While I take numerous pictures when traveling, I rarely post them on social media; in fact, during our ten days in Uzbekistan, I shared exactly three selfies via Snapchat with my friends…
Walking in Almaty: My Trek Home
While in Kazakhstan I haven’t been able to engage in exercise in the same way that I do at home. At Carleton, I’m a part of two clubs, gymnastics and juggling, which…
Selective Tourism: It’s Hard to Break the Trend
Whether scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, or whatever social media platform that occupies your very limited free time, you’re bound to see ads featuring happy couples or ardent hikers telling you to…
Shaping Destination Image: The Influence of Selfies and Social Media on Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage
In today’s digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for shaping and projecting the image of travel destinations. Uzbekistan, a country rich in historical and architectural heritage, employs social media…
Protests, Polygamy, and Pride: A Conversation with Feminita’s Жанар Секербаева
Kazakhstan prides itself on being an inclusive and progressive state, dedicated to the safety of all its citizens. Human rights organizations and markers of development like the Democracy Index argue that this…
Uzbekistan’s Destination Image: Examining my Impact
Before visiting Uzbekistan, I had no idea what to expect. I knew roughly where it was and its Soviet past, but that was about it. This trend is the same among my…
To See is to Believe: Examining the Impact of Media on Destination Image
Living in a technologically interconnected-world it is hard to resist documenting experiences with the intention of sharing these images through social media. However, for countries pushing to create a distinct national image…
Review of “Testimonies about Tea”: More Than Just A Drink
Where do you remember drinking tea as kid? In the opening poem from Testimonies about Tea, Aunar Duisenbinov describes a backyard overflowing with life. A building stands in at the back of…
Golden Man in Astana: A Review of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Care for a brief history lesson? That was the question posed to our group during our final day in the capital Astana. In this odd, sparkling city where many of the buildings…
Love and Art in “Jamila”
Where does the inspiration for great art come from? Not just technically skilled artwork, but art that says something, that impresses upon the viewer the animating energy behind the subject. Love is…
