“Besides my immediate family, I don’t have any family here. I don’t really have family gatherings.” These are the words of Ulugbek Fayzullaev, an immigrant from the country of Uzbekistan, who left for Florida to finish his education when he was 20. For those unaware, Uzbekistan is a nation in Central Asia known for its Silk Road, warm hospitality, and cotton resources. It has a long history of being under the Soviet Union and Russian influence until 1991. It now comprises 12 regions and a diverse cultural group of people. 

According to Uzbek in Seattle, the local immigrant population here in Washington is small, as small as 1,000 people. Out of the 800,000 people living in Seattle, this means that Uzbeks make up 0.125% of the population in one of the most immigrant-friendly cities in the world. The 2023 World Population Review  assesses that, out of the 42 states data is available for, in 26 of those states the Uzbek population % of that state is 0%. Only 12 of those remaining states are a smidge more inclusive: the Uzbek population for these regions is held at 0.01%, Washington included in this statistic.

So, it is safe to assume that Uzbeks are criminally underrepresented in America and have little to no demographic presence. As a result, these statistics beg the question: why are Uzbeks this underrepresented in America, and how can outsiders to their culture work to change that? To find answers to these questions, we head to the home of the Fayzullaevs to learn more about Uzbek culture as a whole. “We were offered a job, the job offer was so generous that they offered to move all of our belongings and help us with finding a place to live here and to cover all of our travel expenses to move here.” Says Kamila Khaydarova. “The population is much lower than the U.S population, so that could be why the immigration rate is low.” The Fayzullaevs first immigrated 20 years ago, first from Uzbekistan to Canada, and then to the United States for 12 years. 

While you might think we have finally discovered the reasons behind the low rate of Uzbek immigration to the U.S., that is simply not the case. This is where Uzbek immigration attorney Diyora Ismailov enters the picture. Living in Seattle as an immigrant from Uzbekistan herself, she has a different take on Uzbek immigration. Ismailov states that “some think that Uzbeks don’t want to be immigrants, and that’s why our population % in the U.S. is so low. I personally don’t think that’s true. I think the reason there is less Uzbek immigration to the U.S. compared to other minority groups is because of how hard it is to be an Uzbek immigrant. Specifically, Uzbek culture places strong importance on family unity above all else, and as a result, being far from parents and relatives back in Uzbekistan is emotionally difficult for many of us. In Uzbekistan, families are your way of life, and in America, people are more centered on independent values.” This makes the stories of those who immigrated to the U.S. all the more impactful. These people are here in America with no cultural community, which might not seem like such a big deal to other cultures, but for the Uzbek people, is crippling.

So, how can those from different cultures help to combat this issue? By learning more about Uzbek culture, society will have the opportunity to move beyond “Uzbeks do not want to be immigrants” stereotypes. By exploring Uzbek traditions and social norms, outsiders to Uzbek culture can better understand why migration decisions are shaped the way they are. The decisions themselves connect to an emphasis on family and hospitality. Guests to Uzbekistan households are treated well and usually seated at the head of the dinner table. Additionally, Uzbek people have huge social celebrations for weddings and birthdays. According to Uzbek Travel, they also love and respect their elders, viewing them as a source for wisdom. “I wish more people knew how important family is, the community. Guests are treated with great respect, even if they arrive without notice. Sharing food is a sign of caring,” says Ismailov.

Despite the emotional difficulty of leaving home, Uzbek immigrants in Seattle work hard to rebuild a sense of community. Fayzullaev explains that although “Uzbekistan isn’t a very large country, and there aren’t a huge number of Uzbeks here,” he still managed to find a small circle of families, many of whom he met through his job. “I met three or four families there, and we still keep in touch regularly,” he says. Community events also help fill the cultural gap. Both he and Ismailov describe a local Uzbek association, Youth Voices, that organizes gatherings, most prominently for Navruz, an Uzbek New Year hoilday. “Several Uzbekistans lead it,” they explain. Youth Voices also posts about the events on social media and invites people to come.” These gatherings, though smaller than the massive celebrations in Uzbekistan, help maintain a sense of cultural belonging for U.S. Uzbek immigrants. Ismailov also attempts to keep traditions alive at home as well. “I still cook Plov and Samsa (important Uzbek cultural dishes), speak Uzbek at home, and bring my kids up the way my parents brought me up: by emphasizing the importance of familial values, how to respect elders, give up a seat, be polite, and know their roots.” Ismailov even keeps photos of every family member on the walls so her children “don’t forget the faces from back home.” For many Uzbek immigrants, these small acts—cooking, storytelling, language and shared meals, become the final piece in recreating a community in a place where culture can become forgotten.

To describe Uzbek culture in one sentence, Ismailov uses the words “warm, generous, and strongly focused on relationships, not just individual success.” She states that Uzbek “culture centers on family success, your children’s success, and your parents’ success.” Immigration is not a personal decision but instead a cultural rift. The Uzbeks who immigrate to America work tirelessly to preserve their traditions and narrow this rift as much as possible. Cooking the same foods, celebrating the same holidays, and doing their best to continue living their lives as if they were in Uzbekistan. By learning these traditions and understanding the cultural weight behind migration decisions, outsiders can change the social identity of Uzbeks and appreciate the cultural richness and warmth that Uzbek families bring to places like Seattle.