“The difficulties our family faced helped me cultivate a greater sense of empathy for and understanding of marginalized communities in the U.S”

Story 31, Azima Aidorov, first-generation immigrant from Kyrgyzstan

Interview conducted & story written by Margherita Marras

Edited by Veronica Deckard

Azima Aidarov, 20 years old, is a first-generation migrant from Kyrgyzstan. A lively and passionate young woman, Azima is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations at Boston University. She was born and raised in Chicago but has always felt intimately connected to her culture. 

In their mid-20s-twenties, Azima’s mother and father uprooted their lives in Kyrgyzstan and moved to the United States in search of opportunity and prosperity. Although young, they knew they wanted to migrate to a place where they could find greater stability, and more importantly, less corruption. 

“Corruption is not present in the U.S. to the same degree that it is in Kyrgyzstan. In Kyrgyzstan, your success in life is dependent on your connections, so if you lack those connections you aren’t going to be able to flourish,” Aidarov said. 

Aidorov’s parents began their migration journey completely on their own, leaving behind a large and loving family.  

“Leaving behind family was especially difficult for my mom because she was very close to her parents and siblings,” Aidarov said. 

This was a constant struggle for her mother given that American culture is very “individualistic,” Aidarov said. “In America, people are very focused on careers and income, whereas Kyrgyzstan is much more community-oriented. People are more focused on their family and loved ones.” 

Being a first-generation migrant deeply impacted Aidorov’s values, identity and perception of the world. Growing up, she experienced challenges as a child of immigrants, but they molded her into the strong and driven person that she is today. Although difficult, she took the barriers that life presented and used them as a tool for inner growth. 

“My only support system was my parents and younger sister. I didn’t have lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins to rely on when I was struggling. This made me a stronger and more independent person,” Aidarov said. 

In elementary school, Aidarov endured repeated racist comments from her peers, and this still impacts her today. 

“Although a lot of time has passed, thinking about it makes me emotional,” Aidarov said. “People would ask: ‘what are you?’ It felt like there were only three options: Chinese, Japanese or Korean.” 

Her classmates would try to fit her in a box, and when she didn’t match their expectations, they would alienate her. 

“I remember one time when I explained that I was neither Chinese, Japanese, nor Korean, a boy viciously replied ‘that’s just not possible”. These ignorantly cruel interactions made Aidarov feel alone, and she really struggled to feel like she fit in with her community. 

Another prominent hurdle that Aidarov faced growing up as a first-generation migrant was feeling misunderstood. 

“Most people in the U.S. don’t even know what Kyrgyzstan is,” Aidarov said. “People get confused when I tell them that I am Kyrgyz, but Russian is my first language. They aren’t aware of Kyrgyzstan's history as one of the states of the Soviet Union.” 

Oftentimes, she would feel frustrated that people did not seem interested in understanding her heritage. 

“I am never going to blame someone for not being familiar with Kyrgyzstan's history, but I think that trying to understand is a conscious decision,” Aidarov emphasized the importance of making an effort to learn more about other cultures and countries instead of dismissing them out of confusion. 

 Although a rocky beginning, Aidarov’s experiences in the U.S. have improved. She also believes her family’s migration and her experiences as a first-generation migrant ignited her interest and passion for politics. 

“I think knowing the difficulties that my parents and our family faced has helped me cultivate a greater sense of empathy for and understanding of marginalized communities in the U.S,” Aidarov said. “I hope that through my education, I can help empower those that face injustices.” 

Aidarov has identified various channels through which to help others, including the Central Asian Student Association: a club that she founded this past summer. 

“I wanted to create a space for people like me at BU as well as anyone interested in learning more about Central Asia. I hope to solidify its place within BU, and make it as successful as it can be,” Aidarov said.

Aidarov wants other first-generation immigrants to be kind to themselves. “I don’t mean for that to sound cliché, but being a first-generation migrant, try to stay connected with your roots, learn about where you are from, and watch movies and listen to music in your language,” she said. Ultimately, Aidarov seeks to reaffirm the importance of coming to terms with your history, and culture, she says: “Through a better understanding of your roots, you will be able to have a greater impact on those you.”