The daughter of a friend of mine taught English to the Kyrgyze while serving with the Peace Corps in 2001 and 2002. She really wanted to stay there, but was unable to find long term employment. She now works in NYC. She had been deployed there shortly before 9/11 because her original assigned post became too dangerous. She brought home such interesting pictures and stories. Her parents visited her there, too, and came back with some amazing tales.
Emily's students were much more apt to be wearing native attire than the students pictured here. Of course she was stationed out in one of the villages. The Kyrgyz have some interesting customs. They engage in wild jousts on horseback, reminiscent of Ghengis Khan's warriors.
And, according to my friends, if they really like you they will pile you into a car with bald tires and take you out into the coutryside for a "picnic". When it is time to eat, they open the trunk and remove a live goat, which they slaughter in front of you and then proceed to cook. Dinner takes a long time!