My Pre-service training has effectively been split into two parts: the first half was with what I now call my "Lezgin Family," and my second half with my "new" family. Peace Corps tries very hard to ensure our host families can house us for the full 10 weeks, but I guess it was about time a bit of bad luck fell my way. My first home was a little too perfect (was it the English speakers, close proximity to school, or the vegetarian meals that pushed me over the line?), so a curveball was thrown my way when I was told by our housing coodinator that I had to move. Because my Lezgin mother's mother had fallen ill, she is moving into their home to be with her family. There is no room for the American anymore. (I had actually been told about the grandmother by Rasmiyya, but had failed to put two and two together. In my head I was like, "Hmm, wonder which room she's going to stay in...")
I moved into my new home on Thursday. It is chox geshang (very nice/pretty). My father is a public servant, and my mother is a homemaker. I have two sisters, 14 and 15, named Gunel and Aysel, and a little brother, 11, named Babek. They are/ speak Azeri (which is an ethnicity and the name for their language; Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic country), and the kids know little English (actually they know more English than I do Azeri so it is very helpful). I really need to practice my Azeri, and never got much of a chance at my former home, so this situation is better for me as a trainee.
Here's the new rundown: Babek is a super sweet boy who is continually doing cute and silly things for me. My first night here, he showed me his WWF Smackdown trading cards and gave me the ones I liked. Aysel is the oldest, she is also super sweet, but quite shy (reminds me of me at that age). She's so pretty and comprhends my English blabbering quite well. Gunel is the standout of the household. She's enthusiactic, confident, and ambitious. She's not shy at all; my first night here included squeals of glee, hugs, and kisses when she found out I was staying for 5 weeks. She told me all about her dream: to go study law in America, work as an ambassador, get rich, and have a big house with lots of animals, including an elephant and giraffe. I believe she can do it too, she comes from a good family who will support her along the way.
Yes, the familiy is definitely capable of providing all their children with good educations. Did I mention my house is chox geshang? It's two stories with all wood floors, heating/ac wall units, TOILET PAPER, a gorgeous kitchen, etc. etc. Any woman in the world's dream home. We have these heated towels racks that are like, the shit. They keep your towels/ whatever you hang there warm and crispy. I will be investing in these when I get my dream home.
After our site visits, we had another fun Peace Corps field trip to Qobustan and the mud volcanoes. Qobustan is a site where there are big rocks that have been carved upon by prehistoric cave people. They have pictures of men, women, hunters, the hunted-- antelope-ish creatures-- and a couple boats. In theory this all sounds a bit bland, but it is different being there and seeing them with your own eyes. It's almost surreal to think that 3274298347 years ago there was a person who felt the need to express facets of his or her life, and might have even wanted it to last as long as it has. So Qobustan was very special, I liked the experience very much and ill take whoever comes to visit me in Azerbaijan!
Next up were the mud volcanoes! Mud volcanoes are exactly what their name describes: a mound of mud that urbles and blurbles with natural gas coming from underground. They are freakin' sweet. The mud is ridiculously sticky (as is all the dirt/ mud in Az), but the liquid mud in the center of the volcano is very fine and the kind that is put on your face for $100 at a spa, cause it has sulphur in it. Now a site like this in the US would probably be a part of a national park, surrounded by fences and paths and walkways, with informational, education signs posted about, not to mention park rangers and other workers to protect the natural wonders; but, here in Azerbaijan they just sit un-fussed over on some hills beyond a rural neighborhood. We all got to run amuck, sling mud, slip about, and have a good time. I will go back again, with a swimsuit and an old pair of clothes and just have a wild time in ze mud. As an extra bonus, it will make my skin radiant!
I had another day of fun just the other day. On Sunday our cluster gathered for a pizza party at Sam's host familiy's house. How did a pizza party at Sam's host familly's place come about? Well, her host parents had asked her if she knew how to make pizza, and she was like, "Yeah, I guess..." and they took it to mean she's a lean mean pizza-making machine, and urged her to make some for them, which then evolved into having friends over and making pizza for them. As it turned out, we ended up gathering to celebrate her birthday, which was on Monday. An elaborate plan by her host family? Sure, its so damn heartwarming to deny. So we met at the bazaar to buy the ingredients, then totally crafted pizza from scratch in her little kitchen. It turned out delicious, and we had way too much fun all evening. Good times, good times. The next day was Halloween, and we talked Rashad into giving us a language class off so we could celebrate, er I mean, have an American cultural exchange. We watched Hocus Pocus and ate ourselves into sugar comas. It was brilliant.
Today I finally bought myself an umbrella, plus a kilo of plums, just cause I wanted to treat myself (not that I don't get enough treats on a day to day basis). Also Mary Ellen and I stopped at a bakery and tried some pastry goodies. I go home, get served supper and other treasures, and take a moment look at my place setting. I feel like a king! My life is awesome!
I moved into my new home on Thursday. It is chox geshang (very nice/pretty). My father is a public servant, and my mother is a homemaker. I have two sisters, 14 and 15, named Gunel and Aysel, and a little brother, 11, named Babek. They are/ speak Azeri (which is an ethnicity and the name for their language; Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic country), and the kids know little English (actually they know more English than I do Azeri so it is very helpful). I really need to practice my Azeri, and never got much of a chance at my former home, so this situation is better for me as a trainee.
Here's the new rundown: Babek is a super sweet boy who is continually doing cute and silly things for me. My first night here, he showed me his WWF Smackdown trading cards and gave me the ones I liked. Aysel is the oldest, she is also super sweet, but quite shy (reminds me of me at that age). She's so pretty and comprhends my English blabbering quite well. Gunel is the standout of the household. She's enthusiactic, confident, and ambitious. She's not shy at all; my first night here included squeals of glee, hugs, and kisses when she found out I was staying for 5 weeks. She told me all about her dream: to go study law in America, work as an ambassador, get rich, and have a big house with lots of animals, including an elephant and giraffe. I believe she can do it too, she comes from a good family who will support her along the way.
Yes, the familiy is definitely capable of providing all their children with good educations. Did I mention my house is chox geshang? It's two stories with all wood floors, heating/ac wall units, TOILET PAPER, a gorgeous kitchen, etc. etc. Any woman in the world's dream home. We have these heated towels racks that are like, the shit. They keep your towels/ whatever you hang there warm and crispy. I will be investing in these when I get my dream home.
After our site visits, we had another fun Peace Corps field trip to Qobustan and the mud volcanoes. Qobustan is a site where there are big rocks that have been carved upon by prehistoric cave people. They have pictures of men, women, hunters, the hunted-- antelope-ish creatures-- and a couple boats. In theory this all sounds a bit bland, but it is different being there and seeing them with your own eyes. It's almost surreal to think that 3274298347 years ago there was a person who felt the need to express facets of his or her life, and might have even wanted it to last as long as it has. So Qobustan was very special, I liked the experience very much and ill take whoever comes to visit me in Azerbaijan!
Next up were the mud volcanoes! Mud volcanoes are exactly what their name describes: a mound of mud that urbles and blurbles with natural gas coming from underground. They are freakin' sweet. The mud is ridiculously sticky (as is all the dirt/ mud in Az), but the liquid mud in the center of the volcano is very fine and the kind that is put on your face for $100 at a spa, cause it has sulphur in it. Now a site like this in the US would probably be a part of a national park, surrounded by fences and paths and walkways, with informational, education signs posted about, not to mention park rangers and other workers to protect the natural wonders; but, here in Azerbaijan they just sit un-fussed over on some hills beyond a rural neighborhood. We all got to run amuck, sling mud, slip about, and have a good time. I will go back again, with a swimsuit and an old pair of clothes and just have a wild time in ze mud. As an extra bonus, it will make my skin radiant!
I had another day of fun just the other day. On Sunday our cluster gathered for a pizza party at Sam's host familiy's house. How did a pizza party at Sam's host familly's place come about? Well, her host parents had asked her if she knew how to make pizza, and she was like, "Yeah, I guess..." and they took it to mean she's a lean mean pizza-making machine, and urged her to make some for them, which then evolved into having friends over and making pizza for them. As it turned out, we ended up gathering to celebrate her birthday, which was on Monday. An elaborate plan by her host family? Sure, its so damn heartwarming to deny. So we met at the bazaar to buy the ingredients, then totally crafted pizza from scratch in her little kitchen. It turned out delicious, and we had way too much fun all evening. Good times, good times. The next day was Halloween, and we talked Rashad into giving us a language class off so we could celebrate, er I mean, have an American cultural exchange. We watched Hocus Pocus and ate ourselves into sugar comas. It was brilliant.
Today I finally bought myself an umbrella, plus a kilo of plums, just cause I wanted to treat myself (not that I don't get enough treats on a day to day basis). Also Mary Ellen and I stopped at a bakery and tried some pastry goodies. I go home, get served supper and other treasures, and take a moment look at my place setting. I feel like a king! My life is awesome!
Gosh, Kaylee it sounds like a movie! I hope I can afford to visit you.
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