage of the proximity of Bishkek in the world and in Central Asia, she feels that like Kabul, Bishkek is also a crossroads of Asia where so many different cultures have intersected. “It was an honor for me to meet so many amazing people and become a free free free woman,” she said.
By Humira Noorestani
Gulghotai Subhanzada AKA “Marwa” is a graduating senior from the International Comparative Politics department. Marwa’s character has always fascinated me, especially her sense of humor. She is an outspoken young Afghan woman who can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. Marwa feels that these past five years, beginning as a student at AUCA’s preparatory program, have changed her as a person drastically. She has grown to become a confident and independent woman and well aware of her place in society.
After residing in Bishkek and going to AUCA, Marwa believes that she can make and has made a change in Afghanistan. When she went back to Kabul during the summers for example, she would take with her innovative ideas and an openness that she gained while studying at AUCA. Her younger sisters would be intrigued by this new Marwa whom encompassed so much knowledge about many different subjects and the world. Marwa’s sisters, unlike herself, have never left Afghanistan. Thus, they haven’t really been exposed to the outside world. Their world consists of Kabul and Kabul only. At AUCA, Marwa learned of her rights as a human being, a woman, and a student. She has spread her knowledge to her family and friends back home.
“I have always lived in a patriarchal society in Afghanistan. Although there are now more facilities in Afghanistan’s universities since the fall of the Taliban, the ideologies haven’t changed. A student in Afghanistan is not free to express his or her views, especially on politics and religion. There have been many instances where students are arrested for voicing their opinions. Here, I am free to express my opinions; there is mutual respect between instructors and students. As an Afghan, I can even criticize the Kyrgyz government inside and outside of AUCA and not be punished for it; that is what makes a democratic system. As women are not given much voice in Afghanistan and in the educational system, I feel like a man here because I am free. I am free to express my opinions in class without being reprimanded, I am free to choose my courses within a given major because there are many options, I have a variety of elective courses I may select and the General Education program has allowed me to become well rounded,” Marwa said.
When asked how she felt about coming to a new society five years ago and the challenges she faced, Marwa responded by speaking of her difficulties in a positive light. “I was unfamiliar with this new society, the ideologies here, the American credit system and a university with so many available resources. In comparison with Kabul University, where I was initially studying agriculture, there is a strong difference in studying conditions. For example, in Kabul, I would attend classes where there were 80 or 90 other students. I was shocked to be enrolled in classes at AUCA with on average, about 10 or 12 students. This small student to instructor ratio allows the students to be more interactive in class and provides the students with a comfort level to raise questions. In these classes, instructors and students actually get to know one another and instructors are readily available to provide assistance to their students even outside of class time. “Since the 2005 Tulip revolution when I was a student in the preparatory program, I have seen drastic changes in Bishkek and AUCA. The society here has become more democratic and you can hear everyone talking politics inside the university and within the city.”
Marwa admits to having faced many difficulties, especially her first year since she didn’t speak Russian and only had knowledge of limited English. “It was hard to buy groceries or do other errands given the language barrier, however, these barriers were a learning experience in of itself and helped me grow as a person, it helped me become more independent.” These obstacles encouraged Marwa to strive harder in tackling the English and Russian languages as a prep student. The preparatory program helped her improve her English where she was able to pass the TOEFL exam and learn Russian to a level where she could perform daily activities in Bishkek. “When many of us Afghan students first came to Bishkek, we had preexisting beliefs that we would be discriminated against, we would enter a society where there was no respect and many other negative conceptions. However, once we were able to assimilate a bit in the society, we learned that the only barrier we had was a language barrier.”
One of the main reasons why Marwa loves AUCA so much is that she is exposed to so many different cultures. “Diversity week every fall, allows me to come together with my classmates and learn of their cultures by listening to their music, admiring their traditional attires and tasting their food. Diversity week also allows me to exemplify my culture and try to show people what it really means to be an Afghan, not the many stereotypes that are dominant via the media.” She has pointed to a famous Afghan proverb to express her views on communication with other faiths: “Issa bah deen khod wah Musa bah deen khod” translated this simply means that “Jesus has his own faith and Moses his own.” In other words, this proverb that Marwa finds truth in is that everyone has their own faith and that we should learn to get along in this world together. Marwa believes that at AUCA there is a dialogue of civilizations where people can learn from one another and live together peacefully. Marwa continues by pointing out that she has many friends at AUCA from different cultures and faiths and that there is a presence of mutual respect between them. Marwa giggles as she points out that in Afghanistan women students are rarely able to express their opinions or be active in extracurricular activities but here she has observed that women are even more active. “This helps women build confidence and it will allow me to help build my own society when I go back,” she said.
When asked whether Marwa felt that she was less privileged than her Kyrgyz classmates when she first entered the university, she answered by saying that she felt her Kyrgyz classmates and the many other classmates not from Afghanistan had a sort of head start because they may of had freedom from a young age which helps them with their confidence level. “Many of the students coming from Afghanistan didn’t go to school for five years during the Taliban regime,” she said. “One can only imagine how much knowledge and confidence is lost during a five year gap. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get back to my studies after spring break week!” Marwa especially, learned a great deal by observing the 2006 Crisis Game where there were ongoing debates by students.
Nevertheless, after five years of studying at AUCA Marwa feels like an empowered women on the same level as her Kyrgyz classmates and she is ready to bring about change in her society. She wants prospective students to come here with an open mind, ready to meet other cultures and ready to be active. She hopes that these students take advantage of the proximity of Bishkek in the world and in Central Asia, she feels that like Kabul, Bishkek is also a crossroads of Asia where so many different cultures have intersected. “It was an honor for me to meet so many amazing people and become a free free free woman,” she said.
Сообщения
