Country dancing in Kyrgyzstan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Airmen deployed to the Transit Center at Manas donated their time Dec. 20 to show Kyrgyz students how to country swing dance.

The Airmen are part of an organization called American Corner. The group travels to areas near the Transit Center as a cultural exchange project to teach the population about the American culture and to learn about their culture as well.

Capt. Stephen Martin, the Theater Security Cooperation humanitarian assistance medical director, is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and has previously worked with American Corner.

"The people here have expressed a big interest in our culture and dancing," Martin said. "We wanted to show them our cultures are very similar and we share a passion for music and personal expression through dancing."

Master Sgt. Suzanne Bell, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group NCO in charge of bioenvironmental engineering, is deployed from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and enjoyed watching the students swing dance.

"They were very appreciative and enjoyed it so much that they kept asking when we were going to come back and teach more, that's what makes this so worthwhile," she said.
Martin also enjoyed seeing the interaction.

"Watching them understand the similarities between our cultures and gain a deeper appreciation for Americans who have the desire to get to know them was the best part of the day," he said.

"The more you connect with the Kyrgyz people, the more you appreciate them and truly value the time we get to spend in their country."