Uzbekistan Community Tour Impressions

This inaugural UW Study Tour, Silk Road and Beyond: Historical and Environmental Treasures, took alumni and friends of the University of Wyoming on a cultural adventure through the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan. Led by John Koprowski and Dilnoza Khasilova, the group explored numerous cities and sites along the historic Silk Road.

The 13-day trip explored numerous regions throughout the country, providing hands-on experiences and countless opportunities to learn. Here is Meghan Monahan’s perspective on that trip:

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It began with Janet, my dear friend and former coworker, in March 2015. “Hey Meghan,” she said, “I just heard about the Nowruz celebration hosted by the Central Asian Student Association and Persian Student Association. Let’s go!”

“Sounds like fun! I would love to come,” I said. “But what is Nowruz?”

We attended the celebration, and experienced the amazing conversations and food that filled the Union Ballroom. Most memorable was the talent of the students who performed songs, dances, and presentations, and their sense of pride and willingness to share their culture.

Fast forward eight years, to March 2023, and I had an opportunity I would have never dreamed of: I was able to visit Uzbekistan and experience Nowruz as part of the University of Wyoming Community Study Tour led by Dr. Dilnoza Khasilova and Dr. John Koprowski.

The group landed at Tashkent International Airport, tired but excited. We met Nodir, our local guide from the School of Russian and Asian Studies and got a bus tour. Nodir knew all sort of fun facts and taught us about part of the city. We stopped to exchange U.S. dollars to Uzbek som, then checked into our Tashkent hotel where we were greeted by kind, welcoming staff.

After freshening up and resting a bit, I decided to stay awake for the evening to adjust to the time change. Dilnoza asked if any of us wanted to explore the city. Of course! How often do Wyomingites get to ride the subway? Dilnoza showed us her family’s neighborhood and an outdoor market filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and spices, a bakery with gorgeous cakes, and a samsa shop. Samsas are soft, flaky pastries filled with vegetables. I’ve eaten many samsas since, but I think the first one of that long travel day was the most delicious.

Early the next morning, I heard the beautiful call to prayer and gentle chirping of birds. I knew it was going to be a great day. Meeting our guide Farrukh solidified that thought. It had been a cold Wyoming winter, but in Tashkent the sun shined brightly, some of trees had leaves, and the flowers had started blooming. We visited the earthquake memorial and the oldest Quran available for public viewing. Later we met some teenagers near the independence monuments, who were eager to sing and tell us jokes. By this point, the participants in our tour group had gotten to know each other more, too.

That evening we boarded a flight from Tashkent to Urgench. At the airport, another cappuccino-appreciating participant and I met two sisters at a coffee shop. We called over Dilnoza (who speaks English, Uzbek, and Russian) over to translate and became fast friends, as we shared stories of our homes and families.

We then went onto Khiva, arriving late at night. I caught my first full glimpse of the city the next day and could hardly believe my eyes. It felt like we were on a movie set, except the buildings were 800 years old. Khiva was over 600 miles from Tashkent, and had a different style of food, traditional clothing, and music. Spring hadn’t quite reached Khiva yet, but it was just as beautiful. And the camels were intriguing.

The next say we traveled from Khiva to Bukhara, enjoying the train ride. I’ve longed dreamed of riding a train across the country. I just didn’t realize the country would be Uzbekistan and that I’d be seeing a desert and learning about Uzbekistan’s different biomes from a conservation biologist in John Koprowski.

Whenever I travel, I usually search out rainbows. And while I didn’t see one in Uzbekistan, I saw something better. In Bukhara, I saw a sun halo. I was lucky enough to be with John again, who explained the science behind them. While he was speaking, a shop owner yelled something in Uzbek, and hundreds of tourists and locals collected together, looking up at the sky.

Leaving Bukhara for Samarkand, we rode on a high-speed train. I sat next to a law professor from Samarkand State University and had a great conversation about his university and the University of Wyoming. In Samarkand, we saw a dance performance with colorful costumes and gorgeous choreography. We then attended a dinner and dance party.

The next day we saw the famous Ulugh Beg Observatory. Farrukh taught us so much about the history and there was so much to take in that I decided to buy a few guidebooks to help me remember the details.

While the ancient architecture and scientific advancements of Uzbekistan were breathtaking, equally as important to me were the modern-day artisans. The abundance of embroidery, pottery, watercolor paintings, blacksmiths, silk and cotton Ikat prints, paper mills, and jewelry made the continuing artforms accessible to me and all those wanting to experience it.

             

As a Wyomingite, I love mountains and nature. Dilnoza, John, and Farrukh made sure we saw as many diverse landscapes as possible, from fertile valleys to sandy deserts, to the start of the Himalayan mountains. Back in Tashkent, we traveled to a ski resort in Charvak and rode a gondola to the top of a mountain. On the way back down we stopped at a mountain lake where we saw children and families enjoying the weather and flying kites.

The trip concluded in Tashkent, with an alumni dinner and Nowruz festivities in the park. A few of us went on a Ferris wheel overlooking the city of Tashkent and then watched performances by musicians and dancers.

Nowruz means “new day” and is celebrated on the astronomical vernal equinox—or the first day of spring. The community tour was the perfect start to a new day, a new season, new perspectives, and new friendships.

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The UW Study Tour Program is a partnership between the Alumni Association & the Global Engagement Office. Launched in 2023, the program is expanding and exploring new destinations! Spring 2024 tours include Iceland and Mongolia.