AUCA Dorm Life

September 25, 2014

With 102 students currently in their rooms and with over 30 of them moving in soon, the word tumultuous could describe the state of affairs at the American University of Central Asia’s dormitory. However the students currently residing there do not seem to mind, as they are preoccupied not only by schoolwork and staff-led events, but the engaging nature of life in a dorm as well.

The AUCA dormitory houses New Generation Academy (NGA), Afghan, as well as freshmen students; though to just call it housing would be a misnomer. “Its not only a living space, but [living there] also involves a team-building process and community spirit,” as explained by Gulnigori Behruz, dormitory and Afghan students coordinator for AUCA. The sentiment is shared by all involved, as Resident Advisor (RA) Azamat Askar told us that one of the greatest things about the dorm is living with “the people who share the same purposes that you do…to live and study together, to feel this community.” But the feeling was captured best by Freshman Arslan Gabdulkhakov, who told us, “15 minutes ago, I called a friend and asked him, ‘When will you go home?’ We are not even calling it a dorm anymore, already it is our home.”

While the dorm itself is an incubator of solidarity among students, it is not without effort that the feeling of belonging is created. Within the dorm itself several events and activities are held; movie nights, game nights, pizza parties, English classes and clubs. The AUCA spirit is felt as well as even the students “make performances…in the last class they read poems and acted in a play,” said RA Lira Momunalieva, and regarding events being held in English, “we tell them that it is American University, and so you have to practice the language” she continued. The students themselves are involved in fostering that spirit, as NGA student Farhad Musazov told us that he has “opened a club called ‘young life’…every Friday night” in which games are held in English. The emphasis of English practice is not only important for the study itself, but because many Afghan students are not fluent in Russian or Kyrgyz; RA Shohrukh Tojiddinov not only supervises and mediates between students, but also speaks Dari so is able to communicate effectively with many Afghan students housed in the dorm. The atmosphere of the dorm inside and out is positive, thanks to the efforts of all involved.

Not only are such efforts made by AUCA staff and students, but made also by those who share our mission of providing an environment conducive to learning and community. We extend sincere and heartfelt thanks to Gulnara Dreier. Because of her generous support, AUCA was able to beautify the dormitory with a front garden and yard. Joined by her daughter Jessica, AUCA President Andrew Wachtel, and NGA students, she was able to visit the dorm in person and plant the garden with us this past summer. Not only is it a physical beautification, but also the act of planting and even the existence of the garden serve as a reminder of the togetherness and spirit of the dorm community.

The diversity of AUCA is certainly on display in the dormitory. It houses students from various economic and cultural backgrounds: students come from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and our own Kyrgyzstan. It is not uncommon to find a room representing 3 or 4 of these countries. Arslan told us that he often plays music with many students, particularly with a group representing Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. If there’s a snapshot more emblematic of cultural exchange than this musical group, it is hard to imagine. And multiculturalism is not just a meaningless buzzword at AUCA. The residents are exposed to different viewpoints and cultures, and their subsequent growth through conflict and mediation, prepare them for success at AUCA.

Of course in any university dorm, life is not always perfect. In the dorm’s kitchen, it can be crowded. And with cooks from multiple backgrounds, comes a clash of cuisines, with student complaints of strange smelling food. But with the idea of organizing cultural cooking nights every week, students will appreciate the differences between their own cultural backgrounds.

Many students however don’t use the kitchen, as NGA students are provided with meal cards to use at the AUCA cafeteria. Sometimes, noise can be an issue. Dursun Rejepova, in her 2^nd year of dorm residence, told us because of all the NGA students this year, “there is more noise,” though later conceded that “maybe last year because of us, there was the same noise.” There always seems to be some good with the bad in a dorm. As Shohrukh told us, “It’s easier to be involved in studies. When your roommate is working and studying, it makes you want to work and study harder. Of course, if they are not, it has the same effect.” Many of the problems experienced in the dorm are a result of the ‘culture shock’ of being thrown into a new living situation; but as the RAs mediate disputes and solve problems, the students will grow and to adapt to new situations that will certainly come their way.

Many students have already taken it upon themselves to acclimatize and to make the dorm more comfortable and convenient. While the RAs’ job is to mediate disputes, help the students personally, and to generally make everything run smoothly, the students have not become dependent. Roommates have created rules for their own rooms, and some floors have even created their own set of rules. Some students have suggested that there should be a kitchenette or cafeteria in the dorm, as there is at the university. We asked Azamat about this, and he told us “there is one guy, a freshman living there, who is thinking of writing a proposal...to try to open a kitchenette to accept money or the meal cards.” While sometimes things go wrong, like students getting on the wrong marshrutka and ending up somewhere strange, the students work together to create the best community possible. And every year that community changes as well as the dorm’s spirit. The dorm evolves every year as different students enter; Lira noted, “When we came to the dorm, we were afraid to break things…when we tried to use things, we asked how, but these students just use them on their own without questions.”

Of course, growing pains are inevitable. But with the dormitory acting as a self-contained community: complete with library, computer lab, study room, kitchen and more, those pains will be quickly overcome. And with the help of RAs and each other, all the students in the dorm will eventually become used to Bishkek and AUCA, together. The bonds formed by living together will last for at the very least the rest of their careers at AUCA. Having gotten used to Bishkek already, with the help of NGA Alumni and staff, it is now time for them to adapt themselves to life at the American University of Central Asia. 

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