Our First Week in Baku!
- Olivia Wyman
- Feb 3, 2017
- 4 min read
View from outside our window
In our first week in Baku, we went to Fresco, our supermarket, learned how to cook with the appliances in our apartment, rode in sketchy taxis, visited the Embassy, the American Center in Baku and Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center (which will be a separate post). We conquered jet lag, figured out our sleeping arrangements, got an Azerbaijani phone, was able to get the Internet after five days without any and got blessed with seeing Azerbaijanis experience snow.
Jet Lag: Jet lag and sleeping are the two most difficult things to overcome when traveling to another country. Jet lag hit us hard for several reasons, one being that we traveled through three difference time zones causing our bodies to be confused when we should and shouldn’t be asleep.Two, as you go further west the jet lag gets worse, Baku is nine hours ahead of Edinboro so adjusting to the time difference was difficult.Third, when you are bored and tired sleep is an easy but costly solution. We were without the Internet for the first five days causing all of us to be really bored, most of slept because we were tired but sometimes sleep was an easy way to past time. The second day I woke up extremely early due to the amount of time I slept the previous day. Jet lag and lack of sleep can result in crankiness, bickering and attitude. Now add that on top of our usual sibling interactions, we weren’t the most pleasant family to be around the first couple of days.
Grocery Stores: When grocery shopping in another country it is always a challenge and an adventure, so it is always nice to have a native person to come along. Fortunately enough for us, Elchin, the library director of ADA, was able to assist us as we experienced grocery shopping first time in Baku. Most of the items at Fresco, our supermarket is in Russian, Arabic or Azeri but some items do have an English translation. A lot of the times it is trial and error when buying items. We bought something that we thought was mustard but instead it was horseradish. Luckily all the employees at the store are very nice and willing to help us. Learning how to use the stovetop and oven was tricky since we weren't use to cooking on these appliances, plus everything is in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit.
Taxis: Watching how taxi drivers drive in another country is always interesting. Things that I've learned in just a couple of taxi rides I've been on. 1) People don’t have the right of way so always make sure you use the crosswalks. 2) Taxis honk at you no matter what, whether you are crossing or not crossing the street, in a traffic jam and everything in between. Honking your horn is equivalent to voicing your opinion on the road.3) Lanes are guidelines but not required. In the few times I’ve been in a taxi, the taxi drivers drive in two lanes. Cars and buses are allowed to push their way through traffic. One taxi ride the driver didn’t know where our apartment was so he turned around in the lane so we could go back to try to find out apartment building.
American Embassy in Baku: On Monday, January 30, 2017, we went to the American Embassy for an orientation about Baku. Once we got to the American Embassy, we had to wait outside until they allowed us to come in and go through security.We had to give up all our electronics (iPads, iPhones, Fitbit, watches, thumb drives) and turn off our phones. After we waited for Ramina to come take us to her office. We all wore tags saying that we needed to be escorted. We walked into a building and while we were coming in the Ambassador and his security detail was coming out probably for a meeting. Ramina introduced us to the people in her department then we went over some things about Baku. First, we talked about security and safety concerns in Baku then someone from American Center Center told us about what it was and how we could be involved. A nurse talked to us about how we could get medical advice if we needed it. Everyone welcomed us to Azerbaijan and the orientation was more conversation rather than formal. Ramina along with other staff members recommended international schools that they thought Hannah, Eve and Robin could attend during their stay in Baku. Halfway through the meeting Ramina offered us some tea/water and brought these amazing chocolate crackers (they were to die for). We also talked about things to do in Baku, Azerbaijan, and surrounding countries. After about two hours of orientation, we were allowed to use their computers since we had yet to have the Internet in the apartment, it was a very successful trip to the Embassy.
American Center in Baku: Yesterday when we visited the American Embassy one of the presenters was someone from the American Center in Baku. We decided since we didn’t have anything to do today that we would visit the Center. This center is for small children, school children and adults to learn English and the United States. They hold activities such as conversation clubs, movie night and special speakers. Someone took us on a tour of the facility where we saw their book collection, DVD collection, children center, media center, maker space and everything in between. Everyone at the American Center is was wanting us to volunteer our time there. They are always looking for native speakers and new ideas. I am so excited to represent my beautiful country and excited to learn about Azerbaijan. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I'm so excited to teach people of all ages here at the American Center in Baku. I really want people to see the good side of the United States not the side that is always represented in the media.
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