Our summer holidays in the country of the Silk Road, hospitality and plov.

 

This year we decided to spend our holidays in the city I was born and raised for 9 years. Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

I was born 5 years after the Soviet Union’s fall. I remember that the times were hard and we had to queue up for flour and sugar, which we would get in return for our coupon. Despite difficult times, I remember my childhood filled with a lot of love, happiness, laughter, colours, strong friendships and great food. Whenever I go to the grocery store here in London and I see those small water melons I think about what I am going to eat in a couple of months, huge, juicy and ripe water melons, honey melons, tomatoes (which I hope my husband will finally fall in love with!), all the different berries and nuts. I could go on and on.

In 1995 my parents moved with me and my sister to West Germany where I lived for over 15 years. And now having lived in the UK for over 5 years, whenever I meet someone for the first time and I tell them where I am from I always get an intriguing look that says “Where’s that? “ My usual answer is “Between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.”  Since leaving I’ve been back to Tashkent 3 times. But this time is even more special. This time I’ll be returning to the country where I was born with my husband and our two daughters.

I am excited to show my family a country which is vibrant, welcoming and hot.