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

August almost over and I'm traveling

Hot August has finally ended and I'm heading across the Atlantic to visit the family for a few weeks....I'll try to keep everyone up to date on what's happening with me and of course, still in Baku. My Dutch pal, Ton is heading to Astana ...he's crazy...but can't wait to see pictures...Kazakhstan..there's a new university opening there in partnership with a university in London....not me....I've had my share of start-ups in the former USSR.... :0!

Two more photos from Sheki

I was fascinated by the fencing made of branch...think of a stone wall but not stone...definitely takes some time to make. Most of the fences were not more than knee high and sturdy...you can just tell...and speaking of work...Azerbaijanis will work hard and work in large numbers to complete a project. There was recent flooding on the main street right next to the inn. The river (sorry don't know the name) came over the banks and tore the asphalt up...now they are putting bricks in as a replacement...

An article in the NY Times caught my eye

Yesterday, I saw an article in the Times that stated that the Obama administration recently tried to reassure Israel that Iran was still nearly a year away from having nuclear capability. The silent collective sigh was audible here...well, great a year away......this development will absolute disrupt the balance of power in this part of the world...also, remember that I mentioned much earlier in my blogging career, that there are 30 million ethnic Azerbaijani's living in northern Iran...which if you look at the map is really southern Azerbaijan....that's over 3 times as many Azeris that live in the actual country of Azerbaijan....there is a definite fear that if something kicks off in Iran...the number of refugees would be like anything the world has seen yet....a year...geez!