Don’t Disrespect the Bread

I am currently in Osh, Kyrgyzstan with my team. We are going into our third week here, and it has been a wonderful experience so far. 

We have been on the continent of Asia for a while now, but this is the first country where the people actually look how you would expect Asians to look. There are also people from Uzbekistan and Russia which leads to quite the diversity of languages and backgrounds. 

One of my favorite parts of traveling the world is seeing different cultures. I’ve learned to ask local people about how their culture differs from American culture so I know what to expect and how to not accidentally offend or disrespect the people. Kyrgyzstan has some pretty interesting customs when it comes to their bread, putting feet on furniture, eating, and noise level.

On our first night in Osh, our hosts took us out for dinner and orientation. On the table there were many appetizers spread out, including their bread. When one of us broke off a piece of the bread, one of our hosts was quick to tell us not to place the loaf upside down in the basket. It was important to keep the bread facing up. Apparently, their bread is considered sacred and it is disrespectful to place the bread upside down. They don’t even throw it away, but leave it out for people who can’t afford their own.

In America, it’s common to put our feet on the couch or chair we are sitting on. In Kyrgyzstan it is not appropriate to do that in public or at someone’s home unless you know them really well. Putting feet on a couch shows a level of familiarity that comes from a close friendship or relationship to the person whose home you are in. So putting feet on the couch of someone you just met is considered an inappropriate show of familiarity.

The Kyrgyz people are big on respecting those who are older than them. When I was meeting a few university students for coffee and muffins, the students didn’t take any of the muffins for a long time. I thought maybe they weren’t hungry, but then my friend, who is American but lives here, told me that since I am older than them they would respectfully wait until I took a bite first.

I believe I may have mentioned this in a previous blog, but Americans tend to be louder than people in other cultures. In the States we are very expressive, enjoying laughter and conversation with those around us. The Kyrgyz are much more quiet in public. My team learned that when we went out to a restaurant for dinner. We couldn’t even hear people at other tables talking. We’ve had to be more aware of our volume when we are out in public so as not to draw too much attention to ourselves or disturb others around us.

Experiencing so many cultures this year has helped change and broaden my perspective. It has changed how I share my faith, view other people, and how I relate to them. I hope this gives you a little look into Kyrgyz culture, but even more than that I hope you are able to come to Kyrgyzstan and see it for yourself. These people are known for their hospitality, and for their deep love for their country. It’s a beautiful place and I highly recommend a trip here.