Local Sponsors Go Extra Mile for Uzbek International Visitors

In December 2006, ten Uzbekistan National Park Officials participated in a Voluntary Visitor Program on “National Protected Areas Management.” The program, developed by program officer Augusta Babson at the Institute of International Education, took place in Washington, D.C., Colorado (Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Florissant Fossil Bends, Lake George, Pike National Forest, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve), and New Mexico (Bandelier National Monument). They had productive visits at each of their stops, but it was the logistical hurdles that made this project “memorable” from a programming perspective.

The officials endured snowstorms and blizzards throughout their program. They arrived a day late in Washington because of a snowstorm in Uzbekistan and a blizzard hit Colorado as they were preparing to return home. The Colorado Springs Committee for International Visitor’s volunteer, Warren Hill, and the local bus driver persevered and drove from New Mexico to Colorado Springs through the blizzard, stopping only to put chains on the bus, enabling the visitors to make their flight to Chicago for international departure. This would be the last flight out of Colorado Springs for a week because of the weather. The interpreter, Irina Primakova, wrote in her report, “Mr. Warren along with our bus driver were instrumental in getting the group . . . back to Colorado Springs in time for them to catch their return flight. If it wasn’t for their help, the group might have had to spend an extra week in Colorado, as many other travelers did . . . .”

Arriving very late at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the visitors had only a little time to board their connecting flight. Mr. Orinbay Atamuradov, in his haste to board the next flight, left his briefcase at the security checkpoint. Although forms and inquiries were submitted to the local Transportation Security Agency (TSA) at that time, it was not until almost a year later that the briefcase, which contained $450 U.S. Dollars, foreign bills, and a cell telephone, was located at O’Hare.

Even though the visitors were only transiting through Chicago, Executive Director Peggy Parfenoff of the International Visitors Center of Chicago (IVCC) graciously offered her invaluable assistance once the briefcase was found. Peggy arranged for the briefcase to be picked up from TSA at O’Hare, she deposited the U.S. dollars into IVCC’s bank account and had a business check made out to Mr. Atamuradov, and expressed mailed the briefcase with its contents to the American Embassy in Tashkent.

We, and of course our visitors, benefit enormously from the dedication and service that all our partners in the IVLP program contribute, but these are certainly appreciated.

Rhonda Martin is a program officer in the Voluntary Visitors Division, Office of International Visitrs, U.S. Department of State.

Mr. Atamuradov at the American Embassy
in Tashkent with his IVLP Certificate
and his briefcase