Author: Edward Morgan

Edward Morgan: Exploring Baku’s history and modern challenges through a unique summer camp experience

A seasoned theatre director, educator, and playwright, Edward Morgan has spent many years living and working in Milwaukee, a city he fondly regards as his creative home. Known for his engaging storytelling and deep connections to the performing arts, Morgan frequently returns to Milwaukee for various theater projects when he is not teaching in post-Soviet states. I spent this past August in Azerbaijan, a place I might not have found on a map ten years ago. It sits in the Southern Caucasus, with Russia to the north and Iran to the south, as a predominately Muslim nation with more...

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Edward Morgan: Creating connections to foster cultural exchanges for young minds in Azerbaijan

Edward Morgan found inspiration in an unexpected meeting with Matt Schultz to create a free summer youth camp in the Qusar District of Azerbaijan. The two embarked on a plan to make a difference in the lives of those local children, blending their talents and experiences to foster a meaningful cultural exchange. In February, I met Matt Schultz, a young man from Chicago with an interesting plan. Matt studied in Azerbaijan a few years ago and while he was there, he took a trip with Camping Azerbaijan, the country’s first eco-tourism company. They hiked in the mountains near Qusar...

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Edward Morgan: Former Milwaukee resident shares memories of Kyrgyzstan on its Independence Day

I recently returned from Kyrgyzstan, a remarkable half-year experience that enriched my life and changed my perspective in various ways. Kyrgyzstan is a small, landlocked country in Central Asia. The total population is less than seven million. I was there as a Fulbright Scholar, teaching in the capital city of Bishkek, with a population of one million. I taught courses in English and Journalism at Ala-Too International University, and Creative Storymaking for the TV and Film department at the American University of Central Asia. My students and colleagues were warm and appreciative and the work was rewarding, though really...

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Edward Morgan: Understanding how Kyrgyz society is still influenced by its relationship with Russia

Kyrgyzstan is beautiful. But it is also a country in limbo. Suspended between dependence and decolonization, this condition is partly the result of more than a century under Russian control, and partly the ongoing challenge of living in Russia’s shadow. Planning ahead for my semester teaching in Bishkek, I arrived with a basic knowledge of Kyrgyz history and some familiarity with current events. I expected to encounter “the hangover” from Soviet socialism, it is a legacy I have also seen in Eastern Europe. Sure enough, Kyrgyzstan suffers from corruption, institutionalized mediocrity, propaganda, and pangs of communist nostalgia. But in...

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Edward Morgan: Personal diary shares snapshot of daily life over six months in a Central Asian nation

Edward Morgan wrote about his experiences in Kyrgyzstan, sharing them on social media from January to June 2023. Some of those posts, like entries from a travel journal, have been assembled here. Individually, the raw and unedited entries share an account of his time in the Central Asian country. Collectively, the posts express a larger narrative about the social and regional conditions in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. FEBRUARY 2 Last night I went to a Beatles concert at Bishkek’s Opera and Ballet Theatre. An orchestra of strings and percussion played Beatles hits under a random...

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