AUCA Magazine Spring 2012 by AUCA

AUCA Magazine American University of Central Asia

May 2012

To Your Health

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CONTENTS FEATURES

Taking Control of Cancer

Blood is a Tresure

The Secret Files: Your Talents

Editor's Note

Welcome from the President

Chemotherapy and radiation kill existing tumors at great cost to the patient. Are there options to fight, cure, and even prevent cancer? Two AUCA alumni say yes.

AUCA's annual blood drive helps hundreds of people in the Kyrgyz Republic every year. Natali Anarbaeva explains why it is so important that we continue to give.

A new book by AUCA alumna Olga Yarova explores the virtues of Kundalini Yoga and how it lead her to completely change her life

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

CEC+NATO+Kyrgyz Military

U.S. Congressmen at AUCA

Miss AUCA

Apples

Governance in a Multiethnic State

Legal Clinic at the Supreme Court

Parallel Prison Photo Exhibition

Spring Soccer Cup

A poem by A. Polonskaya, translated by Dr. Wachtel

STUDENTS SPOTLIGHT

Junior's Ball

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

MAY 2012

The Olives Branch

Alumni News & Notes

Editor's Note

AUCA Magazine Dear AUCA Alumni and Friends,

Publication team Editor-in-Chief: Altynai Usubalieva Copy Editors: Sven Stafford Madina Sarkulova Contributors: Murat Alachiev Natali Anarbaeva Nigel Browne Rodger Dillon Aliona Kim Kasiet Okenaeva Altynai Usubalieva Sven Stafford Pictures: AUCA Archives Aaron Choi Emil Akhmatbekov Ilias Nurmambetov Design and Layout: Emil Akhmatbekov AUCA Magazine is published by the American University of Central Asia You may send your correspondence and subscription inquiries to: AUCA Magazine American University of Central Asia 205 Abdymomunov St., Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720040 Tel./Fax: (996 312) 66-45-64 E-mail: magazine@mail.auca.kg www.auca.kg On the cover: "Vitruvian Man" by Leonardo da Vinci

Another academic year has come and gone. Winter came, but it has now given way to spring, with summer just on the horizon. Since our last edition in February there has been a lot of activity at AUCA that we would like to share with you. The spring semester, as usual, was quite busy with traditional spring events, inspirational guest speakers and, of course, final exams. This edition’s main theme is health and the different ways that AUCA alumni and students think about how they get and remain healthy. Two alumni are shooting a film about alternative cancer treatment and the reasons we know so little about all of our options. We also have stories about AUCA’s blood drive this spring, and another about an alumna who found her niche promoting healthy living through yoga. What is clear is that AUCA alumni choose many different career paths and often find themselves in places and positions they would never have imagined themselves while studying at AUCA. Our alumna practicing and teaching yoga in London was, once upon a time, a student in Journalism and Mass Communications. That is what AUCA gives its students, the skills to adapt to any situation, and to stay true to themselves no matter what. This issue also contains the highlights of our outstanding guest speakers, fabulous picture spreads of this year’s Junior’s Ball and scenes from AUCA, and a poem by Anzhelina Polonskaya that was published in the American Poetry Review and translated by President Wachtel. Last but not least, let me take this opportunity to congratulate our 224 new alumni! You have come a long way and rightfully deserve your brand new diplomas! We are sure that there is a whole range of new opportunities and experiences awaiting you! Nevertheless, we hope to stay in touch with each and every one of you and to one day soon see you in the pages of the AUCA Magazine.

Altynai Usubalieva Public Relations Director

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American University of Central Asia, founded in 1993, is dedicated to educating leaders for the democratic transformation of the region. It is the most dynamic and studentempowering education available, and is the only university in Central Asia with the authority to grant degrees accredited in the United States. AUCA equips its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to solve problems and open doors in this rapidly changing and developing region and the world beyond...

President's Column

Spring in the Kyrgyz Republic. Traditionally this is protest season, as the population, released from winter’s shackles, makes its wishes known to the government in power. This year we are perhaps still in the honeymoon period of the new president, and political protest has been rather muted. On the AUCA campus, however, I am happy to say that protest is alive and well, as was demonstrated by a demand voiced by a number of students and faculty for more openness on the part of the administration. I believe that the university responded quite positively to this challenge (See charts on facing page, all charts and budget can be found at http://auca.kg/en/glasnost), and that the two forums we held on campus in April and May produced a lively discussion about budget priorities and spending in relation to tuition. Based on the positive response to these forums, we expect to continue to hold them on a regular basis even in the “non-protest” periods of the year.

During the spring we have also been putting the finishing touches on the plans for the new campus building and are just about to select a general contractor for the project. By the time this issue goes to press, we are expecting that we will have begun the process of laying the foundations for our new campus. We hope that all alums will want to follow the process of campus construction, which will be updated constantly on our website. And we also hope that all alums will want to immortalize their connection to the new university through buying a brick that will be built into the main academic building (see http://www.auca.kg/en/brick for information about how to make your tangible contribution to the growth of AUCA).

In closing, I would like to congratulate the entire class of 2012, who on June 2 will join the more than 2000 members of the AUCA alumni community as well as our 15th anniversary class, which will celebrate its reunion, along with alums from other years on May 26. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of Peg Peoples, who will return to the US after a two-year stint during which she did an enormous amount to improve the quality of teaching and learning at AUCA. Peg was the first long-term visitor from Bard College and I can only say that if all of Bard’s faculty are as inspired and inspiring as she is, the Bard students are lucky indeed.

Andrew B. Wachtel President

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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President's Column

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

University Update

CEC+NATO+Kyrgyz Military

By Altynai Usubalieva

Computer-Language Center and the Continuing Education Center of AUCA. Over the past two years, more than 170 former military personnel have received retraining. This year alone, the program will see an additional 140 graduates. Life after the military Sharipa Djailoeva and Ruslan Kadyrov served in the Kyrgzy Republic’s military, both retiring with the rank of Major. But for Ms Djailoeva, three years of unemployment followed her retirement after more than 25 years of service. “Being unemployed for three years, I almost lost hope of adapting to civilian life and finding a job,” she says.

Helping military personnel adapt to civilian life is a constant problem faced by the Kyrgyz Armed Forces as they undergo reform. With skills that do not always easily translate into the civilian labor market, life after the armed services can be difficult for those searching for a job. However, a NATO-funded retraining and resettlement program is helping to mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the defense restructuring. Between 2009 and 2013, over 1500 personnel will be released from the Ministries of Defense, Emergencies and Internal Affairs as well as the State Committee for National Security, State Border Guard, and the State Security Service. For many, finding jobs in the civilian job market can prove difficult. To assist with the transition, NATO provides technical expertise to help the Kyrgyz Republic draft a program of social adaptation for former military personnel. NATO is also financing retraining and resettlement programs in Bishkek and Osh to smooth the reintegration of military personnel into civilian life. As part of the program, the Continuing Education Center at AUCA offers participants economics, information technology and intensive English courses. This spring, AUCA will also offer basic computer courses, careerdevelopment sessions and job-placement assistance to help with the change from military to civilian careers. The Ceremony dedicated to the opening of the program was held on March 17, and was attended by military officers, NATO representatives from Ukraine and Brussels, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, and of course, the implementers at the Continuing Education Center. Two educational centers were selected through competition to serve as main implementers: LingoComp

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

With his own retirement from the military looming after more than 20 years of service, Mr. Kadyrov decided to look at his options. When he saw an entrepreneurship course offered at AUCA, he decided to enroll. Ms. Djailoeva also decided to sign up for the CEC courses, receiving training in small business management. “The educational opportunity sponsored by NATO and provided by AUCA has changed my mind and my life,” she says. After meeting during the course, Ms. Djailoeva and Mr. Kadyrov decided to start a small business together, offering a product popular among locals: sauerkraut. Inexpensive to make due to the low cost of cabbage in the Kyrgyz Republic, their idea did not require a large capital investment. Now, the two entrepreneurs sell sauerkraut to more than 150 grocery stores, with plans to diversify their business. “Now that my colleague and I have launched this business, I am full of energy and new ideas. I am very grateful to all parties involved in this educational project,” said Ms. Djailoeva. Mr. Kadyrov echoed her optimism for the future. “I took advantage of the program and developed a business plan that worked. Now I am confident and ready for further development of our enterprise,” he added. With newly acquired knowledge, participants of the retraining program will have the tools they need to work in a variety of roles in the civilian sector or to start their own business, much like Ms. Djailoeva and Mr. Kadyrov. “This program is very important because it enables them to receive additional training and additional professional qualifications that gives them a better chance to meet the requirements of the civilian labor market,” said Gerard Malet, the Project Officer from NATO’s Political Affairs and Security Policy Division.

University Update

U.S. Congressmen at AUCA By Rodger Dillon

The Congressmen took a tour around AUCA, after which students and faculty had a chance to meet them informally over tea and coffee. Asking about their interest in the region, it was discovered that Rep. Adrian Smith is the grandson of Russian immigrants who came to the U.S. He is on the Committee on Ways and Means, which is the oldest committee in the US Congress, and is the chief of the tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. Rep. Joe Wilson is also a former trustee of the American University in Bulgaria.

During the meeting the congressmen were introduced to the new campus project, and Peg Peoples discussed the AUCA partnership with Bard. Students were given floor to talk about their future plans and reasons for choosing AUCA. They also had a chance to ask the Congressmen questions. Rep. Wilson suggested that students should open a KFC franchise in Bishkek, answering one student's question about business ideas for the region. Rep. Wilson, however, did not reveal the secret recipe, suggesting that cooperation between the US and the Kyrgyz Republic has some way to go. CASI Director Shairbek Juraev asked whether AUCA or institutions like AUCA could be supported by Congress. Rep. Adrian Smith replied that they do provide “strategic” aid, and that it is possible that AUCA may become a recipient of that kind of aid. Before leaving all the Congressmen stated their positive impression of the university and its students. In follow up discussions with Congressman Wilson, he promised to make an internship available to one AUCA student every summer in his Washington DC office.

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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An unplanned visit from three members of the US House of Representatives yielded an interesting discussion with students on a cold February day at AUCA. Congressmen Joe Wilson (Republican, South Carolina), Adrian Smith (Republican, New York) and Kenny Marchant (Republican, Texas) met with students and professors for 2 hours. The main purpose of the representatives’ visit to the Kyrgyz Republic was to support the Parliament in democratic processes. During their visit they established, with the support of the President and Parliament, a Democratic Support Group that will establish a link between the two law-making bodies.

University Update

Miss AUCA 2012 By Natali Anarbaeva On March 22, AUCA students, family and friends filled Seitek auditorium to witness the annual Miss AUCA contest. This year’s Miss AUCA is Aiman Abylkasymova, a freshman in the Business Administration department. The contest consisted of five parts: welcome entrance, display of style, dance skills, country presentation, and wedding glamour. All ten contestants showed off their runway walks and demonstrated their talents through song and dance. The members of the jury were also the contest sponsors and contributed to the organization of the event. For example, Dina Kim, one of the owners of The Laboratory Bravo boutique, provided contestants with outfits for the style competition, and Oleg Beda presented the girls with wedding dresses. Other jury members were Salkynai Voinova, a producer and singer, Nurbek Savitahunov, a singer, and Kasiet Toktosunova, manager of the “Keldike” jewelry.

At the end of the contest, all of the beautiful contestants received special prizes. Diana Gurbanmyradova was voted Vice-Miss AUCA. The title of Miss Congeniality was also given to Aiman, because she had the most audience support. Other awards were: Miss Grace – Iowa Djumaeva, Miss Elegance – Bermet Sargazakova, Miss Fitness – Alina Alymkulova, Miss Intelligence – Altynai Nogoeva, Miss Hollywood Smile – Adelia Askarova, Miss Sweetheart – Maria Mashanlo, Miss Glamour – Aisha Aitkeeva, and Miss Bravo – Yevgenia Tsoi. The contest also featured performances by AUCA students, who impressed the audience with songs and dances. “I am very pleased with the contest. We decided to make some organizational and judging changes this year. I sincerely thank the contestants for their enthusiasm and diligence” commented Ksenia Minkova, the organizer of the contest.

Apples By Sven Stafford

The poem, which also appears in the March/ April issue of American Poetry Review, is one of the few translated poems to be featured on the site. Ms. Polonskaya and Dr. Wachtel also collaborated on A Voice, which was published by Northwestern University Press in 2004 and shortlisted for the 2005 Corneliu Popescu Prize fro European Poetry in Translation.

from contextual clues. This presents a number of challenges to the translator. Russian grammatical constructions leave elegant ellipses for the reader so that they can engage with a very compressed work. This is not always possible in English, and Dr. Wachtel says that there is a very fine line between being true to the poem, and meeting readers' expectations of a translation. "People are less willing to work to understand a translation." Dr. Wachtel said, "They think that if they don't get it the first time, then there must have been something lost in the translation. I want to preserve the conciseness in Anzhelina's work, and also give the readers everything they need to make sense of the poem, but not to solve it for them."

Ms. Polonskaya's poetry is written in the form of tiny compressed narratives. Her more recent work has become more visual in nature and can almost be described as pictorial. She is fond of ellipses, omitting words that can be understood

Ms. Polonskaya and Dr. Wachtel first met at Northwestern University in 1999, when Ms. Polonskaya was chosen by Andrew Voznesensky to be part of a small delegation of Russian poets to a conference/literary festival organized by Dr. Wachtel

On Thursday April 4, 2012, during National Poetry Month in the United States, Poetry Daily, an anthology of contemporary poetry, published "Apples", a poem by Anzhelina Polonskaya from her new book Snow Within, which will be published by Zephyr Press in 2012, and is translated from Russian by AUCA President Andrew Wachtel.

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

University Update

Apples Grey branches, dull thuds.  Apples falling in late November, and we  gather them with frozen hands. Am I wrong? or did you say something,  not tearing your eyes from the ground? Something like "evil will triumph,"  you said quietly.  As if the tundra's beyond us. As if we're gathering stones in our skirts. ANZHELINA POLONSKAYA translated from Russian by Andrew Wachtel

Яблоки Серые ветви, удары глухие.  Это яблоки падают в конце ноября, и мы подбираем их замороженными руками. Мне показалось? Или же ты, не отрывая глаз от земли,  что-то сказала? Вроде бы так: «зло побеждает». Тихо сказала.  Будто за нами тайга. Будто мы камни в подол собираем.

entitled "Three Lands, The Generations." The event brought together poets from Russia, Poland, and Slovenia as well as poets and critics from the United States. At the time, Ms. Polonskaya was the youngest participant, but impressed all of the conference participants.

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This exposure led to a number of international engagements, including the publishing of A Voice, and the upcoming Snow Within. Ms. Polonskaya has also broadened her art to include opera. Her first libretto, entitled Kursk, was triumphantly received at the Melbourne Festival in October 2011. Kursk tells the story of the ill-fated Russian Oscar-II class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine that sank in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000. A second libretto is now being written, devoted to the tragedy of Russia's wars in the Caucasus since the 1990s and to the tragedy of war in general. Dr. Wachtel is confident that the new libretto will be as well received as the first was. In the mean time, the two are working on another collection Paul Klee's Boat, and Ms. Polonskaya is working on a promising manuscript. The poem "Apples" is reproduced in both Russian and English below, and can be found on the website www.poems.com, as well as in the American Poetry Review.

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

University Update

Governance in a Multiethnic State By Piotr Dutkiewicz

that have a particular attachment to the land because they were there before these European colonizers. They have particular claims to this land and they would like to be called “the first nation”. Having this pluralism at hand, it is not easy to manage. We are proud of our multicultural policy, not because we are full of ourselves or selfish, but because we have not had the riots and tension that have headlined in Europe and many other countries. We definitely do not agree with statements made publicly by Imagine you are a newcomer to Can-

some of the European Union leaders, such

ada. You are not the only one trying to repli-

as Angela Merkel, stating in an interview

cate or create your own identity in your own

that multiculturalism policies are dead and

space. 47% of Canadians are not of French

no longer valid in European culture.

or English descent. This creates set of opportunities and a set of very specific challenges, of course. Most probably, once you are in Canada, you will try to preserve your cultural heritage, language, and religion. You are definitely presenting a challenge to the government. It needa to keep you happy and at the same time it needs to keep the other 215 nationalities and ethnicities happy. Some Canadians you will meet think that they are better then you, not because of the level of intelligence, well-being, etc., but simply because they have lived here for three or four generations, and are of British or French origin. Then there are the natives

In this environment, Canada has a specific set of measures not only to prevent dramatic situations, but also to build an ethnically harmonious society. To do that, first you have to “divorce” ethnicity from nationalism. The Canadian model is quite flexible and elastic. Canadians in the early 1970s started to think of ways to prevent and manage conflicts that are inevitable in a society where so many different cultures coexist. It was a matter of looking at the issue differently. It is not about trying to bypass or avoid the conflict; it is about managing the conflict. In 1982 this thinking was transformed into a legislative act, the Canadian

Piotr Dutkiewicz is a Permanent Fellow of the Centre for Civilizational Studies, Russian Academy of Science. He was educated at Warsaw University (LLM) and the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow (Ph.D.). He was a Fellow of St. Peter's and Nuffield Colleges in Oxford and a Visiting Professor at Berkeley University, Institute for International Relations (USA) and taught at Warsaw University in Poland (1977-1989) and Queen's University (1990-1993) in Kingston, Ontario. On two occasions he was awarded the AWUS Teaching Excellence Awards at Queen's University (1993 and 1994) and holds four awards for Outstanding Teaching and Research from Warsaw University. He was a Director of four large-scale, high visibility Projects in Russia funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (on regional development, unemployment insurance, labor market and social policies).

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

University Update

This is what

of diversity. The vital question was whether we

we teach all newcomers - that there is a docu-

want only French and British coming to Cana-

ment that guarantees each representative of a

da? The conclusion was that we do need others.

national minority its own space in this society.

And it is not only due to economic reasons. We

Yet, this act is quite general and without proper

need immigrants to keep our society vibrant

mechanisms for implementation, it would have

and to spread our economic activities around

remained quite meaningless. The question

the world via those “agents of influence”. We

was how to guarantee those rights and free-

need those immigrants to be a more progressive

doms to all. It meant that specific regula-

society. Yet, in 1980s another issue occurred.

tions had to be integrated in legislation in all

The government wanted to involve minori-

aspects – employment, education, health, etc.

ties and migrants in politics and make them

The next question is who will implement the

more economically active. It began to support

changes? In Canada, the interface is a special

migrants in every way possible, and in 2002,

ministry called Heritage Department. This min-

they realized that they did too much. Minori-

istry takes care of different aspects of preserv-

ties were given sufficient amounts of money

ing the heritage of immigrants, as well as for

and they were simply building shields from the

the French, British and aboriginal populations.

rest of Canadian society as most of their needs

They censor what is published to make sure

were satisfied. In the last few years, the focus

no national minority’s dignities are offended

shifted to better integration of the minorities.

and sponsor awareness-raising actions such

Certain barriers and incentives were created to

as films on Islam. In fact, one film was made

make them understand what it is to be a Cana-

as a cartoon demonstrating small clashes that

dian. An example of a barrier is the English or

occur in a community where there were no

French language test. A couple of years ago it

Muslims until very recently.

was enough to know 200 words to immigrate,

Moreover, this

ministry controls five government agencies and has a right to penetrate the whole spectrum of

whereas now you have to pass a rigorous test. There are, of course, Canadians that do

governmental activities. A good example here

not like multiculturalism. They say it costs too

could be the relationship with Ministry of In-

much to support immigrants. They are un-

ternal Affairs, currently under the Heritage De-

grateful as we pay them and they send money

partment, which in most countries falls under

back to their countries of origin. Then, they

the President or Prime Minister. The Heritage

are redeveloping their own culture here at

Department approached the Ministry of Internal

our expense. Sometimes, some of them are

Affairs proposing to introduce more policemen

jeopardizing security in the country by being

of Chinese origin in cities with big populations

involved with extremist organizations such as

of Chinese such as Vancouver and Toronto. As

Al Qaeda. Still, they majority say that we do

a result, the Ministry of Internal Affairs initi-

not have hate crimes to the extent that other

ated a project called “ethnic based community

countries have. We are prosperous. We ben-

police”, training Chinese and opening access

efit from immigrants. They bring new sense of

to places where British Canadians or French

the world and connection to the global world.

Canadians would not be able to go.

We have a lot to learn from them. The advan-

Canadian multiculturalism is evolving. In

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Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

tages outweigh the disadvantages.

1970s the policies were related to recognition

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

University Update

photos

Jyldyz Naamatova: Director of AUCA Legal Clinic

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

University Update

Legal Clinic at the supreme court The AUCA Legal Clinic has been taking pro bono cases since 2003, but its value in helping vulnerable groups to seek justice and provide students with real practice has been underrepresented. To get a better idea of what the AUCA Legal Clinic is and what it does, we asked some of the lawyers and their clients to tell us their experiences.

Arman Kurmangaliev, AUCA student working at the Legal Clinic: The Legal Clinic is a great idea backed up by real practice. Each of us has had an opportunity to take part in court proceedings and see what awaits us in the future, so we can be confident in our knowledge and skills. Secondly, the work of the clinic is aimed at solving social problems by providing free legal advice to the socially vulnerable part of the population. The Kyrgyz Republic does not guarantee a free lawyer. Therefore, our Legal Clinic is one of the only options for marginalized people in need of guidance and representation in the civil law courts. Evgenia Kim, AUCA student working at the Legal Clinic: When we first started working here we were afraid, as we understood clearly that these are real people with real cases coming in every day. However, over time we got confident that the knowledge we possess is enough to help people in solving their problems. The Legal Clinic provides assistance in many areas of law such as civil, labor, family, inheritance, and administrative law.

Services include legal consulting, letter writing, legal document drafting, assistance with filing claims and legal documents, and client representation in courts and other state organizations. Erkinai, client of the Legal Clinic: We had a problem with a land plot where our children used to play soccer. One construction company came and placed a fence around this playground and started to build a 12-story building. It turned out that the mayor’s office had transferred this land plot to another owner for temporary use for 49 years. In order to defend our rights we were advised to go to AUCA Legal Clinic. Thanks to the clinic we were able to challenge the illegal lease and retain the land plot. Jyldyz Tagaeva, AUCA IBL alumna who assisted in the case: We reviewed all documents concerning the land plot and made inquiries to some state bodies. When all materials on this case were gathered we submitted a claim to the Inter-district court of Bishkek and represented the residents in trials. The Inter-district court decided in favor of the construction company. We appealed to a higher Bishkek court. That court also decided in favor of the construction company. Nevertheless, we did not give up and addressed the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Supreme Court overruled the decision of the first two courts, sending the case back to the first court in the hierarchy. We were then approached by the Bishkek administration and the construction company with a peaceful settlement offer. Our clients were left with their land plot and the city administration, admitting its mistake, provided the company with a land plot somewhere else. We obtained justice and won the case.

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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Gulnaz Naamatova, Director of the Legal Clinic: The Legal Clinic at AUCA was established in 2003 with a commitment to combine education and service in the study of law. In conjunction with AUCA’s International and Business Law Department, we seek to reach two goals. The first is to help people who cannot afford quality legal counsel. The second is to train law students for practice and professional service in a fully functioning law office in the Kyrgyz Republic or Central Asia. The AUCA Legal Clinic is important not only for students’ knowledge and skills, but also student’s understanding what it means to actually be a lawyer, they learn about the role of a lawyer, client-lawyer interaction, and the day-to-day application of legal ethics.

University Update

Parallel prison Photo exhibition By Nigel Browne

The photo exhibition "Parallel" was held at the Vienna International Centre from April 24-25, and at AUCA from April 26th to May 4th. The exhibition was organized within the framework of the European Union (EU) and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project “Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic”. The exhibition was dedicated to the 21st Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, chaired by Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand. Over 800 people attended from 111 different countries and 38 NGOs. Its main theme was violence against migrants, migrant workers and their families, but it also addressed issues of State oversight in civilian private security services, countering maritime piracy and the treatment of prisoners amongst other issues. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Yury Fedotov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and DirectorGeneral of the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV), Gyorgyi Martin Zanathy, the Head of Delegation of the European Union to the International Organizations in Vienna and Lidia Imanalieva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations (Vienna). Three photographers: Alessandro Scotti, member of the International Association of Photographers and

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

former Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (Italy); Alimjan Zhorobaev (Kyrgyz Republic) and Maxim Shubovich (Kyrgyz Republic) presented their photographic work. Visitors gained insights into the ordinary life of prisoners as well as prison staff in the penitentiary facilities of the Kyrgyz Republic. In 2011, these three photographers visited the majority of prisons in different areas of the Kyrgyz Republic. Everyday life in prisons was the focus of the photo exhibition. The photographers took more than 600 images. A joint commission composed of representatives from the Prison Service of the Kyrgyz Republic and the project staff selected 42 images which were presented at the exhibition. The publication of the most powerful photos is also foreseen in the framework of the project. The overall objective of the European Union (EU) and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project "Support to prison reform in the Kyrgyz Republic” is to strengthen the rule of law by supporting further reform of the prison service. The project is made up of the mutually reinforcing key components which include reform of the legal/normative basis for prison reform, building the management capacity of the prison service, improving sanitary conditions in prisons, developing prison policies to create income generating activities for prisoners, to promote social reintegration of prisoners and developing policies and strategies for prison reform.

University Update

AUCA SPRING SOCCER CUP By Murat Alaichiev

The tournament kicked off with an opening speech by Nikolay Shulgin, who thanked the organizers and participants for their active engagement in university’s outdoor activities. He also noted that the tournament was held in honor of the spring holiday Nooruz, celebrating the vernal equinox. Beginning at 10 am the tournament lasted two days, with supporters gathering around the field to cheer on their friends and peers. On the first day, the teams were competing within their own groups. Every team played four games within their group, and the following teams advanced to the playoffs: Alga, Alumni, “D” Cup, ECO, PES United, and Titans. One particular highlight of the first day was the match between Alumni and ECO, which ended with a “hockey” score of 4-4. ECO salvaged the tie with a goal in extra time. Another highlight was the game between Alumni and Red Harvest, which ended 9-5 in favor of the Alumni. After Alumni scored eight goals, Red Harvest responded by scoring five consecutive, thus keeping the hope alive for its fans. Alumni’s team captain Taalay Saidov crushed that hope by scoring again, and ensuring a spot in the playoffs. With two teams already in the playoffs, Barbara Streisand and “D” Cup had to compete for the final spot. The game was scheduled for the following day, and “D” Cup emerged victorious, with a score of 3-0. A zealous first-year student, Sapar Maksatbekov, distinguished himself by scoring two of these goals, and earning himself the award of “Best Young Player”. Group B, the group of favorites, also kept things interesting for the fans. The Titans and PES United made it through to the playoffs, each having won three games. It is necessary to point out that Titans were last year’s champions of the spring tournament, while PES United was 2011 champion of the inter-faculty competition. The other three teams competed to get to the playoffs, and after intense games Alga took the last spot, beating 109. The lineup for the following day was determined

Group B: 109 Alga Ilbirs PES United Titans

by random drawing, and the teams were matched as follows: ECO vs. Alga, Titans vs. Alumni, and PES United vs. “D” Cup. After this round of matches, ECO, Alumni and PES United remained to battle for the champion title. The first game in the three-team final was between ECO and Alumni, and it was a very exciting one. Both teams scored two goals and it looked like the penalties would determine the winner until Ulan Abazganov from ECO scored the winning goal only three minutes before the end of the game. During the second match between PES United and Alumni things got heated. Five players earned red cards in the first 30 minutes, but luckily no one got hurt, and after the game, the players shook hands. Alumni and ECO battled in the final game, with ECO becoming the new champion. ECO demonstrated strong will and determination throughout the tournament, and it was worthy of the title. After the game, the organizers, Tengelbes Musaev and Farukh Abaev, held the awards ceremony for the winners: First place-ECO Second place-Alumni Third place-PES United The organizers did not forget to recognize individual performances of outstanding players: “Will to win”-the Titans “Fair play”-Leonid Budishevskiy, Alumni Best young player-Sapar Maksatbekov “D” Cup Best forward-Ilham Umarahunov, Alumni Best goalie-Asein Kojahmetov, ECO Best defense-Marat Stamkulov, PES-United Best player-Nursultan Ulukbekov, ECO

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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With the generous support of LLC Winner Sport, AUCA held its annual soccer tournament on March 24th and 25th. Students, staff, and alumni split up into ten teams, forming two groups:

Group A: Alumni Barbra Streisand “D” Cup ECO Red Harvest

Pictures (From top left): King and Queen Aitbek Amatov and Saikal Anvar kyzy; Masha Panfilenko; Singer; Sherzod Musrifshoev and Atai Kulov; the ballroom at the Golden Dragon; Nikolay Shulgin and Valeria Totolina; President Wachtel and the donkey; donkey close-up By Evgenia Tsoy

Junior's Ball

Junior’s Ball is the brightest spark on the AUCA social calendar. This year the event took place at the Golden Dragon Hotel, followed by an after-party at Barcode. The emcee was well-known showman Maxim Poletaev, who kept the evening moving with humor and grace. The program was really entertaining and top notch, full of engaging competitions. Nurbek Savitahunov, a soloist for the Yellow Blue Buss Band, Chingiz Torobekov a.k.a. CiTy, Oakland, and the juniors themselves gave memorable performances. The King and Queen of the Ball were Aitbek Amatov and Saikal Anvar kyzy. Although the evening was not a wedding, it appeared that way as they shared a celebratory dance in front of their peers, and ate the first pieces of the enormous Ball cake. At the beginning of the evening every junior passed over the donkey bridge, which symbolizes the crossing from a carefree past to a serious future. The highlight of the evening was the waltz performed by 12 AUCA couples. The traditional Viennese dance was followed a modern hybrid waltz. “I did not plan to dance, but it went well, so it was worth the effort,” said Sultan Alymbaev. “We spent 1.5 months training to dance for two minutes, but I learned a lot.”

Maria Rechkunova-Goodson and Veta Shapkina shooting a scene from their movie on alternative cancer treatments.

Taking control of cancer by Sven Stafford Chemotherapy and Radiation kill existing tumors at great cost to the patient. Are there other options to fight, cure, and even prevent cancer? Two AUCA alumni say yes.

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shortly cropped brown hair and a smile that jumps out at you. She is married to my mother's brother Arvid, and has two children, my cousins John and Erica. We used to split Thanksgivings between their house in Valparaiso, Indiana, and our house in Evanston, Illinois, and sometimes still do when there are enough of us around. Thanksgiving in Indiana was great. Despite having to drive through Gary and by scenic Fox Lake, there was always bound to be a huge table of food, a Lazyboy (a luxury my parents could not afford because my brother would force me, against my will, to wrestle with him, breaking all the furniture), Barry Sanders running for the Detroit Lions, and the best pecan pie in Porter County. While my grandmother was still alive, she and Aunt Bonnie bonded through their experience with cancer. My grandmother recommended a book, Choices in Healing, by Michael Lerner, a summary of alternative and complementary cancer treatments. The interdisciplinary book covers treatments from acupuncture to yoga, and documents the lengths to which American cancer patients are willing to go to survive. For my Aunt Bonnie this had been her second cancer, and moved by the new information and the encouragement from family, she decided to change. She adopted a macrobiotic diet and lifestyle, and although at the time I really had no idea what that meant, it only took one Thanksgiving to figure out that things were never going to be the same.

n 1994 my grandma Grace died of ovarian cancer. She was 73 at the time, and in the final months of her life I remember asking my mom if I could go and visit her in the hospital. I still remember the look on my mother's face as she told me, "No, we can't go to see grandma now." Her whole faced tightened, trying to keep her composure, but halfway through the sentence my mother let go, and it is the only time in my life that I can recall her doing so. My mother had protected the image of my grandmother that I had from our summers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and today I am thankful for that. My grandmother had undergone a course of chemotherapy, but there was nothing to be done, and by the time I had asked to see her, I can only imagine the toll she had paid in trying to beat her disease. Around the same time, my Aunt Bonnie contracted breast cancer. Aunt Bonnie is a woman of small statue and large personality. She has

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n the clinical laboratory at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Maria Rechkunova-Goodson dedicates her spare time to convince us that things never should be the same. She and her director, Veta Shapkina, are shooting a documentary on effective non-toxic cancer treatments. They met at AUCA in the early 2000s, where Maria studied law, and Veta international politics. When both graduated in 2003, their lives both took unorthodox turns. Maria is from the Kyrgyz Republic, and in a previous Soviet-life she would have been the most popular science teacher in a public school. She is naturally curious, and when you bring up a fact she has undoubtedly known for years, her face shows genuine surprise, as if you had discovered something together. After graduating Maria earned some money doing translation in Bishkek before entering the biology undergraduate program at Valdosta State University, part of the university system of Georgia, right on the Florida border. She says that her interest in Biology came from her volunteering experience at the Cancer Center of Bishkek while she was at AUCA. It was at VSU that Maria met her husband Flynt, now a graduate student in

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How far are we willing to go to beat cancer? A change in diet may help, but many people are not willing to make the sacrifice.

the organic chemistry department at Florida State University. Veta is from Uzbekistan. Her mother is a construction engineer, and like an engineer, Veta wastes no words in getting to the point. After completing her undergraduate work at AUCA, she went on to do her masters in political science at Central European University. However, the only jobs that were coming her way after graduation were connected with NGOs and other international organizations. Veta told me that she spurned these opportunities because she did not want to waste government money having a comfortable life. Veta moved to Moscow, and took up another degree, this time in cinematography, attending the All-Russian State University of Cinematography (Всероссийский Государственный Университет Кинематографии им. С.А. Герасимова). Veta says that she now feels useful. She has shot several commercials, and also worked for Disney in Russia for 3 years, although she has since left that job, saying there was no room for her personal growth. The documentary has given both Maria and Veta purpose. Long stints as a student can be stifling, and moving outside the classroom can bring color back to the world. Even Veta can be surprisingly eloquent when talking about the film, "The findings are exciting, and it was surprising to me as I learned more about the world of natural treatments. Maria is really the expert, and I 22

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trust her judgment on which treatments we choose to cover in the film, but being involved in the process has been great." Maria says that the film is not meant to direct people away from traditional cancer treatment, but to show them that the options do not begin and end at the oncologist.

n the National Cancer Institute website for types of cancer treatments you can find articles on chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and transplantation, and a section on other methods, which include bone marrow transplantation, gene therapy, hyperthermia, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, and targeted cancer therapies, which are drugs developed to block the growth and spread of tumors. The first chemotherapy drugs that date from the early 20th century are based on military experiments conducted on people that had been exposed to mustard gas in both WWI and WWII. Indeed, one of the first drugs to be developed was called mustine, and although there is no Dijon mustine, many of the hundreds of chemotherapy drugs in use today are derivatives of this research. Radiation therapy came to us at much the same time, and works by killing the cancer cells by damaging their DNA with high-energy X-rays, gamma rays, and other charged particles. Luckily, as patients, we have the choice between getting the radiation beamed into us, or having some

colleagues at the University of Oxford and the radioactive material placed in our body near the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine, cancer cells. Radioactive iodine can even travel in explored the relationship between nutrition and your blood. These techniques would be more heartening if cancer, heart and metabolic diseases. The study, known as the China Project, discovered that the they only affected the destructive cancer cells, but growing consumption of animal protein and dairy this is not the case. The following is a selected list of side effects from the treatments listed above: products in the more affluent parts of China were bringing diseases that were previously either fatigue, nausea, skin irritation, bowel damage, infertility, fibrosis, immune system depression, hair unknown or uncommon in China. This led Dr. Campbell to suggest that reverting loss, malnutrition, scarring and swelling, and most to a whole-food, plant-based diet is a possible dishearteningly, new tumors. solution for healing degenerative diseases such Aside from the last side effect, almost all of as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and several us are willing to take on these risks to beat the forms of cancer. Although diet is not mentioned disease. However, survival of cancer can depend as a possible treatment on either on things that are wholly out the American Cancer Society of our control, such as how or National Cancer Institute early it is detected or a person's At least 5-15% of website, it is mentioned as a gender. Looking at five-year survival estimates compiled by all patients diagnosed complementary action to standard treatments. Cancer Research UK, 38% of the with cancer attempt The idea of completely men studied had a better than changing one's lifestyle as a 50% chance of being alive in 5 some alternative preventative measure against years. This was true for 50% of course of treatment, cancer is anathema to most women. people, especially if it means and the percentage The type of cancer is giving up hamburgers. Many another significant factor is most likely much people who survive traditional affecting survival rates. 95% of cancer treatment go on to live higher. men who were diagnosed with their lives as if all they had testicular cancer survived over 5 contracted was a common cold, years (motivation might also be just something out of their control that had to be a factor in recovery), while only 6% of lung cancer fixed. patients and 3% of pancreas cancer patients could Meat and dairy will always have a place. I say the same. For women the list is very similar, must admit that after researching for this article, the distinct differences being that over 68% of I have tried to severely cut my intake of animal women survive uterus, cervix, and breast cancer, protein. Although it is not impossible in Central while only 34% of women survive ovary cancer. Asia, the food culture here revolves almost solely For the majority of people, being diagnosed around meat, and I have been weakened by 29 with cancer means death whether you take a years of knowing how good it tastes. My wife is course of treatment or not. The overwhelming majority of us choose a traditional treatment, many a vegetarian, which helps, but she still consumes eggs, cheese, yoghurt, and other animal products times a combination of chemotherapy, radiation that both of us find hard to live without. therapy, and surgery. In 2007 the United States I think it would take something like cancer spent over $103 billion dollars fighting cancer, to put me over the edge and take full control of but not all of that money is going to traditional my health. For my Aunt Bonnie, as for many remedies. others, this is also the case. Her macrobiotic diet advocates many of the same tenants that Dr. n the 1960s Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a Campbell talks about: whole grains, fruits and nutritional scientist at Cornell University, was vegetables, soups, and occasional usage of eggs, trying to develop "high quality" animal protein to coffee, sugar, herbs, meat, and processed foods. bring to poor and malnourished areas of the third The macrobiotic diet was developed by George world. On a trip to the Philippines he discovered Ohsawa, a Japanese philosopher who wanted that the country's wealthier children, the ones with to integrate Zen Buddhism, Asian medicine, access to a richer diet of meats, were more likely Christian teachings, and some aspects of Western to get liver cancer. medicine. In this way the macrobiotic diet is just In the 1980s Dr. Campbell, along with

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A state of the art radiation therapy machine

one part of a greater philosophical and spiritual system. In addition to the diet, many advocates of macrobiotics recommend living mentally and physically active, offering thanks before each meal, chewing your food at least 50 times per mouthful, going to bed before midnight and getting up early, avoid wearing synthetic or woolen clothing directly on the skin, walking barefoot on the grass or beach for a half hour every day, keeping your home in good order, avoid taking long hot baths or showers, avoid chemically-perfumed cosmetics, avoid electronic cooking devices, minimize the use of TVs and computers, and sing a happy song each day. Ready to start today? If macrobiotics does not seem like your thing, you can also try the Gerson Diet, the 3-E program from the German Holistic Cancer Center, the CoDTea and Targeted Nutritional System, Dr. Ken Weizer's Natural Medicine and Cancer Care, Oasis of Hope Hospital, and the Reno Integrative Medical Center. Here I would stress that I am not a doctor. I got my masters in public administration, so as much as I would like to see health costs decrease, do not skip out on your doctor's recommendations and start one of these programs on account of this article. Definitely talk with your doctor, or better 24

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yet several doctors, to find out if these treatments can be alternative or complementary to the course of action presented to you.

aria and Veta want to use their film to help people learn about these alternative and complementary methods to treating cancer. They are fighting an uphill battle on two fronts. The first is that many people have no idea that these alternative solutions exist. The second is that there is resistance in the medical community, some based on sound science and some based on the fear of having to scratch the last one hundred years of development in cancer treatment. It is unclear just how many patients there are for alternative cancer treatments. In 2009, according to the CDC, 1.3 million people were discharged from hospitals with cancer listed as the diagnosis. According to the same study there were 567,628 deaths from cancer, ranking second only to heart disease. Many of the alternative treatment websites that I visited did not give specific numbers, but at least five estimate that between 5-15% of all patients diagnosed with cancer attempt some

alternative course of treatment. Many sites suggest this is a low estimate, and I am inclined to agree. As humans, the thing we do best is survive, and if there are alternative ways to do it, we are usually game to try. At 15% of all diagnosed patients, 195,000 people in the US alone sought an alternative course to treatment, most likely complementing their traditional course. Maria and Veta want to see that number increase significantly. Maria says that although she recognizes that these alternatives put much of the burden on the patient, requiring immense will power and self-discipline, the human desire to be in control of your own body, and the benefit of being able to be a part of the healing process are things that all of us want. The goal is really to spread this news to people who do not have cancer, so that they can make changes now, and so that when they do get diagnosed, they are on a more level playing field with the physician diagnosing them. Vetaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, who actively takes care of her health and lifestyle choices, made dietary changes when learning about the film, and both Veta and Maria hope that by producing their documentary in both Russian and English, they will be able to reach a wider audience. The second obstacle is in many ways more formidable. For the past century our attitude towards illness and disease has been to find/invent cures whereby we ingest, cut out, beam in, inject, dissect, or amputate the problem. This has led to incredible success, as we as a species have increased our average lifespan more in the past hundred years than in the previous forever. It has also led us to discount and sometimes outright reject other holistic and even common sense methods of healing. 25.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, with another predicted 79 million at risk according to the American Diabetes Association. This is a disease that can largely be controlled by dietary adjustments, yet in 2009 over 16.3 million adults reported taking some medication for their symptoms. Maria thinks that the medical industry wants to keep things this way, since it means more reliance on the doctors and medicines, and in the end, more profits. The interesting part about the cost of cancer treatment is not that we are spending so much, but what we are spending it on. In 1987, cancer accounted for 4.8% of all health care spending in the United States. From 20012005 it accounted for 4.9%, but over that period of time the spending on inpatient admissions for

cancer dropped from 64% to 27.5%, meaning that people were spending significantly less time in the hospital. The researchers at the CDC attributed the difference in spending to increasing cancer prevalence, an aging population, and higher survival rates leading people to take cancer drugs longer. The researchers did not mention the increasing cost of the drugs as a reason, though in the same time period cost of prescription drug also increased significantly. The study also did not include newly developed cancer drugs developed since 2006 such as Avastin, which costs $90,000 for a treatment that produces an average 1.5 month increase in predicted survival time. The pharmaceutical companies, ever the villains, are designing more and more of these targeted cancer medications that cost exorbitant amounts but guarantee only a mediocre extension of life. Maria says that when you compare the alternative options already available to the bankrupting treatments on offer, it does not seem like much of a choice. In terms of research, the American Cancer Society only spends about 7.5% of its research budget on cancer prevention, which includes some research on nutrition and physical activity. When trying to search for reliable studies on alternative treatments, I was quickly met with a barrage of sites, half claiming widespread government collusion with 'big pharma' to keep people pumping 'chemotoxin' into their veins, and the other half saying that the people from the nuthouse have been let off the leash. For reasons I would assume are not sinister, there is very little research and controlled experimentation being done on alternative cancer treatments. Some alternative providers have attempted to do their own studies, but these have largely been rejected by government bodies. The doubt is never in the veracity of individual success stories, but in the treatment's applicability to a wider population. The main concerns are lack of control groups, limited sample sizes, and failure to keep accurate data for periods following the treatment. This, says Maria, keeps progress in cancer treatments wrongly focused on 'magic bullet' solutions, rather than casting a wider net. She thinks part of the problem is that doctors and researchers are simply not trained to look for alternative solutions. Classes have existed for such therapies at many of the top medical schools for some time now, but often just as electives. The prize for finding 'the cure' is simply too big and alluring, and everyone's focus is pointed in that AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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direction. At her lab in Tallahassee Maria talks with her colleagues about her findings. She told me, "They're mostly nice about it, and then they go back to doing whatever it is they were doing."

ancer is in many ways an overwhelming condition, the result of the uncontrolled growth of cells that invade and then spread throughout the body. Yet for the last one hundred years we have been basically using the same tools to shoot and slice out the bad cells, and then hope that the good ones are strong enough to survive. The tools have become more accurate and precise, but a cure still eludes. My Aunt Bonnie touts the she and my Uncle Gus have not had a serious cold in the 22 years since they have adopted the macrobiotic lifestyle. There are thousands of true stories like my Aunt's of people changing their lives, overcoming a cancer they were told was either inoperable or at too late a stage to do anything about. What is heartening about these stories is that they are less stories about beating cancer and more about what people do when they get their life back. My Aunt became a tri-world-intergalactic-blackbelt in Taekwondo (liberty taken with terminology),

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winning multiple championships in her age group. In September 2011 she was diagnosed with sternum cancer, a result, her Northwestern University doctor believes, of being hit so hard in the chest that dormant cancer cells were activated. In the fall she performed a course of conventional treatment and followed the macrobiotic healing diet for two months while following the recommendations of her doctor. When I asked her for some advice on writing this article two months ago she answered me in two days with four pages of notes and macrobiotic recipes so that I can share my Thanksgiving Day experiences with my wife. She also has plans for her next Taekwondo tournament, where she will be alive and kicking. For more information on Maria (mariarechkunova@gmail.com) and Veta (veta_ shapkina@mail.ru), and how you can support the making of their film "Effective Non-Toxic Cancer Treatments", please visit their site at www. cancerfreefilm.com, and support their project at http://invested.in/P2041/effective-non-toxic-cancertreatments.

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Blood is a Treasure, a Treasure of Life By Natali Anarbaeva

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People around the world dream about saving a life. However, not everyone realizes that they can save lives simply by donating blood. Millions of volunteers around the world give blood to hospitals and blood donation centers. The Kyrgyz Republic is not an exception, and in February AUCA hosted a blood drive to support the effort, with over 50 faculty, staff, and students participating. According to a Short History of Blood Donation, such blood drives began in 1628 in Britain, when a leading physician, William Harvey, first demonstrated that blood circulates round the body. Using equipment developed by Harvey, Sir Christopher Wren, who was actually an architect, was the first man to inject fluids into the blood of animals 29 years later. By 1666, Richard Lower had carried out the first successful blood transfusion between two animals. However, taboos and a lack of knowledge impeded the implementation of this technology, and another 150 years passed before blood transfusion was tried on people. Many of these early experiments in transfusion ended disastrously, and it was unclear why the attempts were unsuccessful. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century, when Dr. Karl Landsteiner discovered the four types of blood (A, B, AB, and O) that significant progress was made. This breakthrough occurred just in time for the Great Wa,r where blood transfusions saved thousans, of soldiers. It was also discovered that the blood is best preserved in a refrigerator. The first record of blood donation was by the British Red Cross, who in 1921 created the first voluntary blood service. Very soon blood donation became a well-known practice and by 1937 both America and Britain had set up their first blood banks. During the second world war, blood donation played a major role in saving the lives of soldiers and civilians. Blood centers were set up across Britain and people were encouraged to do their bit for their country by giving blood. According to the Red Cross Blood unit, in 1945 the Red Cross ended its World War II blood program for the military after collecting

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more than 13 million pints. In 1948 the Red Cross began its first nationwide blood program for civilians by opening a collection center in Rochester, N.Y. The idea of blood donation has since spread worldwide, and volunteers from almost every country go to hospitals or special organizations to donate blood in order to save lives. In the Kyrgyz Republic the last Sunday of September is National Donors Day, when citizens are encouraged to go to the Republican Blood Center to give blood. This donating practice is even more important in developing countries due to the lack of supply of clean, tested blood. In both Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, there have been cases of children contracting HIV/AIDS from transfusions with infected blood. This is because hospitals, especially in rural areas, lack the resources to test blood before administering the transfusions. At some hospitals, patients are responsible for finding and purchasing blood for their own transfusions. As a result, ‘blood markets’ are set up outside the hospitals with no oversight. Although giving blood is not as common in the Kyrgyz Republic as it is in other parts of the world, the practice is starting to grow as people learn more about the need for blood and the lengths to which people must go to get it. Many businesses and organizations are conducting drives to raise awareness, including AUCA, which held its drive on February 17, 2012. Over 50 volunteers came to the medical service room to donate blood. During lunchtime there was a line of students, faculty, and staff, waiting to give. For their effort, each was given a chocolate bar and tea, and the knowledge that their blood will help save a life.

Facts about Blood Donation: Taken from BNL Blood Drive, Red Cross Blood, and the Mayo Clinic official websites

• If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save more than 1,000 lives! • Each whole blood donation can help as many as three people. One unit is divided into three parts: red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. • Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood. • You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood. • Children being treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types. • In the days following the September 11th attacks, half a million people donated blood. • There is no substitute for human blood. • 4.5 million Americans will need blood transfusion this year. Imagine how many people worldwide need such transfusions. • If all blood donors gave three times a year, it would help prevent blood shortages. 28

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The Secret Files: Your Talents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yoga is essentially a relationship.â&#x20AC;?- Yogi Bhajan, a master of Kundalini Yoga.

On April 12, AUCA alumna, professional yoga teacher, editor, and author Olga Tarabashkina released her first book about yoga, The Secret Files: Your Talents. The book is about the 8 chakras: acceptance, creativity, confidence, love, expressiveness, intuition, un-limitedness and radiance.

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The Secret Files is the first book within the series Yoga for All Situations, and is a collection of the most powerful practices that Olga has practiced and taught for years. It is without a doubt the first selfdevelopment and self-help yoga book to be published in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Secret Files is based on both Eastern and Western philosophies, and investigates anatomy, and knowledge of the mind and psyche. It gives thorough step-by-step practices to achieve the best results and discover the talents that you need to develop satisfying relationships, job success and personal growth. It is full of pictures and yoga exercises you can practice at home, in your office, or with your friends. The book is in Russian, and it has two appendices: yoga for relationships, and a menu for chakras. Olga believes that if you are looking for ways to improve your life, this is the book you need to read.

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Kundalini Yoga is the most powerful style of all yoga (there are about 23 recognized styles in the world). Olga Tarabashkina (JMC '06) hopes that sharing this technology will help many people live happier and healthier lives, just as it transformed her life five years ago. Ever since then she has been on a journey full of adventures, opportunities and miracles. Kundalini Yoga is ancient, and was kept in secret among its followers until 1969, when Yogi Bhajan, a master of Kundalini Yoga, first started to teach it openly in the West. Also known as the Yoga of Awareness, it is considered the most comprehensive of yoga traditions combining meditation, mantra, physical exercises and breathing techniques. It is aimed at those who are inclined to meditation and seeking to unveil their highest potential. “Some people think yoga is a religion. Some people think it is physical exercise for vitality and health. Some people think it is a psychological system that develops the potential of the psyche. In reality, this is all based on a misunderstanding. Yoga is essentially a relationship,” says Yogi Bhajan. Bhajan continues, “Kundalini Yoga is the study of experience and awareness. It is the transmission of cognition from human to human. It is a Raj Yog that awakes you from inside. This is the main difference between Hathaand Yoga and Kundalini Yoga.” “I feel like I have been teaching yoga all my life, and this is how my students and friends feel,” says Olga, who is from the Kyrgyz Republic, though she now lives in London where she teaches yoga and runs various yoga events. She has been practicing Kundalini Yoga (and other styles) for five years and has been teaching professionally for the last three years. Yoga came into her life when she first moved to Britain and was finding it hard to adapt to a new place. Olga started practicing yoga because she wanted to find peace of mind, joy and clarity in life. She practiced in the mornings and sang the mantra, which she knew nothing about, but she felt that her soul loved it. She started reading about yoga and going to yoga clubs, where she met wonderful people that showed her the way life should be – light, bright and loving. Having moved from sunny Central Asia with its juicy watermelons and flavorful life, London seemed to her even grayer than it is. Yoga returned her taste for life. When Olga started practicing yoga, she had a good job and it seemed that everything was perfect. Her work was interesting, she was completing different projects 30

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

and gaining a lot of knowledge, but something was missing inside. She was searching for something, but she was not sure where she needed to be looking. One day she realized that she did not have enough freedom and room for self-expression, that the work was just a routine, and she understood that she was just pretending to be doing what she wanted to do. So, after having worked for a couple of years, she left her job. People were astonished, but she was happy. She no longer lied to herself, she began to hear and listen to her inner voice and to accept each decision as a solution from her soul. The answers came. She went to India and did her yoga teacher training there. It was the most transformational experience of her life. She started to live life the way it was meant to be lived. Olga spent 2 months in the Himalayas learning, and returned a different person. When asked whether it was the place she wanted to be or whether she was still on her way to her desired goal, Olga happily shares (or confesses), “I am a yoga teacher. I teach many different styles, but my favorite and closest to my heart is Kundalini Yoga. I feel like I have been teaching yoga all my life, and this is how my students and friends feel. This is who I am and this is what I love doing. It fills my life with the deepest sense of purpose.” Through her own practice she realized that nothing compares to Kundalini Yoga (“the mother of all yoga” as it is known) in its potency and power to create the changes that you need the most in your life. Olga believes that dreams come true, and yet we do not know what we dream about most of the time. Dreams do not just happen. We have to follow our gut feeling, stay open, and see what wonders about ourselves will be revealed to us. Olga has always wanted to work with people and now she has the technology, passion and enthusiasm to do it. She truly thinks that we are all here to help each other realize what we were born to achieve. If you have not found your path yet, Olga advises to keep on searching, as she is sure that it is right around the corner. Writing a book about Kundalini Yoga in Russian for a Russian speaking audience is a great achievement. Olga started the process in London, and was inspired by her work and private practice. It is a book where Olga shares all the practices and secrets of Kundalini yoga in order to achieve the fullest human potential: 8 human talents (acceptance, creativity, determination, love, expression, intuition, un-limitedness and radiance). Olga believes that discovering your

multiple talents is easy as long as you are committed to the path of growth, self-love, and self-acceptance. Speaking on her book, “It is a unique work that shares technology that can change your life if you follow it with commitment and enthusiasm. The book came about from my extensive yoga teaching experience in London and abroad. I was teaching a lot of workshops around chakras ( From the Sanskrit word meaning “energy wheels” or seats of energy within us), human talents, empowerment, and mental tools based on the teachings of Kundalini Yoga.” Olga thinks a leader should be conscious and without fear, and that being a leader is a gift we all possess. It is the power to see the whole picture, set goals and realize our dreams. We are all leaders. Olga would like to sincerely thank her mother, Mila Tarabashkina, a kind, wise, and powerful lady who Olga considers her first guru. She is also grateful to her teachers, and all of the people who have come into her life for various reasons. She strongly believes that every person we meet is the mirror that helps us to see ourselves more clearly, to develop our skills further and shed old habits. “I get inspiration and guidance from

everyone I meet,” says Olga. Olga will be coming to Bishkek periodically from now on to teach Kundalini Yoga, train people who are interested in this technology, and share the ancient secrets to youth, health, happiness and nerves of steel via yogic traditions. She cordially invites you to come and see her in person and learn more about yourself, who you really are, and what you can achieve. Olga sends warm wishes to our readers, her fellow alumni and friends, “Never give up on yourself. Never give up on trying. You are the perfect the way you are right now, so stop beating yourself up and start loving yourself. This is what the Age of Aquarius is all about. Become who you are, follow your unique path and may your inner wisdom guide you.” For more information about Olga, her teachings, classes and her first book please visit www. kundaliniolga.info

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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health

Alumni spotlight

The

Olives

Branch

Two buddies fresh out of AUCA, Azim Azimov and Ruslan Ilyasov, have started up a new conceptual cafĂŠ called Olives that caters to all categories of people. For AUCA Magazine, they served up talk about their AUCA years, their successes and failures, and their plans and dreams for the future.

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

Alumni spotlight

A young Azim and Ruslan studying at AUCA.

Azim, you finally graduated from AUCA in 2012, but you were supposed to do it… earlier. What happened to the traditional 4-year plan? The last couple of years I stayed behind because I was not doing so well academically. I started working and that took up a lot of my time, during which I had rapid career growth. I was promoted and then started working on my own projects. I have been in PR since my first junior year, at first in an advertising agency, and then at Megacom, as their director for corporate communications. I also worked on election campaigns for Presidential candidates and political parties. Ruslan, what about you? I successfully graduated from Business Administration in 4 years. Once, I was almost expelled due to frequent absences. I opened my first canteen my senior year. I had women cooking “samsy”, and I was the cashier. That first start-up ended in bankruptcy. After this failure, I decided to finish my studies and then reengage in business.

AUCA Magazine*May 2012

Why did you decide to start a restaurant? Ruslan (R): Azim and I spent a lot of time together. I had experience in public catering, and Azim had experience in marketing, so he proposed we open a café. Azim attracted clients and I was in charge of the kitchen. I try to stay out of his marketing and promotion and he stays out of the food. Azim (A): This is the key to how friends can do business together. We demarcated our functions and that helped us to get along. Neither of us wanted to limit ourselves to the corporate world after graduation. We wanted to create something of our own. What can you tell us about Olives? A: We had some concrete ideas on business organization, which is why we decided to start a café that would generate income. Plus, Ruslan had some experience in the food business already. What skills did you acquire at AUCA that help you in your business today? R: AUCA taught me to set and achieve goals, and never limit myself to what has already been achieved.

Alumni spotlight

What advice would you give to new businessmen? What should they focus on? R: Be confident in yourself and just start a business. I opened a canteen, made a little money, and some people got jealous and tried to take it from me. In the end, I retained control, but the business failed. I got the skills I needed, however, to succeed in the future. In business, experience is really your only base of knowledge. A: You have to understand that the responsibility lies only with you. You have to treat the business seriously, it’s not a game. And, in my opinion, before setting up a business, you should go get some experience working in established companies, so you can learn what you are good at and how successful companies implement their ideas. What else do you do besides run Olives? R: I teach a banking course at a financial technical school, which I have been doing for four years. A: I also do PR. Together with Ruslan we carry out media campaigns, and also do political and commercial PR. With another AUCA alumnus, Ruslan Akun, we shoot video clips. At the moment, I also work at Electrical Stations as PR Director. How did you meet? A: We are former classmates. We became friends because both of us lived far from school and made long trips on marshrutkas together. We had a lot of time to talk. Why did you choose this name for your café? A: At first, we wanted to open a café for foreigners. We wanted our café to be associated with foreigners, people working in international organizations, foreign companies and tourists. We were interested in this segment. The real answer is my girlfriend Altynai proposed we name Olives.

R: It’s because we did not have any other good ideas. A: No, I proposed we name it “Friday and Friday.” But, this would end up sounding too much like a well-known American chain of cafes, so we abandoned the idea. Still, as we focus on Italian and American cuisine, Olives fit the concept. Near the entry to your café there is a sign for Koldo Shop, does it have anything to do with Olives? A: It’s a neighboring shop run by my girlfriend. It’s a shop for different hand-made products. The set-up of the shop is quite interesting: the suppliers are orphans, people with limited abilities and pensioners with lowincome. The main goal of the shop is not to generate income, but to provide assistance to vulnerable people. What are your best memories of AUCA? R: I remember my critical skills classes. Most of what I use today I learned from those courses. A: If I had an opportunity to return to 11th grade I would definitely choose AUCA. I regret that during my studying at AUCA I was not able to deeply immerse myself in the social life of our university, as I was working all the time. I wish I could have participated in different events, but I still feel that AUCA is the best place to study. The students are motivated and encouraged by their professors and assisted in gaining confidence in their abilities. Can you finish the sentence, AUCA is… A and R: Freedom, creativity and selfrealization. Where do you see yoursevesf in 5-10 years? A: I will have a successful foundation, a place of my own where I manage people and train new specialists. I would like to share my experience of how to succeed without sponsor support. R: I see that both of us are millionaires. We are respected and our opinion matters. We know people. And that is when we set our feet in politics. I see us changing our country for better. AUCA Magazine*May 2012

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A: AUCA provided me with confidence in my abilities, and taught me how to “sell” myself to employers. Also, AUCA classes were useful because they were taught through US textbooks, and for PR there is no better place to learn from.

ALUMNI NOTES

15th Anniversary Dear Class of 1997, We would like to congratulate you on the fifteenth anniversary of your graduating from AUCA. At that time the university was still called American University in Kyrgyzstan, and still only occupied the small building across the street. Next year we will be moving to a new campus, largely built on the success you and all AUCA alumni have achieved since graduation. We would also like to congratulate the class of 2002 on their tenth anniversary, and hope to see all of you back in the halls of AUCA.

1997 Ahn Evgeny Akaeva Nazgul Asanov Ulan Belkina Tatiana Botbaev Kanat Egemberdiev Daniyar Ham Dmitry Isabekova Mahabat Ismailova Jyldyz Jakypova Jyldyz

Jeenbaeva Jamilya Jumabaeva Ainagul Karpovich Stanislav Kuruchbekova Elvira Muslimov Elbek Omurbekova Rahat Ostroverhova Arina Priborkina Marina Rafalovich Svetlana Rakhmanova Janyl Rakisheva Asel Skargina Irina Smirnov Pavel Steinbakh Vilgelm Tadjiev Dairbek Tagaev Bogdan Teleusheva Aigul Tumenbaev Agynbek Tursumatova Aijamal Turusbekova Nonna Egemberdiev Daniyar

ALUMNI NOTES

2002 Abasova Cholpon Abazbekov Syrgak Abdullaeva Zulfia Abdumomunov Nazir Abdurakhmanova Damira Abdykadyrova Cholpon

Afshar Ahoura Aitnazarov Izzat Ajibaev Edil Akeleev Azamat Alaferdova Nigyar Aldasheva Aijan Aripova Ranohan Arnautova Natalia

Asakeyeva Gulnaz Averkina Maria Bah Yulia

Beketova Natalia Belov Alexey Chalbaev Seitek Chekirbaeva Zarina Chernysheva Olesia Chzhao Tenten Dadybaev Adilet Daurov Evgeniy Dildemuratova Aigul Don Svetlana Doolotkeldieva Asel

Dorgabekova Davlatsulton Drummond Natalia Durbaeva Asel Dyusheeva Nazira Efimenko Valentina Ergeshov Salamat Eshimkanov Ulan Fomina Anna Gayazova Fatima Gerasko Andrei Grigorieva Ksenia Hao Fulin

Hardina Alexandra Hasanova Gulzat Hazova Anna Ibraev Kubanychbek Ibraimov Azamat Imankulova Chinara Imankulova Saltanat Isachenko Daria Ivanova Viktoria

Ivanova Viktoria

Janybekova Ayan Jetibaev Nurbek Joldosheva Anara

Jorupbekova Aicholpon Jumashukurov Cholponbek Kalmamatova Nargiza Kalyujin Anton Kenzina Guzyal Kerimbekova Naginya Khan Dmitriy Kholodyuk Vitaliy Kim Elena Kiral Alexander Kojomuratov Ulan Konokbaev Kanybek Kuklin Andrey Liauskina Viktoria

Liventseva Lilia Lyashenko Veronika Manapaeva Nazik Manapbaeva Almira Milekhina Natalya Minenkov Igor Minibaeva Yulia Mustafina Madina Nasirdinov Taalai Nogoibaev Ulan Nusuvalieva Nazgul Ormusheva Jamilya Orozumbekova Ursula Osmonkulova Jarkyn Osmonoliev Askar

Sazbakov Almaz Shakirova Koisun

Shamkanov Nurlan Sharonina Ekaterina Shin Vitaliy Shuljenko Ivan Shulzhenko Elena Shvab Nadejda Sitdikova Janna Smankulov Iskender Soodaeva Aijan Stojnic Miodrag Sultanov Japar Tashybekov Emirbek Toktokhojaev Bek

Toolonbaev Bakyt Torobekova Indira Tsoi Liudmila Turdubekova Baktygul Urkunchiev Nasirdin Weinermann David Zvinchukova Yulia Erketaeva Dariha Kalmamatova Nargiza Polyakov Dmitry Sadykova Saltanat

Pashkovskaya Tatiana

Petrukhina Alena Platonova Anastasia Polishev Roman Polyakov Dmitry Potehina Elena Rakhmanberdiev Azamat Rakisheva Jypar Razaev Mamatkalil Rung Ivan

Rutskaya Yulia Sadykova Saltanat Sagynov Bektur Sakiev Azamat Satybekova Aisha Sazbakov Almaz

Dear Alumni, Your support of AUCA the past 15 years has already made an impact on the next generation of leaders. For AUCA to remain the best university in Central Asia, we will continue to need your support and good will. Join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Vkontakte, or go to www. alumni.auck.kg to learn more about how you can open doors at AUCA.

Gifts and Grants 2011-2012 Friends of AUCA John and Joan Von Leesen John O'Keefe Joe and Margaret Flanagen Mary Schweitzer Martha Merrill Ellen Hurwitz Helen Smith Sharon Bailey Gulnara Dreier Madeleine Reeves Hersh Chadha Henry Myerberg Tatiana Gfoeller Rodger McGrail Eugene Huskey Kai Schlenther Larry Held Tom De Liefde Achim Merlo Talant Sultanov Bermet Tursunkulova Nikolay Shulgin Board of Trustees Ishenbai Abdurazakov Jonathan Becker Almas Chukin Stanislav Karpovich William Newton-Smith Matt Nimetz Alumni Elnura Djenish Kamila Muslimova Lilia Muslimova Vyacheslav Akimenko Emir Kulov Elina Karakulova Aziz Soltobaev Erina Kadyralieva Togonai Berdikeyeva Sanjar Tursaliev Kumar Bekbolotov Nazgul Cholponbaeva Azamat Akeleev Felix Tsoy Melis Turgunbaev Amina Hirani Mamatkhalil Razaev Maksat Korooluev Corporate Partners Mina Group Kumtor Operating Company Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers American Councils

Развитие Рост Результат ЦентР дополнительного обРазования АмерикАнский университет в ЦентрАльной Азии

детская академия Роста (даР) Предлагает новые программы для школьников 10-15 лет: • Живая математика • С компьютером на Ты • Больше чем английский • Креативное письмо • Бизнес Кид • Владею, пользуюсь, рапоряжаюсь • Мир фотографии • Снимаем кино • Мастерство телерадиоведущего • Дискуссионный клуб “Свобода мыслить”

аР д а л о к ш летняя юня юня, 18 и и 4 : о л а ч на (2 смены) и л е д е н 2

с ко Р о !

the Bishkek Bicycle Tour

On May 1st, with the support of Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers, the Bishkek Bicycle Tour rolled. The Golden Wheels Bicycle Club, Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers, the Bishkek Sport Committee, and Bishkek City Hall sponsored a Bicycle tour on May 1st. The tour rode from VDNH on Manas Avenue to Ala-Too Square. Over 250 riders participated, including young riders, old riders, and families. The tour celebrated Bishkek City Day, Labor Day, and the Year of the Family, promoting healthy lifestyles. CJSC Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers supports the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the popularization of healthy living among Kyrgyz citizens. Bicycling is the most popular mode of transportation in the world. Today around the world there are about 1.4 billion bicycles, but only 400 million automobiles. Bishkek is no different, with many people preferring to ride their bike to school, work, or for exercise. Each participant received t-shirts and caps from Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers. Some of the T-shirts had ÂŤI love KGÂť written on them, which were favorites among the participants. Also Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers helped everyone stay hydrated, giving out Bonaqua water at the start and finish line. After the ride, everyone relaxed with some Coca-Cola Zero, providing a new taste without sugar. What are the main advantages of bicycling? 1. First of all, it is the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation, meaning we keep the Earth safe. 2. No less important is the fact that biking keeps us healthy. Everybody today knows that bicycling is an energy-consuming task. This exercise helps us to strengthen muscles, improve our heart strength, and improve our respiration, all of which has beneficial effects for our metabolism. Riding your bike is also great for children from 6 years of age to the elderly who are still young at heart. You never forget how to ride a bike, so just start, and get on your way to healthy living. Photography: Sveta Verchenko, AUCA JMC '13 Text: Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers