In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, Valentina shared about her life, which began in 1994 in Taraz (Kazakhstan). She is now a citizen of Kyrgyzstan and lives in Bishkek after graduating from the Academy of Tourism. Her father is Korean, and her mother is Russian. Azizbek's father is Kyrgyz, and his mother is Dungan. Valentina and Azizbek have known each other since childhood, as they lived on the same street and attended the same school. When Valentina was six years old, she and her family moved to Kyrgyzstan, where she completed her schooling. Azizbek, who is 32 years old, is from the village of Belovodskoye.
He never confessed his love to her, but Valentina always felt that he loved her, just as she loved him. Their relationship began in the tenth grade, and after several years of friendship, they got married after their first year of college. Valentina noted that the proposal was not romantic—he simply returned from school unexpectedly, went to her mother, and asked for her hand, after which he took Valentina with him. Her parents were initially worried but later accepted their union," she said.
The wedding was fun and unusual, combining Korean, Kyrgyz, and Dungan traditions. “I remember the moment when they showed me how to do ‘salam берүү’—people would approach me, and I would greet everyone by opening my scarf. I quickly got used to my husband's traditions, as I knew his family well. But the most challenging part for me was cleaning the intestines [of sheep and cows]. After 12 years of marriage, I still haven't learned to do it and am not ready yet," Valentina added.
Nevertheless, the month of Ramadan holds a special place in her life. In their free time, Valentina and Azizbek enjoy going out of town with their children. Sometimes they leave the kids with their grandmother and spend time alone together. They have three wonderful children, and every week they visit Belovodskoye to see their parents. Valentina and Azizbek have many plans for the future. The most important thing is health and the opportunities to realize them,” she concluded.
