Student Summer Adventures: Mira Alpers '19 Journeys to Tajikistan

9/15/2017

Chatham Hall

Mira Alpers '19 traveled to Tajikistan as part of the National Security Language Initiative sponsored by the U.S. State Department. While there, she learned Tajiki Persian, and lived with a host family. We sat down with Mira to hear more about this amazing opportunity.

So, what exactly were you doing this summer? Give us an overview of the work you did, and who you were working for.

This summer I spent a month and a half in Dushanbe, Tajikistan learning Tajiki Persian. I went on a program called National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLIY). Through NSLIY, the US Department of State fully funds scholarships that allow high school students to learn a language critical to US security. It was an intense academic experience. We spent about four hours every day in the classroom and then we had cultural excursions. Those ranged from traditional Tajik Dance classes, to visiting a bazaar and buying fabric for our Kurtas (a traditional Tajik dress), to touring museums and mosques. Once, we even went to a Tajik water park. Then we would go back to our host families’ homes, where we only spoke Tajiki. I can’t say I have ever learned more, or been challenged more in such a short period of time.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

I loved staying with a host family! Not only did it help my language skills, but I also learned so much about the culture. I stayed in a soviet style apartment building near my classrooms. I had a host mother, father, two host sisters, and a little host brother. We became really close. I felt fully welcomed and comfortable in their home. I think the two most important elements of understanding a culture is learning the language and interacting with the local people. My host family allowed me to do both.

What is one takeaway from the summer that you will never forget?

I think my main takeaway was fully learning to appreciate the size of the world and diversity of cultures in it. I discovered a passion for learning about cultures this summer. In Tajikistan, I would walk from my apartment to my class every single day and feel so excited to learn. I was happy to have the opportunity to be learning and living completely surrounded by the culture and language that I loved.

How do you plan on using what you've learned in the future?

I want to be a diplomat when I’m older and hopefully spend some years in Tajikistan, and other Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries. In the meantime, I’m trying to read books and educate myself more about these regions until I can get to college and really study it fully. In addition, I think the language skills I gained learning Persian will help with the acquisition of other languages, especially Indo-European ones.

Do you plan on continuing to study what you've learned in the future?

Absolutely! I am currently taking Farsi (the Iranian dialect of Persian) as an independent study, and also speak Tajiki with my friends about once a week. Persian is a beautiful language and opens the door to beautiful cultures and I plan to learn about them as long as I can.

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