In May, CSEES MA student Will Bezbatchenko traveled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to begin an internship with the United States Department of State. In addition to gaining experience working in the US Embassy in Tashkent, Will has had the opportunity to attend meetings with members of the international community, speak with people from the many sections of the Embassy, research political and economic issues in Uzbekistan, and explore the country in his freetime. On the weekend of June 20th, Will and two other interns traveled to Samarqand, a historical city on the Silk Road.