You know one of the things I really love about Central Asia? The tradition of hospitality.

I was just walking down the street in Istaravshan having a wander at the end of a transit day, and asked these dudes whether the left turn or right turn down their street lead to more interesting things. They never did answer my question, but they did invite me in for dinner. They’d been working at remodeling the rightmost guy’s home all day, and yet made time to sit down with a stranger newly arrived in their country and chat about life and work and economic opportunities and semi-recent civil wars.

If only I can always remember to be so friendly once I have a home and settled life of my own!