The Foreign Service Journal, October 2022

52 OCTOBER 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL A “love” apartment in Fergana. Makeshift prayer area in an empty shopping stall. We toured a few prospective apartments for incoming Ful- bright grantees. One apartment was curious with a small, empty kitchen. Snacks and drinks had been left on the table. The local realtor casually mentioned the apartment was also available on a shorter-term basis. We under- stood. The artwork in the bed- room set the theme. And then it was time to head back to Tashkent. In the Kuraminskiy Khrebet mountain range we made a quick stop for a drink and a stretch at a rest area, which revealed this humble makeshift prayer space. Amusement park ride in Babur Park in Namangan. Uzbekistan is a young country, full of kids. Every green space seems to feature an amusement park. The Silk Road fantasy comes alive in this car-ride attraction. The tree trunks are painted white for insect control. n