Bishkek - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Not a huge expat community, but big enough to make friends outside the embassy. - Jun 2022
Morale at the embassy is really good. People seem to really like it here and describe it as one of their favorite posts. The expat community is small, but friendly. - Aug 2018
I would say morale is quite high, particularly for people who love the outdoors, though it is also a lovely downtown for walking and going to cafes. It is our best post so far. - Sep 2017
Varies. Some people love it here. Some people hate it and leave very early. Certain aspects of living here are stressful. Some of the people here are very friendly and warm- but at the same time, they lie to you and try to cheat you. When it comes to driving, and crossing the road on foot- people are just plain stupid. I can't count how many times we've almost run people over or hit other cars because people are SOOOOOO wreckless. There is SO MUCH DIRT EVERYWHERE. If you have small children you carry around, be prepared to be constantly covered in thick dust. It's ugly here. Every building is square and cement. It is so unattractive. It improves in the summer with leaves and trees, but the winter is so ugly. Broken windows, falling apart houses, smoldering trash, pollution- it's just not a beautiful city. - Jan 2015
It depends what you count as expat. The western community is smallish and close-knit, unless you count the US base at Manas airport. - Dec 2011
