tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14153588178363882032024-03-12T20:01:17.412-07:00Retired & InspiredStories from my Peace Corps service in AzerbaijanMargaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-64248453438152593482013-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:002013-02-26T12:45:19.154-08:00Updating my PC blog re: accident et alIt's February 2013 and I can't believe I never updated this Peace Corps blog with a link to a new blog I created. It is a mini-diversion regarding my broken shoulder and care after a traffic accident while on vacation with another PCV in Turkey. That accident and hospitalization seem disconnected from anything I had previously written about teaching English in Azerbaijan. So I began creating a few new posts last August during my 45-day recovery stay in Washington, DC.<br />
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Here's the link to those few entries which I managed to type back then with only my left-hand. (As of this date in February 2013, I'm able to type again with both hands!)<br />
<u><a href="http://peggyinturkey.blogspot.com/">http://peggyinturkey.blogspot.com/</a></u><br />
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Better news and another blog seem in order. I recently received word that I have been medically approved to return to Azerbaijan to finish my Peace Corps service. It has been almost 7 months since the traffic accident that "interrupted" my service. I specifically asked to be medically separated in the hopes that I would recover and return to AZ within a year.<br />
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I had such hopes and dreams to complete the sustainability portion of my service. That is, I was preparing to coach and assist the English teachers at my school in using current inter-active language teaching methods. Hardest of all was not being able to say good-bye to my host families, teachers, students, and people in the community where I had lived for nearly 2 years.<br />
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Soon I will begin anew to write again about my return to Masalli, Azerbaijan. Watch this space for a link to another new blog as I am Inspired to Return.<br />
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Every blog post needs a photo so here are 2! Three of my 4 sisters enjoyed visiting mother when she celebrated her 99th birthday on January 24th in Fond du Lac, WI.<br />
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<br />Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-43163533345701388712012-08-14T11:08:00.001-07:002012-08-14T11:08:19.157-07:00From AZ to Turkey to Washington, DCMuch has happened since my last post in July. I was in a traffic accident July 22nd while vacationing in Turkey with another PCV. We both suffered broken shoulders and multiple bruises and abrasions, but received very good care at a hospital in Nevsehir and then a hospital in Istanbul. Photos of black eyes to follow!<br />
Peace Corps has been exceptional in providing care - including both an air ambulance plus the AZ PC doctor accompanied us to Washington DC re: Medevac and all the attendant paperwork.<br />
It seems so many days ago but I am regaining my energy, seeing a physical therapist regularly, and trying to comprehend the impact of what happened. Returning to finish my PC service is on my mind and I am very hopeful that I can return for several months to work with my English teachers at Digah School.<br />
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For now, I am learning to accept the care and many kindnesses of others. I have my right arm in a black sling and people have been so sweet to open doors, carry my things, and even tie my shoes. It is not easy to type yet, so my posts will be short and few.Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-4961748579021159842012-07-14T13:30:00.000-07:002015-02-24T11:36:22.001-08:00Turkey Trip - Day 6: KonyaSaturday morning. After breakfast in the hotel's lower
level, Elaine and I walked to the fascinating Mevlana Museum which was crowded with pilgrims plus a wedding party.<br />
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This popular museum is the burial site of Rumi and features multiple
tableaux of the lives of his followers
at that time in history. (And pleasantly surprised by the nearby bike rack.)<br />
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Later, we walked to the Aladdin hill and
another mosque, then returned via taxi for lunch at the Dervish hotel with
the owner's older brother who had an international carpet business.
That meant a trip to his office where we both photographed many
carpets. However we excused ourselves once he began talking about his
meeting up with an old love in Istanbul.<br />
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Time for another taxi trip to a tile museum followed by a walk to the Stone and Wood museum.<br />
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In one museum, I was excited and stunned to see a set of nesting bowls that is similar to a set of bowls I have at home in Minneapolis. Mine were bought as American Express premiums years ago and I always thought they were oriental. They are so precious to me that before I left for the Peace Corps, I had distributed my nesting bowls to 5 friends to keep while I was away. What a surprise to discover they were of Turkish design aka yes, oriental!</div>
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Always anticipating our next excursion,
we bought bus tickets to Pammulke, then opted for pizza at Sifa
restaurant in Konya. The Saturday evening performances by the Sufi
was the primary reason for our visit to this out-of-the-way town. A
new 2100-seat Cultural Center had been built for this, and we were
not disappointed. We were joined by 2 Taiwanese tourists Debbie and
Peggy who we had met earlier in the day. The evening ended with a
round-about walk to our hotel looking for a place that sold Efes beer. To our disappointment, no alcohol in any shops.Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-58202856894362714242012-07-13T10:08:00.000-07:002015-02-24T07:22:55.042-08:00Turkey Trip - Day 5: On our way to KonyaEarly morning breakfast at the hotel
before we left to get a comfortable Kamil Kac bus to Konya. This
daylong trip was the best way to get to Konya, the home of the
“whirling dervishes,” i.e., the Sufi sect of Islam that is considered a living heritage in Turkey. Our bus tickets included seat assignments and
several stops along the way to pick up more passengers. One stop had
the driver escorting me to the restroom, waiting for me, then
escorting me back to the correct bus.<br />
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The mountain scenery and fields of
wheat and barley were mesmerizing, but I did get in some reading of
<u>The Hunger Games</u> on my Kindle as well as a nap. At one stop I
wrote that we apparently feasted on an onion snack, sesame balls,
almonds, cherry juice and chocolate. At the 30-minute stop at Anhara,
the bus driver asked for my email address even tho' he couldn't speak
English, and he gave me his. Oh my!<br />
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We arrived in Konya about 8:30 pm, but
the local taxi driver couldn't find our recently renovated Hotel
Dervis. Our Azerbaijani didn't work so well, but we finally arrived
at the hotel which was a large home recently restored into a
delightful hotel. The younger brother of the owner drove us in his
pick-up truck to a restaurant that was still open. In its large
outdoor garden, there were two long tables nearby of about 20 men eating. It was Friday after mosque. We seemed a bit of curiosity to
them. After a dinner of lamb and vegetables, we somehow found our way
back to Hotel Dervis walking in the dark. Feeling very safe.</div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-66154961987570943512012-07-12T09:47:00.000-07:002015-02-24T11:48:26.465-08:00Turkey Trip - Day 4: Haram Museum and 1453 PanoramaWe walked to Topkapi Palace(25 TL) for
9am opening plus the Haram Museum (15 TL) within. Took lots of photos
before my camera battery died: caftans, jewels, gifts from other
governments and royals.<br />
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It was built in the 15<sup>th</sup> century
as an official complex then made by Suleyman into official residence.<br />
<br />
After long morning tour, we took the tram to the Eminonu
stop for a winding walk to the Spice Bazaar. An upper restaurant
Pandeli was recommended for a lunch of eggplant salad & ayran. It
seemed pretty dead, so we headed down to the warren of shops. Then a
long walk to Sulimonye Mosque by Sinan architect – no photography
allowed.<br />
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Returned by tram to the Topkapi stop where guide Carl had earlier shown us the breach in the Roman wall. We wanted to view this incredible
diorama of the 1453 conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans.
By far, this was the best educational tourist stop with audio tours in 8 different languages.</div>
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Returning to Sarnic hotel, we had our
photo taken with Nadira, and the hotel staff helped order a bus for
us for travel to Konya on Friday. For dinner, we ate at the hotel's
rooftop restaurant where we were greeted effusively by a young
waiter. Then we waited 20 – 25 minutes for our drink order to
arrive! My appetizer sampler (dolmate, tomato salad, eggplant salad,
& fresh cheese) was out done by Elaine's order of sea bass which
was painstakingly de-boned by the same youthful waiter. Alas,
dessert and service went down hill as we waited nearly 20 minutes for
our check. Then back to our room to pack for the next morning's
travel.</div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-47274513791695547552012-07-11T09:13:00.000-07:002015-02-24T11:47:53.242-08:00Turkey Trip - Day 3: Blue Mosque and moreContinental breakfast at 8am in the
lower level of our hotel. Although much updated, the halls and stairs
in this older building were narrow and confusing. It seems like every older building in Istanbul has some kind of spiral staircase that was an after-thought when the building was first constructed.<br />
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Quick walk to the Blue Mosque and Sofia Haqqia (25 Turkish Lira entry fee is
about $10 US), then lunch at nearby “Cafe Meatball.”<br />
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For souvenirs, I
spotted a felt doll and bought 3 sets of postcards of 3 different historic sites. After a nap, we figured out how to take the train to the Grand
Bazaar where I bought a unique purse. Heading back to the hotel, we spent
some time looking for a T-shop for mascara. At one point we realized
that many restaurants are rooftop and not easily seen at ground level. We were hungry and thirsty so the Pierre Loti Hotel was our choice
for beer and lemonade and a visit from a freeloading pigeon!</div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-19090970347556575402012-07-10T08:44:00.000-07:002015-02-24T11:47:21.606-08:00Turkey Trip - Day 2: Arriving in IstanbulSo sweet to have Elaine's host father,
mother, and sister drive us to the airport at 6:30am for our 8:30
flight to Istanbul via Onur airlines. We arrived at 10:30 at Ataturk
airport Istanbul, fumbled around for visa entry money in Turkish
lira, then took a taxi to the Sarnic Hotel in the oldest part of
Istanbul. Our room wasn't ready, so we left our bags and walked to an
area along the Bosphorus for calamari lunch. When we returned to the
hotel, we got a quick tour of the building from young hotel employee,
Nadira. She was excited to tell us that she began learning English from PCV Ralph
Murray/Murphy in her native country of Kazakhstan. She still remembers his name and admitted to having a crush on him.<br />
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I used the computer at the front desk to got an internet connection to the Vayama website. That's the site for arranging personal tours, so we agreed to meet up at 4pm with Carl McMahon, native of
Boston and history tour guide in Istanbul. We started with a
train ride to the Topkapi stop, saw part of the old wall, toured Kariye Museum - formerly a Christian church - then shared a taxi
to get to a ferry boat heading north on the Bosphorus.<br />
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Ferries are a traditional and much used way for Istanbul residents to cross from
the European side to the Asian side. One of the 2 suspension bridges crossing
the Bosphorus was only finished in 1988.<br />
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We 3 disembarked for real yogurt, then took
a “dolmas” yellow taxi to Kadikoy. Nothing like a fried cheese
salad and Efes beer at a restaurant in an old ferry building. Elaine and I were
on our own taking a ferry back, then the train, and finally the hidden walk
to our hotel. The tour provided a good overview of places we'd like
to see again, plus how to manage the ferries and train to get around
to more of Istanbul.</div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-15968028760861944452012-07-09T08:36:00.000-07:002015-02-24T11:46:38.619-08:00Turkey Trip - Day 1: Getting to GanjaFor 7 manat ($10), I boarded a large
un-air conditioned bus in Masalli to meet up with Elaine in Ganja for
the start of our 2-week travel in Turkey. I was prepared for a
7-hour ride that included a one-hour stretch over the worst unpaved
road in AZ. This particular bus was already 2/3 full of chairs
for delivery somewhere enroute from a furniture factory. Midway thru the trip there's a pit-stop for tea and lunch and maybe purchase a phone card.<br />
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During the summer
families are often traveling to visit relatives in other parts
of Azerbaijan. Sometimes women approach me to ask where I'm from, are
helpful in showing me the path to the toilet, or may want their
daughter to meet me. I use my limited Azerbaijani language for basic
conversation, might practice English with a school girl, and may even accept their invitation to sit with them and eat together.</div>
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As the bus approached Ganja, it veered
off the road to a newly constructed wedding palace to unload the
chairs. The driver enlisted the help of other male passengers before
we continued to Ganja.
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Another surprise as the bus approached this
large city: the main bus station in Ganja was under-construction! So
instead of stopping nearby, the driver just started announcing where he would stop. (As
if everyone knows where they want to get off in a city of 250,000!) I
got off at some intersection where others were getting off, and began
texting Elaine furiously about my location. Since her Russian host
family was picking me up, we had 3-way messaging going with her
English-speaking host sister. While I'm standing at some busy corner,
I heard my name called out and there was Sabrina and her parents in a
car to pick me up. What a relief! Elaine's host mother has prepared a
huge supper for us, and we made plans for the next morning's flight
from Ganja International airport to Istanbul!</div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-14058754701445717252012-07-07T07:02:00.000-07:002015-02-24T11:50:27.223-08:002 Week Vacation in Turkey - July, 2012So glad that fellow PCV Elaine is a great traveler and planner. She's taken charge of making air, bus and hotel arrangements as we leave for Istanbul, Konya, and Cappadocia before we end our Peace Corps service in December. There's a 90 day window before the Close of Service when we cannot be out of Azerbaijan, so we're traveling during the hot and quiet summer before we need to stay at site.<br />First I'll take an 7 hour bus trip to Ganja to meet up with her, then we'll fly together to Istanbul and begin out trek. Thanks to Trip Advisor, Elaine has identified a hotel in the heart of old Istanbul and walking distance to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the spice bazar. My contribution was to find a local English-speaking guide via Vayama to give us a 4-hour history tour of Istanbul. We'll also travel via bus to Konya to see the Sufi "whirling dervishes", stay in a cave hotel in Cappadocia, and take a hot air balloon ride! So many things to do, and great to have a travel friend.Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-28843422244002192552012-07-03T22:16:00.003-07:002015-02-24T11:45:38.783-08:00It's the little things that matter<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Recently I got a ride home from the father of one of my teachers. It wasn't the first time someone has offered me a ride or gone out of their way to help me. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">This particular man is a gentleman about my age, and has worked as a translator at the Astara border crossing to Iran. His daughter Shalala is becoming my best English teacher because it is only her second year of teaching and she is eager to become a good teacher.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">As I got out of his car he emphasized, "please call me for anything you need at all," and added, "Consider me your brother as I think of you as my sister." To me this has great meaning in this culture because men's role is to protect women. Even young boys are expected to look after their older sisters at school and through out their lives. Essentially he was offering to look after me as he would a sister.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Earlier that day two young boys in the photo shop assisted me promptly. Usually men get waited on in stores before women. I could be standing at the counter, but if a man comes into a shop after me he gets waited on first. But this time the boys in the shop recognized me from school and printed a document I needed for school first.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Often when I am riding in a marsrutka, people who recognize me will pay my fare. Sometimes I don't realize this until I am getting off and the driver indicates that someone already paid for me. Other times I am waiting for a marsrutka, and a driver will stop their car and open the passenger door for me to ride in the back seat. Several times this has been people I hardly recognize. I always feel safe.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">The mother of my student Georgie has twice sent him over with plov (rice pilaf) and roast chicken for my dinner. During recent hot weather he has also brought me a carton of ice cream.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">It is just those little things that make me smile at how I am seen here. First of all being older is a definite asset. After I started riding my bicycle to and from school, I could hear my name <i>Peggy Hanum</i> spoken as I rode past houses and stores. Little boys want to race me on their bikes, but I draw the line there. No way!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Here's a photo of Afat, an English teacher at another school. We get together once a week to practice our foreign languages. By the way, she only wears the scarf when she walks outside. This one is particularly lovely.</span></div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-3954956381302970742012-06-17T04:17:00.001-07:002012-06-17T04:17:23.675-07:00Time flew during summer activity week!I took a week long break after the last day of school, and tried to sleep in for a few days. But the dogs, ducks and chickens next door don't have the sense God gave geese. They would join in the call to prayer at 4:30AM with howling, quacking and crowing. So I'd get up too, make coffee and read the news on the internet.<br />
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I spent that week preparing for Summer activities for 10 and 11 year old kids at my school. That meant finding some easy-to-teach games that require minimal supplies. As much as I'd love to purchase paint, markers, paper, yarn, crayons, etc for these kids, I decided they could learn a few games to play when I'm no longer here. Also, to me my school kids are especially weak in team-playing. Most focus on individual sports and accomplishments rather than playing as a member of a team.<br />
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Although I used a Games for Girl Scouts book, I got the best assist from PCV Elaine who stayed with me for a week. Each afternoon we plotted how to fill up 3 hours of time for the following day. Each morning we'd arrive at my school at 9:30 wondering how many kids would show up. There were about a dozen kids each day, but 22 different kids over the entire week. Three boys were quite surprised the first day when we told them not to come back because they were particularly rude to me and Elaine. That was an unplanned lesson: that there are consequences for bad behavior.<br />
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Each day started with the name game. That was followed by "Who's the Leader", 4 Corners, and the daily favorite, "Down by the banks of the Hanky-Panky . . ." Outdoors the kids practiced throwing and catching frisbees, played relay games, London Bridge, and gently tossed water balloons. Indoors, Elaine provided marshmallows and spaghetti for tower building by teams. One day they made origami helicopters, and another day colored cards depicting summer activities to give to their mothers!<br />
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Of course, the best part was having another PCV to unwind with, and beer and chips seemed the best way to do that! Elaine also made sure the cow and calf in my yard had water.<br />
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<br />Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-51409677667543469522012-05-05T02:19:00.003-07:002012-05-05T02:19:34.722-07:00A Week of Frustrations & Inspirations<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's been a frustrating week as the school year closes. Every little thing looms large due to the discomfort I have in my left foot. The smallest problem becomes a bigger irritant – slimy slugs leave a trail on my kitchen sink, biking boys trick me by braking in front of me, teachers chat with each other during class, the store is out of my favorite tandir bread. Grrrr. I've yet to find the word for “crabby” in the Azerbaijan language. Even my English teachers know I'm irritable.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wednesday I decided to stay home from school and try to stay off my feet. It has been a month since my foot became swollen and painful on the top - not at the ankle. I saw an orthopedist in Baku, but I haven't started feeling relief until this past week by taking ibupropen daily and riding not walking to and from school. I'm paying more attention to how fast I walk, the shoes I wear, and the amount of gravel I walk on. I suspect it was sharp gravel under the ball of my foot that caused this problem initially.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This morning I'm sitting outside in the sunshine waiting for either the water truck to come by or a “master” to arrive who can repair the water pump so that it fills the water tank for my house. I only need to fill it about every 6 weeks but wıthout water I can't cook, bathe, wash clothes, etc. It's a frustrating weekend when I can't do household chores. Well . . . there is one thing I learned to do for my mental health back in Minnesota: pull weeds! My yard is without the grazing of a cow and her calf. One of them snapped the electric wire leading from my house to the water pump, so the landlady won't allow the farmer use my yard again. (My neighbor Sakit spliced the electric line, but the pump still doesn't work.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I do a little self-talk to get me out of my pissy mood by thinking instead about all the positive things that happened last week. Here goes:</span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">great language sessions with my student Georgie; he loves the visual dictionary</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Georgie brought me tandir bread from his father's store</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I killed those slugs with slug pellets</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my home phone and internet are working again</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a shy 5<sup>th</sup> form boy started speaking English in class this past week</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">students gave me many red roses on Friday</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I introduced another English teacher to the new restaurant in Masalli</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the new school director requires assembly and national song before school starts each day</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am reading <span style="text-decoration: underline;">All the King's Men </span>by Robert Penn Warren</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Facetime video chats with Anton, Tracy, and Deb S. this past week!</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For added interest, here are a couple photos from a weekend in Baku with PCVs Elaine and Suzi. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We went to the site Atashgah where Zoroastrianism began (fire worshipers) plus located several homes (now museums) of early 20<sup>th</sup> century oil barons, and the Aristocrats Society in the old city. Best of all we had great meals (Shamrock burgers and Caesar salads and white wine) and laughs (don't ask about whales) together.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-30220322118336179262012-04-07T23:42:00.003-07:002013-04-25T21:23:24.141-07:00Toys have their own personalities!I've been invited to 6 or 7 toys (weddings) since I arrived in Azerbaijan in Sept. 2010. Last night (April 7th), I attended the toy for the daughter of my English teacher Irada. I'm starting to notice that not every toy is the same. In fact this one had the additional intrigue of including my school's director Naila after it became known last week that she has been ousted from her job! Naila and Mother-of-the-Bride Irada were classmates years ago, so that friendship meant Naila was seated with family and friends of the bride. She did not sit with the other teachers. There has been much talk in the teachers' room but my reliable source told me that she had been given a warning already last September. (That issue requires a separate blog.)<br />
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At other toys, I've been seated with friends of the couple, but last night I was seated at one of the many tables for teachers. That was the first thing that I noticed was different - the teachers' tables were not up close to the couple's throne. Then the family and friends of the couple walked into the room ahead of the bride and groom - women and men came in separately of course. Also notable to me was the fashion worn by many of the women relatives - and I don't mean 6 inch heels, but stylish, non-black dresses! </div>
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After the grand entrance by the bride and groom, they stood together for a few brief words from their parents, but there was no ceremonial cutting of a red ribbon around the bride's waist. The muscians included a fiddler and the music was a mix of mugam (traditional) and some popular songs. I did chuckle to myself that the musicians were dressed alike in plaid western-style shirts with elbow patches.<br />
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The above photo shows the lovely couple Huseyn and Leyla with Irada standing next to her daughter. English teacher Mehpara, best friend of Irada, is standing next to the groom. I'd never seen either of my teachers with their hair down.</div>
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The food was similar to every toy I've been to. Individual loaves of bread, bottles of juice and water on the table, mimosa and capital salads, roast chicken, cucumbers and tomatoes, cooked beef, and platters of kebobs followed by a plate of plain plov with a dish of toppings. I sat with the older women teachers and this was the first time they were snobbish enough to not touch the plov. I guess it didn't meet their standards. I was the only one who thoroughly enjoyed the grilled lamb chops - also a first for me.<br />
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Also a first (for me) at this toy were the male and female teachers dancing together. Well, not really together, but at the same time in separate dancing circles. That was thoroughly enjoyable, but alas I had no one use my camera to get even one photo of me with my school's teachers. There was a video camera taping me, so I'm sure I'm on the wedding video to be played over and over again in the future.<br />
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It was also good to see my first counterpart Qafur Muellim who had been forced to retire due to his age. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Since
I came with my next door neighbor/teacher, I also agreed to leave
with her early. That meant missing the balloon drop and wedding cake. For
some reason, I was really hungry for ice cream when I got home, but
that season doesn't start here until after May 1st.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I'll have a separate picasa album of the many other photos I took. </span></span></div>
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Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-71956724020383243442012-04-01T10:33:00.000-07:002012-04-01T10:33:51.880-07:00Building boom in MasalliI took some photos when I first arrived in Masalli a year ago, so it's interesting to see dramatic changes in the streets and shops in this town. I first started recording photos of the wonderful tandir bread shop located near my former host family's apartment. I was able to look down on the shop from Sally's balcony for the first shot. The second photo was taken in January when a small sign was surrounded by empty store fronts. On March 30th I climbed through construction scaffolding (bottom photo) to discover new ovens and many women working again.<br />
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A long stretch of the main street in Masalli, Heydar Aliyev Prospektus, looks very similar to the photo above. Many small shops were demolished, and none - except the bread shop - have re-opened.<br />
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Masalli also renovated a former community building that was located next to the Cultural Center. Gone is the squared-off style of the soviet era, and a new facade has arching windows similar to the nearby Cultural Center. It will now be a youth center with meeting rooms, a gallery and auditorium.<br />
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Two weeks ago, the President of Azerbaijan visited the new youth center, new telecom building, and the new green house which is located a stone's throw from my house. The road he traveled on was spruced up as well as any buildings along the route. Even the local garbage burner was demolished, fences put up and trees planted. Here is an earlier photo of an abandoned building plus the photo of how it looked when the President went past it.<br />
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</div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-12420817306377071322012-03-17T00:50:00.001-07:002012-03-19T09:04:37.538-07:00Retraction: Spring is not here yet!<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">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. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">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. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">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. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Here's
a photo taken at the end of the meal. Note the wheat grass symbol.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">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???</span></span></div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-17557025155617643922012-03-07T09:13:00.000-08:002012-03-07T09:13:55.167-08:00How to Tell if it's Spring YetLittle things I notice as the weather gets warmer:<div>
<ul>
<li>I can hang clothes outside on the clothes line</li>
<li>Tiny blue flowers poke thru the trashy weeds in the yard</li>
<li>I cut back on the layers of clothes I wear</li>
<li>Only 1 pair of gloves instead of 2, and no need to wear a hat (some days)</li>
<li>I can turn off my gas stove for several hours</li>
<li>I can take the brown monster sleeping bag off my bed</li>
<li>The roads and mud start to dry out</li>
<li>I don't have to wear my rubber boots to school</li>
<li>Lots of walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds for sale at the bazar</li>
<li>Birds are chirping in the morning; and baby lambs bah-bah-ing</li>
<li>Daylight comes earlier and stays later; fewer cloudy days</li>
<li>People seem in a good mood.</li>
</ul>
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The snow from a recent overnight storm has already melted. But the slog to school that first morning meant few kids attended plus the school had no heat. I did capture one brave little boy as he made his way ahead of me. It's no wonder that Novrus is so anticipated. It's been a long Winter.</div>
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</div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-70810086213953472572012-02-11T03:04:00.000-08:002012-02-11T03:04:03.848-08:00Getting through FebruaryIt's day #3 of frozen water pipes, but I'm not complaining because it's day #10 of frozen pipes for a fellow PCV in Ganca. I'm in the southern region of Azerbaijan, so the cold wave seems not as bad here. And thanks to the year around water-truck delivery system, it is possible to get some water. The truck drove through the neighborhood yesterday, sounding a distinctive horn so that everyone could set out containers to be filled. I regretted not buying large empty jars last Fall, but managed to fill a large canning kettle. And after the truck left, I spent some time visiting with my neighbors over tea.<br />
<br />
Although the water pipe from the holding tank to my house runs underground, there's a 10 foot long section that runs up the side of my building. I'm assuming that's where the pipe is frozen and it'll stay that way until it warms up. So far we've had snow every day for the past 6 days totalling maybe 4 inches. School has been closed 4 days due to the weather, and one morning I simply was afraid to walk due to the slipperiness. Here's a wintery scene of a house near mine.<br />
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With no water coming out of the faucets, I minimize the use of the water I do have. I use a little bit of water in a basin for washing dishes, heat a bit more to rinse the soap off, but make sure that rinse water runs back into the basin. When that water gets dirty enough, it's used to flush the toilet. I've washed a few clothes, but I don't rinse out the soap as much as I'd like to. Water becomes precious since I don't know the next time I'll have more.<br />
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Nevertheless water is essential for the national drink here - tea - which is kept ready for guests. Loose tea leaves are first put into a wire basket inside of a small teapot. Boiling water is poured from the large teakettle into the small teapot to make strong tea. Some of that tea is poured into a cup and boiling water added to fill the rest of the cup. In that way, the tea is strong or weak tea depending upon the amount of tea first poured into the cup. Both teapots are kept on a stove (petch) like mine so it is always hot. For fresh tea, simply toss out the tea in the small pot and start over. Sugar cubes or wrapped candies are always served with tea.<br />
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<br />Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-31607385317953624842012-01-29T08:34:00.000-08:002012-01-29T08:34:52.994-08:00One Week in WinterIn Minnesota I dreaded the last week in January because of the bitter below-zero temperatures. The memory of starting my ice-cold car on such frigid mornings makes me shiver even now. Baku had blowing snow while I was there last week and it seemed so Minnesota-like - except for the poor snow removal and lack of salt or sand on sidewalks.<div>
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<div>
All week Peace Corps held a Mid-Service Conference for the AZ8's as well as our annual medical and dental check-ups. It was great to meet up with other PCVs, see some city sites, eat at real restaurants, and stay at a hotel. One afternoon I walked with another PCV through the historic old city of Baku where there is a fair trade shop, Enchanted Cottage, which sells items made in Azerbaijan.</div>
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In the foreground are buildings in the old city but the background shows one of 3 modern office towers under construction. The old city covers a large area with many shops, hotels, and restaurants within it's walls plus historic sites such as the Maiden Tower.</div>
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PCV Elaine and I stopped for coffee at the 5-star Meridian Hotel and took photos from the fifth floor restaurant balcony. We wondered if there was an effective historic preservation organization, since so many older buildings are being torn down or new facades added. It's one thing to have modern facilities, but another to tear down traditional and historic structures.</div>
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By nightfall, we walked to the metro station near the old city for a 10 minute subway trip back to our hotel. The entrance to this particular station appears to be a copy of the I.M.Pei design outside The Louve in Paris. No one stopped us from taking photos, and night time felt very safe.</div>
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But just to stay grounded about poverty in this oil-rich country, I'm adding a photo of a house across the road from my house in Digah village. The tarp is not a temporary fix; it has been there since last July. I personally think there are people in Baku who have no idea that their countrymen live in such conditions, Hopefully, in time, better education and income will help this family improve their living conditions. Inshallah - God willing.</div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-52744554100162005202012-01-15T01:00:00.000-08:002012-01-15T01:00:59.773-08:00Talking to myself!I know I've been remiss in writing for this blog, so during chores this morning I started telling myself about some possible topics. For one thing, I've come to appreciate washing machines and warm water. I'm trying out a new laundry soap called Persil which I'd read about in the NYTimes. It was developed specifically for washing clothes in cold water. I'll see if I can find the link to the article since I've come to believe that heating water is one of the biggest energy users, and I want to minimize that.<br />
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Then there's the story of destroying my tea kettle by forgetting it on the stove for over 2 hours. It isn't about losing my memory since one of my site mates reported doing the same thing the day before. We both were working on our computers and simply forgot that we'd left water boiling on our stoves. Here's a photo of the new one that I bought the next morning.<br />
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I wondered if anyone would be interested in my walking at night on a muddy road. Or that the full moon on a clear night brings out the howling dogs at about 2AM. Or that I went "guesting" at my neighbors recently and they walked me home in the dark.<br />
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I finally met the young married PCV couple who are assigned to Lankeran about 40 minutes away. We had a test of the PC Consolidation Action Plan, so they came to Sally's house Friday morning. It was done to determine how long it would take for 5 of us to gather for further instructions from PC. Best of all, Sally made pumpkin pancakes for us for lunch.<br />
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In a couple weeks I will be in Baku for the annual medical and dental exam by the PC. It is part of the mid-service conference for the AZ8s. During that time, PC will also hold a lottery to set the dates for each of us to return to US. We can't all possibly have COS (Close of Service) on the same day so the dates are between Nov. 1st and Dec 15th. It's crazy to think about because sometimes it feels like I'm just beginning.<br />
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And here's a photo of the PCVs who came to my place for Christmas Eve 2011. It was a wonderful gathering of the "Southies."<br />
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<br />Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-45417216044330190892011-12-07T03:58:00.001-08:002011-12-07T05:15:25.827-08:00Too cold to write - and other excuses!OMG - it's almost a month since my last post. I've been jotting notes in my daily journal but that's about all I could manage while lurking around an electric space heater. Not unlike starving people obsessing food, I've been obsessing heat. My landlady would promise that workers would come, but always they were "no show."<br />
Before Thanksgiving the outside temperature dropped to near freezing, and in a brick unheated house my kitchen was 40 degrees. That's when I began figuring all sorts of ways to stay warm in earnest. I converted my kitchen to a living room since the electric heaters were there; hung clothes next to the heater in the morning, taped plastic over single-pane windows, and made lots of hot cocoa. Before bedtime I would move the heater into my bedroom.<br />
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All that changed last Tuesday, November 29th when 2 workers arrived to extend the gas line, and install a stove and exhaust pipes in my bedroom. It took them several hours and then discovered that the gas was shut off in my neighborhood. They came by again Wednesday to show me how to light the stove. I was so thrilled and toasty that I left it on all night next to my bed. (I will not do that again.) My next door neighbors have been a blessing too, checking that I have gas each morning by hollering out their back window.<br />
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In early November I took on some additional volunteer work which meant a couple nights in Baku plus many hours reading documents on my computer when I returned home. School had 2 breaks in November: three days one week for a religious holiday, and 4 days the next week for the regular mid-term break. One weekend, I took a 2-hour trip to visit another PCV who was finishing her service and gave several of us many kitchen items, clothes, and books she no longer needed.</div>
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I traveled to Baku to celebrate Thanksgiving with other PCVs on Saturday, Nov. 26th. This was particularly special because it had been a while since I'd seen many of the other volunteers. We were guests in the homes of Americans living in Baku and it was almost culture-shock to have a warm shower, a soft bed, and to be able to cook meals in a well-stocked kitchen. Each volunteer prepared and brought a typical dish to the home of the US Charge d'Affairs and he provided the roast turkeys.<br />
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I can't end this blog without mentioning the wonderful birthday package I received from family members. Not only pumpkin and pie crust and spices and many other goodies, but the treat for me was the camp stove toaster! That really is a day brightener each morning.<br />
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<br />Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-81772523026259952192011-11-08T08:06:00.000-08:002011-11-08T08:06:24.689-08:00Cold and snow comes early to Masalli<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn't really expect to see snow on the trees and grass this morning but Masalli got a taste of Winter weather overnight. It doesn't quite look like MN out my window: those are pomegranate trees plus I have daffy ducks on an icy pond that's getting bigger by the day. Now I understand why people usually occupy just the upper level of a 2-story house. People told me houses here are constructed like this due to flooding and it makes sense when I realize the ground today is saturated. (They may also have kept livestock on the lower level, so they haven't given up that idea.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I checked the Masalli weather on a website and the temperature was near zero Celsius. Unfortunately, I had to bundle up yesterday and walk to get the gas "balloon" filled or I wouldn't be able to cook. I put on long johns, leggings, jeans, 3 pairs of socks, a turtleneck, 2 knit sweaters, plus a scarf, wool hat, gloves and windbreaker with hood and my rubber boots. The guy filling my gas tank still recognized me as an American!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This was the temperature in my kitchen this morning. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I turned on the water heater for over an hour and got the water hot enough to wash my hair. I also hung my clothes near the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">electric space heater in the kitchen</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> so they are warm when I put them on. I cooked hot oatmeal and had a cup of hot coffee. Then I usually say a prayer that the electricity stays on. I also have special prayers I say for special people when the imam sings from the mosque five times a day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Around 11AM today my landlady came with her son and the workmen to install gas lines to the house! Finally! They hooked up a 3-burner gas cooktop in my kitchen (I won't need the gas balloon), but they need to come back next week with an inspector to put in a stove that will heat my bedroom. I'd rather that they put that in first, but I'll take this work today as progress - knowing that it's really not Winter yet!</span></div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-1103364569876338472011-10-22T22:19:00.000-07:002011-10-22T22:24:00.396-07:00Everything Takes Longer!I used to think I was pretty efficient - checking off a list of things I would do in a single day. But life here moves at a different pace and sometimes I'm satisfied just to get through the day and feel somewhat prepared for the next.<br />
What takes longer is usually household chores. Remember: not only am I teaching in a foreign culture, but I've set up housekeeping in a completely different way than what I'm used to in the US. I live independently in a rented house, but it is located away from a main road so I walk a lot.<br />
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The lack of household conveniences means I also spend more time on routine things. For example, there is only cold water from the spigot, so I need to boil and filter water for drinking. I also heat some water for washing dishes - and that's usually 3 times a day.<br />
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There is a large electric hot water tank in the shower room, so I turn that on about once a week to take a bucket bath. It takes about 45 minutes to reach an acceptable warm+ temperature. That's when I also try to wash some clothes because there's more warm water. Laundry also means washing clothes by hand. I've developed a sequence of steps that includes soaking, rinsing and wringing out by hand, then rinsing and wringing again. I hang some clothes in the shower room, and others are hung outside on the clothes line. The word <b>chore</b> precisely describes washing clothes by hand.<br />
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For preparing food, I have a propane tank for cooking plus a small one-temperature oven. That gas burner gets a workout as I use it to heat water in a tea kettle, saute onions/tomatoes/peppers in a skillet, then simmer soup in a saucepan. It is a juggling act to cook a meal, boil water for drinking and heat water for washing dishes on a single gas burner.<br />
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Most time consuming is walking. No jumping into my car for a quick trip for groceries or go to work. Instead I walk to small neighborhood shops for eggs, milk, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, etc., walk to the nearby trash pit to throw away garbage, and walk to and from school each day. While each trip may take only 10 - 20 minutes, there are multiple trips each day.<br />
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For larger purchases, about once a week I walk to the nearby road and wait 5 - 20 minutes for a marsrutka to come along and take me to the old bazar. That's where I can buy frozen chicken, rice, and a greater variety of fruits and vegetables. And no convenience foods unless you count Kellogg's Special K or Nestle's Fitness cereals. Everything I cook is from scratch, so that means planning ahead to soak beans overnight and allowing several hours to cook them.<br />
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Besides basic homemaking, I take time each day to review upcoming lessons and think about ways to teach English using minimal if any materials. So when I feel like I haven't made much progress I realize I spend a lot of time - just like most Azeri women do - just maintaining.<br />
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<br />Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-2678451825063831662011-09-27T20:31:00.000-07:002011-09-27T20:31:18.926-07:00Chilly morning routineErase any questions about climate change. It is not yet the end of September and the weather in this warm climate is cold and rainy. In fact last night I resorted to wearing my flannel pajamas for the first time this Fall, and I also plugged in the electric heater in my bedroom.<br />
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This morning I realized I've developed a routine to get out the door by 8:30 for my first class at 9AM. I'm awake before my cellphone alarm goes off at 7. While in my pj's, I fill the tea kettle and light the gas burner for hot water. Then I go back to my bedroom to make my bed and get out my clothes for the day - and that includes black tights due to the chilly mornings. I head back to the bathroom where I finish dressing. (I've been good about wearing skirts to school, but I've decided to wear slacks when it is cold. I plan to model functional fashion for the other women teachers and hope they come to question this cultural rule about what women must wear.)<br />
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Back to my routine: When the tea kettle whistles, I pour some of the hot water into a plastic tub in the kitchen sink and mix it with cold water for washing my face. Of course I also use boiling water to make a cup of Starbucks coffee when I have that. After putting on moisturizer and some makeup, I have a bowl of Special K cereal with whole milk plus the requisite daily vitamin and a calcium tablet. Then I head back to my bedroom when my computer resides and check for emails and the headlines in USA.<br />
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Notice that I do not take a daily shower or bucket bath. I reserve that for about once a week when I turn on the electricity for the huge hot water tank in the bathroom. I've come to realize how energy inefficient a large water heater is since it takes so long to heat and then I don't use all the heated water. That is, the hot water goes to waste. And do I really need to shower every day? I'm managing just fine.<br />
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Before I leave for school I brush my teeth in the kitchen sink and put on lipstick. I pull on boots in my hallway and carry a bag with a pair of shoes plus school books for classes that day. Often I meet up with my neighbor who also teaches at Digah school and walk with her and other children headed there.<br />
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Another time, I'll write about my afternoon and evening routine.Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-50385840797239215522011-09-16T23:38:00.000-07:002011-09-17T00:26:10.963-07:00A Saturday in SeptemberI've been up early today because my landlady Gulnar will be coming to re-hang some curtains in my kitchen. I have a belief that if my place is spic-and-span, she will expedite the hookup to gas for this house for both heating and cooking. So far I've washed the kitchen floor and swept down cobwebs from around several windows. I'll clean the hall entrance and might even wash a few window panes. Back in the states, it's Fall cleaning time.<br />
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I also plan to work on a couple more posters for next week's English classes. My "What is the Weather Today?" poster was well received during the first 2 days of school. (Well of course it was: there were no textbooks or anything else to engage the students or teachers.) I'm thinking I'll add a bit of grammar ala Present Simple tense, Past Simple, and Future Simple. For older students, I'm also creating a thermometer poster and asking them to watch TV for the temperature forecasts for Masalli. Motivation? How do they know what to wear to school? Or what is most important information for planting tomatoes? Or . . . something about climate change!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzZSqU9BXZQQRhrftYOhan1rP4AWV5l4tW9wr6cdjvsoUxN6Q8YLW5DrRjhGYralyChYjT4d46w3B3gg3vBdpMJ8JlZahp-14YtzG1PkffAxDDFQQQd06hAPGgjHGNQ-F3YMwF28C_e83/s1600/Weather+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzZSqU9BXZQQRhrftYOhan1rP4AWV5l4tW9wr6cdjvsoUxN6Q8YLW5DrRjhGYralyChYjT4d46w3B3gg3vBdpMJ8JlZahp-14YtzG1PkffAxDDFQQQd06hAPGgjHGNQ-F3YMwF28C_e83/s320/Weather+poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm not sure what's got me stirred up about teaching this Fall. I think it's just seeing the lack of motivation or interest by the <u>teachers</u> and wanting to show them how to engage the students. They think it's me and I want to prove to them it's them. Site mate Sally and I put on a week-long teacher training that was poorly attended. We even wondered if teachers know the ranking of the education system is in this country. We're not sayin'!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0StdTGiM_bg-qaGTKFV1h9Xrq38nS5GAPqJOPFJJEoNlTcwBDs-nVT-m8waT74kIFCH46Q-hwD8_3G2at71X_D6MMcvOXA6NAVlNWduSt8mwSUIRs2PLps7gvO_c74VehUiMQNK-3JHz0/s1600/Me+and+Elnur+re+weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0StdTGiM_bg-qaGTKFV1h9Xrq38nS5GAPqJOPFJJEoNlTcwBDs-nVT-m8waT74kIFCH46Q-hwD8_3G2at71X_D6MMcvOXA6NAVlNWduSt8mwSUIRs2PLps7gvO_c74VehUiMQNK-3JHz0/s320/Me+and+Elnur+re+weather.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I plan to use the time without textbooks to do things differently: get all students saying something in English, have them draw words in their copy books to better learn and remember. Most of all, I want to get my grammar-focused teachers to have confidence in themselves to teach at their best. I want them to have successful English students as the reward for improving their teaching efforts.Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415358817836388203.post-74145155135270173822011-09-09T09:32:00.000-07:002011-09-09T09:32:44.370-07:00Tell-tale TurdsMoving into a big brick house has been the adventure promised. Since July 3rd, I've learned the routes to several small markets, met several of the neighbors, and only locked myself out of my house once - on the 2nd day here! Generally I've figured out how to wash clothes in cold water, to run the electric pump for well water, and I had a phone and internet installed. I'm learning to cook with just one propane gas burner tank plus a one-temperature-for-everything oven. I usually don't heat water in the shower tank for doing dishes, but fill a tea kettle instead to get hot water for dishes. I've also started a compost pile in the corner of the garden.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5iWajGzxL3w/Tktc8Wx69rI/AAAAAAAAGzs/YYsKtPMOSRI/s1600/IMG_6471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5iWajGzxL3w/Tktc8Wx69rI/AAAAAAAAGzs/YYsKtPMOSRI/s320/IMG_6471.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>The construction of this house is generally lacking finishes. By that I mean windows and doors don't fit snugly, the floors are wooden planks without covering, the walls and ceilings are unpainted, the concrete steps to the living level are uncovered, and there are electric wires sticking out of the walls where light fixtures should be. Two rooms on the second level are totally unfinished, that is, you can open a door to those rooms but you would see the dirt floor of the lower level through the floor joists. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXadg6anZQI/Tktps6GB5LI/AAAAAAAAG18/DF77MK8QuZM/s1600/IMG_6482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXadg6anZQI/Tktps6GB5LI/AAAAAAAAG18/DF77MK8QuZM/s320/IMG_6482.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>That lower level appears to be home to other creatures including spiders, swallows, pigeons and mice. The windows for the lower level have no window panes so heaven only knows what animals might come in from the cold in the next few months. Mice have been visiting my kitchen during the night according to the tell-tale turds I noticed. One morning I could hear scratching near my oven and discovered that a mouse had gotten stuck in the oven door. Too bad. I suppose I could have turned on the oven, but I refrained. I did, however, triple wrap my hands in plastic bags the next day to remove the little carcass. </div>Margaret aka Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143373568273283219noreply@blogger.com0