Hannah, the Invisible Woman

I was walking home from work the other day with one of my kids. I said kids but in reality he is 16. I called the youth that come to my clubs, around 15-18 years old, kids because that is how I think of them. They are just so much more innocent that any 15-18 I know in the US. But, back on track. So Ceyhun and I are walking home, we live in the same general direction, when some man calls out to Ceyhun to stop. We stop and here is the conversation that follows (take into the fact that this entire conversation takes places in Azerbaijani):

Man (to Ceyhun): Does she speak Azerbaijani?
Me: Yes, I speak Azerbaijani.
Man (to Ceyhun): Is she English or American?
Me: I'm American.
Man (to Ceyhun): Very good. I'm a music teacher and I want a Pink Floyd CD. I can buy one here, but the quality is bad. Tell her to give me one.
Me: I don't have a Pink Floyd CD.
Man (to Ceyhun): Why doesn't she have one?
Me: I don't listen to Pink Floyd.
Man (to Ceyhun): Okay. Thanks. Good Bye.

So this is just a typical event for me if I am ever with any guy, yes, including guys way younger than me. I am invisible! After a year of this one would think I would be used to it by now. It still irks me a bit, but not nearly as much as it did before. Now, I just laugh when it happens.

Same old same old

So my goal this year is to be a bit better about updating my blog. But, I have absolutely nothing to say. My life is very mundane. As I was walking to work today I tried to think of something, anything you all would find interesting to write about and all I could come up with is food. Pretty sad. So, at this point in the season the cheapest vegetables are carrots and cabbage. And the cheapest fruits are apples and mandarins (and mom when I say mandarins I really mean clementines). I try to think of different foods revolving around those vegetables, in addition to onions, which are pretty cheap year round. Thus far I have made curried carrot dip; cabbage and lentil soup; peanut butter noodles with carrots; and cabbage, carrot, onion, and mandarin salad. My life actually evolves around food. I love thinking of what I want to make and seeking out recipes for new food ideas and then cooking them. On that topic I now realize that last summer I did not make enough jams for myself (for when I drink tea which is non-stop in the winter). I have already gone though my ultimate favorite of yellow cherries with lemon and now I am onto my red cherry jam. I have others in storage: strawberry, fig (not the kind I made which I devoured in like a week, but a different kind I don't like as much), some kind of sour berry, and eggplant (yes I did say eggplant, it was gift and it is absolutely disgusting.) But, I will come up with something I am sure.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Hey Everyone. I thought I would write a post to let everyone know that I did make it back from my Christmas vacation to the US. I arrived Sunday back in Imishli after spending a few days in Baku with an American family. I spend New Year's with them and ate tons of amazing food. I also bought fireworks (a first) and set them off (also a first) for the kids - that was a lot of fun.

Back to Imishli; like I said I got back Sunday late afternoon to Imishli. My new site mate, Joe, came over for a bit. That was the third time I met him (he arrived to Imishli the day before I left for vacation). We hung out for a bit and then I spent a while unpacking, reorganizing, and cleaning my house - a lot of little bugs and spiders had taken over my space while I was gone. Monday: My host mom left for Baku early in the morning (still haven't had a chance to catch up with her yet). Joe came over again and we made miso soup and sushi together. Then we played Phase 10 (a card game I love and bought in the US because I knew I would have a site mate.) Tuesday: Joe came over to drop a few things off and tell me he was ETing (early termination - i.e. he was leaving the Peace Corps). I went around town and said my hellos to everyone I needed to. Wednesday: Joe left Imishli in the morning. I went to work and got back to life as normal for me here. Thursday: Work. Friday: Again, I am at work and hope to catch up with my host mom tonight.

So, I am back to being the only American in Imishli. lol. I am okay with it, I did enjoy my site mate for the two and half days though!