In the back corner where Thole makes room for used tools, used wire, second-hand nails, even used books, there is a book entitled “Stress Holds for the Neophyte”. Most everyone who makes it to the far wall re-sale table thumbs through it. Picture upon picture, and sometimes drawings, of people, parts bent the wrong way, a road map to control, dominance, punishment. No one reads the smattering of text on the bottoms and sides of pages. But we speculate amongst ourselves who might have bought it new, abandoned it – before or after practice – here. We look for need in faces.
THE WEIGHT OF MARRIAGE
My wife was not abducted – she went willingly with the oboists. For a moment, the notes they were hurling formed the mathematics of music, and she began to dance. I had not known her to dance before. Into their clutch she danced, and, as the music fell snarling into disassociated whines, she continued to dance, the center of their affront. I am going as quickly as I can to salvage from the back of my closet my oboe. If I can catch them before town limits, it will not be a fair fight, but I have matrimony on my side.
TOLERANCE
We founded our town at the end of the earth. Not too close, as no one wants to slip into the abyss – but close enough that tour guides can ferry the curious to the edge, travel time justifying the price of a ticket. Our local economy centers around it, with earth-end hotels, restaurants, and souvenir stands. Visitors are amazed they can stand at the lip, return to town to exchange experiences at an ordinary coffee shop. Occasionally, a crowd believing the earth is round blows in. We don’t argue. They stay in our hotels, we let them be in error.
UNITY
There is an island in the center of the river where the River People plot against us. We cannot guess what evil taunts and challenges they are developing for us. Town Council is always thwarting one plot or another. Citizens have been briefly abducted by River denizens, come back to town with horrid description of the River People’s lack of humanity. We are hard pressed to find a logic to their designs. What we know is that they are in every way counter to ourselves. When out of-towners observe we have no river and no island, we explain our vigilance.
The long and wide sea, full of mystery and magic and danger amidst its beauty. Great is its countenance. Maybe nobody described it such as Joseph Conrad. The sometimes-dark sea, saturnine and rueful. Sea. Ocean. The sands in the shores. All linked together. The world of the water. Vessels. Imagine the coral and the fish, sharks and whales, or the shipwrecks and sunken treasures perhaps ghosts, the phantoms of the depths and saltwater, roam with no need of breathing apparatus. Go and look spirit…pirate first mate captain mere honest passenger who paid their way and was so innocent and unassuming. What millions of secrets still?- UFO bases? Airplanes never found. Unknown species. Sea sea sea. Stories of the sea. Wild. Ocean. To wander its shores and think of it all.
Travel is more than just visiting new places—it is a journey that transforms the traveler. Experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, and stepping out of familiar environments challenge our perspectives and expand our understanding of the world. Each trip teaches lessons that go beyond sightseeing: patience, adaptability, empathy, and curiosity are all developed through the simple act of exploring.
Travel encourages self-discovery. Being away from daily routines and comfort zones forces us to confront challenges, make decisions independently, and adapt to unexpected situations. We learn about our strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Every journey leaves a mark, shaping our personality and influencing the way we think, communicate, and approach problems.
Moreover, travel fosters cultural awareness and empathy. Understanding other ways of life allows us to appreciate diversity and rethink assumptions about our own culture. It reminds us that the world is vast, complex, and full of different experiences, and that our individual perspective is only one among many.
In conclusion, travel is a powerful tool for personal growth. It teaches independence, resilience, and understanding, while broadening our worldview. The lessons gained from traveling are not just memories—they become part of who we are, influencing our thoughts, decisions, and how we relate to the world around us.
My name is Nozimova Shukrona, and I was born on January 31, 2011, in Oltiariq district of the Fergana region. Currently, I am a 9th-grade student at the Fergana branch of the specialized school named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi.
Despite my young age, I have a strong interest in science and creativity. Since my early school years, I have actively participated in various academic competitions. For example, in grades 5–7, I took part in the Hippo English Olympiad and the Kangaroo Mathematics competition, where I had the opportunity to test and improve my knowledge.
In 8th grade, while studying at Specialized School No. 4 in Oltiariq, I was also a member of the “Zakovat” intellectual team, and together with my team, we achieved 4th place in the district competition. During the same year, I ranked among the top 10 in the district stage of the Al-Khwarizmi Olympiad. I have also taken part in many subject Olympiads and achieved high results.
Currently, I am participating in the provincial stage of the History Olympiad, where I continue to demonstrate my knowledge and abilities. In addition, I am a member of my school’s “Zakovat” intellectual team, and we are competing at the provincial level.
Recently, I achieved a B+ level in the National Certificate exam in Uzbek Language and Literature. I am also interested in sports. When I was younger, I practiced gymnastics and won several competitions.
I actively participate in different initiatives and projects, where I not only show my eagerness to learn but also develop my leadership skills. I have clear goals for the future, and my dreams are high.
A part of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s was the average person’s easy access to things which made us feel good. For a few cents you could enjoy objects and experiences that, with the advent of a perverse capitalistic overreach, became rare and inaccessible. I speak, this time, of coffee, children’s toys and comic books.
COFFEE
For me, Saturday in 1960 is a moment frozen in time. I’m seated next to my father on a faux leather-covered stool at the lunch counter at Reese’s Drug Store in a nameless little town in Illinois. My dad consumes refill after refill of a so-called “bottomless cup” of coffee, available to all comers for ten cents. While dad drank his fill and incinerated a fistful of Old Gold filterless cigarettes, I eagerly consumed a thirty-five cent malted–two and a half glasses full.
What has happened to the venerable cup of joe? In 1960, a pound of coffee cost $.75; adjusted for inflation, that translates to $7.00, an increase by a factor of approximately 10. The price of a cup of Starbucks coffee is presently $3.65, an increase by a factor or more than 35.
And the bastardization of the brew: Starbucks has conjured a monstrosity known as a Super Venti Flat White, which they sold at least once, for some $148.99. What the hell happened to coffee?
TOYS
Time was when a youngster from the poor side of the tracks–like myself–could go to Goodwill or the Salvation Army Thrift Store or to a random neighborhood yard sale and score a coveted toy that only their more prosperous friends could get by conventional means.
Of course, there have always been collectors of rare or unusual items, but sometime in the late 20th century, middleaged men began scooping up GI Joes, Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, Ponytail Barbies, Easy-Bake Ovens, Spirographs, Hot Wheels, Etch-a-Sketches and the magnificent Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
There is yet a lot of good play time left in such toys, but these men, who never had and never will have a date, hoard them, put them on a shelf and calculate their appreciated value. They stalk thrift stores, clutching price guide books, shoving little shavers out of their way. There oughta’ be a law!
COMIC BOOKS
When I was a little kid, comic books were fun, they were tradeable and they cost a dime. A nascent collector culture developing at the time priced an Action No. 1 book (the one that introduced the world to Superman) at the unbelievably steep price of $100. I would’ve had to save my meager allowance for two years to accrue such a sum.
The same volume today, according to a well-respected auction house, “can fetch” upwards of $10 million. Now you not only have to be an adult to enjoy this literary nicety, you have to be insufferably wealthy as well. To me, a comic book is forever worth ten cents. And you don’t slide comic books into plastic sleeves.
To inflate its price is to bastardize the institution of “graphic novels” and dump poop on a cherished part of childhood. Nowadays you can’t enjoy the comic book the way it was meant to be enjoyed, by reading it in the bathtub or under the covers with a flashlight; you have to solemnly observe it through a glass screen in an environmentally-controlled chamber, somberly awaiting the day that your comic appreciates from $10 million to $11 million. Yikes!
In today’s highly developed 21st century, the concept of volunteering has also reached a high level. However, there are people who do it sincerely from the heart, as well as those who do it only for personal benefit. So, what should be the real purpose of volunteering?
First of all, volunteering improves the lives of many people and benefits society. For example, by providing social and economic support to poor people and the elderly, we can improve their living conditions, even if only slightly. This proves that volunteering should be done sincerely and wholeheartedly. Moreover, by becoming volunteers, we can contribute to improving the condition of our mother nature. There are many ways to do this, such as protecting nature, caring for animals, cleaning streets and canals, and participating in environmental campaigns. By taking part in such activities, each of us should realize our human responsibility. It is not without reason that in Uzbekistan, state and non-state organizations are encouraged to participate in community clean-up activities every Saturday during certain seasons. The main purpose behind this is to awaken humanity, responsibility, and a sense of involvement in social issues among people.
However, there is another side to the issue. Nowadays, many people, especially young people, participate in volunteering mainly for their CVs. They treat volunteering as something done only for appearance’s sake. To put it more openly, many participate only if they are guaranteed a certificate or some other proof that can strengthen their CV. The reason for this is that prestigious universities, international colleges, and famous companies often ask applicants about their volunteering experience. Unfortunately, some people misunderstand this and simply go to events to take photos without making any real contribution. However, those respected organizations are not looking for empty photos or documents; they are looking for genuine individuals who can truly benefit society in the future.
In addition, some people publicly display every good deed they do by posting it on social media. In such cases, their main purpose is not necessarily their CV, but rather gaining popularity and improving their public image.
As for my own opinion, volunteering itself means “doing work willingly,” and from this we can understand that it should be done voluntarily and sincerely without expecting any benefit in return. Even if we do not expect anything, volunteering still provides many advantages. For example, for young people, it can serve as preparation for real life and provide valuable life experience. Modern forms of volunteering, such as translation or interpreting activities, can help us gain useful professional experience for the future. Moreover, volunteering can develop feelings such as kindness, compassion, friendship, and gratitude. For instance, by caring for sick people, we can learn to care about others and appreciate what we already have.
In conclusion, volunteering should mainly be an activity done sincerely and willingly by a person. It offers many benefits, such as gaining experience and developing gratitude. Of course, volunteering is also useful for a CV — that is true — but we should include only the volunteering activities we genuinely participated in, not photos or evidence taken merely to deceive others.
The Harmony of Humanistic Feelings in the Works of Abay and Navoi Nazarova Hamida Teacher of Native Language and Literature Scientific Supervisor: Eshnazar Jabborov
Although Abay and Navoi lived in different eras, it is not difficult to notice similarities in their lives, creative activities, and moral as well as didactic views. According to historical sources, Alisher Navoi received a very large salary during the reign of Husayn Bayqaro, yet he did not spend this wealth on himself. Instead, he used these funds every day to provide financial assistance to widows, the poor, and needy people.
During his time as a statesman, Navoi issued fair decrees in order to improve the living conditions of the population and financed the construction of bridges, bathhouses, hospitals, and other public service buildings at his own expense. Navoi carried out many charitable deeds for the welfare of the people. In particular, through various instructive stories in his works, he beautifully and clearly explained to rulers and princes that thinking about the interests of the people and governing with justice are the highest duties of a ruler.
Abay Qunanbayuli was also a person ready to do anything for his fellow villagers. When we examine his life path, we can clearly see that, like Navoi, he never withheld either moral or material support from people in need. In Mukhtar Auezov’s novel “The Path of Abay”, we can witness how noble and generous Abay was. At the same time, history records that these two great poets were sometimes viewed with hostility. Even during his lifetime, some of Abay’s close associates treated him unfairly. In “The Path of Abay”, when ordinary people suffered under the burden of heavy taxes, Abay defended innocent poor people and was severely oppressed by local officials for doing so.
Even in such situations, he did not abandon his principles and continued helping those in need. He sincerely struggled for the enlightenment of his people. Through his poems, he called upon the nation to become educated and live in harmony with the spirit of the times.
In the Resolution No. PQ-3598 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated March 13, 2018, it was emphasized that the immortal heritage of great scholars such as Abay Qunanbayuli carries increasingly important significance for our peoples. Considering the great contribution of his literary works, exemplary life, and social activities to the development of culture, proposals were approved to widely study and promote the creative heritage of the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abay Qunanbayuli.
Abay and Navoi considered serving the people to be the greatest happiness in life. Both poets valued honest service to the people, human virtues, justice, and pure love above any rank or position.
Navoi wrote: “Turn away from rank toward ranklessness, Ranklessness is better than any position.”
Abay said: “A great position is like a high cliff. Even a snake may climb it if it crawls tirelessly.”
The fact that one gave up ministership and the other abandoned local authority demonstrates how similar their life principles were. The following excerpt from Mukhtar Auezov’s novel reveals Abay’s courage and nobility:
“They say that a brave man is tested in hardship. Your words lifted my spirits. If danger comes, my companions are ready to sacrifice themselves for me. Why should I fear death? There is no punishment or anger that can truly harm me.”
These lines reveal the hidden aspects of Abay’s personality.
The following words spoken by Suhayl in Navoi’s “Sab’ai Sayyor” also glorify bravery and nobility:
“If you displayed dog-like behavior, I shall show you true manliness.”
Navoi glorified labor and encouraged people to work. In his “Farhod and Shirin”, he wrote:
“What use is preserving my skill, If in the end I carry it into the soil?”
Abay similarly wrote: “If you work tirelessly, Your stomach will be full without begging.”
Navoi glorified the power of words: “The jewel of speech possesses such honor That no shell can compare to it.”
In Abay’s works too, great importance is given to speech and eloquence: “If you speak carefully, everyone will respect you.
Wise elders speak with proverbs.” The feelings of friendship and love are harmoniously reflected in the works of Navoi and Abay.
The lines “Do not be merely your father’s child, be a child of humanity” have become a slogan understood by both Uzbek and Kazakh peoples. These words show that the idea of the perfect human being was an eternal theme for both great thinkers.
All this demonstrates that Abay constantly benefited from the works of great scholars such as Firdawsi, Nizami, Navoi, and Babur, considering them his teachers and showing them great respect.
Although Navoi and Abay belonged to Turkic-speaking nations, the humanism and tolerance reflected in their works prove that such feelings transcend nationality.
References
Mallaev N. History of Uzbek Literature. Tashkent: Teacher Publishing House, 1976.
Auezov M. The Path of Abay. Tashkent, 1957.
Auezov M. Excerpts from Abay, Book 2. Tashkent, 1953.
Alisher Navoi. G’aroyib us-sig’ar. Tashkent, 1988.
Night so long, howling winds vexatious and loud. Night so cold, the earth covered in blackness and only there the odd industrial grade light throwing off some yellow and whitish glow to show the falling snow. Strange dreams. Try and remember them. They fade as anyone knows. Finally, the firmament begins to lighten so faintly and almost indistinctly.
But it’s there. What? The hope for day. The sun at least. Light. Evergreens stoic and robust stay green. This is a gift to the eyes and a gift to earth. Read sacred texts. Delve within. Touch the books with the hands. Hold them tight sometimes. There are still clouds. Time will pass. There are four seasons. One must go through each. That is the way of things. Winter frozen and blue, sometimes seemingly unforgiving.
One day spring will smile through rain and the idea of blooms again. Find us eventually in the summer after, the meadow mystical and those trails and oh the birds loquacious and agile living everywhere. Even that though it was thought it would never end, gives way to autumn and its soul and spirit. See the leaves yellow brown and red fallen and dancing for the winds of those times.
