Shirvan Site Visit

I probably should begin at the beginning with my arrival here in Azerbaijan, but that seems like light years ago. Since then I have been immersed in language and "technical" classes, 6 days a week, at least 8 hours a day.
My apologies now, but the letter that comes ater "E" in the English alphabet is not working on my computer. When you see questionable spelling add that letter so the word makes sense.
That said, here's a bit about my site visit.

A week ago, the 40+  Peace Corps trainees who make up AZ9 were sent on site visits to stay with working volunteers to see what it's like in villages and cities around the country.  I went to Sirvan, about 2 hours south o the capital, Baku.  I got a seat in a marshutka, a van type bus, packed with at least 4 rows o passengers, maybe 5, and no aisles.  We rattled down the highway, and I had no idea where I was supposed to exit.  The marshutka was heading to a town past my destination.  I did as previously instructed, and dialed Carrie, the volunteer I would visit.  Then I passed my cell phone 3 or 4 rows up to the driver, so she could explain to him where I needed to get out.  The cell phone was passed back to me and I could only trust in their communication.

About  30 minutes later, the marshutka exited the highway, and headed into a town.  It was a detour, just or me. What service!  It stopped and I was told to get out..   I called Carrie, and she directed me to her building a block away.

Carrie and counterpart, Camilla

 

I spend 4 days with her, meeting  her counterparts, watching her classes, and going guesting ater school.  It was an interesting look at what she does, and how she makes it all work.  Sirvan (pronounced Shirvan) is a nice size city, but the terrain reminds me o the area east o the Palm Springs metro area.. dry, with some rolling hills in the distance. She was testing students to see whether they could come to her conversation club.  Many  are eager to learn English, but she wanted to screen out those who were not.  Dozens o students came to take the test,  and later pestered her to see whether they had done well enough to get into the "club." 

Sirvan "Park"

 On Thursday, I headed back to Xirdalan, where I am staying with a wonderul host amily.  Back on the marshutka to something called the Bina Bazar..  which looks like the AZ version o an outlet mall outside the city.  Then onto a city bus, to take an hour long ride around Baku to the bus station.  Alas, my bus to Xirdalan didn't depart rom the bus station.  One driver motioned me to get on his bus, so I did.. and several blocks away he stopped, opened the door, and pointed to some stairs up to the highway.   I got out, cllimbed the stairs, to what amounted to a bus stop on the reeway.   I waved at the 325 as it came speeding along.  It stopped and picked me up or a crowded ride to the suburb.  When I spotted a neighborhood landmark, I tapped my qepik on the window, and the bus stopped or me to get out.