People. What do you Think About Uzbekistan?

1. What surprised you in Uzbekistan at first?
2. What do you like and dislike about Uzbekistan?
3. What do you think about our people?
4. How is Uzbekistan different from other countries of the world? (For example, from the country of one's origin)
5. What would you like to see improving in Uzbekistan in future?
When reading the impressions of these people you may agree or disagree but just remember that tastes differ.

Name: Rob Gray
Position: Population Services International, Central Asia, Regional Senior Projects Manager on HIV Prevention and Drug Demand Reduction
Country of origin: Canada
1. I was first struck most by how diverse the population looks --so many different types of faces. I love people watching. My neck still hurts from gawking at all the different types of people who live together in this country. Before moving here, I lived many years in China, where I stood out clearly as a foreigner. Being in Uzbekistan is different, because I can pass as a Russian. Once I was even mistaken for being Ismaili Tajik.
2. Like: The weather, the sun, the high temperatures (I'm from a very cold part of Canada). Dislike: The weather, the sun, the high temperatures (I'm from a very cold part of Canada). I mean, I both like and dislike the climate. I miss having four clear seasons, but part of me loves the near-constant sunshine.
As in North America, I dislike the often over-stated sense of nationalism in Central Asia. Uzbekistan is a wonderful country, but so are the other new nations of Central Asia. Pride in one's country should not be grounded too much in a comparative way, measured against neighbouring countries or cultures. Canadians, for example, often base their sense of national pride too much in a sense of anti-Americanism. That's neither healthy nor productive, over the long term.
3. Wonderful people living in often difficult circumstances.
4. On average, the difference between Canada and Uzbekistan is about 20 degrees Celsius. But seriously, Uzbekistan, like Canada, is not an ancient country. But Uzbekistan is in a region with a long and complex history. I love living in a place where, if you look closely, you can see the imprint of history in every corner of the country and at every level of society. I hope the people of Uzbekistan don't repeat the mistake made by many other people in the world, including in my own country, to embrace modernity so much that the valuable parts of a people's history are forgotten and neglected as people pursue the often allusive goals of development and modernization.
5. Uzbekistan is a wonderful country in many ways, but, as with my own country, I would like to see conditions improve for the most vulnerable parts of the population. There is a troubling trend towards deterioration of public services, and a resulting fall in key indicators of social welfare (health, education, etc.). This is a trend happening in many parts of the world, sadly in this country, too. I'm here to work on the problem of HIV/AIDS, heroin addiction, and other health issues. I look forward to a time when people here, as well as in my own country, understand that people addicted to drugs and infected with HIV have a health problem that call for medical solutions. These groups of people need assistance, care, and support, not just moral condemnation and incarceration.

Name: Cindy Ko
Position: Harvard MBA advisor at Carthill Capital
Country Of Origin: United States of America
1. The number of Korean people, how well integrated they seem to be in Uzbek society, and how they have managed to maintain their food throughout the generations (just goes to show how delicious Korean food is).
2. The diversity of people and history make this country culturally interesting as well as open to foreigners. As a foreigner myself, I have found it very easy to mix with the people here.
3. Generally very hospitable people.
4. Fundamentally I believe that people all over the world are quite similar.

Name: Peter Boehm
Position: Central Asia Correspondent
Country of origin: Germany
1. I was surprised by how much of the Soviet living standards were there and that food is so cheap here.
2. Like: hospitality of people, inviting strangers to their houses. Dislike: bureaucracy, how people are driving their cars and every time you cross the road you feel like risking your life.
3. People are rather good hearted and have a good sense of humour, they like to celebrate a lot and easily influenced by their leaders.
4. Uzbekistan is different from Germany in many aspects. The main difference is that the Uzbek society is a closed one and it's different in Germany. Germans speak what they think everywhere: at school, in media, on the road. In other countries if you open the newspapers you see what's going on in the country and here nothing happens in the newspapers.
5. I would like to see the education improving. Because I see that quality of teaching languages is not very good and it can be better. And if you will have better education, you will have better economy in future and young people can know what they can do with their lives.

Name: Erol Beraha
Occupation: cameraman
Country of origin: Turkey
1. The thing that surprised me is two different cultures I see in two different cities. Tashkent looks like small Russia and it is gloomy whereas Samarkand is glowing and full of life.
2. The thing I didn't like is bribing the cops and the things I liked the most is the historical places.
3. People are very friendly and help you everywhere.
4. I think Uzbekistan is a developing country. And it's different in a way the people are losing their innocence.

Name: Christopher Simpson
Occupation: Actor
Country of origin: Ireland, but lives in England
1. I was surprised at how varied the land was. On my journey from Tashkent to Samarkand I saw dry arid areas and lush green land. Later on we filmed by the magnificent mountain range of Bukhara.
2. 1 was intrigued to visit Central Asia. I was so struck by the diversity of people who appear to have heritages in different lands. There is so obviously in the people's appearance, vestiges of historical travels from Russia, Mongolia and other places besides, making Uzbekistan an obvious culture of hybridity. I am from many different places and it was interesting to be in a country where that is a basic understanding of the make-up of the people. It is not uncommon for people to feel Russian but be Uzbek or feel Uzbek but be considered Russian. I find all those contradictions of state and personal identity interesting.
The Registan was truly impressive and centuries later still evokes a glorious age. I loved bargaining in the markets and buying presents for my friends. I bought a massive hat which I haven't worn since I got back but many of the scarves have been worn with pride on the streets of London!
3. I found the people really warm and so hospitable and I left feeling privileged that my work had afforded me the opportunity to visit a country so different to mine and to meet some lovely people. We were greeted with great warmth and humour.

Name(s): Gloria and Olivia
Occupation: students
Country of origin: China
N.B. Chinese exchange students that came to Uzbekistan were so amazed and impressed with so many things they just decided to state the differences between China's and Uzbekistan's lifestyle, people and much more.
The streets and houses are very clean. People don't litter or spit on the streets. It's pretty quiet in Uzbekistan. There are not as many people as in China, therefore not as crowded. Students seem to be more independent and mature. In China students study and don't do anything else. Metro stations are amazingly beautiful! Each station is unique(too bad can't take pictures).
People are very hospitable and friendly. Generally, pace of life seems to be slower. The things that amazed us are hot water from the tap and ancient-looking telephones. And also in Uzbekistan we had a chance for the first time to handle so much money (paper bills)!