Tim Cone, PCV at Lahic

I’m late with this posting of the blog due to a lack of internet access, but all is OK now.
First, the flooding continues to be the major story in our area of Azerbaijan. The river Kura continues to rise and 2 more villages were evacuated this week. To put in proportion with the one million Internally Displaced People from the war with Armenia, and now the flooding, the government is providing some form of housing for 15 per cent of the nation. We walked by the tent city here in Shirvan and the stench from the makeshift latrines was noticable a quarter of a mile away.
The governement is considering using some schools to house those displaced by the flooding. Even though in our area the rains have stopped and we have hot dry weather, the river continued to rise from conditions to the north and west.
Peace Corps Volunteers, Derek and Alicia Johnson have been permanently moved to a new assignment within Azerbaijan. The Peace Corps has been in contact regularly checking with those in affected areas.

Now, for happier times, we return to our trip to Lahic. It is a village of about 2,000. Tim Cone who is a very special person to Linda is the Peace Corps Volunteer in Lahic. In the picutre of the PCV’s pointing to their home states are from left to right; Murina who is in Ismaylli (about 1 hour from Lahic), Tim who is from Wisconsin, Sharif whose father is Egyptian, Linda, and Mariana who is from a small town in Southeast Georgia and is stationed in Shamaxi (about 2 hours from Lahic).
Tim’s school is old, but well cared for. For an Azerbaijan school there are many visual aids and art work upon the walls. In Linda’s school, nothing is permitted to be attached to the walls in any of the classrooms. Tim’s school, though it is a village school, has new blackboards, storage areas for teachers, clean, well maintained desks, and Tim even has an office he shares with the counselor with dial-up internet access.
The school has 6 computers in the math classroom, but Tim has never seen them being used. In Azerbaijan schools computers are often locked up. The schools want to publize that computers are at the schools and are taught, but the students rarely get to actually turn them on and use them. I have 2 students in a conversation club that said they received the highest marks possible in Information Technology at their school, and they have never sat at the computers in the school.
Sharif’s father is an Egyptian-American and Sharif is Muslim. Sharif is in a small village outside of Ismaylli and followed a very poor PCV. He has the greatest attitude, smile, dedication, and sense of humor. He is doing an effective job at his site. Being Muslim has given him an instant respect and acceptance.
Tim does a good job at the school and seems to be highly appreciated. Anyone in a village school is limited as to the potential counterparts with which to work. His school has a Director who has a passion for his students, and works diligently to provide a learning environment.

The last picture is of a wonderful woman who lives in 2 rooms of the ruins of an old hotel. There was once 72 rooms with a garden area. She opened her door and asked us to see her home. She showed us the gardens, and took us to this beautiful spot and the sights that she awakes to every morning. The young man in the picture is named Kamal. His father is a copper craftsman, like his grandfather, and like he will be some day. Kamal hangs around the street and finds tourists. She showed us to a museum operated by his aunt, and finally to his father's shop.

Finally, today, Linda and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary with a dinner of pasta with Alfredo sauce, salad, and a cheese cake (thanks to a package from the Baker’s). We never thought 39 years ago we would be here, serving our country, the people of Azerbaijan and you. Thank you for your love and support!