My name is Iskender. Sikandar in Chinese,
i-s-k-e-n-d-e-r in English, Iskender.
I was born in Kashgar, and I live in Kashgar.
I was schooled inâ I attended elementary
high school in Kashgar.
And our mother tongue is Uighur. 
I'm a young Uighur man.
When I was in school, in elementary school,
we started learning Chinese.
In elementary school, each week we had four
or six periods of Chinese,
and then in high school as well,
we had several periods a week of Chinese.
Chinese in any case is not our mother tongue,
so it's rather difficult for us to learn.
But we have many Han comrades around us, and
when we were in school, our teachers taught
us well, so we're okay at it.
In college, because all over China instruction
must be in Chinese, 
so, our majors take four years, but before we 
begin our majors we spend a year learning Chinese.
So it takes us five years to finish college.
First, when a child is born, the imam from
the mosque is called to come and give it a name. 
Before the name is bestowed, 
there has to be a summons, 
a call, an azaan, just like
the call to prayers.
And then the name is chosen. This is our first
impression. 
Even though what happens afterwards
we don't remember, 
as soon as we are born,
we hear Islam's summons.
And then when we know things, 
when we can talk, 
our parents teach us 
the very basics of Islam.
And then some verses, 
some chapters from the Koran, 
(they) tell us how these are read.
First of all, we have to learn the word "Allah"
And then we learn the word "Bismillah,"
because for every action we need to do this.
So, from childhood till adulthood, 
we live within the realm of Islam.
So its impact on us is deep. 
And then for the Hans, we have many Han comrades.
Although we, basically we are different 
because of religion. 
So some of our habits are different as well.
For example, we don't eat pork. 
Our Han comrades can eat pork.
And then in our daily
lives, there are many (differences).
For example, for their weddings and funerals,
they can burn firecrackers. 
We are not like that. So in many
respects we have different cultures.
Generally, throughout the country, 
everyone knows that all Uighurs are Muslims, 
so we say what ethnicity we are. 
So, "I'm Uighur."
Because Xinjiang is a region with many ethnicities.
Here we have Uighurs, Han, Kazakhs, Kirgizs,
Tajyks, Uzbeks, Mongols, Tartars, Xibos,
many ethnicities. There are 13 main ethnicities.
And then the Uzbeks and the Tartars, 
we are basically similar in appearance.
So we'll ask each other, 
"What ethnicity are you?"
And then I'll say, "I'm Uighur."
Generally it's really hard 
to tell who is Muslim.
Because there are Muslims among the
Han too. And non-Muslims as well. 
But you can separate out the ethnicities.
First, there's facial appearance. 
We are very familiar with what 
facial appearances look like.
What are Uighur faces like, 
what are Kazakh faces like, 
what are Tajyk faces like.
And then, the traditional dress.
For example, we Uighurs, male, 
will wear a colorful cap, 
and the women will wear 
a scarf or a veil.
The Kazakhs will often wear 
their own white cap. A long one.
That hat is the Kazakh tradition.
The Tajyks will wear a 
colorful round cap.
We can look at their clothes, 
their attire,
and then look at their facial 
features to see who is what ethnicity.
The most important Muslim custom is 
to pray five times a day.
This is the most important, something we have
to do. So we pray five times a day.
And then we generally live in extended families.
Generally there are the parents, 
the son or daughter, the daughter-in-law 
or son-in-law,
all living in the same house.
So generally, as soon as we get up, we assemble
around a table; generally we don't use a table,
we spread out a mat on the carpet,
like that.
On that we put a naan bread, and we eat together.
And then everyone goes about their own business.
Those who work go to work, and others do other
things.
And then, this is what we do the most every
day.
Ever since I was little I had a hobby: soccer.
I, soccer, I really like soccer.
So generally when I find the time I go to
play soccer. And then I read.
During my down time, I really like to read.
Generally, when my work outside was over,
and there was a stretch of time, I stayed
home, and read.
But now I'm working, and busy, and there's
not much time. So I can only go out on Sundays,
or Saturdays, with my friends, to a field,
and play soccer for 2-3 hours.
For the rest of the time I'm reading, or
busy about my work.
We Muslims must marry other Muslims. We cannot
marry non-Muslims. This is what we must do.
Because we want to pass Islam on to our sons,
our descendants. If we marry a non-Muslim,
we have to discuss things first.
If they turn to Islam, then we can marry.
If they don't turn to Islam, we cannot marry.
Mmm, they just need to not forget that they
are Muslims. 
And then they must not forget what 
Muslims ought to do. And that would suffice.
I have no major hopes, except that they must
remember that they are Muslims,
no matter where they go, that 
they are children of Muslims,
and they are Muslims.
And then, for their own children, 
they must raise them as Muslims.
My ideal occupation would be to have a business.
I really like business, so although I majored
in civil engineering in college, after graduation
I did not work in that field.
So I came directly to Kashgar, 
to help my father with his 
international trading company,
and then in my off-time, 
because I really like, I like to travel myself, 
so I like to interact with people 
of many different cultures.
So I chose to be a guide in my spare time.
In this way I can be with Americans, French,
Europeans, Japa.. in any case anyone who
can speak English, so we can communicate.
This way we can mutually understand their
culture and traditions. This is very helpful
to widen my horizons and increase my knowledge.
I've never thought about where I'd most
like to live.
Because I might just like to live in Kashgar.
But there are many places I'd like to see.
First, I very much like grassy plains. 
Quiet places. Flowing waters and high mountains.
I want to see all the places of natural beauty. 
I would like that.
