How did I end up in Tashkent after a long journey through Africa and Europe?

In the past, my career was connected to media projects, among which are well-known titles like "Galileo," "Prank," "Ural Dumplings," and many others. I held various positions, including operator, special correspondent, director, and producer, which allowed me to significantly broaden my horizons. I managed to visit over 50 countries and travel to about 320 cities around the world. These experiences prompted me to decide to start a new chapter in my life.

Unusual route

In August 2022, I flew out of Moscow. It's worth noting that my final destination, Tashkent, was not originally planned. My route turned out to be quite convoluted: I landed in Uzbekistan after a flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan. This city was my stopover after Ankara, which, in turn, was part of my journey from Istanbul. Istanbul was the final point before I ended up in Batumi, where I arrived after a flight from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, which I reached via Ethiopia.

Reasons for the route

The reasons for such a complicated journey were significant to me. My mother always said that a person who finds themselves on the wrong path will not let their feet rest. Inspired by children's books about Africa, I wanted to learn more about this continent, following my natural curiosity and thirst for discovery. Therefore, it seemed to me that I wouldn't be here for long. Africa is a completely different world for many residents of Europe, full of thrilling experiences and realities that are hard to put into words. This region offers numerous business opportunities.

Distorted perception of Africa

It should be said that our perception of Africa is often distorted and incomplete. We know little about the continent, and the well-known facts do not always correspond to reality. For example, the northern part of Africa is much wider than many might imagine, and its territory can fit Russia. Moreover, the climate is not as harsh as is often believed. In Zambia, where I spent some time, the temperature ranged from +34 to +37 °C, but it felt more like +25 °C in Moscow. It is also important to note that Africa is more accurately associated with green forests and jungles rather than sandy deserts.

Transition to Georgia

After finishing my adventures in Africa, I headed to Georgia, to Batumi, which attracted me with its wonderful climate and friendly atmosphere. If it weren't for certain circumstances, I would have definitely stayed in this city for a longer time. Batumi would be an ideal place for doing business, as it is easy to organize work processes here and bureaucratic barriers are minimized.

Disadvantages of Batumi

However, Batumi has its own limitations. The local market is too small for establishing a serious business. The investments required to open a company are comparable to those needed in Tashkent. But the population of Batumi is about 150,000 people, while the capital of Uzbekistan has around three million residents. Therefore, taking into account all the pros and cons, I will inevitably have to look for new ways and opportunities to scale my ideas and grow my business.

Problems of moving to Georgia

The move to Georgia, as I've noticed, has started to have a significant impact on incoming people, especially concerning Russians and Belarusians. Government structures have begun to impose entry restrictions on citizens of these countries, and the reasons for these bans remain unclear and quite confusing.

In addition to this, many expats face difficulties when opening bank accounts, which creates serious problems for those who would like to settle down in this new country.

New stage: Turkey

The next stage of my journey was moving to Turkey. In one month, I managed to visit several major cities, such as Trabzon, Istanbul, and Ankara. This country has many advantages for doing business.

• Geography and population:A vast territory with a population of about 80 million people offers impressive opportunities for new businesses.
• Legislation:In Turkey, there are clear laws that are based on local customs and promote business activity.

Nevertheless, this country has a significant drawback — high requirements for entering the market. According to the law, a company must have at least five Turkish citizens on its staff. This created certain difficulties for me, as I needed employees who were not citizens of this country. As a result, I ended up with 15 employees on my team, which significantly increased salary costs.

Next stop: Kazakhstan

After Turkey, I decided to head to Kazakhstan, choosing Almaty for a fresh start. I considered this region promising, as it is actively developing in Central Asia. Almaty is located south of Astana, and the climate here is significantly milder.

Nevertheless, Almaty has its own problems. I was disappointed with the level of infrastructure. I also noticed that politicians' statements about Kazakhstan can have negative consequences, which raises some concerns.

Reflections on moving to Uzbekistan

I have also been considering the possibility of moving to Uzbekistan, particularly to Tashkent. In this country, I had the chance to visit historical cities like Samarkand and Bukhara; however, it's worth noting that these trips were more tourist-oriented than business-related.

I spent three months in Zambia, two months in Batumi, and a month in Istanbul and Almaty, and now I am in Tashkent, planning to stay here for a while. The city offers interesting opportunities for implementing my business ideas, which is extremely important to me.

Housing rental

As for renting housing, the process here is quite standard and doesn't pose any particular difficulties. To start, I conduct a price analysis through Russian-speaking channels on Telegram and various social networks. In the initial stage, I use Booking to select suitable housing options, which allows me to search for three or four days.

Thus, the search for a convenient place to live becomes more structured and less stressful, which certainly has a positive impact on my overall perception of this country.

As of today, buying airline tickets online has become a common activity. Traveling, including flights, going through border control, and staying in hotels, has become a routine part of trips. While in Africa, I used one of the social media platforms to find suitable accommodation in Batumi at an attractive price. I chose an aparthotel with a two-bedroom apartment, which included a bedroom, a living room, and a separate kitchen. For this offer, I only had to pay $600 a month, which is clearly more advantageous than the $80 that is charged for a similar room on the hotel’s website.

Searching for housing through social networks

Upon arriving at the location, I realized that it is useful to refer to specialized groups on social media for finding housing, where rental options are offered.

Weather changes in Uzbekistan

In the last days of December, the climate in Uzbekistan remained quite warm, and this weather persisted until New Year's Eve. However, starting from December 31, the situation changed dramatically when it started to snow. Locals noted that winter precipitation occurs in this region only a few times a season, and the snow does not last more than a couple of days.

Nevertheless, in the current winter season, Uzbekistan is delighting with its unusual climate, setting a new record that hasn't been broken since 1939. Throughout January and part of February, the ground was covered with a thick layer of snow, and temperatures often dropped to -25 °C. This led to numerous incidents and created significant challenges with electricity and gas supply.

Differences between residents

When it comes to people's lives, Uzbeks living in Russia are noticeably different from those who stay in Tashkent or Samarkand. The locals in Tashkent usually speak Russian fluently and have almost no accent. The cleanliness in the city is often attributed not so much to the actions of municipal services, but rather to the cultural traditions of the local residents.

People are usually friendly and kind, which sets them apart from some representatives of Russian cities. Similar traits can also be observed in neighboring countries, such as Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Cultural communication features

There are also some cultural nuances that can create difficulties in communication between locals and newcomers. For example, in Uzbekistan, as in many other East Asian countries, refusing requests is considered a sign of bad manners, especially when interacting with friends or guests.

Thus, the answer“yes”It doesn't always mean complete agreement, and this is relevant in both personal and business relationships. It's important to understand when.“yes”is real consent, and when it is just a form of politeness.

Punctuality and the business environment

As in most countries with a predominance of sunny climates, punctuality is not highly valued in Uzbekistan; people often arrive late even for business meetings, which is seen as normal. These characteristic cultural traits permeate all areas of life.

Nevertheless, changes for the better are happening in the business environment, although not as quickly as one would like. The revival in this area is largely connected to the influx of new residents. Local entrepreneurs are actively learning from the experiences of newcomers.

Events and business registration

Every week, joint events are held in cities between local entrepreneurs and citizens of the Russian Federation. Hospitality is also reflected in legislative initiatives:

• Citizens of the Russian Federation can register their companies in Uzbekistan through a single authority.
• The registration process takes just a couple of days.
• Documents written in Russian have the same legal force as similar papers in Uzbek.

Unique features of pharmacies

While walking around Samarkand and other regions of Uzbekistan, one immediately notices the large number of pharmacies located very close to each other. It's unclear what this is related to, but on some streets, you can see up to eight pharmacies in a row.

This phenomenon is intriguing and raises many questions. Ultimately, the winter of 2023 in Uzbekistan reflects changes not only in weather conditions but also in the social sphere, leaving a noticeable mark on the lives of the local population.

Conclusion

In conclusion of my journey, which encompassed many countries and cultures, I came to realize the importance of flexibility and adaptability in our modern world. My professional history, which began in the media environment and went through many stages, allowed me to better understand that the world is indeed vast and diverse. Tashkent, which I finally reached, has become not just another point on the map, but a place where I see the opportunity for a new beginning.

Change of perception

However, it is worth noting that every experience is a reflection of our inner state. I was looking for not onlyconvenient business opportunities...but also harmony. Realizing that reality is often much more interesting than stereotypes, I have learned to appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of each country I have visited. This is especially true for Africa, where I discovered a completely different continent, full of life and energy, than I had previously imagined.

Every experience is important.

I think that in the end, it doesn't really matter where exactly you go; what matters is what you can take away from each new place. Tashkent, like many other cities, has become a field of opportunities for me, where I can not only apply my knowledge but also pursue my passion.

New horizons

I left behind not only my past but also the familiar boundaries to create space for the new. And you know what I realized?There is no perfect place.There is only one place where new horizons open up for you, and these horizons depend not on location, but on how we perceive the world and how ready we are to explore it.

• Every step into the unknownenriches and gives meaning to our journey.
• I only regret the time that has passed without new discoveries, but now I have a chance to change that.
• Staycuriousand the world will respond to you in kind.