What
was I thinking 10 days ago when I noted some signs of Spring? Overnight, (it's Saturday morning, March 17th), Masalli had 3 inches of heavy snow and the forecast is for -5 degrees Celsius on Sunday! I'm back to
putting up a clothes line in my bedroom, wearing layers of warm
clothes, keeping that heavy sleeping bag on my bed, cranking up the
gas stove, and being amused by cold-blooded ducks wallowing in the
muck in my yard. I have not heard a bird chirp for days.
Azerbaijan
is in the midst of celebrating Novrus - the anticipation of Spring -
but I think we are all in a funk. Reports of snow and ice and cold
and wind are not exciting. One comfort is the food that is prepared
for evening meals.
I
went "off text" Wednesday morning for 10th form class and
asked students to name in English all the different foods they ate
the night before; and also what things they did for Novrus. They
reported jumping over fires seven times, hat-tossing, fire-crackers,
telephoning or visiting family members, and watching Novrus in Baku
on TV.
They
ate different things though, and it was fun to hear them discover
what their classmates' families eat. Plov and roast chicken were
traditional for all, while others said sliced tomatoes and cucumbers,
mimosa salad, vegetable greens baked in scrambled eggs, dolmas, plain
yogurt, fruit juices, fresh fruit, nuts, dates, Coke and Fanta. Of
course, tea is served with lemon, sugar and candy.
I
had dinner with site mate Sally at the home of her school's director,
and recognized his wife's great culinary skills. I've eaten many of
these same dishes during the past year, but hers were notably the
best tasting. I suggested to Sally that we invite ourselves to her
home for cooking lessons before we return to America.
Here's
a photo taken at the end of the meal. Note the wheat grass symbol.
Next
Tuesday, March 20th the actual first day of Spring, I'm invited to
the home of Naila, my school's director. I'm more interested in
helping her with her leadership skills, but mostly curious about what
her house is like and what food she will prepare. And what is her
husband like???
