Pictures and Gonshurlar

First an explanation and caption for the pictures, then a little information about our gonshurlar (neighbors).
We brought a couple of digital cameras with us to Azerbaijan. One has a broken LCD display, but fortunately has a view finder also. For the advanced conversation club members I offer the camera for their use. I only ask that they take interesting pictures. They take pictures, I download to my laptop, and then we discuss.
These are 5 of Rovshan’s photos. He has an excellent eye, intelligence and a great sense of humor. The first photo is of a monument to a device for preparing tea. The monument is located in the old park near a chaykhana (teahouse). The inside of the cylindrical container would be hollow and used for a wood fueled fire. Surrounding the fire area contains water which is heated by the fire, then when tea is made the teapot is placed on top of the fire. It is especially useful on picnics, courtyard dinners, funeral meals, and family occasions.
The second picture is of a wood carving of an oriental man. It is a wonderful piece of art that has deteriorated due to the weather and lack of maintenance of sealers. The third is a new complex of wood houses being built for foreign workers who will come to work on the construction of a new power plant. The information I receive is that the workers will be from China. A Chinese company has the contract to build the new power plant which will take 3-5 years. The housing is very unique for this area. The houses will have a better R-factor and more efficient for heating and cooling. Very good windows have been installed, and there is a common building which will be used for meals. Fourth photo is a bridge that you may either want to avoid or run very quickly across. Finally a shop owners poster. Can you tell which shop owner only accepts cash and which extends credit?

The Azerbaijan word for neighbor is gonshur, and the plural gonshular. We live on the second floor of an old soviet era apartment building. The building has 5 entrances and each entrance leads to 5 floors, and each floor except the first has 3 apartments. The neighbors directly across from our apartment is a family consisting of the father who works away much of the time, the mother who is a housewife, the elder daughter age 10, younger daughter, age 3, and son almost 2 years old. None of them speak English but the 10 year-old daughter came to Linda’s English Club this summer and learned some English. She then taught this to her mother and siblings. The neighbors next door is a family consisting of the mother and college-age-daughter. The father died and an older brother lives in Baku. It seems that a male relative lives with them also. I tutor English with the college-aged daughter, Sherebani. Both of these neighbors have been very friendly and regularly they bring over plates of baked goods, candy and jam. I once had to borrow a little gas cooking device (like a camping stove) when the gas went out while guest were here. I feel fortune to have such good neighbors.

After Linda completed her courtyard classes she gave her visual aids to the 10 year-old daughter and said, “You are now the teacher for your family.”

Drop by drop a lake is made.