Culture of diversity celebrated in Bishkek

Students representing the culture of the Metis people perform at the American University of Central Asia's Diversity Week 2012 concert held at the Seitek Youth Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 27, 2012. More than 1,200 students representing 17 different countries at the university spent the week tasting various cuisines, watching traditional dances and hearing folk tale stories. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Culture of diversity celebrated in Bishkek

Three young Kyrgyz Republic dance students peek in on the American University of Central Asia's Diversity Week 2012 concert held at the Seitek Youth Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 27, 2012. University students representing 17 different countries performed traditional dances, songs and a little comedic stand-up. They wore customary costumes including decorative headgear. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Culture of diversity celebrated in Bishkek

American University of Central Asia from Turkmenistan demonstrate a traditional dance while proudly displaying their national flag during the Diversity Week 2012 concert held at the Seitek Youth Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 27, 2012. Seventeen countries were represented by delegations of students from the university. The concert was the finale for Diversity Week at the school. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Culture of diversity celebrated in Bishkek

Representing their home country of Kyrgyzstan, members of the gymnastic dance team "Friday Crew" perform an acrobatic dance routine at the American University of Central Asia Diversity Week 2012 concert at the Seitek Youth Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 27, 2012. The Kyrgyz Republic student delegation received an award for the most hospitable delegation at the end of the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Students representing 17 countries sing an updated version of the song "We are the World" at the American University of Central Asia Diversity Week 2012 concert held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 27, 2012. For the first time in 10 years, Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to the Diversity Week concert. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Culture of diversity celebrated in Bishkek

Published Jan. 31, 2012
By Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- For the first time in 10 years, students at the American University of Central Asia invited Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas to celebrate Diversity Week with them at a concert Jan. 27.

"This year we decided, why not invite American guests from the Transit Center," said Azamat Abdimatlibek, a sophomore studying business administration and member of the Student Senate body at AUCA.

More than 1,200 students representing 17 different countries at the university spent the week tasting various cuisines, watching traditional dances and hearing folk tale stories. The concert was the conclusion of the week's events.

"I would like to welcome our dearest guests from the U.S. Transit Center at Manas," said the announcer. "We're happy that you had a chance to visit and see our beautiful multi-cultural diversity concert."

Adorned with customary costumes and playing traditional instruments, the students performed songs, dances and even a little comedic stand-up.

"My favorite part was seeing all the different cultures being brought into the now, the new age, with new music, and all the young people that are staying in touch with their ancestors' traditions," said Tech. Sgt. Beverly Freeman, a customer service quality control representative from the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. Freeman is deployed to the Transit Center from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., and her hometown is Philadelphia, Pa.

Col. Shawna O'Brien, 376th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander, deployed from the Air Force District of Washington, enjoyed the event as well.

"It was an extraordinary event, it was quite colorful," she said. "They embrace diversity as richly as we do. It was exciting to see all the nations represented, cultures represented, the traditional dress and the traditional dances and songs.

"This is the first time the Transit Center has been invited to Diversity Week in 10 years and that really says something about the relationship that the U.S. has with the Kyrgyz Republic," O'Brien said. "I look forward to returning the invitation to the American University to come and visit the Transit Center so we can share our culture with them as well."