Uzbekistan

On the surface ethnic Uzbeks, who make up about 80% of the population of Uzbekistan
, are hospitable and welcoming to guests, although at times you may find it a bit forced. The Uzbeks are very family-orientated people and it can be hard to get to know them well. Most of the people I knew in Tashkent were ethnic Kazakhs or Uzbeks born outside the country.

If invited to someone’s home expect to be fed until bursting and given endless cups of green tea. A tip to avoid offending your hosts is to keep some food on your plate at all times – as long as there is something on the plate it will not be refilled and the host will not be bothered by this. Bread is considered to be sacred in Central Asia, treat it with respect – never put it on the floor or throw it away. Old bread is usually fed to animals

People outside of Tashkent do not get to see many foreigners and tend to be suspicious and wary of them. This is a hangover from Soviet times when all contact with foreigners was forbidden.

Uzbek society is very male dominated – feminism never really got a strong foothold here and a woman’s place remains in the home. It is rare to see groups of Uzbek women out enjoying themselves in bars Whilst you will see young women wearing next to nothing in the summer in Tashkent, such sights are rare outside of the capital and women dress more conservatively, often wearing headscarves. It is advisable for women visitors not to wear very revealing clothes.
uzbekistan bukhara men

The only time that men take over the cooking in Uzbekistan is in the making of plov – a ritualistic affair that varies from region to region which is accompanied by significant levels of vodka consumption.

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