promised pictures..

the tournament turned out fabulous! the kids on both teams worked extremely hard to be called CHAMPIONS! the girls' team come in second and the boys' team took home the gold! both games were intense-- in some sort of way--- the girls ended the game with 4 players on the court (again). one of my six fouled out and the other was hurt--- they are tough cookies. the boys started out rocky-- their shots weren't going in at all and the the passes being made were sloppy. they later informed me that they work better under pressure--- ahhhhhh!! all in all, it was an exciting weekend. i gladly accepted the rest time on Sunday!!

here are some pictures of the events that kept me busy from Tuesday on.....

good feelings...

i will update you all on the games and the Thanksgiving dinners and such later... i have pictures to share as well--- but i wanted to mention how big my smile was when i walked to school today-- it was a chilly walk, but it was light out (i came in a little later) and my ipod was on-- so all was good. i walked into the security booth (at the entrance of our school) and my favorite security guard was there. he always makes me smile because he is so cheery and just talks away (in Azeri :)). today he greeted me with a new phrase, which i figured out meant "how is my friend this morning?" i muddled my way through saying how are you and added the friend part and we both laughed. he said (in Azeri) that he would speak Azeri to me and i was to speak English to him, so that we can learn to understand one another-- so funny. so anyway, i made my way onto campus already chuckling a bit, and then i entered the building to see a Christmas tree! it was such a wonderful sight! our school really does a great job of making us feel "at home". little Christmas trees are appearing all over the building-- i love it!

tonight is the staff Thanksgiving dinner-- after the boys and girls games-- so i will update with pictures and such when i arrive home tonight or maybe tomorrow after the championships. WE ARE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPS-- BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS!!

okay time for me to work-- but that is okay because i am grinning from ear to ear! :)

you know you are comfortable when...

you know you are comfortable when... causually walking out onto a 4 lane (or rather what should be a 4 lane-- not 6 or 7 lanes) road, weaving in and out of cars, and meandering down the center lines calmly dodging oncoming traffic... is normal and easy. i was chuckling a bit to myself tonight as i wandered down the street (on my way home)-- i just can't figure out the traffic laws! :)

ok.. so it is back to preparing for the remainder of the week

oh... and i think it is finally allowable for me to congratulate a few people---- MANDY and JOHN are having a baby!! Amy and Ben are having a baby!! Calla has a new job!! Corey starts training (good luck)! Kellen is successfully getting into everything and driving Jerrad mad (good job Chunker)! mom passed her test!!! Michele is done with chemo (always thinking about her)! TARA finally delivered little EJ (so cute)! AND i am sure there are more events that i should be mentioning, but i can't think of them right now-- anyway... CONGRATULATIONS to all!

Basketball....

The tournament has started... so the week is going to be a bit crazy. The girls played tonight and won! They struggled a little in the first half, but came out strong in the second. I am very proud of the progress that they have made after only having 4 practices. I am hoping that they are going to be able to keep their enthusiasm up for the entire tournament-- we only have 6 girls, so they are working extra hard to keep breathing!

The boys play their first game tomorrow at 17:00. They have a good team and I hope that they are able to capitalize on their recent soccer success by doing well in this tournament.

Two games tomorrow-- girls and boys-- then just girls on Thursday, and then back to 2 games on Friday. Saturday is the championship-- keep your fingers crossed for BIS-- we would love to place in the tournament. The students are working hard and are extremely motivated, so I am hoping that they are rewarded for their efforts.

... friends

DANIELA!! I am so glad that you signed my guestbook! I can't find your email address-- please email me or get in touch with me somehow!! It is great to hear from you!!!!!

november....

so, it has been said that November is the expat's turning point--- when living overseas becomes reality and the newness disappears. when the distance from home sets in. i haven't felt the home-sickness that is supposed to accompany this sort of downhill slope of November-- but i have analyzed the directions in which life takes us all and the distance that is created.

November.. to me is a time to be thankful. a time where the ties that connect you to those in your life are-- tightened, strengthened, renewed and welcomed. with those thoughts in mind.... i want to thank all of you that take time out of your schedule to read the blog, send emails and care packages, call, and stay connected. i know the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" saying is true-- it is definitely easier to say i will write, call, email, or whatever it is tomorrow-- or just leave it as an unwritten or unspoken understanding that you are thinking about the other person. AND for the most part that understanding IS there. However, i wanted to send an extra little bit of appreciation and thanks to those people; family members, friends, and supporters, that are going out of their way to send a quick, "hey" my way----- THANK YOU! your communication, updates, little notes of encouragement, thoughts, tidbits, and funny stories are warming and comforting. i truly believe that because of the things you are doing--- you are keeping me from experiencing "the November blues" that are common in expat communities. thank you, thank you, thank you. i love and appreciate you all.

side-note: the basketball season starts tomorrow....

Gabala....

Olga, Emily, Israufel, and myself made an awesome trek to the mountains! it was a much needed trip-- so refreshing and peaceful. it felt like a normal fall day in New York-- with the leaves, the smells, the slight chill, the beautiful colors, and peaceful sounds of nature. the trip to Gabala was quite long because of the roads and such, but it was definitely worth it.


we stopped along the way to take some pictures, stretch our legs, and enjoy being out of the city. Shamakhi (874,000 people) and Ismayilli (77,000 people) were two "small" cities that we passed through along the way-- both similar in respects to Baku, but in a simpler way. it was the first time i was able to see some of the agricultural aspects of the culture (outside of the city that is)-- the farms are simple and located (most of the time) against hills and in the valleys. there are Sheppards and cow herders (sometimes-- the cows simply rule the towns-- wandering where they please). i even saw my first signs of horses-- not many but the ones i did see were being ridden or working in some manner. no saddles-- thick cloth material made the saddle and rope bridles were used. i wish i could have photographed everything as we passed by-- but it was difficult.

many people gather nuts and berries to sell at the markets-- or they pickle fruits and vegetables to sell. while we were picnicking a boy came by with a basket of goods that had been pickled and/or made into jams. Em bought the rose petal jam-- it is actually made from rose petals, and it is supposed to be good for your heart.

we did a lot of playing in the leaves and climbing here and there. the things that grow in this region/climate are a bit different from what you would see in the states-- so with Olga's insistence, we tried some "fresh" berries from the trees. :) i wish we could have had more time to explore and experience the area-- but we needed to leave before the sun went down. the roads to and from the Gabala area are "under construction", so they are very bad (dirt roads, holes, wash-board areas, and in some spots very narrow). not to mention the obstacles that sometimes appear--- sheep, cows, etc...

along the way there are many Kafes-- that serve chay (tea). most are not inside kafes, rather places set up in the woods -- picnic tables-- it was great. people stop and get out into the chilly weather, gather around a picnic table, and enjoy a few cups of fresh tea (made in a "self-boiling kettle"-- somyera (i think)). we stopped at one on our way back to Baku-- it felt good to get out and stretch a bit-- and enjoy a little break with the company i was with.



this trip made me even more aware of how simple-- our lives could be. maybe simple isn't the word that i am looking for here--- but the people that i see on a day to day basis in the streets of Baku and the people i saw in the mountain cities, villages, and towns were very much the same. using the things that they had or what the environment has provided for them to live. i am having trouble explaining what i mean-- and the pictures that i took don't tell the stories of the people, the villages, or the things that i have seen-- life is so very different here. i just feel lucky to be able to be a part of this incredible culture and to be able to experience it first hand. i am in awe at how they communicate and with the way they live-- having been a part of a somewhat "spoiled" society-- i don't know if i could actually live the lives that most of these people live day to day. they are amazingly adept at using their resources and making due with what they have.... for the most part.

Video clips... Gabala Memories....

champions....

this week BIS was participating in our "rival" school's soccer tournament, so we had visitors from Tbilisi staying with students and teachers (because their team TIS was also competing). the tournament was held at TISA (our "rival" school-- i put rival in quotes because they the other international school in Baku). there teams that participated were TISA, TIS, BIS, BOS, and MAK (i think). there may have been a few more teams (local school teams), but i am unsure of their names.

anyway, the tournament started on Thursday. our school was rocking with excitement when the news came that BIS beat the #1 team (from last year) in a shoot out. the energy was high for Friday's games too. we lost the first game (but it didn't count for the placements), and won the second game with one minute to go! seriously, one minute to go!!

Saturday's games were in the afternoon. it was a beautiful day to be outside watching a game. it was a close game-- with TISA scoring in the first half-- and the momentum was high. Alex scored a great goal, which was assisted by Farhad in the second half, so the game was tied. our defense worked extremely hard at keeping TISA from scoring again-- making the game end with a shoot-out. the adrenaline was pumping.... and HIRO did an amazing job! he saved 3 key shots, which put us ahead and attributed to the BIS win!! BIS came out as the CHAMPIONS-- the whole school is beaming as a result!!



a little sidebar.... Em and I had to take bus 203-- yes, the dreaded "end of the world" bus-- in order to reach the game! all was fine, with the exception of the bus being jam packed on the way back -- Friday night, and everyone smuuuuuuusssssshhhhhhessss into the smallest creavasses in the bus/van. Saturday was much better. i went by myself-- and was expecting to basically have to sit on someone's lap, but the bus was pretty empty. it made for an enjoyable 35-40 minute ride. not to mention the weather was great-- so the 10 minute walk to the fields was refreshing as well.

actually, i had a busy day. i went to the game and then to the grocery store to pick up some necessities for tomorrow's mountain trip. i visited the grocery store, the "magical oven", the nut man, the mini-mart (for cheese), and the fruit stand for some apples and oranges. it was quite the day. :)

Poland's Independence Celebrations...

The Polish Embassy held a celebration in honor of Poland's Independence day-- and because of this and the fact that we have students from Poland at BIS-- our school was able to enjoy some entertainment (music, singing, and dancing) from some traditional Polish performers. They were wonderful and the kids really enjoyed the show. I took some pictures and video for you all to enjoy.

metro...

so the Grem and i went to the metro market tonight-- just to get a few odds and ends-- preparing for the visitors from Tbilisi. there is a big soccer tournament here, starting Thursday, so we will be hosting the families, players, and chaperones-- should be a lot of fun.

anyway, we went into metro and were almost done-- when one of the workers approached us and tried telling us something. she ended up having to show us what she was talking about-- it was a wine sampling table! so.... of course i had to try some of Azerbaijan's finest wines. the thick, burgundy type of wine was the best! Emily had to be pressured into trying some :) so, needless to say.... i didn't get much done again tonight-- i couldn't concentrate on the papers i was trying to grade!

this has been a long week already! the new schedule is wearing me out a bit-- but i am refusing to stay later than 5-- i just can't do it.

oh.... i bought a children's book, written in Russian--- i am going to give it a try.... the 8 pages might take me all month to read-- but i am going to do it!

field trip photos...

Last Wednesday we took the 10-14 year old students to Shehidlar Xiyabani (Martyr's Lane) and downtown. It was a great day for the trip, the sun was out and the wind wasn't quite as bad as it had been on the previous days.

Shehidlar Xiyabani is a cemetery dedicated to all of the people (civilians and soldiers) that have died as a result of Azerbaijan's independence from the Former Soviet Union and from the war with Armenia. Placing red carnations on a grave is a way to honor and remember those that have passed since the late 1980's (early 1990's)-- since the occurrence of Black January, the red carnation is only used as a way to honor those lost, which is way it is no longer sold in flower shops or flower markets.

There are many versions to the Black January story-- but all state that innocent people were killed and that the citizens of Baku were unaware that the Soviet army was entering the city. 26,000 Soviet soldiers entered Baku on the 19th of January, and by the 21st many people had lost their homes, loved ones, and or possessions. It was a terrible tragedy. Gorbachev and other Soviet officials claimed that Baku was in a "state of emergency", but the people of Baku were unaware of this decree. Many records and accounts have been lost of 'revised', so it is hard to say what the true prompting of this 'invasion' was-- but the events in January made the Azeri people stand strong and fight for their independence from The Soviet Union.

On January 22, millions of people marched in procession to recognize the victims of the Soviet soldiers' destruction. They marched to the highest point in Baku-- now known as Shehidlar Xiyabani-- where they buried the victims of this tragedy.

i am enclosing a few links-- in case you want to read a little more about Black January.
Black January-- Wikipedia
Remembering a sad time in history...
Signs of change??
Blog Opinions/Comments

The students recognized Shehidlar Xiyabani as an important place and did a great job of displaying respect for those that are buried there and to those who were visiting their loved ones.

After the sobering, but educational experience at Shehidlar Xiyabani, we took the students on the funicular. It is a train/tram that descends from Martyr's Lane to the downtown area. It was quite an experience for some of the students-- screams could be heard, along with laughter afterward-- good times. When we reached the bottom, we walked to Fountain Square and the shopping district-- but we didn't shop! We continued on to Cafe Caramel-- where the students felt very grown-up and independent--- they had fun ordering and eating in this sort of setting.

Now... we have to start the writing project! Our focus has been MOOD and how the setting can effect a mood--- so the writing begins! We all brought back a grave rubbing that will help to spark the feelings that were felt while in Shehidlar Xiyabani-- and the pictures will help with the rest. :)

... some time

I went to school for a little while-- to organize and finish moving into my new classroom. All went well-- but while I was there I decided that I needed some 'Naomi time' downtown. So, I dropped my stuff off at the house and headed downtown-- with my poor, neglected journal tucked inside my bag.

It was a perfect evening/night. I wandered around the city a little-- then ended up at Cafe Caramel. It is a good feeling to walk in, be greeted with smiles, and immediately receive my vanilla cappuccino.

It is easy to get used to traveling around with a partner or two-- especially when you don't speak the language-- but tonight was exactly what I needed. I know I mentioned in my other post that I felt at ease here --well, tonight just reinforced those feelings. I won't get into the "deep thoughts" by Naomi tonight though....

the heat is coming...

Aydin came over a little earlier than my landlord and the other worker. Aydin is the cutest man... he is so sweet and helpful! He wears these fold-up glasses and he takes very good care of them. He will wear them for a little bit, unfolding each piece carefully and then immediately put them back when he is finished. It makes me smile just thinking of the whole routine he has--- it is sooo cute!! He doesn't speak too much English, but he tries. It is so funny because he understands what I am saying for the most part, but he answers in Azeri and Russian mixed-- this makes it almost impossible for me to understand what he is saying. We do a lot of gesturing and charade like games. So really, it is like all of the conversations I have here. I love it!

Anyway, Aydin got here early, so we had chay (tea) and cookies. He told me about his brother and him being in the military, and I think some sort of war. Then he called his wife Ayeda so that she could speak to me. She speaks English, as does their daughter. Ayeda told me that if I needed anything or just wanted to talk to call her. She was so sweet, and excited to be able to speak English with me. Ayeda was making fun of Aydin (in a good way) because he works at an English school and doesn't speak English. :)

So, they are all here trying to get me heat to work. I am intrigued by the whole process. I have radiators that Aydin says will get super hot, but the way they are hooked up is bizarre. There's water hooked in there somewhere or somehow... not sure if that is necessary or not. Actually, I don't know what I am saying... I wouldn't know how to hook up heat in the United States, so maybe what they are doing isn't bizarre at all. Who knows!?

Right now they, Aydin and my landlord (or landlord's son), are talking in the kitchen. I am in the bedroom typing away because I feel so comfortable and relaxed with Aydin and the landlord. Aydin was sent over to make sure everything was done appropriately and to make sure that I didn't have any problems with my landlord (who has been here before, I just didn't know he was the landlord or whatever). People are very protective here-- of one another and of us. It is important to them that we get and leave with a good impression of the Azeri people and of the country.

Okay now I understand what the water is for... as one of the men comes around with some sort of sharp, pointed thing and gets all of the air out of the radiators, waiting for water to come out before he moves to the next one. I have 3 big radiators and 1 strange apparatus in the bathrrom (Aydin says it is used to dry the towels). AHHHHHH... I am feeling heat!! However, I am not getting any hot water now... it is so interesting. They fix one thing and another thing goes-- sounds like the life of the Clancy's, right dad?! They are still hooking up some sort of attachment, so maybe that will miraculously make EVERYTHING work.

The verdict is... the water will not be hot for a week... which translates to... we don't know what is wrong so we will leave it for a little while and then hope that the kinks work themselves out. :) I have semi-warm water and heat... that is all I can ask for. :)

I stayed up late last night, so that I could talk with some Madison students (via skype and the new blog that Tiffany has started), but before I went to bed I wandered around my apartment and ventured out onto the balcony for a bit. I got that feeling again. That feeling of complete peace and belonging. It felt good to turn out the lights, gaze out the windows, and know that this is where I was meant to be at this point in time. I needed to feel this way this week because things have changed quite a bit-- to the point where I feel like I am preparing for the first day of school all over again. My heart is content right now... and I truly enjoy the sights, the experiences, the people, and the city. If you have read the Alchemist you will know what I mean when I say that I feel like I am living a part of my personal legend....

Aydin is the one in the yellow shirt... this was taken at the school picnic a while back.

pictures of halloween....