Heather Rice has a long history of traveling, living, and working abroad. Now the Russian language coordinator and an assistant professor of instruction of Russian for the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies, she recently took a trip to Uzbekistan to explore the possibilities for her students to study there.
In the 47-minute conversation below, Heather and SRAS Director Renee Stillings muse on what they learned by their individual travels to Uzbekistan. They agree that the country is currently charged with a hopeful energy, as a recent change in leadership has opened society and led to great improvements in the economy. Its major cities are full of architectural wonders and ancient history and are today more accessible than they have ever been.
At the same time, much more work is needed to develop the country’s fledgling market economy and infrastructure. This is especially true if Uzbekistan is to take full advantage of its far-flung historical gems such as the Chilpyk-Kala ancient Zoroastrian site or the fabled Nukus Museum of Art.
Join Renee and Heather for a fascinating discussion that spans politics and economy, language policy, art, and their own unique personal histories.
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Pictures from Heather’s Recent Travels
