Mama and Papa O Come to the 'Baijan: Part 1

As of Friday night, I wasn't really sure my parents were going to make it to this part of the world...but after their lucky travel through to Vienna, I had faith. Their original flight out of CLE was delayed 5 hours, and then ultimately cancelled. So they rerouted...rented a car to Detroit, from there it was three more planes and 38 hours later they hit Tbilisi.

I had spent the weekend in Qax, celebrating Lori and Turan's Birthday. A spring festival, softball game (Americans: 20+, Qaxians: 4...we didn't take it easy on them...), dinner at a restaurant, an adult easter egg hunt, a midnight hike to a deer statue, an 8km hike to an idyllic field in the mountains, then an evening in the village of too much dancing, too much homemade booze, and sleeping on a balcony with a cat on my stomach...it was everything it was supposed to be and more!

At exactly 3:00 Sunday, I get a call from my parents, "We're in the taxi, we're on our way!" I had sent my counterpart's husband to go find them at the Marriot in Tbilisi...and somehow, he got them right on time. They headed back in the pouring rain, and after a minor detour (meaning they got a little lost), and a few stops for my CP's hubby to buy groceries (they're a lot cheaper in Georgia), my parents officially arrived at my little cottage in the mountains of Balaken. In the deluge, my dad gave my CP's husband a hug to thank him, and from then on, they were bros.

I gave them a quick tour of my place, and at one point as my mom is standing at the shower, she said, "How many days are we staying here?"

She was joking - to a certain extent. The squat toilet, the shower that's out of a horror film, the only source of running water outside (and at that point in the pouring rain), I think was maybe a little much. But they're getting used to it.

I had dinner ready when they came in (baigan bhartha, tabbouleh, naan and yogurt), and then we just had an evening sitting around, chatting, and catching up. Jake came over and made us apple crisp (delightful, thanks Mama Winn for the recipe!!), and we just had a really nice time. The rain never stopped, so we never did the dishes. We passed out early because I hadnt slept a wink the night before, and then were up and out early for school. Unfortunately, we lost water, giving my parents an even better insight into what my life is really like. Shoulda done the dishes...

School. So, my parents were celebrities. Basically. Everyone was psyched, and had a ton of questions. We taught three classes, and basically all we did in each of them was have Q&A sessions with my parents. "What's your favorite car?" and "Do you like Football? Reynaldo! Messi!" dominated the 6th form, one of my 8th formers introduced himself as Al Pacino, another took a picture with my Dad because he thinks he (the kid, not my dad) looks like Obama, and then the 5th formers were jus the most adorable nuggets ever, and I think my mom wants to take a few of them home in her suitcase.

I took them around the school, introduced them to everyone, and a strange pattern emerged. Every Azeri we talked to thought that my parents had come to take me back to America. The secretaries, the other teachers, the deputy, the grounds manager, all asked, "Are you staying? Don't leave yet! Stay! Stay!" It was a riot. Now I know how they'll react when it really is time to go...

After that, we tried to get train tickets (a failed attempt, we might be taking a cab to Baku...sigh...), walked back through the Bazar, and then to my counterpart's house to guest.

Guesting Experience #1: I rate it an A
On the menu: Xenqel (which is basically awesome ravioli, stuffed with nettle, cheese, or meat), dolma (grape leave), penje (I have no clue what it is, that's the Azeri word, but it's some delicious green that looks like spinach but has more flavor to it), tomato and greens salad, homemade yogurt, homemade grape juice, and of course chai and bamyan (the churro looking thing they make a lot of and make perfectly up north). I ate too much. It's 9pm and I'm still not hungry.

No awkward toy screenings, lots of good food, they did NOT bring out ALL the family albums, (only one, which was appropriate), we played with her kids, read their english books, and just talked. Like normal people. She was able to speak with them about Azerbaijan, America, life, me (it's great to have your parents come, because then people say really awesome things about you to them...and you learn some things too, primarily about how you have affected their lives...it was really touching.) Then her husband came home from work, came bearing gifts from Georgia, including a beautiful bunch of lilacs which are spreading their fragrance through my house right now.

After that, we walked over to Jake's house, and hung out there for a bit just chatting. My parents were thrilled (and I think a little jealous) to see a western toilet, and by the time we left, the weather had opened up and blue skies were shining down on us. Fingers crossed that keeps up for tomorrow, so I can show them how pretty Balaken can be.

It's wonderful to have them here, to show them what my life is like and to introduce them to people here. I think it's really good for them too, makes them feel a little better about what's going on in my life, especially if I decide to extend. It's weird though too...suddenly these two very distant parts of my life are merging. Introducing them to the people here who are so important to me...it's weird, but satisfying. And I'm glad for it.

Things are great so far, and I'm thinking it's going to be a very good week!