Hyatt Regency Dushanbe

so as not to offend

by tajikgirl

never point!!! palm out flat and gesture towards what you want or what ever. never put non (the bread) upside down. when eating with a tajik family, never face the soles of your feet toward any one, sit cross legged or keep you feet pointing behind you, point the soles of your feet towards some one means you disrespect them. never wistle, expecially in side!!! tajiks are very superstitious and will be offended. don't throw out food, or if you must do it discretly and remember that every one sees your trash as it goes on the dump on the corner of the street. basically watch and learn, if they don't do it, you don't do it, just respect their culture and they will respect you

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

by tajikgirl

"my world"

well, where to start? i grew up in tajikistan. i've lived 7 of my 17 years in this wonderful world i like to call home. for all of it's short comeings, it truley is a wonderful world to be a part of. so i'll start with the bad, so i can leave you with the good... but where to start, there is so much to say... well, i'll start in 1991, cus i can't remeber back much further than that. in 1991 tajikistan finally became independant from russia, it is part of the former soviet union. it's also the poorest country in the former soviet union. civil war broke out in 1992-1997. iguess as a child i thot the sound of bombs and bullets was a pretty normal thing. there's not much political freedom in tajikistan, the government in at the moment is a dictatorship. theres not much religious freedom either, a friend of my parents was murdered out side of his place for prostilitising. and the korean church was bombed. (theres too many stories to tell) people beg in the streets, and childern starve. health care is poor... but all this is changing and getting better all the time...theres much good in this country too!! tajiks are the most hospitable people i have ever met!!! when invited for lunch, you are given the very best they have to offer you!! even when they only have a little to give. tajiks love color!!!! the women wear the most amazingly colored dresses! they have some amazing musicians, and love to dance!!! the mountains in this country are beautiful, i've spent so many hours hiking, and it's so rad!!! the country is absolutly gorgious in winter when snow covers every thing!!! tajikistan is known as the roof of the world, probably cus it's 90 some thing percent mountains. in summer the wether gets so hot!!! i miss 46 degree heat, and the tan that comes with it!! =) Tajiks love sport, expecially soccor, and you'll always get a good game in if you run down to the soccor feild for a play with the local boys... life is slower in tajikistan, you have time to appreiciate life. the food is some of the best i have ever tasted!!! growing up in tajikistan was the biggest adventure... theres an international comuntiy that exists, we're like a family, and every one's welcome. tajikistan is a world all in it's self, one that you can't jsut hear about to know about. =) it's an adventure. Tajik people have taught my family so much about life, and in return we have been able to give back life in our 7 years there. the aid organistations out there have done massive things for so many people!!! lives have been saved and changed beacuse of ordinary people who have had extraordinary dreams, learn to dream big.

so heres a few more pictures of tajikistan. when i get more i'll put them on...enjoy