Originally from Ukraine, Lara Gelya spent twenty years working at geological sites in the deserts of Uzbekistan. With the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, she moved to the Austria, followed by Italy, before eventually making her way to the United States.
This is a book you are not going to want to put down. Gelya’s conversational and matter-of-fact writing style presents the challenges she faced in a very honest tone. Gelya includes a number of personal photos throughout the book which I found moving.
Gelya’s story is a modern day telling of the American dream. Her story parallels the immigrant experience of the turn of the 20th century. This idea that America would offer greater opportunity, safety, and stability that was lacking in one’s homeland. It truly warms the heart, amid so much turmoil, to see that this legacy of America still lives on.
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Born in Ukraine and going to school there, Lara Gelya went on for the next 20 years to the Kyzylkum Desert of the Republic of Uzbekistan, working at geological sites and expeditions of the Mining Industry. At that time Ukraine and Uzbekistan were parts of one country—the Soviet Union.
In 1989 Lara left the Soviet Union, lived in Austria and Italy before she, at last, found her way to the United States in 1990. Starting her life from ground zero again, and trying on so many hats, she was able to make a lengthy professional career that led to her eventual retirement on the shores of sunny Florida.
When she isn’t writing or making her videos and pictures, Lara spends most of her time reading, gardening, cooking, traveling the world, wandering through nature, or catching her favorite shows.
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Thank you, Heidi, for reading and reviewing my book “Camel from Kyzylkum” – a memoir of my life journey. Your kind words touched my heart and are greatly appreciated.