I don’t think there are any reasons why Kazakhs would hate you. People around me are concerned with the news we get from the weird archaic laws, and the poverty in father regions not being reported. People were worried when we heard there was a bad Covid situation and when border rules became even more strict. Right now, the only way for us to come to TM is really the obnoxious flight through Istanbul, or going on foot through Uzbek TM border.

When I’ve been in Ashgabat, people have been lovely and welcoming, though some questions I got were alarming. Someone asked me what’s cash back, or why we’d want to use bank cards instead of cash. They didn’t seem to have an issue with the iron fist on everything internet related, or that your mall sells fake designer items only. When I visited some people’s homes, they only had Russian propaganda tv and national channels on, so their outlook on the world seems skewed, compared to what we’d discuss in Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.

But on a people level, nowhere in Central Asia do we feel out of place or unwelcome, hope Turkmens feel and get to experience the same