Eyes wide open. The amazing gift of experiencing life up front and personal. Seven years ago, when we sold the house, retired and hit the road, Ryan said to me, "Dad, you will see such amazing things, but, in the end, it is all about the people you will meet." Truer words were never spoken.
Our time in Azerbaijan is over and what a remarkable trip it was. Time to reflect and write about the lessons we learned. I am entirely overwhelmed with the whole experience. I am so in awe of Katie and Elnur, their love and their courage. I am so proud of Ryan and Kristen for taking the time from their busy lives to support them. Thank you, kids.
Elnur's family was as nervous about meeting us as we were about meeting them. But is only took moments to transcend the awkwardness. It was quickly replaced with respect, admiration and love for our new family.They were very interested in the family pictures we had brought with us, of our large and smiling families, of our parents and grand parents and of great gram and Eric, of our dogs. They quickly pulled out their photos, too.
We all spoke of this later. Elnur translated their words. "They are just like us." "I see now that they are simple, loving people." "I love Americans. They love to laugh." "They are hilarious!" Thanks to the curse of television, they expected Americans to be a mixture of Honey Boo Boo, Paris Hilton and Jerry Springer. Just as we Americans, due to the media, expected anything but the incredible, welcoming, hospitality and love we received.
They wanted to know what we thought of their country and what Americans knew about Azerbaijan. We told them that before we met Elnur, most of us did not even know the country existed, let alone what a remarkable people and country they are. Azerbaijan had been hidden from us behind the Soviet Iron Curtain. I guess it's up to each of us to open our minds, expel these false images around the world and not let ourselves be divided by fear. I promised them we would do our part to tell people what we had learned.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are pictures of people. It truly is about the people.
Our time in Azerbaijan is over and what a remarkable trip it was. Time to reflect and write about the lessons we learned. I am entirely overwhelmed with the whole experience. I am so in awe of Katie and Elnur, their love and their courage. I am so proud of Ryan and Kristen for taking the time from their busy lives to support them. Thank you, kids.
Elnur's family was as nervous about meeting us as we were about meeting them. But is only took moments to transcend the awkwardness. It was quickly replaced with respect, admiration and love for our new family.They were very interested in the family pictures we had brought with us, of our large and smiling families, of our parents and grand parents and of great gram and Eric, of our dogs. They quickly pulled out their photos, too.
We all spoke of this later. Elnur translated their words. "They are just like us." "I see now that they are simple, loving people." "I love Americans. They love to laugh." "They are hilarious!" Thanks to the curse of television, they expected Americans to be a mixture of Honey Boo Boo, Paris Hilton and Jerry Springer. Just as we Americans, due to the media, expected anything but the incredible, welcoming, hospitality and love we received.
They wanted to know what we thought of their country and what Americans knew about Azerbaijan. We told them that before we met Elnur, most of us did not even know the country existed, let alone what a remarkable people and country they are. Azerbaijan had been hidden from us behind the Soviet Iron Curtain. I guess it's up to each of us to open our minds, expel these false images around the world and not let ourselves be divided by fear. I promised them we would do our part to tell people what we had learned.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are pictures of people. It truly is about the people.
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| Ilqar's home and family, his 86 year old father, Seyfullah (formerly a journalist) in the front row, his sister, Nezaket, (second from left) a physician like Ilqar. |
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| Elnur's moms family in the village of Balakan |
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| Elnur's 83 year old grandmother (formerly a physicist) and aunt (a biology teacher). |
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| Grandmother Mesed |
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| family pics |
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| Ilqar's Uncle Mayis, retired civil engineer, with his grandson. |
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| Mayis wife and Omer, Ilqar's brother-in-law, a surgeon |
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| Balakan family picture |
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| Grandmother picture, on left |
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| Family picture from Balakan, all college graduates. |
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| A relative who served in the army for the Russian Czar |
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| Tea time and a tour of some incredible gardens |
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| Mayis' daughter-in-law and grandson |
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| Elnur's youngest cousin, Shamil |
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| Elnur's sweet nieces in Balakan |
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| We were welcomed at every opportunity, here at his Uncle Vaqif and Aunt Feride's home. |
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| Gunay and Shamil |
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| Katie with Nuray |
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| Elnur's childhood friend and neighbor in Balakan. She admonished us "You take good care of Elnur. He is the one." |
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| Vaquid and Feride's son Abdul |
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| Backyard laughter. |
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| Elnur's Uncles, Mehmam (left) and Vaqif (right). Builders. |
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| Cou Cou got her latte. Happy face. |
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| Mayis and Rahib, a relative and our fearless driver |
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| Ilqar, a humble, noble man |
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| keeping Ryan in line |
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| deep thoughts |
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| overlooking Tbilisi Georgia |
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| Baku, the old walled city. Amazing. |
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| Flame towers through the trees |
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| Connie cracking me up |
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| On the roof top in the Old City for the full moon and a spectacular view of Baku |
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| Our incredible trip planners and guides. |
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| Sweet nap time. |
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| On the windy pier on the Caspian |
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| The former president, His Excellency, Heydar Aliyev |
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| view from our balcony of the street below in Baku. Busy. Cosmopolitan. Called the Paris of the Caucasus. |
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| Two of the memorials to those thousands killed in the struggle for freedom from Soviet. |
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| Elnur's brother-in-law, Kadir, a Turk and principal of the highest rated school in Azerbaijan. An extraordinary man. |
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| Sisters, Aisha, Elnur' youngest sister. |
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| Mehbube's best friend, an attorney and HR Manager |
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| 17 year old Maga, Elnur's cousin |
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| Reyhan, Hauva, Elnur and Maga |
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| Meybube and her best friend |
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| Reyhan and Mehbube |
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| Jafarli family picture |
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| the fathers |
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| Efus, always |
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| Ilqar with his new daughter |
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| Elnur 1 and Elnur 2 with his expecting wife, Elnur's cousin Ulker |
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| Aisha and her cousin, Birgul |
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| Zamir at his home on the Caspian |
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| Elnur and Ulker |
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| Communicating with a camel |
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Wading in the Caspian
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