Our time is winding down in Tashkent, with only a couple of weeks left in the academic year. We had a nice time at the faculty & staff party last night at Steinbrau Restaurant. Nadia and I went for a drink at her favorite place in Tashkent, the restaurant bar at the Hyatt Regency.
I am savoring the lifestyle here before we make a big change to a new country in August. I had a delicious traditional summer lunch of Russian okroshka (окрошка) and Central Asian bulgar grains. The Russians make delicious soups, including the quintessential summer cold soup, Okroshka. The base is a lightly fermented kvass (bread drink) with fresh vegetables, dill, and this one had a nice touch of kefir, fermented goat/sheep milk. On my bike ride around the Asian Games Athletic Site, I admired the new Arch welcoming people to the city. All Uzbek cities have a “gateway” monument announcing the border of the city or region. I also managed a bike ride along the canal last Sunday evening.
More and more, I am enjoying the simpler things in life. Being out on the kayaks with the students on Friday was so refreshing. Outdoor grilling and dinner with Ocean and Nadia on our patio, and cutting the grass on a hot summer day. All experiences that give me immense pleasure and ease.
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