Return from Uzbekistan

[peacetraveler22]

Comments

[jackie_jones]

All Uzbeks I know personally are very nice, honest and hard-working people. One of them told me that it is much more smiles on the streets of Tashkent than in Moscow, and much less violence. But he also told that if they find that Uzbek bride is not a virgin - woe to her. Also they have a dictatorship not long ago, with total censorship and suppression of opposition.

[peacetraveler22]

It's true. Uzbeks smile at strangers, and are friendly. I even left my wallet in one of the stores by mistake, and the owner chased me down to return it rather than steal the money. This gave me hope for humanity. :)

[kremlin_curant]

Welcome home.
Agree. Uzbeks are friendly and hard working people. But there are some Islamist organizations in Uzbekistan what makes political situation difficult to control.

[peacetraveler22]

Thanks! It was an interesting trip.

[kremlin_curant]

No doubt about.
But as I can see you visited the central and western part of the country. I think it’s the eastern part of the Uzbekistan is more typical fot its history and culture.

[stzal]

That's a hard question about attitude.
Have a guess: most russians had a deal with illegal gastarbeiters from Asia. So, often uzbeks are considered as unqualified weirdos. That causes people think in specific way.

[peacetraveler22]

I have never heard this word "gastarbeiters" - so, you have taught me some new vocabulary today. :)

[stzal]

my pleasure :)

On negativity

[pin_gwin]

Hi Shannon
Simply imagine, that a city where you live began pretty rapidly changing ethnicity, language and appearance of people with a lower education level and social status. It is becoming a foreign place for you. I can not imagine anybody would like it. That is not about Russia only, it is much broader, and broadly it is covered by "political correctness".
I was in Moscow last month, and roughly a quarter of people around me were not of local origin, specifically lots of Asians, and they were speaking different language. I mentioned also that local Moscow accent is changing too. I do not feel these changes are for good both in long and in short term.

Re: On negativity

[3as7]

Hahahahahaha

Re: On negativity

[peacetraveler22]

Hello! I do not have to imagine, because my hometown is exactly as you described. Whites are pretty much the minority now, and my childhood neighborhood is almost all immigrants from El Salvador or Honduras. And I simply am not bothered by it at all. They are hard working and mostly family oriented people. The cultural gaps are not that substantial in this instance.

Re: On negativity

[pin_gwin]

Latin people to me are not of a different race. I was even surprised (and kind of disturbed) to see that they are listed as a separate choice in some official forms as something different, not Caucasians.

[alex_g9885]

Welcome back from Uzbekistan! I'm looking forward towards your next post about the trip. (And perhaps it will also help dispel some of the prejudices and misconceptions people have about the country).

[peacetraveler22]

Thank you! I’ll try to write about my favorite city this week - Khiva. Very beautiful and unique place.