July 18–31, 2015

Kyrgyz Republic

Fieldwork in Kyrgyzstan

In July 2015, a student sociological expedition took place in Kyrgyzstan, led by E.A. Varshaver and A.L. Rocheva. The expedition brought together students from RANEPA who were interested in topics such as migration, transnational ties, and everyday life in rural areas.

Over the course of two weeks, participants explored villages along the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, investigating how migration to Russia affects local daily life — from household economies and family dynamics to local visions of the future. The expedition combined scientific research and learning: students not only collected data but also practiced building a study from scratch — from theoretical discussions to interview analysis.

In the photo: a research participant draws a map of the village and its surroundings during an interview

Everyday Life in the Field

Hitchhiking, cooking dinner together, evening debriefings — the expedition combined intense research with a true spirit of adventure.

Expedition participants hitchhiking on the way to an interview

Research and Impressions

In between interviews, the group also managed to visit the mountains and relax in the hot springs.

Group photo with the host family after completing the fieldwork stage