The month of November was completely full of interesting experiences and then there were those that I promised to recount from before that. Well, then I left Azerbaijan for more than a month at the end of November to go to Tbilisi, Georgia for a week with my Masters students on a sort-of field trip, then to Istanbul for a couple of days on my own, before spending most of the month of December floating around the U.S. to see most of my family in D.C., Monterey, and Nevada and many friends in Monterey. I returned to Baku to work on the 30th of December just to find that the Rector had given everyone the day off to make the long weekend with New Years and another Muslim holiday even longer. I'm glad I came back, though, because I did need to work that day to prepare to teach on the 5th, which was the first day after the holiday.
I have to say to family and friends who I talked to over the break and heard my giant list of complaints and reasons for not wanting to return after a number of issues that went down a little before and more right after I left for my break in teaching: I survived the first week!! Honestly, there is only one reason I survived this first week and that is the Lord. After much prayer, fasting, a blessing, and others' prayers (thank you!!!), I know that it was only through Him that I was strengthened to handle what I had to face upon my return. I'll save the complaints for those that I didn't see or who didn't hear about them, but I'll say that it wasn't pretty and it was enough for me to consider ending my contract early and not to return. However, the Lord had something else in mind for me and I returned; thus, he helped me work out many of the issues that I needed to and to rebuild the friendships and trust that I had built among faculty and staff and students. I have not seen the end of the difficulties and challenges, but I know that I'll continue to be strengthened and guided as to how to deal with them and to come out well in the end. Thank you again to all who have been praying for me!!
One of those reasons that I know I'm here is the same as I've mentioned in the past: missionary work. I continue to have opportunities to talk about my beliefs and even Christianity in general in spite of the laws against proselyting and other barriers. Everyone knows that I'm "Mormon" and Christian and they feel that they can ask me about anything and also tell everyone else that they introduce me to that I'm a religious Christian person. It will even be announced in a game we are playing with the new students tomorrow to get to know their teachers, because the English director decided to add one thing about me: "She's a very religious person." I'm glad I am seen that way and that people ask. One of my students from Mexico in the Masters program has been coming to church since my last Sunday here in November. I spent a bit of time with him today after church answering a lot of his questions and telling him about many of our beliefs. He asked me about baptism and then whether he could be a missionary like I was in Brazil. Unfortunately for the latter, he would be too old to go as a single male, so he'll have to wait until he can go with his wife. However, for the former ... oh there could be another trip to Georgia some weekend or something ... whatever we need to do. Moscow is too complicated with Visas, even if the area authorities are there.
Anyway, I had to tell this story also to let you all know I'm where I'm supposed to be at this moment. I don't know that I'll be here for another 8 months to fulfill the contract, but right now I'm here where the Lord wants me. I'll face the challenges I have to face with His help and then go when I'm supposed to.
photo by: Rebecca C.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Azerbaijani Culture Update after 2 months
I keep saying that I have so many things I want to share about what I'm learning about the culture. So here are just a few things I've learned:
It is interesting to work with mostly Azerbaijanis. This means that there are a number of frustrations, but I certainly have the opportunity to learn about and get used to many cultural things. Thus far, the most annoying frustration is the lack of planning. This word is not in the vocabulary. It's true! I've looked for it as I'm trying to learn the Azerbaijani language and it doesn't exist!! So, this is something I found out the hard way and I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. I'm not the most organized person in the world, yet I am still an organization and planning freak. I can't deal very well with people coming up to me and saying, "we are having an important meeting with the Vice Rector in five minutes," or "there is a presentation happening in a half hour during the lunch hour and you need to be there," or "there is a luncheon upstairs in ten minutes that you need to go to," etc. With statements like the latter, I've learned the hard way that I need to ask what it is for and who is going to be there and 20 other questions. I described the luncheon that I had with the Ambassador/Rector/Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs already in the Blog. That is just one example of when I needed to ask 20 questions to find out what the purpose is of all of these unplanned meetings, luncheons, presentations, etc. Otherwise, I find myself meeting all of these really important people with no prior knowledge or expectation. However, much of the time, I still don't know, because often the person telling me I must go, doesn't even know the purpose themselves. One day, I'm going to end up in a reception with the President of Azerbaijan and not even know it until I'm shaking his hand and someone is introducing me. I'm serious about this too, because there is a "plan" to bring him to the school as this school is mandated by the government, we just will not know until it happens at that very moment. So for someone who likes to plan and gets even my own classes cancelled at the last second or 45 minutes after it was already supposed to start because the students had to practice for their "fashion show" (yes, I am still teaching at the same school, diplomats and civil servants) or they are rescheduled post-poned, or whatever ... it is enough to make me crazy!!! And forget about ever making prior plans for anything or with anyone outside of the school! OK ... phew ... that is the most frustrating thing for me as you can tell.
Next, another interesting thing about working amongst the people, I learn about everything I do or have done that is offensive or is seen in a bad light of some sort in the culture.
First: I pluck my eyebrows! What a horrible thing! I am seen as spoiled and maybe even sort-of like someone who sells myself! Apparently, I am not supposed to pluck my eyebrows until after I'm married! They say they can either tell when women are married or not or if they have given themselves away otherwise if they pluck their eyebrows. Well, it may be a small thing, but it hasn't stopped me from plucking since I learned of this one.
Second: I learned awhile back that women don't sit in the front of the car. I only heard that it was just not supposed to be done from other Americans, but they didn't tell me all of the reasons. They are all married, so they probably didn't know all of the reasons. One reason they told me was basically a sort-of submissive one to the paternalistic society. They had also told me that if husbands were driving and no other men were in the car, then it would be okay.
However, I have had a couple of other experiences since being told that helped me to learn more. The first was when I was jumping in a taxi with three guys that I was going to play tennis with. They told me to sit in the front! Of course, they are all my colleagues and a little more Internationally experienced men, but I was still surprised. The one who had suggested I sit in front later told me that he thought I should sit in the front because I'm tall and he was trying to be a gentlemen. Obviously, I normally would not have questioned his intentions, but I did at the time, because he said you are "big" so you should sit in the front. I was a little angry because I thought he was saying fat, but found out later that he meant tall. It was all a misunderstanding partially because of my new limited cultural understanding and partially because of the language. (I should never have questioned the linguistic error, because my own father used to say I was a big girl, meaning tall.)
Then, a couple of days ago when I went to the Opera with another female colleague and her friends, they sort-of fought and laughed about who was to sit in the front with the driver who was the only male. We were all single, so they explained to me that it is not right for single women to sit in the front with single men. They said that the next day, anyone who would have possibly seen this would think that they are together. Just the night before I had ridden in the back with the single male driver of some friends of mine, who were not with us. We were the only two in the car, so I thought I should have sat in the back ... it is a struggle for me to know what to do. Then, when he took me back home, he invited me to sit in the front. So, of course, I live in a large city and don't expect anyone that knows us to see us together in the front, nor am I worried about it, but apparently this is not a good thing. Of course, with all of these things, there is always some level of understanding with foreigners. At least I have that going for me.
OK, this is just the beginning. I have so many more stories and pictures to share, but they'll have to be put off for another entry or 5 soon to come.
It is interesting to work with mostly Azerbaijanis. This means that there are a number of frustrations, but I certainly have the opportunity to learn about and get used to many cultural things. Thus far, the most annoying frustration is the lack of planning. This word is not in the vocabulary. It's true! I've looked for it as I'm trying to learn the Azerbaijani language and it doesn't exist!! So, this is something I found out the hard way and I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. I'm not the most organized person in the world, yet I am still an organization and planning freak. I can't deal very well with people coming up to me and saying, "we are having an important meeting with the Vice Rector in five minutes," or "there is a presentation happening in a half hour during the lunch hour and you need to be there," or "there is a luncheon upstairs in ten minutes that you need to go to," etc. With statements like the latter, I've learned the hard way that I need to ask what it is for and who is going to be there and 20 other questions. I described the luncheon that I had with the Ambassador/Rector/Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs already in the Blog. That is just one example of when I needed to ask 20 questions to find out what the purpose is of all of these unplanned meetings, luncheons, presentations, etc. Otherwise, I find myself meeting all of these really important people with no prior knowledge or expectation. However, much of the time, I still don't know, because often the person telling me I must go, doesn't even know the purpose themselves. One day, I'm going to end up in a reception with the President of Azerbaijan and not even know it until I'm shaking his hand and someone is introducing me. I'm serious about this too, because there is a "plan" to bring him to the school as this school is mandated by the government, we just will not know until it happens at that very moment. So for someone who likes to plan and gets even my own classes cancelled at the last second or 45 minutes after it was already supposed to start because the students had to practice for their "fashion show" (yes, I am still teaching at the same school, diplomats and civil servants) or they are rescheduled post-poned, or whatever ... it is enough to make me crazy!!! And forget about ever making prior plans for anything or with anyone outside of the school! OK ... phew ... that is the most frustrating thing for me as you can tell.
Next, another interesting thing about working amongst the people, I learn about everything I do or have done that is offensive or is seen in a bad light of some sort in the culture.
First: I pluck my eyebrows! What a horrible thing! I am seen as spoiled and maybe even sort-of like someone who sells myself! Apparently, I am not supposed to pluck my eyebrows until after I'm married! They say they can either tell when women are married or not or if they have given themselves away otherwise if they pluck their eyebrows. Well, it may be a small thing, but it hasn't stopped me from plucking since I learned of this one.
Second: I learned awhile back that women don't sit in the front of the car. I only heard that it was just not supposed to be done from other Americans, but they didn't tell me all of the reasons. They are all married, so they probably didn't know all of the reasons. One reason they told me was basically a sort-of submissive one to the paternalistic society. They had also told me that if husbands were driving and no other men were in the car, then it would be okay.
However, I have had a couple of other experiences since being told that helped me to learn more. The first was when I was jumping in a taxi with three guys that I was going to play tennis with. They told me to sit in the front! Of course, they are all my colleagues and a little more Internationally experienced men, but I was still surprised. The one who had suggested I sit in front later told me that he thought I should sit in the front because I'm tall and he was trying to be a gentlemen. Obviously, I normally would not have questioned his intentions, but I did at the time, because he said you are "big" so you should sit in the front. I was a little angry because I thought he was saying fat, but found out later that he meant tall. It was all a misunderstanding partially because of my new limited cultural understanding and partially because of the language. (I should never have questioned the linguistic error, because my own father used to say I was a big girl, meaning tall.)
Then, a couple of days ago when I went to the Opera with another female colleague and her friends, they sort-of fought and laughed about who was to sit in the front with the driver who was the only male. We were all single, so they explained to me that it is not right for single women to sit in the front with single men. They said that the next day, anyone who would have possibly seen this would think that they are together. Just the night before I had ridden in the back with the single male driver of some friends of mine, who were not with us. We were the only two in the car, so I thought I should have sat in the back ... it is a struggle for me to know what to do. Then, when he took me back home, he invited me to sit in the front. So, of course, I live in a large city and don't expect anyone that knows us to see us together in the front, nor am I worried about it, but apparently this is not a good thing. Of course, with all of these things, there is always some level of understanding with foreigners. At least I have that going for me.
OK, this is just the beginning. I have so many more stories and pictures to share, but they'll have to be put off for another entry or 5 soon to come.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
An important article
Since I have been in Azerbaijan, I have learned to appreciate the many freedoms and rights given to citizens of the U.S. One particular freedom that I have come to appreciate more is that of religious freedom. I am blessed to be able to attend Church meetings each Sunday, although there is not an actual chapel. Most churches and even some mosques in Azerbaijan have been destroyed in the past and I understand that this still happens on occasion as there is fear of radicalism. A different type of radicalism could take place in the U.S. if people are convinced that personal rights means something different than was outlined in the Constitution. I read this text from an address given to students at BYU-Idaho by Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle of the Lord, on lds.org, which helped me appreciate what could be fleeting even in the U.S. if the adversary succeeds in convincing people of his own definition of the freedom to practice religion.
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/religious-freedom
More to come soon about my life and the culture here in Baku. I have books in my head that need to be typed.
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/religious-freedom
More to come soon about my life and the culture here in Baku. I have books in my head that need to be typed.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Princess' Palace
The bedroom
The bathroom
The living room and balcony
The kitchen and dining room.Yes, that is a washer under the stove-top in place of an oven. I like having the washer, but sad I don't have an oven.
I talked with several before I left Monterey about the possibility of having a "palace" for an apartment. This palace idea stemmed from Nicole who was here for a few months before I took her place. She has said that her apartment was like a palace. I didn't get the same apartment that she did, but I am happy in my own little palace. I love my apartment! It is nice.
So a funny story about having my own palace is that I have since been likened to the "Princess and the Pea" by my colleague who is over the International students and expats at the school. I have this strange issue with beds and my back. I honestly have the pickiest back and can't really sleep well in any bed in the world except my own (which is why I have a hard time getting rid of it even when I move out of the U.S.). To explain: Basically, I will wake up in the middle of the night with my entire back in so much pain that I can't move, turn over, nor sleep anymore. Taiwan was the worst, because I might as well have been sleeping on cement on the beds they have there. Anyway, I slept ok for about a week here, and then it started. So, I tried to make my bed in different ways with the multiple "comforters" or whatever they are here which seemed more like thick, heavy rugs covered in a sheet. Anyway, I kept discovering I had more and more in the apartment, so I kept adding them and sleeping on them instead of putting them on me. The result is basically the princess and the pea. There is the regular mattress, which is sort-of like a box spring ... well, not really ... I could feel every spring on that one. Then, there is a much thicker mattress (?) or cover (?), I don't know. Then there are 3 more comforter/mattresses. So I'm half-way there, as I believe the Princess had ten mattresses and could still feel the pea. I still feel the pe-ain myself, but it has improved.
The Princess and the Pea mattressesOne of the greatest features of my apartment is the unique set of light fixtures. Each room has its own style of light, but my favorite is the "Speck" lamp that reminds me of "Horton Hears a Who." It would probably remind others of fuzzy oranges, because that is basically what they are. Either way, I love it! I'm sure there thousands of tiny communities like "Who-ville" on those fuzzy balls full of dusty specks! I promise that they are dusty too, because there is constant construction all around me as maybe only half of the apartments are finished in this building and the one right next to me is completely a dust den of nothing but dirt, and cement dirt, so there is tons of dust that I try to keep up with! I'm sure I'm killing thousands of little whos all the time. :( It's better for me, though, I'm allergic to the little guys.
Horton Hears a Who Bedroom Light
I'm sure you can find some whos if you look really closely!
The Multi-mood spider light, with the blue light around the interior trim.
The kitchen light with another colored light around the trim
The hallway light with the lighted trimThursday, October 1, 2009
Going Private?
So, I know I just joined the Blog scene again, but I'm thinking of joining the masses and going private. The issue is: limit to 100 people?? That is annoying. OK, so I like to claim I have a lot of friends and family that may want to keep up with my life here in Azerbaijan. If you would like to be one of those, let me know soon.
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