Trip to Prague

Well, on to Prague, Czech Republic...news about the trip in the days to come..but for now...leaving Baku on Aeroflot (the Russian national airline)...changing planes (still on Aeroflot) in Moscow (the sign says Moscow International)...me and Piglet arrive safe in Praha...

Univeristy visitors...UMD and MSU

I don't know who is more surprised me or our visitors. There really aren't many fellow American citizens in Azerbaijan...I think there must be half dozen or so Peace Corp volunteers working in the regions (what they call the country side here)...thank goodes for President Kennedy...but you know there are not many Americans when you get an email from the US Embassy inviting all American citizens to "American Citizen's Day in Baku"...I get invited to official state department events...I can't believe I'll be out of the country when the event occurs in June...bummer. Oh, back to topic...so yes, last week two faculty members from Michigan State were at the Academy and today, six undergraduate students from the University of Maryland on a two-week summer abroad program were here...I'm always happy to hear the familiar sound of American-speak....and I think they are surprised to see me here...nonetheless, I would love to have some Milano cookies or Cold Stone Ice Cream...can't wait. I'm thinking I'll enjoy Prague this week.....leave on Thursday.

Still looking up in Baku

Couple of things happened this week...

1) Finally, a new US Ambassador to Azerbaijan has been appointed..the position has been vacant since July 2009...so hopefully, some of the rhetoric about Azerbaijan and US "iced relationship" will melt.

2) I am definitely going to Prague next week for four days.

3) I continue to look up as I walk which means another two things a) I have to assume all the cats that I so lovingly photographed over the last year have vanished...it's kind of eerie. I know the city does "herding"....and 2) except for a few missteps my path is so familiar I know where the potholes, trash, unleveled sidewalks, etc...so I now look up...and here's what I see....

Admitted Students Reception at ADA

Well, once again I hosted a reception for newly admitted students. I've been doing these so long seem like second nature...but still all this is still so new for Azerbaijan. And, I have to remember that...practically everything is the "first time"...though I did host an event last year for the inaugual class. Overall, I think it was good 22 of my 25 Azerbaijan students came as did most of the faculty (3), staff (25 or so) and Rector. The picture is of me doing the welcome and then letter the Rector/Ambassador welcome them too. General crowd shots....they all stand when the Ambassador walked in..I had to ask them to be seated.

Sometimes it pays to look up... really high

Normally, I would not suggest that you look up walking the streets of Baku. The pavement, in most places is so uneven or nonexistence you could end of with a severely twisted ankle or worst. One of the reasons I don't venture out at night much since one could easily end tumbling through a broken manhole cover. Nonetheless, my spirit has always encouraged me to look up..hence, some of the pictures I've posted over the last year...but this one captured of the top of a residential building really caught me by surprise. The building is near Fountain Square and the McDonald's area in Baku.

I thought this was cool

As I've blogged about in the past...much of the older construction of residential building was completed during the days when Azerbaijan was a part of the former Soviet Union...I snapped the date etched high up on this building's facade across the street from the gym I go too..

Urban Renewal...

Well, walking around my 'hood, I am constantly amazed at the amount of renovation, or rather how many blocks are just being leveled. Agreed, many of the dwellings look like they are going to collaspe and need to come down but the general strategy seems to be, level the homes of everyday people and either build highrises or parks...they need more of the latter and less of the former...
Just around the corner from "the apartment" (I'm going back to my detached style of existence here) the blocks at least ten square blocks) are these photos. From what I've been told a promenade with a park. As with all the parks..you can not walk or sit on the grass...you better not try.