Lara Gelya

Born in Ukraine and going to school there, Lara Gelya spent the next two decades in 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.

Now, enjoying her retirement, Lara fills her days with enriching activities like writing, creating videos and pictures, reading, gardening, cooking, traveling, and immersing herself in nature or entertainment. Her diverse interests and active lifestyle after retirement show a deep appreciation for life’s pleasures and a continuing curiosity about the world around her.

https://laragelya.com

Camel from Kyzylkum: A Memoir of My Life Journey

By: Lara Gelya

Camel from Kyzylkum is an intimate, deeply human memoir that traces one woman’s extraordinary journey from the heart of the Soviet Union to freedom in America. Born in Ukraine and shaped by the harsh, haunting beauty of Uzbekistan’s Kyzylkum Desert — “the Red Sand” — Lara Gelya’s story weaves together memories of resilience, family, loss, and hope during an era of profound upheaval.Through vivid snapshots of daily life behind the Iron Curtain, Lara invites readers into a world where survival meant adapting to political oppression, harsh landscapes, and sudden dislocation. Her path takes her from the remote deserts of Central Asia, across Austria and Italy, and finally to a new ...