Two Short Stories

Bus Ride

 

 

I live in a suburb of Baku about 7km north. To get to Baku is a ten minute walk on dirt roads to the main road, a wait up to 20 minutes for the next bus, a 15 minute ride into Baku and then onto another bus as dictated by my final destination.  However, there has been construction on the main road for the last week and the transportation system has been both fluid and creative. 

 

Today's adventure home had the bus rerouting to a dirt road accessed by a 90 degree turn off the four lane highway.  The dirt roads in my neighborhood are really designed for one way traffic and not particularly even. Also, the rerouting is based on the driver's intuition and in this case guidance from others.  The hope is that you guess where on the reroute is closest to your normal stop.  At one point in today's reroute I'm pretty sure the bus hit a wall.  I was surprised when the bus rejoined the main road at my normal stop.  The bus was packed, the roads were bumpy, I had been standing for about 30 minutes and was holding on so tight to the overhead bar that my hand was numb. But I knew where I was - was safe and sound so all was well.

 

Example of neighborhood street



Big buses in the background example of city buses



Nana Comes for a Visit

 

Earlier this week, I got home from my organization and my host mother, her mother and sister were sitting around the kitchen table.  My host mother's brother was also wandering around the house.  Since one never knows who might be in the house, this was not an unusual circumstance. However this was the first time Nana had come to visit.  I said Salam,  headed to my room, changed, joined them for cay and conversation. More like cay and listening to conversation where I pickup words here and there but not enough to follow. I'm good for about 20 minutes and then head back to my room. Came out later and Nana was still with us but the rest of the gang was gone. Nana took over Nunu's room so Nunu joined me in mine. Good thing I have a extra bed.  We're heading into night four.   

One item I have grasped is that you need to expect anything and be very fluid.  Since I've gotten here the following has occurred.

• Woken up to the entire family gone
• Only person up, Neighbor/relative drops in wants to know where everyone is. Thank goodness I had washed dishes, but house not quite clean enough.
• Woke up with slight headache. Family going out for day. Home alone - not.  Cousins stop by to look for friends, watch TV

  

  , cook, etc.  Granted they played quietly. (Nana and Host Mom)
• Home from work, change and lets go to a 1 year olds birthday party. - four hours later of non-stop food and entertainment you call it quits. House Mom comes home with you at 11:30. 
• Remainder of party return home at 3:00

All I know is that I will come home one day and Nana will be gone and I will miss her.