On the 25th April, I will be travelling to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, alongside my peers from the Democratic Education Network (DEN). It is safe to say that the excitement is huge!
For me, this trip is more than just ticking off another country. It is an opportunity to step into a totally different culture. I have never been to Central Asia before, nor to any post-Soviet nation. I have only ever heard of post-Soviet states in History classes in secondary school, but now experiencing one in person is exciting!
Our trip will mainly consist of us staying in Tashkent. From videos I have been seeing online, Tashkent seems to offer a blend of old and new, with traditional bazaars and Islamic architecture, to the Soviet-era influenced buildings and modern urban development. It reflects the layers of history that have shaped Central Asia over time.
One of the highlights of this trip will be a day visit to Samarkand. Samarkand has long been a symbol of the Silk Road’s legacy. It is known for its stunning architecture and being a centre for trade and knowledge. I am excited to visit the famous Registan Square because, when you see videos of Uzbekistan, the first things you see are the beautiful buildings of the square, so seeing it in real life feels like ticking something off my bucket list.
However, it is important to appreciate the reason why this trip is happening in the first place. This opportunity has come about through connections built between DEN students and students from Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) during last year’s DEN Summer School. On one of the days of the summer school, the Uzbek students welcomed us with open arms to Uzbekistan for their Model UN Conference last year. Unfortunately, I was unable to go to Uzbekistan last year, but a few of my peers from DEN did go and came back to London with great things to say about the place!
Opportunities like this show how DEN emphasises cross-cultural collaboration and helps students like me build lasting relationships that have opened doors to international collaboration and exchange.
As my time at Westminster and DEN draws to an end, I am grateful for all the experiences I have had. DEN has been at the pinnacle of my time at Westminster and has helped me to improve many of my interpersonal skills, which I AM deeply grateful for. I am looking forward to this trip, as it is one of the last activities I will participate in with DEN, and I plan to continue contributing in some way to the Westminster and DEN communities after graduation.
Salman Aziz
SilkRoadSeeker
That sounds incredible! Uzbekistan has been on my list for ages, it’s great to hear about a group trip like this.