URUMQI, Xinjiang, China — The family of Nina Abuliz Foster, a 2004 BYU-Hawaii Interdisciplinary Studies graduate and a current dance instructor at the university, hosted the entire visiting Concert Choir group to an evening of outstanding Uyghur food and entertainment. The head of the family also presented the group's leaders with special gifts.
The choir is touring China and Mongolia from May 7-29 to recognize 25 years of joint BYU-Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center association with the People's Republic of China, including the Asian Executive Management program.
Foster and her family are ethnic Uyghurs, a Turkic-related people comprising about half the population of this city and about 70% of the population of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of far-west China. [Please note, there are a variety of ways to spell Uyghur, which means "united."]
The dinner, which was held in the city's finest ethnic Uyghur restaurant, featured multiple courses of spicy food, including at least four different lamb dishes. Some of the city's finest Uyghur musicians and dancers then provided several hours of their ethnic, exotic Middle Eastern-like entertainment. Small drums often accompany Uyghur music with lively percussion. Uyghur dancing is often vigorous: the men perform kicks and strenuous leg movements some people think of as Russian dancing; and the women often twirl rapidly, their movements sometimes accentuated by long braids and brightly colored flaring skirts.
Foster, who now lives in Honolulu with her husband, John, is a renowned Uyghur dancer who previously studied in Beijing and was a featured dancer and emcee at the cultural attraction in Shenzhen and Florida based on the PCC model before she started attending BYU-Hawaii nine years ago. President Shumway's family informally adopted her while she was a student in Laie; and she and her husband, John, currently a Honolulu businessman who flew into Urumqi for the event, were married in the Shumway's campus home backyard. She is also one of the Concert Choir's emcees during the tour.
During the feast, John Foster explained that his father-in-law, Abuliz Abas, has visited Laie but doesn't speak English. "He knows what a special place it is and is especially pleased to see all of you in front of his eyes tonight. On behalf of the family, I would like to thank all of you for coming to Urumqi and spreading your love around this place. It's a sight to see, and words cannot accurately express the feelings we have." He added, "Everybody keep eating. In Uyghur culture, you do not stop eating" during the program.
With his daughter as an interpreter, Mr. Abas welcomed everyone and told the group that even though he and his wife missed their daughter when she attended BYU-Hawaii, they knew she was safe. He then presented President Shumway with a traditional Uyghur doppa or hat, and jacket, sash and dagger befitting royalty. He also presented PCC Vice President of Human Resources John Muaina and other group leaders with gifts. "Uncle John" Muaina has personally worked with every single Asian Executive Management intern from China since the program began in 1981.
"We will never, never, never forget this afternoon," President Shumway replied. "When the Mu's stayed with us in Hawaii, we discovered what amazing people they are: How rich in their culture and how deep in their love. They have become very close, admired friends. When we first met Nina, we realized she must have been raised by very special people, and we were so grateful they were willing to share their daughter with us."
"Now, we've come with our 'children' from Hawaii, so we're going to let you be the father and mother of these children from BYU-Hawaii as well," he told Abas and his wife, Herxida Huper. Their other daughter, Adila Abuliz, has been admitted to BYU-Hawaii..
"I want to thank all of you for all these years," Nina Foster responded. "It means the world to me for you to be in my home town."
Finally, as they had done several times before, the young Concert Choir members joined in the Uyghur dancing with Foster.
— Photos by Monique Saenz: (Upper, left-right): John Muaina, Mr. Abas, President Shumway wearing the traditional doppa; (middle): a Uyghur dancer; (lower): BYU-Hawaii students join Nina Foster (in black) in a Uyghur dance.
