Strega Nonas

My mother used to send my children Christmas books as Christmas.  We used to read one Christmas book each night in December.  One of our favorites was Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.

I recently visited friends in Lankaran, a region to the south bordering Iran.  As part of that visit, we went to "isti su", hot baths.  To get to "isti su" you go out of the city center of Lankaran and then it is a 30 minute walk into the hillside.  There are several huts with baths.  You chose which hut by the temperature of the bath.  After our bath, we walked back down the hill.  It is lightly forested and you pass cows heading home. Much to my delight as we were walking we spotted two women walking up the hill. They were dressed in many colored layers, tights, socks, skirt, apron, long sleeved shirts, knitted vests and scarfs.  Resting on their shoulders were axes.  Just like Strega Nona as she went to get the Christmas tree to make Christmas.  Two real life Strega Nonas.  As we passed, we said Salam and got wonderful greetings back and beautiful smiles.

I didn't get a picture, but the memory is so vivid and wonderful.

We all need the magic of Strega Nona and I am so blessed to have found "my" Strega Nonas in Azerbaijan.

Complacency

A short story of complacency and how it will bite you in the butt most every time

I have been at site for seven months and in my house for three.  I know how reliable utilities are.  As my former site mate used to say; “a day with two out of three is a good day” I had a headache on Tuesday, so didn’t go into work and slept until late afternoon.  Got up and didn’t have water.  Ok, I thought, I have a bucket of water in the bathroom, the teapot is half full, I have a pitcher of filtered water in the fridge and a large bottle of boiled water. Unfortunately I did not get water at any appreciable level back that night.  Wednesday morning, still no water but I had enough for a cup of coffee.  Surely, I thought I’ll have water tonight when I get home.  Alas, no water. I checked with my landlord and was able to fill my teapot from the hot water tank. The bucket in the bathroom was getting low.  Had no idea why we had no water.  Thursday morning – still no water.  Still enough for a cup of coffee. Thursday evening – still no water. Refilled the teapot.  Went to language lessons with my host sister.  Finally found out what was going on.  They are fixing a main water pipe and shutting off the water in the morning till evening.  I get up around 8:30 after the water is turned off. It is turned back on sometime between 7:30 and 9:00 but the pressure is low.  The sink in my house already has low pressure so it didn’t appear that I had water even if I did.  I had a little better flow from one of the spigots in my bathroom, but it was also quite weak compared to normal.  Tonight water came back at 7:00.  I immediately filled all buckets in the bathroom.  Refilled all my drinking water containers and washed my dishes.  With the low water pressure, these tasks took about 45 minutes.  I have it on good authority that it is unknown when the pipe will be fixed. 

While the morale of this store is to keep my water supplies filled, it is likely I will get complacent again and get bitten in the butt once again.

A time of reflection

 

Just over two hours left of 2013 and I have spent a good portion of my day reflecting on 2013 and thinking about the upcoming year.

2013 was a year of change.  I started the year in a studio apartment.  I rang the New Year in with my New Year group, only this year we stood on the rooftop deck of my apartment building watching the fireworks at the Space Needle, instead of watching them on TV.  No music, but the show and the small fireworks shows all around were a delight.

I spent the first five weeks of the year, disposing of most of my possessions.  Storing the items I couldn’t part with in half of a small storage unit.  Patted the heads of Emily and Sydney goodbye and off they went to temporary housing for the next two years, plus a couple of months.  I said goodbye to family and good friends.  My job of 18 years ended.  I boarded a train out of town for three weeks of train travel.

I crossed the country by train, leaving my home of 30 years.  My trip began with about an hour traveling on the edge of Puget Sound at dusk.  What a magnificent send off.  Visits to Chicago, New York, Boston, Philly and Washington DC before spending a month with my family in Michigan.

In early April, my sister dropped me off at the Detroit airport for the first leg of my Peace Corps adventure. The smooth dropping off interrupted by having to lose about 20 pounds of stuff.  Arriving in Washington DC to meet another trainee to share a cab to our orientation hotel.  Not know what this person looked like, I looked for someone else with two years of stuff.  Off to the hotel to meet another 26 people who are sharing this experience with me. Orientation and one night in the hotel and off to Azerbaijan via Frankfort.

Arriving in Azerbaijan at night, met by current PCVs and staff and whisked off to the hotel for three days of training.  The beginning of being dazed and confused.  Dropped off at my training host family with basically no language skills, so I bring out the family photos.  Ten weeks of training; language better but very basic. Training has good and bad days, but we all get through it and then we are sent off to our sites for the next two years.  So good to feel like an adult again.

Four months with my host family in Masazir.  Move out on my own, but thankfully just down the street.  I’m welcome at home anytime.  I have washing machine privileges in addition to all the tea I can drink and occasional food.  I love sitting with Fasahat, Nunu and Nana in the kitchen.  Everyone helps with my language is continues to improve, but likely will remain pretty basic.

My primary organization, an eye clinic, is awesome.  The work is interesting and we all agree on how my skills can help.  My director and I have a lot in common; we are both single, about the same age, have daughters living in Australia and our birthdays are one day apart. 

I have a good grasp of the bus system, both local and country wide.  I have figured out Metro. I’ve gotten lost, a bit, but having always found my way in the end.  I have traveled in the country and to Georgia.  I have relationships with my local market and have a fruit and vegetable guy.  I have new friends. I’m active within Peace Corps and am participating in the World Wise School program and am communicating with a wonderful group of students in the great city of Chicago.

I have plans for 2014, which will accommodate the unexpected.  I will be a mentor to some new Peace Corps trainees, who will arrive in April.  I will see family and meet new friends.

I feel like I have my sea legs and plan on testing them often.

Yeni Illiniz Buyrum Mubarek and Yaxsi Yol

New Years isn't New Years without a cup of Starbucks (a reusable cup)