I like Fridays and no exception in
Masalli. I look forward to sleeping in on Saturday. I didn't think it
would be hard to get used to getting up at 7AM, but it is. I usually
put on a robe and walk down the steps, out the front door and across
the yard to the haman (2 tiled rooms - one with squat toilet and the
other with a sink and shower. I've made up a new law like
Murphy's law: the frequency of pee-ing is related to the number of
toilets available. Americans go to the toilet a lot. Azerbaijanis
don't – and they drink a lot of tea!
Now that I've discovered school starts
at 8:30 instead of 9, I hurry to catch the marsrutka that stops at
8:25 right outside the door to our yard. It would be a 3 minute ride
to school if the road were paved. Instead it is unpaved and full of
holes making it the roughest, dirtiest, dustiest road around. The
driver weaves from side to side making it about a 10 minute ride.
After school I have to walk home that same road because the marsrutka does not
travel in that direction. I endure dust being kicked up by the
numerous heavy-duty trucks that use this road. I also look forward to
Saturdays for a shower.
I noticed a number of changes at my
school thanks to the new school director. For one thing, the teachers
as well as students are not allowed to leave when school is in
session. Secondly, 2 English teachers now teach primary students
basic English vocabulary (colors, numbers, etc.). So today I put some
decorations from the USA on that classroom wall. Then as I watched
from the back of the room I noticed an abacus. What an interesting
contrast, so of course I got out my camera and took today's photo of
Teacher Shalala. Don't ask me about the prevalent use of Roman
numerals. This territory has had many conquerors!
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