Thank you, Lisa, for sharing a wonderful and detailed on the ground account of your life in Turkmenistan and in Ashgabat. And thank you for the compliments on our approach. We are happy to continue sharing our Pale Blue Dot, and sharing it with you.

I came across your website recently and it is AWESOME. Good for you! I love your suggestions about traveling and I also believe in citizen diplomacy.

I am currently teaching English in Ashgabat and have been here for 8 months. Turkmenistan is indeed a unique place. However, after 8 months, I must say that I feel quite comfortable here and I have been pleasantly surprised on many occasions. People have embraced me, invited me to their homes and have included me in their lives. My students are also wonderful – like American students, sometimes they do their work. But unlike American students, they are ALWAYS respectful. Having taught in American public schools for over 20 years, I can tell you that this is something to be valued.

Every day is a discovery for me – but that is how I live and definitely how I travel. I have been guilty of rash judgments made inside my own head, only to find out that I was completely wrong. There are very deep traditions here – but when you get to know people, you realize that everyone has their own opinion, too..

One of the best parts of my experience here is sharing myself, as a person, as an American. Like Turkmenistan for us, America is also misunderstood by many people here. I am the one to help clear up those misunderstandings, and I take that role very seriously. A few Turkmen colleagues have shared with me that they feel they understand American better because of our interactions. That makes me happy.

Internet has improved since the writing of your last article – although it is still slow and unreliable at times. People don’t complain – they really do take one day at a time. Inshallah – a phrase which means “God willing,” as I am sure you know, accompanies any suggestion for future events. This is a lifestyle change that I will take back with me to America.

I am writing you from my apartment and the Wifi is good today. Lots of scary things are happening in the world. Turkmenistan is far from perfect – but I do feel SAFE. In the 8 months I have been here, I have never witnessed a crime, anyone harassing someone on the street, or anyone raising their voice. And remember, this IS capital city with a diverse and growing population. Maybe it is because of the police on every corner. But I do feel safe.

These are just a few of my observations that I wanted to share with you. I think you both have a gift of storytelling and I hope the two of you can continue exploring this “pale blue dot” of ours and sharing your discoveries for many years to come!

Since our visit, we’ve been on the lookout for articles about the country, but haven’t found many articles that talk about its people and how positive changes are happening. A friend just visited and had a similar experience to ours and came away hopeful for the country and its people. So, I don’t think our visit was an anomaly.