Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I’ve long held an interest in the geopolitical, cultural, and historical affairs of the Greater Middle East. Over the past few years, I’ve found more opportunities to pursue this interest through academics, extracurriculars, and even recreation. My passion for the Greater Middle East has played a major role in determining my professional aspirations. I had recently decided to extend my study into the linguistic realm, and since I was already taking Arabic at my high school, I felt that Tajiki would be the perfect NSLI-Y language for me! Studying Tajiki felt like the perfect way to turn my fascination with Persian history into a practical, marketable skill.
What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I hope to study Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations as well as International Affairs in college before beginning a career in the international non-profit sector.
How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
Since Tajiki is mutually intelligible with other Persian dialects like Farsi and Dari, it’s a helpful language for working in non-profits, diplomacy, and other regional services. My cultural skills will make me a more globally aware citizen when I study and work abroad in the future, regardless of where I end up!
How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
Participating in NSLI-Y has both allowed me to develop valuable, practical skills and positively influenced the scope of my aspirations. My experience in NSLI-Y opened my eyes to the breadth of rich cultural diversity present in our world and taught me how to navigate any such divides. It expanded my interest in foreign relations while simultaneously giving my passions a distinctly personal touch. I now intend to pursue a career that will allow me to connect to people of all different cultures and backgrounds, through language, collaboration, and shared experience.
What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
NSLI-Y not only helped me to refine my Tajiki and improved my ability to make intercultural connections, it also helped me with time management and independence. The consistent pace of language classes and other meetings kept me busy without being overwhelming and allowed me to develop an ethic of persistent, utilitarian productivity. The burden of directing this productivity was squarely on me—although I was never without support systems—and I became more independent and self-disciplined over the course of the program.
I also did pretty well in our dance class!
What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
I loved exploring Dushanbe with my host family. Whether we were going to a local bazaar or visiting the botanical gardens, I had a wonderful time discovering a city that was so different in some regards and so similar in others. These outings were a great way to bond with my host family and learn more about my host culture as a whole.
What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned a lot about the significance of dance to Tajik culture, as well as the intense variation of dances in different regions of Tajikistan. For example, while Kulobi dances often consist of the energetic, circular movement of hands covered in long sleeves, Pashmiri dances are generally slower and performed in shorter sleeves.
What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite Tajiki phrase is кидар гӯшаи ҳаёлат набуд meaning ‘not in the corner of your imagination’. It’s meant to describe things that you would never have imagined happening before you witnessed them yourself. Having an open imagination and being able to integrate new cultural norms into your behavior were vital skills for my completion of NSLI-Y.