It is so hot...

This week we take a break from pictures from Turkey.
Someone asked what we are doing this summer, do we get the summer off? For Linda school is out, but she has Courtyard English Clubs. If you read the blog last year, you know that Linda discovered that many of the children in our 5 apartment quadrangle have little to do in the summer. She began by posting notices in the buildings if anyone was interested they would have the lessons. After 2 months she had over 40 children 2 days a week. Many adults took notice of what she was doing. One grandmother who teaches at Linda’s school number 9, came to school in the fall and told everyone how Mrs. Linda had taught her grandchild English in the summer. Linda did teach greetings, colors, days, family terms, numbers and as much as she could some basic English words.
I thought the best result was that parents could see interactive teaching methods and what those methods could teach in an enjoyable and productive way. The educational system is still rote and recite. Linda uses games and activities to create thinking as well as memorizing vocabulary.
Linda has conducted 8 sessions, and again has over 40 students. Not all of them arrive on time, and the two pictures are of those who are prompt.
For me, the summer is always great! There are university students home in the summer who want to practice English with the best English speakers at the library. We get to discuss important and relevant issues. Linda envies me when I come home at lunch with such excitement about what people are thinking and saying. She is working on colors, and we discuss the middle-east issues, democracy, cultures, and history.
About a month ago I wrote about a group of us going to Qobustan. Qobustan has cave drawings dating at least 10,000 B.C. It is a rich historical for the entire world, much less Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijanis study and learn about Qobustan, but never visit the site. We arranged a bus and took a group to Qobustan. Everyone had such an inspirational and fun time that they wanted to travel again. So, on July 10, we took another journey.
This day trip was to Shamakha which was once the capital of Azerbaijan until it was destroyed by an earthquake. Rebuilt, it is has beautiful nature. Outside of Shamakha is an observatory which has 6 telescopes, one of which is active while the others are under repair. We visited the Observatory after going into a forest for a picnic.
After the observatory tour we visited the museum of M.E. Sabir, a satirical writer who died in 1911. His commentaries were important for the citizens of Azerbaijan to move ahead with the rest of the world in technology, science, and politics. He inspired many other writers.
The journey was 3 hours each way. We left Shirvan at 6:00 a.m. and returned at 7:00 p.m. Everyone was overjoyed, and Linda and I were exhausted from the heat and physical demands of the trip.

IT IS SO HOT…
We never realized how mild last summer was. This summer is “normal” with temperatures in the 40-45 Celsius range. For my non-mathematical friends, 104 – 114 range. It is so hot the chickens are laying hard boiled eggs.
My cousin Melissa says it is just like south central Texas. The problem here for the Volunteers is that we never cool off. There is no place that is actually cool. The coolest building I have been in is the store where we buy chicken and eggs.
We “sleep” under fans, and hope. Azerbaijanis think that sleeping or being in the direct path of a fan is unhealthy. We are just hot and trying to survive.