My project is going well. I started teacher trainings this week in each of the schools. It was both fun and challenging to meet with these larger groups of teachers. I was interviewed by the local news station again and have another press interview scheduled for next week. This is the part of my project I enjoy the least. Talking to the press is important because the ministry wants the public to know that steps are being taken to improve the psychological well being of students and to reduce bullying. Still, I find it stressful to be interviewed and respond via an interpreter. I also had a bit of a set back today when I dropped my laptop. I now have the “black screen of death”. I’ve sent a flurry of emails back and forth with the IT people back at my college in Minnesota but it isn’t looking good for the laptop. I have most of the important files backed up on a flash drive so if I need new computer its not the end of the world. The biggest issue is how to get it.
This week was a short week due to the International Women’s Day holiday on Friday. We decided to spend the long weekend visiting the ancient Uzbek city of Samarqand. My landlord lives there with his family and invited us to visit them. Samarkand is one of those places that should be on your “must see” list. It is remarkably beautiful and so full of history. It was hard to squeeze everything into just two days but my landlord is an amazing host and new all the best spots to take us. Here are some of the highlights:
The Mausoleum of Amir Timur.
Mausoleum, 1404 
Inside decorated with gold wallpaper 
Intricate ceiling above Amir Timur’s tomb. 
Registan, which may be the most iconic place in all of Central Asia.
View from a minaret. 
We also drove through the mountains outside Samarkand to the village where Amir Timur was born.
We saw a lot more things than just these, but it’s taken me a long time to sort through my 253 photos and write just this much. I’ll try to make another post about the rest of our tour of Samarkand, but for now just let me say that if you ever get the chance to see Samarkand for yourself, you have to go. It’s definitely worth the effort involved in getting there.
Experience Fulbright 