Culture Smart! Uzbekistan will take you beyond the standard descriptions of minarets, kebabs with vodka, embroidered skullcaps, and Soviet-style bureaucracy. It will make you aware of the value systems, attitudes, and behaviors of the different cultural groups in the country, and offer an insider’s view of Uzbekistan’s fascinating history, national traditions, various cuisines, and cultural scene. It will tell you what the peoples of Uzbekistan are like at home, at play, and in business, and give practical advice on how to behave in different situations so as to make the most out of your visit. Uzbekistan is a land of paradoxes, both enjoyable and surprising for foreign visitors. It is famous for its fabulous architectural monuments and the exotic spirit of the Great Silk Road, the ancient trade route connecting East and West. Uzbekistan is a multicultural society where old and revived traditions coexist with modernity.
Author(s): Alex Ulko, Culture Smart!
Series: Culture Smart!
Publisher: Kuperard
Year: 2017
Language: English
Pages: 169
Front Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 2
Copyright......Page 3
About the Author......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Map of Uzbekistan......Page 8
Introduction......Page 9
Key Facts......Page 11
• Geography......Page 13
• Climate......Page 15
• The People......Page 17
• Major Cities and Regions......Page 19
• A Brief History......Page 24
• Uzbekistan Today......Page 33
• Government and Politics......Page 34
• The Economy......Page 35
• Relations With the World......Page 36
• Nationality and Ethnicity......Page 37
• The Urban and Rural Divide......Page 40
• The Family......Page 42
• Hospitality......Page 43
• Community......Page 44
• Secularism and Religion......Page 46
• Attitudes Toward Education......Page 48
• Work Ethic......Page 49
• Attitudes Toward Authority......Page 51
• Respect for Age......Page 52
• Attitudes Toward Women......Page 54
• Attitudes Toward Homosexuality......Page 58
• Attitudes Toward Time......Page 59
• Status......Page 61
• Holidays and Festivals......Page 63
• Religious Holidays......Page 64
• Ex-Soviet Holidays......Page 66
• International Festivals......Page 68
• Uzbek Customs and Traditions......Page 69
• Names......Page 72
• Circumcision......Page 75
• Engagements and Weddings......Page 76
• Birthdays......Page 80
• Funerals......Page 81
• Superstitions......Page 82
Chapter 4: Making Friends......Page 85
• Attitudes Toward Foreigners......Page 86
• Meeting the Uzbeks......Page 87
• Social Life at Work......Page 89
• Topics of Conversation......Page 90
• Invitations Home......Page 92
• Humor......Page 95
• Manners......Page 97
• Taboos......Page 98
• Dating......Page 101
• Housing......Page 103
• Daily Life and Routine......Page 106
• Everyday Shopping......Page 107
• Meals......Page 109
• Children......Page 110
• Education......Page 112
• The Path To Marriage......Page 113
• Military Service......Page 114
• Leisure......Page 115
• Eating Out......Page 116
• Uzbek Cuisine......Page 117
• Drinks......Page 119
• Restaurants......Page 120
• Table Manners......Page 122
• Art, Music, and Theater......Page 123
• Bazaars......Page 127
• Bargaining......Page 128
• Changing Money......Page 129
• What To See......Page 130
• Intercity Travel......Page 131
• Local Transportation......Page 137
• Where To Stay......Page 139
• Health......Page 140
• Safety......Page 141
• The Business Environment......Page 143
• Regulations......Page 144
• Labor Migration......Page 145
• Business Culture......Page 146
• Corruption......Page 148
• Meetings......Page 149
• Presentations......Page 150
• Contracts......Page 152
• Managing Disagreement......Page 153
• Women In Business......Page 154
• Language......Page 155
• Greetings......Page 157
• Styles and Stereotypes......Page 158
• Body Language......Page 159
• TV and Radio......Page 161
• Internet......Page 163
• Mail......Page 164
• Conclusion......Page 165
Further Reading......Page 166
Index......Page 167
Acknowledgments......Page 169
