After break-down of USSR in 1991, Uzbekistan appeared to be in deep economical crisis. Most of country production have been closed and high level of corruption led to 80% of Uzbek’s families are leaving under poverty line. The only remains, and what Uzbekistan was once the USSR treasure, is cotton growing, and every year at the harvest time, children starting 10 years old are forced to work on cotton fields. In search of any work, many people are leaving to neighboring Russia and Kazakhstan, often getting into the slavery business. Totalitarian politic excludes any possibility for people protests, but actually protesting is not in Uzbek culture, people would rather work than fight. Asian philosophy tends to take troubles as life given, and being supported by the most valuables in their life – families and Islam religion, Uzbeks are reviving their ancient country traditions with hope for better days…
    Researching the today’ reality of Uzbekistan, asking the question of what people have gained and what have lost after the independence, I have passed the country from Fergana Valley to the former Aral seashore.