{"id":4163,"date":"2026-05-28T19:29:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T17:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingeast.info\/?p=4163"},"modified":"2026-06-05T10:31:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:31:57","slug":"gastfreundschaft-als-hoffnungsschimmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingeast.info\/en\/2026\/05\/28\/gastfreundschaft-als-hoffnungsschimmer\/","title":{"rendered":"Hospitality as a beacon of hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddffUzbek<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling to other countries for me means coming into contact with other people, cultures and ways of life. Travelling by bicycle means for me encountering these situations without a shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, on my travels, I regularly meet people who live in completely different circumstances to our own. Mostly these are exciting encounters that broaden my own horizons and change my outlook on life. However, sometimes they are difficult encounters too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often consciously leave such moments out of my texts or try to describe them as neutrally as possible. Because I find it extremely difficult to write about other life realities without taking my own as a benchmark. Today I'm making an exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About three kilometres before my stage destination yesterday, a man named Kamoliddin stopped next to me on his moped. We got chatting, and before I had properly understood what was happening, he invited me to his home \u2013 for a meal and for the night. I gratefully accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He drove ahead, and I followed him through the twilight to his house. There I was received by his family: his wife, his mother, and \u2013 as it turned out later \u2013 one of his daughters. It was cordial, uncomplicated, natural. A hospitality that one could only wish for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The men went into the \u201egood room\u201c and were served soup, meat, and bread, along with tea and biscuits. As so often on this journey, translation apps were key to communication. Later, Kamoliddin's brother joined us, who spoke a little English \u2013 that made many things easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After dinner, Kamoliddin sat down with me and said he wanted to introduce me to someone else. Then he brought his second daughter into the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201eOur daughter Umida was born in the eighth month,\u201c he began. \u201eShe is now eight years old. She suffered a head injury at birth and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explanation: Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by damage to the developing brain that affects movement, posture and coordination. It usually arises around birth and lasts a lifetime, to a very differing extent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the family has been fighting \u2013 day by day. For eight years they have tried everything: treatments in various clinics in Samarkand and Tashkent, repeated hope, repeated setbacks. So far, without the hoped-for breakthrough, to at least enable Umida to walk independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now there is a new opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201eWe need to take her to India for treatment,\u201c said Kamoliddin. \u201eFor that, we need 20,000 US dollars. We have an appointment \u2013 we're supposed to fly on June 9th.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doubts began to arise within me at that moment. So, I had been invited to... yes, to what exactly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then he asked me for something I hadn't expected: to record a video and share his daughter's story. Perhaps people would help. Perhaps someone would see this story and contribute something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In his words lay so much hope \u2013 and at the same time so much despair. For a brief moment, I felt used. But then I realised: Perhaps I can simply be a small beacon of hope for this family.<\/p>\n\n\n