Uzbekistan

November, 2002

First, let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan and to its wonderful history!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s globe!

Let’s raise a glass to the young people of Uzbekistan!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s old folks!

Let’s raise a glass to the most beautiful metro system in Central Asia, which is located right below the capital of Uzbekistan — Tashkent!

Let’s raise a glass to the impending complete victory of the Latin script over the Cyrillic script here in Uzbekistan!

POCHTA [the Russian word for post written phonetically in the Latin script]

Let’s raise a glass to familiar words!

... ... ... ... ... RENTAL REPAIR REFRIDGERATOR [sic.] WASHING MACHINE. ... ... ... AIR CONDITIONER ... ... ... ... ... TV SET

Let’s raise a glass to familiar words once again!

SASISCI [the Russian word for sausages written phonetically in the Latin script]

Let’s raise a glass to unfamiliar words!

Barf

Let’s raise a glass to traditions being upheld in Uzbekistan!

Carbonated water

Let’s raise a glass to the convulsive suffering of marketing managers employed by large international corporations who work in Uzbekistan!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s fantastic amenities!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s car number plates!

Let’s raise a glass to scales and payphones on Uzbekistan’s streets always being close by!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s payphones!

Let’s raise a glass to ancient pixel graphics!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s tradition of serving plov at five a.m. on major holidays, may it never end!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s sun, may it always light up the inexhaustible variety of Uzbekistan’s bazaar!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s window blinds!

Let’s raise a glass to Uzbekistan’s beauty!

Lastly, I would like to propose another toast to Uzbekistan and to its marvellous present!