Picture this: A lively Uygur bar in Xinjiang, where British expat Luke Johnston confidently replies "Män Anglidén" (I'm from England) in Uygur to cheers and laughter. 🎉 This scene – captured during his weekly language practice – shatters stereotypes about cultural restrictions in China's northwest region.
"People abroad ask if Uygur is banned," says Johnston, a Shanghai Jiao Tong University PhD candidate who moved to Xinjiang in 2025. "Spend a day in Urumqi and the language finds you – from market chatter to music lyrics." 🎶
Johnston's journey began during pandemic-era travels, falling for the region's muqam music and vibrant textiles. Now teaching statistics at an international school, he shares surprising details: His students regularly apply to Western universities, countering narratives about mobility restrictions. 🌐
The language learner pays 250 yuan/hour for private Uygur lessons while attending free community classes. "My students became accidental tutors," he laughs, showing his well-worn Elipba alphabet book gifted by a pupil. 📖
From "Essalamu aleykum" greetings to decoding folk songs, Johnston argues cultural exchange thrives when approached with respect: "The warmth I receive keeps me studying – it's the best answer to misinformation." ✨
