Back in Baku again...Mom's 80th and Women at ADA

Mom's birthday celebration in Florida was wonderful and I'll post more along with photos in the next day...but back at work today and Gulnur (in the red dress) sent this photo from her bridal shower....

Mom turns 80!

Well friends, I'm heading back to the US for a week to join in the celebration of my mother's 80th birthday! It will be the first time in quite a while that me, both brothers and parents have been together and given the rapid pace of her Alzheimer status....who knows how much longer she'll be able to recall our names......so I'm looking forward to the next few days.....and as always I'll let you know when I'm back in Baku!

New additions to the apartment building

Okay..I understand why people get screens installed ...only to have them blow out...no, that seems like it was only experiences! You should know by now that everytime I return to Baku the "uncertain of what to expect" is always quite high...even arriving at night the drive in from the airport shows you something that wasn't there when I left...

Well, I needed to look no further than the balconies in my apartment building...ironwrought....ummmm can't figure out other than "look I have money to spend"...what's the purpose but for a society that enjoy a level of consumerist voyerism that I thought was only a disease that creates spoiled rotten Americans...WRONG....the iron works on the 10th floor...guess one more thing to get crushed by in an earthquake...oh, yeah, the white box to the left is the gas hot water heaters and the yellow box is the gas dispenser...all of which are on the outside of the apartments for safety....ummm another issue, ah?

First full day back in Baku and what's ahead

Well..back in Baku and back to work...everyone was glad to see me though I can feel the angst starting in recognition that I'll be leaving for good sooner rather than later. It is an interesting feeling...it feels like folks are beginning a sense of abandonment. I suppose the feeling(s) are not far beneath the surface in the psyche of many Azeris....in some ways they face abandonment quite often....heck, the Presidential Scholarship that provided full support to those wishing to study aboard for BA, MA or PhD has been scaled back as many young Azeris were not returning to the country upon completion of their program...me, on the other hand, am filling with anticipation at the thought of coming home for good...

Back in Baku once again

After five fabulous weeks home in the US with trips to Southern Cal and Baton Rouge, I've just returned to Azerbaijan. I guess I'm starting to be on the downside of my time here...contract officially ends in February but I'm keeping my options open, though it is unlikely that I would extend my time beyond that.

Upon arriving in the Heydar A. airport..I immediately remembered how miserable cigarette smoke is when it just floats around you before being sucked into your lungs....and for some reason or other the Welcome mat that I've had in front of my apartment door for over a year was no where to be found. Not sure what that means...someone else wanted it or is welcome not a cool word here...what's eerie is that of the four apartments on my floor...currently mine is the only one occupied.
Welcome back to following my fleeting time in Baku!

My oh my...time is flying

Sorry for the lapse in postings...still enjoying my time in the US...and returning to Baku later this month (September)....not sure what I know for sure but I am feeling fairly relaxed and increasingly mentally prepared for the countdown on my final few months there. The good news is that in my absence things are moving forward at the Academy and the normally massive amount of processing (I would call it being on the hamster wheel) is occuring without my presence which makes me immensely happy.
Nearly as happy as a drive up Starbucks and a salad bar at Whole Food's!

Sweet Home Pennsylvania

Yes, folks I have slipped home for a physical and mental break from Baku and Azerbaijan. I'll keep you posted of course, but I'm not scheduled to return to Baku until the end of September and then, we'll see how things go. Both of my other expats colleagues, Ton, the Dutch guy and Rebecca, the California have decided not to renew their contracts and have indeed left ADA. I will sorely miss them...and their energy and professionalism will be missed too. The rats are leaving the ship just yet, but truthfully, it feels like we're starting to take on water and me....well, I'm starting to cast my eyes to the horizon for safe landing spot.
Cheers