Mai (far Left) with Professor G (far right) from Uzbekhistan

One of my good friend from Sydney, who’s a vice chancellor (Dr. A) for a leading Australian Universities visited me today together with her guest, Professor G, who is a Professor from Uzbekhistan. They were both here for a study tour of Melbourne.

For their visit I pre planned a day trip to Philip Island (which is about 2 hours drive from Melbourne). What better way to show Australia than by showing our beautiful wildlife, especially the fairy penguins parade and the Koala Conservation Centre.

This is what I found out about Uzbekhistan:

• Pineapple is gold-like as it is very expensive to buy a pineapple in Uzbekhistan (AU$80/pineapple). I was told that it is so precious that it is the centre piece of manyweddings (most people rent the pinapple)! Professor G was so excited to see a pineapple that she pretty much ate it non stop
• Uzbekhistan is not where Borat comez from, however, it is next to Kazakhstan (which is Borat’s country) .
• Uzbekhistan is the world’s second largest cotton producer. During harvest season, school children would stop school to pick cottons.

Anyhow, my good friend Dr. G was staying at Uzbekhistan for a month as part of her study tour. Professor G took Dr. G to meet up with the president and the ministers. I was told if I ever come to visit, I will have a chance to meet up with all these ministers either during dinner or party !

Professor G told me a very romantic love story about how she met her husband (Mr. G). Here’s how the story goes.

Back in the days, when Mr G was 32 years old which is considered very old to be unmarried by the Uzbeks. Professor G was 23 years old which was borderline old to be unmarried for a woman.

Mr. G was introduced to many potential spouse by his parents but he always said no.

One day, Mr. G’s brother who’s a good friend with Prof G’s sister decided that these 2 should meet up. The day that they were supposed to have their first date, Prof G was held up in some University work. By the time she finished she was 3 hours late, she told herself, if Mr. G (her date) was still in the cafe waiting, he would be the one. So, she swung by the cafe and saw Mr. G still happily waiting for her ! During those 3 hours, Mr. G was looking for a woman who wore a red top (as they have both never meet in person but decided to wear a red top). The funny thing was Mr. G later told Prof G that he had met 3 other women that night with red tops also but he didn’t like any of them. Mr .G was glad to see when her date finally arrived he fell in love at first sight! awwww….

Another sign that it was a destiny for them to be together was out of so many movies, Mr. G bought tickets for a Persian Movie. The Persian Movie mattered because Prof. G studied Persian language as her minor speciality!

Anyways, Uzbekhistan’s custom was after first date, the guy was supposed to send the lady home by Taxi, give her chocolate and flowers to show that he is interested. That night, he did not bring her any chocolate or flowers. He didn’t even send her home by taxi. They took a metro (underground train). Professor G was not impressed at all!! When he got off at his stop, as the door close, Professor G asked herself if this guy will ever show anyinterest. As the metro was about to leave, Mr. G forced open the door, held the whole metro system and he managed to just get his head inside the train. There and then he proposed to her . Everyone in the metro cheered up and Professor G was very happy. Sigh…. what a story!!

A gift for me from Professor G - an Uzbekhistan handicraft (handpainted and handmade) jewellery box

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