As most of you know, I work as a guide, but newcomers who are just joining us may not know this. So I want to tell you, my dear ones, how it all began!
I would like to note that this is like a family passion or something passed down from our ancestors. My grandfather, my father’s father, was born and raised in Khiva in the old city “Ichan-Kala”. He came from a wealthy family that served the great vizier Islam Khoja. My grandfather was a very educated and just man after the khan period, and he knew Arabic and Russian languages very well.
As a native Khivan who grew up in the old city, he knew all the alleys and secret stories and the truth of this city. Everyone who met him always asked him to tell at least one story from the early 20th century. And what we know was passed down to us thanks to my grandfather and my aunt, whom he trained as a guide.
After finishing my studies (although I studied marketing), I suddenly decided to become a guide. In the fall of 2006, one very good person (unfortunately, he has passed away) offered me to read all the literature and history of Uzbekistan and gave me a deadline: by March 2007, I had to be ready for all his questions.
I will never forget his words when I was preparing for my first tour – he said: “You are the teacher here. Just as you were taught everything in first grade, you will teach our guests. The guests are also here for the first time and know nothing like first graders, so don’t worry!”
And that’s how MY story of working as a guide began.