Be cool.

Learn a language far from where it was born.

Study Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan!

Let me use a more popular language to begin my thesis…

Why would you want to study French in of all places, France? Bleh! Experiencing French, not just learning it, can only be done in a far-flung former colony where it is spoken raw, uncut from the 18th century and seasoned with a dash of local juju. I’m talking Haiti, Benin, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Congo, etc, etc. Maybe that’s too hardcore for some Lonely Planet purple backpack wearers. If so, study French in Switzerland or Quebec, but not France! Studying a language in the country where it was born simply is not cool… its not hip, its not meep. If you don’t understand my point, well, there’s always Rosetta Stone.

Kyrgyzstan is where you should study Russian.

-Former colony / USSR republic, check.
-Hardly any Russians live there, check.
-Kyrgyz speak it with a grizzled accent, check.
-Many local Turkic loanwords have infiltrated the language, check.
-Nationalists might beat you up for speaking Russian instead of Kyrgyz, check.
-Villagers / nomads won’t have a friggin clue what you just said, check.

Do you feel the vibe? Just imagine the colorful stories you can tell impressionable liberal arts students back home. They’ll naturally ask you, “Where in Russia did you study Russian?”

Then you can reply:

“Dude, Russian is not only spoken in Russia. That’s what the government wants you to think. I studied in Kyrgyzstan, man! Its like this little country no one knows about. I climbed mountains, found buried treasure, and built an eco-friendly log cabin for Habitat.”

Bishkek is home to over a dozen institutes of higher education and each offers Russian language instruction from levels beginner to advanced. The first step in your journey will be contacting schools to discuss enrollment, tuition and housing. Some wave tuition if you are a native speaker and agree to teach English. Below is a list of Bishkek's largest Universities:

Kyrgyz National University of Jusup Balasagyn
Faculty of Russian Language and Literature
E-mail: skn12@mail.ru, gulfira14tk@mail.ru
Website: http://www.university.kg/web/guest/obshie_svedeniya

Kyrgyz Russian-Slavic University
International Students Inquiry
E-mail: infocenter_krsu@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.krsu.edu.kg/Rus/MOtInSt.htm

American University of Central Asia
Faculty of Russian Language and Literature
E-mail: russian_lang@mail.auca.kg, kunduzakova_s@mail.auca.kg
Website: http://www.auca.kg/en/academics/support_programs/russian_language

Arabaev Kyrgyz State University
Registrar’s Office
E-mail: askarbek@gmail.com
Website: http://www.geocities.com/kyrgyzeducation

Kyrgyz State Technical University
International Department
E-mail: bek_sam@mail.ru
Website: http://ktu.aknet.kg/indexen.htm

Bishkek Humanities University (BHU)
Address: 27 Tynchtyk Avenue
Tel: 996-312-48-4035
E-mail: rectorat@bgupub.freenet.bishkek.su
Website: http://bhu.freenet.kg

Kyrgyzstan-Turkish University of Manas (KTUM)
Address: 56 Cumhurieti Manas Street
Tel: 996-312-54-1942
E-mail: admissions@manas.kg
Website: http://www.manas.kg

International Ataturk Alatoo University
Address: 10 Kamskaya Street, 10th Microregion
Tel: 996-312-54-2604
E-mail: info@iaau.edu.kg
Website: http://www.iaau.edu.kg