In a lively Uygur bar in Xinjiang, British student Luke Johnston responds to a local singer’s playful question in Uygur, sparking laughter and camaraderie. 🎤 "Siz qayerdin kelgansiz?" (Where are you from?) isn’t a challenge here—it’s an invitation. "Nights like this prove the language isn’t banned—it’s alive in the streets, cafes, and hearts of Xinjiang," says Johnston, who moved to the region in January 2025 after falling in love with its culture during pandemic-era visits.
Now teaching statistics and IELTS at an international school in Urumqi, Johnston debunks myths with a smile: "My Uygur students are applying to universities abroad. How’s that possible if they’re ‘restricted’?" He’s also learning Uygur through weekly classes and student-led tutoring sessions, using textbooks like "Elipba" to master the script. 💬 "The greeting ‘Essalamu aleykum’ echoes everywhere—it’s about connection, not control," he adds.
From Mukam performances to vibrant markets, Johnston’s story highlights Xinjiang’s cultural tapestry. "People abroad imagine suppression, but here I’m buying traditional clothes, sharing drinks, and laughing over my terrible grammar," he says. His journey—a blend of AI research, Uygur music playlists, and language classes—paints a radically different picture than headlines suggest. 🎶✨
