For the U.S., Central Asia is a place where challenges and opportunities meet. On the one hand, the region is prone to many of the problems the U.S. faces around the world: a resurgent Russia, an emboldened China, and the rise of Islamist extremism. On the other hand, there are many economic opportunities between the […]
As a women photographer, exploring the paths of the ancient Silk Road, I was far from home, feeling like a stranger. In May 2005, many foreigners were in Kabul, mostly NGO types, none of us were on vacation. With the lull in fighting, the occupied forces were nearly invisible, yet the tension on the street […]
Batya has been living in California since 10 months. At this age she was adopted by the wife of Raisel, so she turned out to be in the USA. Can you tell about your family? My family is very supportive of my decisions to play football in Kazakhstan. I have an older sister who attends […]
Just when her life felt right: new career, new home, new grandchildren, Janet Givens leaves it all behind and follows her new husband into the Peace Corps. Assigned to Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country finding its own way after generations under Soviet rule, Givens must also find a way to be in a world different […]
“As Columbus once discovered America, today America opens the modern literature of Central Asia” In November 2017, at the 6th OEBF Festival in Stockholm, Tajik writer Gulsifat Shahidi received an honorary award. “For her personal contribution to the unification of the peoples of Eurasia through literature.” The attention of the guests of the festival was […]
It was March, and a whole neighbourhood on the outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city and former capital, was once again preparing for the spring festival of New Year. Men were handling outdoor tasks while women were chopping carrots for pilaf, the main dish of their Zoroastrian New Year celebration – Nowruz. The men and […]
Many people all over the world, including Turkmens, consider bread an essential and irreplaceable part of the diet. Bread contains numerous nutrients and useful bioactive substances, and many will regard a meal, whether ordinary, everyday fare or a festive dinner with sophisticated dishes and delicacies, as incomplete without bread. No wonder the proverbs state “no […]
A message from H.E. Mr. Farhod SALIM, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States of America The Republic of Tajikistan and the United States of America celebrated the 25th anniversary of their bilateral relationship in 2016. The United States was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan in 1991. Since the establishment […]
INTERVIEW WITH Bolot Shamshiev Few will know much about the cinema in Kyrgyzstan. What currently hampers its development is never aired and never makes the top priority list of state and international organizations. But there is a cinema to note and so Open Central Asia decided to meet one of its prominent players, the People’s […]
WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#28 SPRING 2018 Text by Nick Kochan The quest for international recognition drives many emerging markets. Kazakhstan has undoubtedly been better at it than many. The country has spent great effort and money building up an image as a modern state whose leaders can sit at the top table with world leaders. This effort […]
WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#28 SPRING 2018 USA EDITION Text by Maria Indina In the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, the international specialized exhibition “Expo-2017” has finished its work. It has continued for 3 months from June 10 to September 10. There were 115 countries and 22 international organizations who participated in the EXPO. The exhibition has been visited […]
Recently, the vice-chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild, Marat Akhmedjanov, returned from a tour of North America. He visited nine cities and held more than 60 meetings, thanks to which many new members joined the ECG; but, that is just the start, as many new opportunities and ideas have followed. OCA finds out more about […]
Interview with Hollywood Celebrity Monty Cox Cox is a veteran in the entertainment industry. He is an internationally recognized, award-winning, Exotic Animal Trainer, 2nd Unit Director, Stunt Co-ordinator, Actor and Stuntman. Monty is first ECG member in Hollywod. He grew up in a trailer court in Oakland, California and his father was a merchant […]
