Experience Fulbright

I’m taking a little side trip now to introduce you to one of Uzbek custom that I find endearing. Hospitality is an important value within Uzbek culture. They are so welcoming to guests, too much so, at times. I have received more invitations to dinners and even weddings for people I barely even know. But still, it definintely makes you feel special and important. One way this hospitality manifests is in the giving of gifts. Every time I’ve been in Uzbekistan for some type of project, I’ve received some lovely gifts.

One of my favorite gifts is a beautiful platter I received from a school principal in Bukhara after conducting a training there in 2019, which is now hanging on my living room wall. Every time I conduct a training or present at a conference, I receive some type of gift, most often it is some type of traditional Uzbek item such as fabric, silk scarves, jewelry or ceramics.

I treasure these items because each one reminds me of a person I’ve met or event that I’ve attended.

So far on this trip I have received two scarves, two different traditional fabrics, a green and gold chapan (the “bathrobe” like item in my previous blog post), and shorter red and white chapan, a shoulder bag made of traditional fabric, a tote bag, a ceramic plate, a necklace made by my friend’s daughter-in-law, a silver and turquoise necklace and earring set.