Dillon Wolfe, an international educator from England, has spent the past three years in Uzbekistan, embracing a new culture, career challenges, and the warm hospitality of Central Asia. From adjusting to Tashkent’s vibrant yet unfamiliar environment to discovering the country’s rich traditions, he shares his experiences of life, work, and the adventure of moving abroad with his family.
About myself
I am originally from Essex, a region in the south of England. I currently live in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with my wife, who is the head of secondary at a school, and our three children — two sons, aged 17 and 13, and our 4 years old daughter.
This is our third year in Uzbekistan. Before moving to Central Asia, we spent three years in Qatar, and prior to that, we lived in Houston, Texas, for five years. In total, we have been part of the international education community for over a decade.
Before embracing the expat life, we lived in the UK, where my wife worked as a teacher, and I was a child protection social worker.
About moving
In 2022, we decided to leave Qatar in search of a new country and a new adventure. However, with three children, we knew it would be challenging to find a school that had space for all of them.
The company we had worked for in Texas, Nord Anglia Education, had a school in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and, as it turned out, they had positions available that matched our skill set for the 2022/23 academic year. At the time, we knew absolutely nothing about Central Asia! In fact, while we were at Heathrow Airport, preparing to fly to our new home in Tashkent, we realized we had no idea how much alcohol we were allowed to bring into the country. We asked an airport staff member, “How much can we take to Uzbekistan?”— only to find out she didn’t even know Uzbekistan was a country! She had to flip through a large book to look it up. That was the moment we realized we were moving somewhere that wasn’t very well known.
That only made the journey more exciting. We had to do quite a bit of research before finally arriving in Uzbekistan in August 2022. Our main motivation was that the job contracts and school placements suited our needs, but we were also eager to experience life in a country very different from anywhere we had lived before.
When we first arrived in Tashkent, calling it a culture shock would be an understatement! We had just come from Doha, Qatar — a modern, international, and wealthy country — so stepping into Tashkent was a completely different experience, especially when it came to the state of the roads.
The first thing we did after arriving and settling into our home was head to the nearest KFC. I have a great photo of all of us sitting there, looking completely shell-shocked, eating fried chicken and wondering, "What have we done?" We chose that restaurant because it had a self-service kiosk in English — something we hadn’t realized would be so important. We were completely unprepared for the fact that almost no English is spoken in Tashkent and that Russian is the main international language here.
Adjusting to the differences between Uzbekistan and the more Westernized countries we had previously lived in took time. It was especially challenging for our children. Even though our school follows a British curriculum, most of the students are local, and Russian or Uzbek is the dominant language in the playground.
However, with the support of local colleagues, getting to know the city, relying on Google Translate, and, of course, good old-fashioned resilience and perseverance, we managed to overcome these challenges.
About activities
I currently work at the British School of Tashkent as a Year 6 primary school teacher, which means I teach children aged 10 to 11. In addition to my teaching role, I am the Upper Key Stage 2 Phase Leader, overseeing both the Year 5 and Year 6 teaching teams.
Beyond my teaching hours, I have a range of responsibilities, including supporting my colleagues in their professional development, ensuring the curriculum meets our high standards, and making sure that every child's progress aligns with both our expectations and those of their parents.
Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a child protection social worker in the UK, so I have been working with children for 15 years. I have always had a passion for supporting children's needs and promoting their well-being. When we decided to move abroad, I needed to transition into a career that made sense both professionally and financially for our family. Teaching felt like the most natural path, and it’s a job I truly love.
The best part of teaching is the relationships you build with the children — witnessing their "wow" moments and, at the very least, playing a small role in shaping them into good citizens and kind human beings.
About Uzbekistan
It is clear that Uzbekistan is a country on the rise. I love that every time we drive around the city, there’s always something new being built. There’s a constant flow of dynamic initiatives, and it truly feels like we’re witnessing the beginning of a very exciting journey.
One of the latest developments is Tashkent City Mall, which is absolutely stunning — a real slice of Middle Eastern luxury.
What surprised me the most about Uzbekistan, though, is the weather! As a Brit, talking about the weather is practically second nature, and Uzbekistan certainly gives us plenty to discuss with its extreme conditions. During our first winter here, temperatures dropped to -25°C. I’ll never forget shopping at "Korzinka" with everyone bundled up in multiple layers of coats, gloves, and scarves — even indoors — while trying to get through a grocery run in subzero temperatures.
Then there’s the summer, where temperatures can soar to 50°C — at least there’s a good chance to get a nice tan!
About traditions and people
There is so much to love about the traditions and customs of Uzbekistan. One of the local dishes here is somsa — a pastry filled with meat and potatoes. Coincidentally, I grew up in Cornwall, England, which is famous for its own traditional dish, the Cornish pasty. The first time I tried a somsa, it tasted just like a Cornish pasty, and it was absolutely delicious.
And, of course, there’s plov. From what I understand, every region of Uzbekistan has its own version of plov, and people take great pride in their unique take on the national dish. It’s always delicious, and while I might not always know if I’m eating Samarkand plov or Tashkent plov, I’m just happy to be enjoying it!
Another wonderful tradition here is Navruz, a holiday that is incredibly colorful, vibrant, and full of energy.
I’m often asked by friends and colleagues in other countries what my favorite thing about Uzbekistan is, and my answer is always the same—it’s the people. Uzbekistan is one of the safest places we’ve ever lived, and the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Even with the language barrier, they are so patient when I pull out my phone and start speaking into Google Translate!
I’ve picked up a bit of Russian — at least enough to order a cappuccino — and I’ve also learned some basic Uzbek greetings. But my absolute favorite cultural tradition, and something I will take with me for the rest of my life, is the way Uzbek men greet each other. They look you in the eye, press their right hand to their heart, and give a slight bow while saying, "Assalomu alaykum." I adore this gesture. It feels deeply respectful, sincere, and authentic. I can see myself greeting people this way well into my old age!
About plans
The life of an international teacher can sometimes feel quite nomadic. However, we all feel very settled here in Uzbekistan and have no plans to leave anytime soon. There is still so much to explore in Central Asia, and we hope to visit some of the neighboring countries, such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as other ancient and fascinating places in this part of the world.