City beautification

There seem to be a lot of remodeling and beautification efforts in Dushanbe (at least in the center where we live):

Remodel of the shops in the underpass near TSUM.

Shop remodel at Rudaki & Ismali Somoni Blvds

Repainting a classic building on  Shotemur St

Redoing sidewalk tile on Shotemur

Some of the many women who plant flowers in the city's parks and sidewalk strips

Kind of exciting! Thinking a bit more about it, I wonder if this typical for spring/summer here. Or perhaps it's a particular effort of Dushanbe's mayor, Rustam Emomali, the 29-year old son of the president, appointed by his father. (I suppose if one doesn't have much experience governing, it could be tempting to set forth decrees about beautifying the city with fresh signs, paint jobs, and tile work. That's also easier and more visible than projects like clean drinking water.) I'm sorry I don't know Tajik and am unable to read anything that might discuss the origin, economics, and goals of these efforts.

Speaking of beautification, there's a tradition called "subbotnik" here, a legacy of the Soviet Union. Workplaces ask their employees to come in on Saturday or Sunday and do service such as cleaning up the campus. Schools can also ask this of students.

Students in February painting their school fence

A colleague at the university was quite peeved that after working six days a week, faculty and staff were being asked to come in on Sunday for "subbotnik." "The new mayor has asked for three straight months of this! We already have gardening and cleaning staff whose jobs it is to do these tasks we waste our time on."

Regardless of whether an area has been targeted for a new paint job or is its squalid old self, I want to choose to see what is beautiful--sometimes as obvious as these flowers, but other times, requiring eyes that see the heart.

Old communal hot water pipes...and early May irises

Our courtyard apartment...roses in mid-May