Uzbekistan Anonymous Those familiar with life in Uzbekistan before the disintegration of the Soviet Union would be stunned by how different it is today.
Stores are empty.
Noisy Eastern bazaars have grown quiet and pale. The enticing odors of shish kebab, shurpa, and other local delicacies no longer trouble the guests of the republic. There are fewer weddings and gatherings around a steaming dish of pilaf. The unhurried, colorful, and hospitable lifestyle, which used to astonish Americans and Europeans, is disappearing in front of our eyes. More than two years have passed since Uzbekistan declared its independence.