Uzbekistan, like Texas, is kind of a whole other country

Aug. 5, Anthony Elia, director of Bridwell Library and associate dean for Special Collections and Academic Publishing at SMU Dallas, for a commentary highlighting similarities between Texas and Uzbekistan, where he recently traveled. Published in the Dallas Morning News under the heading Uzbekistan, like Texas, is kind of a whole other county: https://bit.ly/3SsNk4e

The first time I came to Dallas it reminded me of Beijing. It was a skyline brimming with distinct new architecture, a city full of tall buildings brightly lit at night, and a metropolis entangled with twisting overpasses and thoroughfares dense with traffic, very much like the Chinese capital. Now having lived here for several years, I have been struck by the intriguing similarities Dallas shares with another part of the world — Uzbekistan and its capital, Tashkent.

I spent most of May traveling more than 2,000 miles around the Central Asian nation, touring ancient sites, visiting unique museums, and exploring vibrant bazaars. I observed a culture that is both distinct and remarkable, and enjoyed the most delicious and fresh varieties of meats and produce I have ever tasted, everything from Texas-style cuts of beef on skewers to marble-shaped strawberries and fragrant white mulberries.

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