The weather was good, so they were flying, so school didn't really happen. (Though I didn't feel bad because once we got to the airport most of my kids were at the competition watching, so I pretty much could say I was on a 'field trip.')
We arrived at the airport as they were filling up the hot air balloon with a shiny picture of Heydar waving to the world on the side. We walked around, Mom, Dad, Me, Jake and Elvin, schmoozing, saying hey. We really were celebrities, more than once I saw a group of girls point and giggle in a, "oh my gosh it's THEM" sort of way. It was good that we went, there were a lot of important people there, and I got to say hey and show off my parents.
As we were walking, we saw a group of Azeri parachuters. As we got closer, we realized they were really young...and then we got even closer and saw that one jumper was one of our students! We walked over to say hello and take some pictures, and realized that another girl on the team was a 12-year old, and set the record for youngest jumper in Azerbaijan. Now, they were doing slack jumps, but who cares, they were going it alone and that was awesome!
They took the biplane up (the one we climbed in yesterday), and let out 7 Azeri jumpers, and right behind them four trick jumpers (the ones who can stack themselves on top of each other in the chutes). We watched them, and then they started the awards ceremony from the jumps the day before. Azerbaijan placed second in jumps, and third in the team jumps, though oddly, none of the team looked to be actually Azeri. Lots of blondes. Hm.
We headed out after soaking up some of the sun, went to try and get train tickets only to be denied for the third time. I throw in the towel, we're taking a taxi to Baku. I'd always prefer to take a cab, but it is more expensive. But I suppose when you've got Mom and Dad with real paychecks footing the bill...I'm not complaining.
After lunch (introducing Mom to Natakhtari Grape Soda...so good!) and a quick nap at home (I made Mom do the dishes because I cooked. We still had no water, so she did it bucket style with bottles of water I had stored up. They could make it as PCVs. Minus the violent aversion to squat toilets...), we headed to club. Today was Women's Club, and it gave my parents the chance to ask about gender differences in Azerbaijan, as well as get a greater insight to Azeris relationship to Russia and the Soviet Union. I think it was good for the women, and my parents.At 4:45 kids started showing up to the office, asking about baseball practice. We walked over to my school's field around 5 o'clock, to about 25 kids just sitting on the field. We've NEVER had that many kids...I think every kid who has come to club came to play today. We organized an informal game, my Dad pitched, and my Mom helped me coach out in the field. We had a ball. (pun intended)
We got kicked off the field by some Azeri punks who wanted to play soccer, but we were pretty much done, because we had a guesting date that night. We headed to Bailey's old host family, who has since adopted me as their own too, and I have to say, I think my parents had the most wonderful time. The oldest daughter had called me earlier that day, to verify I was really coming, and to reassure me that they were waiting for me impatiently and just couldn't help themselves they were so excited. When we got there we found the kids sitting outside waiting for us, and they jumped up and ran in the house shouting, "They're here!!"
They laid out the SPREAD. We were escorted in for some basic discussion with the host Dad, me translating the whole time. Commiserating about how he has been working like crazy this week because there's no water, there's no mayor, the electricity keeps blowing out, and the like. But he was in good spirits, so we joked. Then, we were shuffled into the dining room for all the national meals (the host father had insisted we get a tasting of all the important things, dolma (quince leaf dolma, pepper dolma, and eggplant dolma), plov (with beans and meat, and apricots and raisins), dovga (which is a yogurt and greens soup), lots of salads, and mushrooms and potatoes for me! Host Dad started the toasting with my Dad, with two shots of black vodka (I was side-coaching my Dad as to when to drink, how much to drink, etc. Good thing Trey had given him the rundown the day before, just to be sure), and then Bailey and I were invited to join as we got deeper into translating.
Unfortunately, for most of the night the youngest brother was hiding in the back room. He's four, and apparently, was circumcised a few weeks ago in Zaqatala. (They wait a LONG time to get that taken care of here...poor little suckers). Anyway, he's terrified of doctors now (rightfully so). But, to mess with him, the hfam had told the kid that my parents were doctors. (They like to mess with him. It's easy, it's funny, it's harmless).
Hehehe. We had fun with that all night. Threatening that my Dad had a pair of scissors with him...so he kept his distance, but he was constantly on guard...
Eventually, the tea came out, and then we got to watch (of course) a Toy video from the most GESHENG toy ever in Baku...little girls dressed up as angels doing a choreographed dance during the couple's first dance, fireworks as they walked in and cut the cake, etc etc.
They were amazing to us, and my parents kept saying over and over again how wonderful it all was. That's the thing about it here, being hospitable is a thing for Azeris, but when you find a family who is genuinely hospitable...well they're a keeper. They were so cute, arguing over whether I looked like my Mom or my Dad (I look like Dad with my hair up, and Mom with my hair down), and how no matter what culture or language we have, we all have the same heart.
That was never more true than it was tonight. Sitting, laughing, two different languages, but somehow, we were all part of the same conversation.
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