Top 10 reasons to live in Labop

1. Most verdant welayat in Turkmenistan.
2. Greatest access to water as a result of the Amu Dariya.
3. The regional capital is probably the only place in the world where the local dialect combines Turkmen, Uzbek and Russian. Volunteers (and some residents) have dubbed this unique language “charjewski”.
4. We have the best kBac. (a drink made of fermented bread)
5. We also have the best cocktails. (tiny portions of milkshakes that aren’t cold or made with ice cream)
6. Koyten Dag/Dinosaur footprints (beautiful national park with waterfalls, caves, and fossilized dinosaur footprints)!!!!!
7. Most awesome volunteer living quarters with the most educated, most married, and most gay volunteers in the straightest line.
8. Most liberal welayate with the most liberal people like my host father who said when discussing world travel, “people must travel if they can, they need to meet more people because, afterall, we are all just people”. We also supposedly have the only free radio in the country. Supposedly, because we can’t confirm its existence as we are not allowed to talk or meet with its producers.
9. We know how to party – every gathering is guaranteed to discuss public radio (specifically This American Life), AI, and the paper game (don’t ask).
10. We don’t have stinky camels or çal (fermented camel’s milk)!