Aaron Graham

Ok, so I haven’t posted in awhile but I have a good excuse.  I’ve been hibernating in a cave I constructed from several blankets, my sleeping bag, and whatever else I could scrounge from around the house.  I never used to mind the cold all that much and in fact winter was always one of my favorite times of the year.  Now I know why that is.  It’s because before I was in a place where I could sit in a nice heated room and look outside and say to myself “Man, it sure looks cold out there!” as I sipped on a piping hot mug of hot chocolate with some of those little marsmallows in it.  The situation changes drastically when the room you sleep in has frost on the ceiling and walls and is actually colder than the outside air temperature most of the time.  Hence the reason I’ve taken to crawling inside my slumberjack (the brand name of my sleeping bag) womb and spending a great deal of time there.  The other problem is that when I do have to leave the comfort of my cave, the streets of the village are entirely ice covered in some spots.  I can now say that I am quite literally busting my ass here.  I have never looked forward to the coming of spring than I do now.  Given all that things are actually going ok.  Especially since my parent’s most recent package arrived.  I knew about swedish fish but I had no idea that they also made other swedish sea creatures, what will they think of next?  School is plugging along as usual, although attendance has been down because of the cold weather.  Attendance has been pretty low at my rosetta stone group in the city but I’ve got a couple really good students and I really think its been the most rewarding part of my work here so far.  Anyhow, I’m looking forward to coming back for Matt’s wedding in May and seeing some of you guys then.  Take care and keep on rockin in the free world!

The views and opinions expressed above do not represent any of those held by the U.S. government or Peace Corps and are mine alone.

Alright I know that it has been forever and a day since my last post so i want to say to anyone who has been awaiting these words with bated breath: prepare to be dissapointed.  Just kidding, there actually is a bit to update all of you guys on.  First, as i said I took a trip to Georgia in August and apart from being as hot as the fires of hell it was quite lovely.  We spent most of the week in Tbilisi but also took a day trip to Gori.  For those of you who don’t know, Gori is the birthplace of Joseph Stalin.  The stalin museum there was really interesting and had a lot of his personal effects such as his desk from the kremlin, shaving kit, and cavalry sword. The whole museum was dimly lit which made it appropriately creepy, especially the room with his death mask in it.  Also featured were his personal train car and boyhood home. Most of the time in tbilisi was spent touring the various old churches that abound in the city.  One that I found particularly interesting was down this alley in old city and in a state of ruin.  We couldn’t get inside but by gazing through a window, could see that it was practically filled with partially burned papers and books.  It looked like they were hymnals or something along those lines.  Unfortunately I never did find out what the story was behind that.  I also have to mention that the food in Georgia was fantastic.  They have this dumpling thing filled with either meat, cheese, or sometimes mushrooms called hengel that is fantastic.  We also have it in Azerbaijan but I hadn’t had it at a restaraunt before and it is one of my favorites. 

In september my folks came for a visit for ten days and I think we all had a great time.  They were here for ten days total and I think we managed to see a lot of the country in that short time.  The mountains were beautiful and they got to meet the family I live with, which I think was a treat for them.   I was glad that we were able to travel in the country a bit since most foreigners never see anything outside of Baku.  I think they were able to see Azerbaijan as I am experiencing it. 

Anyhow, we’re heading into winter now and school is in full swing.  I’m starting up my conversation clubs again and hope to be able to make them much more discussion-based than they have been.  Well, I think that is just about it.  Keep on rockin in the free world!

The views and opinions expressed above are mine personally and in no way reflect any position of the Peace Corps or U.S. government.

Alright, so I suppose this will be a real update since the last one was kind of nothing.  So the last day of the school year was May 31st and summer has now begun.  And now the task of staving off boredom takes on paramount importance.  My six year old host brother seems pretty into this whole hitting-a-rock-with-a-stick thing so I might try that out, we’ll see.  Otherwise I can always watch all my movies for the 10th time.  I figure anymore if I haven’t seen a particular movie in the last couple weeks then it is practically new.  Now, I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.  I do actually have a couple useful pursuits I am currently engaged in.  I am helping several students prepare for the FLEX test in september.  This is a test for students who want to participate in an exchange program to the US and is a really great oppurtunity.  I have met several returned flex students and was very impressed.  Anyhow, this has involved a couple hours of tutoring in English pretty much every day.  Actually its mostly just chatting in English with my student.  In most cases my students know the grammar rules and have a decent vocabulary, they just need a lot of practice.  Otherwise I’ve been playing a ton of frisbee with the local kids.  Ultimate has really taken off and many evenings we play until it gets dark.  Definately a good way to kill time.  I am considering frisbee a useful pursuit by the way.  Anyhow, I think I’m going to take some vacation time just to break up the monotany and maybe see some places I would not see otherwise.  Right now I have tentative plans for a trip to Georgia (the country, not the US state) sometime in August.  And of course my folks are coming in September and I think we’ll probably try and hit some of the more scenic spots in Azerbaijan while they are here.  Maybe I’ll see about setting up a picture gallery at some point.  Well that is just about it, later guys!

The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any postion of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

It’s Friday night, about 3 am (technically saturday morning) and I’m standing in the middle of my bedroom tightly gripping a knife in one hand and a flashlight in the other listening intently for the approach of my unseen enemy.  Suddenly, I hear scurrying to my right.  I lunge for my mysterious foe but come up empty.  As I wait for this apparition to strike I feel something on my leg and before I can react it has hold of my arm.  I throw off my would-be assailant, who is stunned by his impact with the wall.  Quickly I rush over to my fallen opponent and perform the coup de grace with the butt end of my flashlight.  Exhausted, I slump to the floor and thank god it was only a mouse.

Okay, I know this one will require a little more explanation for you less imaginative types so here it is.  For three nights straight I’d hardly gotten a wink of sleep because of this incessant stratching noise around the edges of my room.  A couple times I actually saw the mouse scurry across my floor but i was never fast enough to catch it.  Finally I got fed up and stayed up one night waiting for it as I described above.  (Before you ask, I have no idea what I was gonna do with the Knife.) Anyhow, I did not intend to kill it but once it ran up my leg I kinda freaked out and that was that. 

Otherwise everything is pretty much routine anymore.  My kids are nuts for frisbee, they want to play everyday now.  I think that is it for now.  Lata!

 The contents of this web site re mine personally an do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

That’s right folks, grab your caps and build a bonfire, because it is that magical time of year known as Novruz!  Ok, so I can see that many of you are scratching your heads in confusion so I’ll explain.  Novruz is probably the biggest holiday of the Azerbaijani year.  It is actually 4 tuesdays in a row, each representing one of the four elements:  fire, water, earth, and air…..i think.  Anyhow, fire is the first one and it is a total blast.  Basically you just eat tons of food and then build a big bonfire in the street and leap over it.  The next one is water I think.  I’m not sure but I think you’re supposed to clean your house and such….We just ate a ton of food again.  Third is earth and I’m not really sure what you’re supposed to do, but we did the fire thing again.  Probably because it was so much fun the first time.  Admittadly there are a number of fire-related casualties throughout the country every year, but I can only imagine what it would be like if we had this holiday in the States.  I guess the last tuesday is air but its basically a week long celebration.  Good times man. Oh yeah and there is something about children leaving their caps on your doorstep and you put candy in them or something, a lot like halloween in the states. 

Anyhow, school is going pretty well, I’m actually on Spring break at the moment so I’ve got a week to do whatever I want.  Perhaps I can get a frisbee game going.  Oh and there is a little kid, mabye 2.5 or 3 years old, that I always see on my way to school in the morning who calls me Aaron baba (grandpa Aaron).  It’s probably one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen and it always makes my day.  Kids are so cute when they belong to somebody else.  Otherwise, I’ve just been reading like a fiend.  Seth sent me a whole box of books for which I am eternally thankful.  (Nice selection by the way, bro) 

Oh I almost forgot.  March 8th was international woman’s day, so I want to give a belated shout-out to all the women in the audience!  Keep on rockin in the free world!  I also have an amusing woman’s day anecdote for you, or story or whatever…..I actually don’t know what anecdote means….and neither do most people who use the word….i think it might be a funny little story, in which case its exactly the right word…..alright so anyway I have an amusing anecdote/story/tale/fable/narrative regarding woman’s day.  On woman’s day you are supposed to get the women that are important to you some sort of gift.  So I thought it would be nice to get something for my family, seeing as how they are women and they are important to me.  But, as with most guys, I have no clue what women want.  So I did what all guys do when they are in this particular predicament:  I asked a married guy what to do.  After all they know what woman want or they wouldn’t be married right?  Anyhow, I asked my teacher friend what I should get them and he says, “I don’t know, girly stuff” (very rough translation)  Anyhow, we end up going into town and getting some perfume, which my family loved. (Note to self:  Girls like to smell nice.)  I guess the point of the story is that I did exactly what I would have done if I were in the states.  It made me feel normal again, if only for a moment.  Well I think that is all that is in my head, peace out guys.

The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

Ok, so first of all let me apologize for not posting in awhile. We were having some technical difficulties but they seem to be resolved now.

Anyhow, I realized recently that I don’t know what is weird anymore. It’s an odd thing but when everything around you is completely different that what you’ve become used to, eventually you just become numb to that fact and nothing seems strange anymore. I am pretty sure at this point that a man could run down the street with his hair on fire and I would not think too much of it. I might not even mention such a thing in my blog! Just to put your collective mind at ease, no men have run down the street with their hair on fire, at least none that I can remember.

So, as you may guess christmas and my birthday weren’t exactly traditional this year but they had their own charm I suppose. They don’t celebrate christmas here but people in my village knew there was some american holiday on the 25th, so I had many folks say bayraminiz mubarek!(happy holidays!) Its the thought that counts. My host family actually threw me a little birthday party on the 26th. This basically meant more food than I could eat in three lifetimes and it was actually a lot of fun. It was the third birthday we had that month after my host sister and her daughter.

On new year’s eve there were actually three holidays on the same day, which led to a great deal of confusion about how and what to celebrate. First is new years, which is celebrated in much the same way as christmas with a yulka(christmas tree). Also instead and of santa and his crew there is Shaxta Baba (grandfather frost) and Qar Qiz (snow girl). Apparently snow girl is grandfather frost’s granddaughter. (Personally I think shakta baba is just a lecherous old man and snow girl is his sugar mama but I got nothing to back that up.) Second is Azeri Solidarity Day, in which Azeri people around the world celebrate their heritage and such. Third is gurban bayram, which is actually an Islamic holiday and is based on the lunar calender so it falls on a different day each year. Anyhow, on qurban each family, if able, is supposed to sacrifice an animal(usually a sheep) and divide the meat into three portions. One is given to neighbors and relatives, one to the poor and unfortunate, and the last is eaten by the family itself. Kind of a cool idea actually. At my house we basically just pigged out all day and then went to bed really late. Now that’s my kind of holiday!

So, anyhow, school has started again and things are going pretty well. I have started the odious task of trying to teach my students english grammar. If you have ever tryed to do this you know that it makes no sense. Anyhow, all things considered they seem to be catching on relatively quickly. In other news it has been really cold here but it seems to be getting warmer now. Unfortunately still no snow. Oh one last thing. Congratulations to Matt and Natalie on their engagement! I look forward to coming back for the wedding next spring! I can’t think of a better reason to take some vacation time in the states!

The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any postion of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

When last we left our hero he was being chased by a band of angry savages intent on sending him straight to their pagan god…. Ok maybe not quite but it has been interesting at times. Anyhow, I’m pretty much settled into my new home and things seem to be going pretty well. My azeri still sucks but it is getting better, I am now a slightly more articulate caveman. I now have a couple after school english programs going that the kids really seem to like. On thursday they learned all about thanksgiving and Christmas, which meant drawing turkeys and singing Jingle Bells. I imagine it was more amusing for me than it was for them but at least one of us was having a good time, heheheh… I’ve also brought frisbee to the children of Azerbaijan, not because it has any educational value but because I really wanted to play frisbee. Now I just gotta start working on getting an Ultimate league together and I’m set. All the kids want to learn American football as well, maybe that will have to be a summer school project.

Since my last update we have celebrated two major holidays. The first was Azerbaijani indenpendance day on October 18th and the second was the end of Ramadan on the 23rd and 24th. It was nice because we got all these days off school. If anyone is interested in the history of Azerbaijan I recommend reading the books black garden and Azerbaijan Diary. Well that is about it guys, feel free to email me or post comments on my blog if you have any questions, I would be happy to hear from ya!

The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

I apologize for taking so long on this but my internet access has been somewhat spotty for the last three months. As you may know I arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 27th. The next day I began my peace corps training which has included an extensive language course as well as informational sessions on a million and one things I should probably know. Anyhow, I made some great friends over the course of training that I am starting to miss. During training I lived with a great family which consisted of a mother, father, and four brothers. My father was a military commander and probably one of the friendliest people on the face of the earth. I was fortunate in that my youngest brother spoke a fair amount of english so I could actually communicate pretty well. So you probably want to know a little about Azerbaijan itself. Well if you’re too lazy to do your own research here is the low down. Azerbaijan is situated on the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus mountain range. The capital, Baku is on a peninsula that sticks out into the caspian. I think in all there are about 8 million people in the country and it is about the size of the state of Maine. Azerbaijan gained independance from the soviet union in 1992 I believe. Now is actually a very exciting time to be here since the opening of the oil and natural gas pipeline to turkey. Anyhow, back to me. After training I moved out to my permanent site (about one week ago at the time I am writing this). I am now living in a small village several hundred kilometers from baku. My village only has about 1500 people but I am within walking distance of a larger city with internet and all that wonderful stuff. My family is great and consists of a grandmother, daughter, grandaughter and a five year old grandson. Oh I forgot to mention that since I’ve been here i have been to a wedding, a funeral, and in several months I may be going to a circumsision (little wedding in Azeri). Weddings are a lot of fun and involve copious of food, alcohol, and dancing. Azeri dancing is really not as hard as I thought it would be. Basically you just hold out your arms and move your feet really fast. Fortunately everyone else is too drunk to care what your dancing is like.

So now I have been teaching in my village’s school for about a week and everything is terribly confusing although I am told that usually works itself out! I will include more about my work in my next update. Anyhow, I think that is about it. Take care everyone!

The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

For those of you that know Aaron you know that he is over seas with the Peace Corps. In order to better keep up with his adventures this blog was created for all to read. If you should have any problems with this site or have suggestions for it feel free to let me know.

~Matt

The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.