So I'm signed up for the US Embassy email list in Ukraine (thanks mom). There has been one very good thing about the constant emails they send me. I get to know where and when the good demonstrations are going to be. Case in point:
ANTI-CAPITALISM DEMONSTRATION, 1 MAY 2009
AND ROCK CONCERT INVOLVING SKINHEADS, 2 MAY 2009 - KYIV
According to local media, an organization known as “The Autonomous Right” will conduct an anti-capitalism march and demonstration in downtown Kyiv, on Friday, May 1, 2009. They will assemble at 15:00 in Shevchenko Park and then march to other locations yet to be determined. It appears that labor union members from the United Kingdom and Germany will also participate in this event, in addition to other Ukrainian organizations.
On Saturday, May 2, there will also be a rock concert in Kyiv involving groups associated with skinhead gangs and extreme nationalist organizations. No venue has yet been identified.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Blending in is hard
I've had only a few problems blending in with the style of dress so far. Always wear a black coat, bundle up, and don't look or smile at anyone. It's been easy to do when it was freezing outside. With this warm weather though, I'm having problems. It's going to be 72 here today, which by all measurements is pleasantly warm weather. For me, its weather for shorts and a t-shirt. To the people here, it's weather for jeans and a light sweater. ...I don't do that. Instead I'm going to be wearing my foreigner badge on my sleeves - and shorts for that matter.
Also, I worked last night from 8 to 2AM. Why? Well since it's going to be nice today (and the entire week) I decided that if I put 4 hours in at night, and another 4 in during the morning, then I can stop work around lunch time and go enjoy the sun. It's one of the perks of not having an actual office or manager.
As for work, I'm almost done with my first feasibility report. It's taken about two days of on and off work so far and I'm hoping to have it almost completed today. The next 13 should go much faster though, as there were many parts of the report that I will be able to copy and paste into the rest of them. For instance the methodology or a breakdown of what each section seeks to analyze.
Finally, working without actual deadlines can be a real problem. In school you knew you had a deadline, and if you didn't make it you got a poor grade. In a traditional job, you'll get fired/reprimanded/ect. But with me, if I decide to slack off and not work too hard tomorrow, well...I'll just have to eventually do the work when I get some motivation. It's probably the biggest blessing and curse of this job. I like working under pressure, and there really is none here.
Also, I worked last night from 8 to 2AM. Why? Well since it's going to be nice today (and the entire week) I decided that if I put 4 hours in at night, and another 4 in during the morning, then I can stop work around lunch time and go enjoy the sun. It's one of the perks of not having an actual office or manager.
As for work, I'm almost done with my first feasibility report. It's taken about two days of on and off work so far and I'm hoping to have it almost completed today. The next 13 should go much faster though, as there were many parts of the report that I will be able to copy and paste into the rest of them. For instance the methodology or a breakdown of what each section seeks to analyze.
Finally, working without actual deadlines can be a real problem. In school you knew you had a deadline, and if you didn't make it you got a poor grade. In a traditional job, you'll get fired/reprimanded/ect. But with me, if I decide to slack off and not work too hard tomorrow, well...I'll just have to eventually do the work when I get some motivation. It's probably the biggest blessing and curse of this job. I like working under pressure, and there really is none here.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thanks Mexico
As if drugs, illegal aliens, and cheap labor wasn't enough, now you've added pig flu to your list of neighborly gifts.
By the way, there are currently 0 cases in Ukraine (and Europe for that matter), but that probably won't last.
By the way, there are currently 0 cases in Ukraine (and Europe for that matter), but that probably won't last.
Easily impressed
I just saw someone open a beer bottle with their cellphone. That is much more impressive than using a lighter like most people on the streets do.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I love it when people blame me for their problems
Really not happy about a conversation I just had. My travel partner (who didn't return my emails or phone calls yesterday and today) sends me a text at 1245 telling me she will be in her hotel lobby til 1 and if I can bring by the money I owe her. At this point I had just gotten some tea at the coffee house and was really in a focused work mode. After some testing she says she will have the driver swing by my apartment.
I asked her why she didn't return my phonecalls or emails and she said her Internet doesn't work at her hotel and that the phone she is using here has no money. But that she was at the office until 730 last night which I know had working Internet. My last email to her yesterday was at 5. I asked her why she didn't reply to my emails then and she replies with why didn't you call the hotel since everyone else from DC did. Because apparently it's my responsibility to call her cell phone, email her, and call the hotel when I need to talk to her. So it's my fault that I missed the visit to the lab yesterday and didn't know that she was waiting for me to contact her this morning. Right.
Yeah mom I know, humility and whatnot.
I asked her why she didn't return my phonecalls or emails and she said her Internet doesn't work at her hotel and that the phone she is using here has no money. But that she was at the office until 730 last night which I know had working Internet. My last email to her yesterday was at 5. I asked her why she didn't reply to my emails then and she replies with why didn't you call the hotel since everyone else from DC did. Because apparently it's my responsibility to call her cell phone, email her, and call the hotel when I need to talk to her. So it's my fault that I missed the visit to the lab yesterday and didn't know that she was waiting for me to contact her this morning. Right.
Yeah mom I know, humility and whatnot.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Damn you coffee house!
While I was gone a few really interesting things happened in Kiev. One of them is called spring. The day I left the trees around town were just starting to get their buds, so when I came back everything was green. Kinda a shame I missed it really. The tree outside my window is the same, meaning if there is a fire and I need to jump out the window for safety it's going to be much harder to now reach anything to grab onto.
Secondly, the coffee house I usually study and do work at got free wifi (as opposed to the pay to use it kind). While this seems like a good thing (and it is), it's going to decrease my productivity, while also increasing it. Being able to do research from there will be nice, but being distracted by things like stocks, news, and the hamster dance will probably slow down my work flow. Then again, there are studies that say taking 5 minute internet breaks increase productivity around the office.
Secondly, the coffee house I usually study and do work at got free wifi (as opposed to the pay to use it kind). While this seems like a good thing (and it is), it's going to decrease my productivity, while also increasing it. Being able to do research from there will be nice, but being distracted by things like stocks, news, and the hamster dance will probably slow down my work flow. Then again, there are studies that say taking 5 minute internet breaks increase productivity around the office.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I got on the Fokker
from the picture i took of the safety instructions.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Pictures
I've uploaded a bunch of new pictures. I've once again used the bulk uploader and haven't taken the time to rotate many of the pictures. If you find your neck hurting looking at these you should probably get back to work. There are folders on the left side that say things like 'Georgia', 'Armenia', ect.
http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/mmmba08/
Also, United Airlines has finally started charging fat people for extra seats. Article Here. I still think that we should move to a system where the cost of your ticket is based upon the total weight you are bringing onto the airplane - yourself included.
http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/mmmba08/
Also, United Airlines has finally started charging fat people for extra seats. Article Here. I still think that we should move to a system where the cost of your ticket is based upon the total weight you are bringing onto the airplane - yourself included.
You people are all up very early
So there is a 1 hour change in time between Georgia and Armenia. It's one hour FORWARD. I went to bed last night and planned on getting up early - around 6:30. Figured I would get some work done and then explore the city since I don't have to go to the first set of meetings today.
So today I got up at 6:30, knowing that I have to meet with the person arranging our schedules at 9:15AM in the lobby just to say hello. I got showered and dressed and went to breakfast. About halfway through my breakfast I got a message that there was a message at the front desk for me. Thought it was strange, but probably that my travel partner was up early and tried calling my room and nobody answered. After surfing the internet for a little bit on my phone while eating I realized that things were happening that were not supposed to have happened based on the time I thought it was. So I looked outside and on the big clock in the middle of the building across from the hotel is a clock that say 9:40. Oops. Apparently I had set my clock back instead of forward, so it was actually 8:30 when I woke up. I missed meeting with our contact here, and am now two hours behind schedule.
I'm trying to catch up on my reading now this morning so I can go explore a little bit of the city before work.
So today I got up at 6:30, knowing that I have to meet with the person arranging our schedules at 9:15AM in the lobby just to say hello. I got showered and dressed and went to breakfast. About halfway through my breakfast I got a message that there was a message at the front desk for me. Thought it was strange, but probably that my travel partner was up early and tried calling my room and nobody answered. After surfing the internet for a little bit on my phone while eating I realized that things were happening that were not supposed to have happened based on the time I thought it was. So I looked outside and on the big clock in the middle of the building across from the hotel is a clock that say 9:40. Oops. Apparently I had set my clock back instead of forward, so it was actually 8:30 when I woke up. I missed meeting with our contact here, and am now two hours behind schedule.
I'm trying to catch up on my reading now this morning so I can go explore a little bit of the city before work.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Yerevan
So we arrived in Yerevan this afternoon. It's right next to a mountain about three miles high and we drove about two hours up and through the mountains just to get here.
Our hotel is smack in the center of the city and is really nice. To pay for such an expensive location they have free wifi everywhere in the building except for the actual hote rooms. Every 'public' place has free wifi, but the wifi in the rooms is about 28 per day. I'll see how close I can pick up wifi to my room and really don't care if I sit in the hallway in the morning. The lobby bar that is open 24 hours has wifi and expresso so I have a feeling I'll be getting a lot done in the next two or so days.
Our hotel is smack in the center of the city and is really nice. To pay for such an expensive location they have free wifi everywhere in the building except for the actual hote rooms. Every 'public' place has free wifi, but the wifi in the rooms is about 28 per day. I'll see how close I can pick up wifi to my room and really don't care if I sit in the hallway in the morning. The lobby bar that is open 24 hours has wifi and expresso so I have a feeling I'll be getting a lot done in the next two or so days.
Georgia on my mind
There is something about this place that is uniquely old. I feel like I'm back in time and in another world all together. It's part third world and part early 1900s.
The place we are staying is heated by a wood burning stove. Almost all of the furniture is hand made of wood from our hosts great grandfather. There is a vinyard in the back yard along with maybe two dozen chickens, two pigs and a bunch of bee hive boxes so they can have their own honey. While I'm sure they have to purchase some things here they really live almost entirely off of their land.
On the side of the house there is a wine cellar and they also have cured meat hanging from what I assume was the last pig the killed. We had some of him for dinner last night. We had him smoked. We had him grilled. And I think he was on the table in sala form which is just fat prepared in some way that really isn't appetizing. Same for the chicken, boiled and roasted. There was also fresh wine that they made. The red was probably better than the white but neither were that good to me. It's related to the way they process the wine though to utilize all of the grapes. They did have grape juice too, and that was excellent. After touring some of the city we ha tea with their honey, walnut jam, and something else that was made from watermeloon skin. It had a faint taste of watermellon before I started to taste something else that I isn't really enjoy.
I'm not sure what they are putting on the table right now for breakfast but the table is filling up fast.
I walked into the kitchen earlier and the grandmother was at the stove stirring a pot of something. I could half imagine being in Italy 100 years ago and having an old lady stirring sauce and meatballs from tomatoes they grew on this same land.
While this all sound nice, the 2.5 hour car ride had some rather unpleasant scenery. I felt like I was in Africa but with dirt and grass instead of sand. While this may not be the part of the world that lives on less than two dollars a day, I wouldn't think it's more than five. In fact the average salary in the main city is 150 local currency which is really about 90 dollars - or about three dollars a day - or about half of a venti chai laté with skin milk and no whip... Or anything else from starbucks for that matter.
Also, I've just realized that they are serving us for breakfast what was left over from dinner. Yay?
SO it turns out that lunch was what was left over from breakfast, which was left over from dinner. By this time nothing good was left and what was left was cold and dry.
One of the interesting things over breakfast was the homemade cha cha. Cha cha is Georgian vodka. Homemade vodka is something similar to moonshine as I discovered. It tasted like it would run a car for at least 15 miles. Later I got to see where they make the stuff. It looked like someones science experiment from middle school. There was a brick oven with what is basically a spiraling set of tubes that I think he said collect the steam and whatever else evaporates when the fire beneath is going. The tubes then spiral through a large lat of cooled water before coming out of a small spout. It looked about as confusing as it sounds, and quickly I started thinking of toothless people in Mississippi watching Nascar and drinking moonshine. I would honestly love to know what proof the stuff was because it was strong.
Sadly I wasn't given any as a going away gift. Instead I got a sizable jar of honey, a bottle of red wine, and a snack type food that it nuts dipped in a gel made of grape juice and flour which then hardens and it is coated lightly in sugar. We made some of our own today and the old lady said I was a professional based on my skills. My travel partner was a different story.
And as for her, I finally figured out the best way to describe her. After driving for two hours through what can only be described as the third world and arriving at our destination she made a comment about how she was going to plug her computer into the internet and check her email. I was surprised about running water in this area, so the idea of Internet was rather amusing. And so yeah, Fulbright scholar and all, the free tuition doesn't come with any common sense.
So now that we are back it is the night before Easter. There is a fast that some people do related to today. As such, to help people as they finish their fast the bar right next to my hotel has free beer tonight. Yes, free beer. It starts are 10, I got here at 9 so I could get a seat.
I will put up pictures from the rural parts of Georgia and the nice touristy spot we stopped at when we arrive in Armenia tomorrow. The wifi in this current hotel is crap and I'm ready to get rid of it.
The place we are staying is heated by a wood burning stove. Almost all of the furniture is hand made of wood from our hosts great grandfather. There is a vinyard in the back yard along with maybe two dozen chickens, two pigs and a bunch of bee hive boxes so they can have their own honey. While I'm sure they have to purchase some things here they really live almost entirely off of their land.
On the side of the house there is a wine cellar and they also have cured meat hanging from what I assume was the last pig the killed. We had some of him for dinner last night. We had him smoked. We had him grilled. And I think he was on the table in sala form which is just fat prepared in some way that really isn't appetizing. Same for the chicken, boiled and roasted. There was also fresh wine that they made. The red was probably better than the white but neither were that good to me. It's related to the way they process the wine though to utilize all of the grapes. They did have grape juice too, and that was excellent. After touring some of the city we ha tea with their honey, walnut jam, and something else that was made from watermeloon skin. It had a faint taste of watermellon before I started to taste something else that I isn't really enjoy.
I'm not sure what they are putting on the table right now for breakfast but the table is filling up fast.
I walked into the kitchen earlier and the grandmother was at the stove stirring a pot of something. I could half imagine being in Italy 100 years ago and having an old lady stirring sauce and meatballs from tomatoes they grew on this same land.
While this all sound nice, the 2.5 hour car ride had some rather unpleasant scenery. I felt like I was in Africa but with dirt and grass instead of sand. While this may not be the part of the world that lives on less than two dollars a day, I wouldn't think it's more than five. In fact the average salary in the main city is 150 local currency which is really about 90 dollars - or about three dollars a day - or about half of a venti chai laté with skin milk and no whip... Or anything else from starbucks for that matter.
Also, I've just realized that they are serving us for breakfast what was left over from dinner. Yay?
SO it turns out that lunch was what was left over from breakfast, which was left over from dinner. By this time nothing good was left and what was left was cold and dry.
One of the interesting things over breakfast was the homemade cha cha. Cha cha is Georgian vodka. Homemade vodka is something similar to moonshine as I discovered. It tasted like it would run a car for at least 15 miles. Later I got to see where they make the stuff. It looked like someones science experiment from middle school. There was a brick oven with what is basically a spiraling set of tubes that I think he said collect the steam and whatever else evaporates when the fire beneath is going. The tubes then spiral through a large lat of cooled water before coming out of a small spout. It looked about as confusing as it sounds, and quickly I started thinking of toothless people in Mississippi watching Nascar and drinking moonshine. I would honestly love to know what proof the stuff was because it was strong.
Sadly I wasn't given any as a going away gift. Instead I got a sizable jar of honey, a bottle of red wine, and a snack type food that it nuts dipped in a gel made of grape juice and flour which then hardens and it is coated lightly in sugar. We made some of our own today and the old lady said I was a professional based on my skills. My travel partner was a different story.
And as for her, I finally figured out the best way to describe her. After driving for two hours through what can only be described as the third world and arriving at our destination she made a comment about how she was going to plug her computer into the internet and check her email. I was surprised about running water in this area, so the idea of Internet was rather amusing. And so yeah, Fulbright scholar and all, the free tuition doesn't come with any common sense.
So now that we are back it is the night before Easter. There is a fast that some people do related to today. As such, to help people as they finish their fast the bar right next to my hotel has free beer tonight. Yes, free beer. It starts are 10, I got here at 9 so I could get a seat.
I will put up pictures from the rural parts of Georgia and the nice touristy spot we stopped at when we arrive in Armenia tomorrow. The wifi in this current hotel is crap and I'm ready to get rid of it.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Lost in translation
probably my favorite. I wonder what this name conveys to a country
that doesn't typically use these letters and certainly doesn't know
the English meaning of this word.
Friday, April 17, 2009
One Word
Unibrow.
That's the one word I would use to describe the Caucuses so far. In Azerbaijan I saw plenty of them but at first I thought it was limited only to scientists who are in their labs all day. Then I started seeing them out in the wild at restaurants and on the streets and even attached to sharply dressed business men. Certainly people wearing expensive looking $1000 suits would know better than to accessorize themselves with a thick unibrow. Alas they don't.
Georgia has been no different. I've seen them in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are hard to not stare at. As I've been in the major cities of these countries I've started to wonder if perhaps these unibrows are well manicured and kept up well compared to what I may see in the wild and more rural towns of these countries. I'll get to find out soon as we are leaving to go about 2.5 hours east of here to visit someones in laws for the night. I'm expecting a very scenic trip - apparently we are going through some mountains and historic places.
As I mentioned earlier, it's easter weekend here. Interestingly I've found out they don't celebrate ash Wednesday as a major part of Easter, but Thursday is a pretty big day.
And just to give you an idea of my thought process, I managed to think about Easter being here - about how the fact that there is probably some funny joke I could make about how there are two Easters, then thinking about what holidays they celebrate in heaven. Is everyday christmas and easter? And what about birthdays? It would be a pain in the ass to try to blow out 2000 candles.
Time to hit the road.
That's the one word I would use to describe the Caucuses so far. In Azerbaijan I saw plenty of them but at first I thought it was limited only to scientists who are in their labs all day. Then I started seeing them out in the wild at restaurants and on the streets and even attached to sharply dressed business men. Certainly people wearing expensive looking $1000 suits would know better than to accessorize themselves with a thick unibrow. Alas they don't.
Georgia has been no different. I've seen them in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are hard to not stare at. As I've been in the major cities of these countries I've started to wonder if perhaps these unibrows are well manicured and kept up well compared to what I may see in the wild and more rural towns of these countries. I'll get to find out soon as we are leaving to go about 2.5 hours east of here to visit someones in laws for the night. I'm expecting a very scenic trip - apparently we are going through some mountains and historic places.
As I mentioned earlier, it's easter weekend here. Interestingly I've found out they don't celebrate ash Wednesday as a major part of Easter, but Thursday is a pretty big day.
And just to give you an idea of my thought process, I managed to think about Easter being here - about how the fact that there is probably some funny joke I could make about how there are two Easters, then thinking about what holidays they celebrate in heaven. Is everyday christmas and easter? And what about birthdays? It would be a pain in the ass to try to blow out 2000 candles.
Time to hit the road.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Not the vodka
After careful study I've determined that my car sickness the other day was not vodka related. It turns out that the combination of car rides in Georgia - which would give most rollercoasters a run for their money with all of the quick turns, stops, pothole bumps, and the occational scream - combined with the wonderfully noxious fumes of desiel and cigarette smoke were the actual culprit in question.
Plus let's be honest, I had 18 months in Knoxville to learn how to hold my liquor.
Plus let's be honest, I had 18 months in Knoxville to learn how to hold my liquor.
Bottom right
our new hotel. One in particular is the elevator. Where will the
button on the bottom right take me exactly?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
My Novel
The car hasn't stopped shaking for the last 15 minutes. Between the cobbled roads, potholes, and vodka I'm starting to feel sick and have a headache. The Russian conversation going on - back and forth between the driver and the other to people in the car - doesn't make matters any better. I can only imagine they are talking about something work related since they haven't pulled over to kill me yet. Once in a while I can make out a word or two. Either they are talking about the food we just had, or trying to compare what they think I might taste like to something they all know.
I think I have the beginnings to a great book here. I could also write something about the fact that room service has apparently thrown out (or stolen) the banana I left in my room this morning but I'm not going to make a big deal of it.
It's quarter to 11 and I am just getting back home from a dinner we left at 630 for. I've essentially been working and out of the hotel from 11 to 11 today. Dinner was good but most of of was fried or baked. Baked would be bad, but when they encourage you to drink the juice (read: fat from the beef) in the dimpling type thing it isn't really that healthy. Oddly I've grown an appreciation for cucumbers since this trip started because they are everywhere and as it turns out don't taste that bad afterall.
I'm going to bed now so I can be up in eight or so hours. I don't know how I could reasonably be expected to try to do any work and consolidate my notes right now. Hopefully I'm taking good enough notes now so that I can do my work later.
I think I have the beginnings to a great book here. I could also write something about the fact that room service has apparently thrown out (or stolen) the banana I left in my room this morning but I'm not going to make a big deal of it.
It's quarter to 11 and I am just getting back home from a dinner we left at 630 for. I've essentially been working and out of the hotel from 11 to 11 today. Dinner was good but most of of was fried or baked. Baked would be bad, but when they encourage you to drink the juice (read: fat from the beef) in the dimpling type thing it isn't really that healthy. Oddly I've grown an appreciation for cucumbers since this trip started because they are everywhere and as it turns out don't taste that bad afterall.
I'm going to bed now so I can be up in eight or so hours. I don't know how I could reasonably be expected to try to do any work and consolidate my notes right now. Hopefully I'm taking good enough notes now so that I can do my work later.
Define rude
Would it be rude for me to ask the two people I am with to speak English since I know they can...or is it rude that they know I have no idea what the hell they are saying and they continue to speak in Russian.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Jail cell front door
building with the research center.
Soviet Russia
Wow. So I just left my first center here in Georgia and it's a mess. I think the building might have been an old jail of some sorts too. The physical infrastructure there was amazingly poor. Imagine a research lab that doesn't even have sealed windows foe their sterile room. The director is paying out of his own pocket for lightbulbs and other things. They were using a hotplate as a space heater. So yeah I really feel like I'm in the ussr right now. Most likely these buildings hvemt been improved since then either. All I need now is some soviet war music and a military parade to really complete the picture.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Going to be a boring week
Our hotel is located in the middle of nowhere. We are outside of the 'old city' in one direction, and the main part of the city is in the opposite direction. The hotel room I have looks like it hasn't been updated since the 50s, with 2 small double beds instead of a larger single - although Liudmila has a larger bed. I don't have an actual desk in my room either, but more of a coffee table and two chairs around it. I went looking around the place to find the cafe-bar it mentions but couldn't find anything that resembled a cafe or a bar. Getting any work done will be difficult since I'll be tempted to just take countless naps. I've seen a total of 5 people in the hotel including the two of us.
As for the country, it's certainly poor. There are lots of buildings that look like a bulldozer started tearing them down and then decided to stop and let people move back in. Plenty of shanti housing too on the way just outside the airport.
Don't expect to see any problems from protests here at the hotel. The parliament building in the center of town was about 10 minutes by car from here.
As for the country, it's certainly poor. There are lots of buildings that look like a bulldozer started tearing them down and then decided to stop and let people move back in. Plenty of shanti housing too on the way just outside the airport.
Don't expect to see any problems from protests here at the hotel. The parliament building in the center of town was about 10 minutes by car from here.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
I love a good protest
I leave for Georgia in the morning. It's just shy of midnight right now, and I'll probably be waking up at 4:30 to pack and get ready. Should be a quick nap sort of night. Georgia is known to most of you for three things, Atlanta, peaches, and being that country that Russia invaded last year that somehow we Americans had something to say about it.
So what does this have to do with protests? The president of the country - reelected in 2008 with overwhelming support - is currently dealing with a crisis in his country. (Who isn't dealing with a crisis these days?) His though, is fairly different. The opposition parties, 13 of them apparently, gave him a 24 hour ultimatum to resign or else they would start holding mass protests. They claim up to 100,000 people will participate and they will not end until he resigns. They also mentioned something about shooting at government buildings according to Liudmila but I can't find that anywhere online. The protests have already started, but in respect to the holiday tomorrow - Palm Sunday - they are taking a break tomorrow. So yeah, I'm going to Tiblisi which is the capital when there are supposed to be thousands of people on the street protesting. Who knows if we will be able to travel the city to get where we are going, if anyone will be working, or what it will be like. Fun!
As for the fact that Palm Sunday is tomorrow, and yet it's Easter in North America, I've discovered that the western orthodox church apparently either uses a different calendar, or you could chalk it up to the fact that things are just backwards in Russia. Christmas is also celebrated on a different day - January 7th. This website gives a pretty good explanation of how and why this has happened.
http://www.erskine.edu/news/russia.4.12.01.html
While looking this up I also discovered this nugget of information: (courtesy of wikipedia)
"In Eastern Europe, Slavic countries have the tradition of Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"). He is accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka ("Snowmaiden"). According to legend, he travels in a magical decorated sleigh drawn by three white horses, and delivers gifts to children. He is thought to descend more from Santa Claus than from Saint Nicholas, having been promoted by the Soviets as a non-religious alternative."
So what does this have to do with protests? The president of the country - reelected in 2008 with overwhelming support - is currently dealing with a crisis in his country. (Who isn't dealing with a crisis these days?) His though, is fairly different. The opposition parties, 13 of them apparently, gave him a 24 hour ultimatum to resign or else they would start holding mass protests. They claim up to 100,000 people will participate and they will not end until he resigns. They also mentioned something about shooting at government buildings according to Liudmila but I can't find that anywhere online. The protests have already started, but in respect to the holiday tomorrow - Palm Sunday - they are taking a break tomorrow. So yeah, I'm going to Tiblisi which is the capital when there are supposed to be thousands of people on the street protesting. Who knows if we will be able to travel the city to get where we are going, if anyone will be working, or what it will be like. Fun!
As for the fact that Palm Sunday is tomorrow, and yet it's Easter in North America, I've discovered that the western orthodox church apparently either uses a different calendar, or you could chalk it up to the fact that things are just backwards in Russia. Christmas is also celebrated on a different day - January 7th. This website gives a pretty good explanation of how and why this has happened.
http://www.erskine.edu/news/russia.4.12.01.html
While looking this up I also discovered this nugget of information: (courtesy of wikipedia)
"In Eastern Europe, Slavic countries have the tradition of Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"). He is accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka ("Snowmaiden"). According to legend, he travels in a magical decorated sleigh drawn by three white horses, and delivers gifts to children. He is thought to descend more from Santa Claus than from Saint Nicholas, having been promoted by the Soviets as a non-religious alternative."
Friday, April 10, 2009
FSULoo
I'm thinking that I should start a website called FSULoo.com. It would stand for Former Soviet Union Loo and be a collection of all the toilets I find around the places I'm visiting. While this may sound gross, (and probably is, especially if they aren't clean) the idea would revolve around the fact that most of these toilets are either older than you or your grandparents, are simply holes in the ground with a place to put your feet, or in yesterdays case, had what I can only describe as a shower head/garden hose type thing in the bathroom next to the toilet. I'm not sure if you are supposed to use that when they run out of TP, miss the seat, need to shower, or maybe two of those at a time.
If I can find a way to combine this idea with a site about cats saying things and bacon, I think I have the next youtube on my hands.
If I can find a way to combine this idea with a site about cats saying things and bacon, I think I have the next youtube on my hands.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
First full day of work
Was in interesting day for a few reasons. When we were heading to meet with the director of the lab we were interviewing today my partner and I were discussing how we were going to go about asking our questions. Our tasks are not very similar so the questions probably would not overlap. She suggested that I go first and ask everything I had and then she would follow up with hers. 4 hours later when we finished we were driving back and I discovered that there was a communication gap somewhere at the office in Arlington. She had never received a copy of my questionnaire from the person I was supposed to send it to. She actually thought that I hadn't prepared anything and was not ready for the interview so in her mind by letting me go first and then her following she could protect me in a way. Needless to say she was surprised when I busted out a fairly lengthy 8 page list of questions on different topics relating to the operations of the center. It also worked out very well because a lot of the questions that I had, did end up overlapping with her work. She was able to observe the director and get a lot of her own questions answered based upon what I was asking. So what I've learned is that the person who is my project coordinator in DC isn't doing her job very well at all, and this isn't the first time that subject has come up.
Baku is like a mini version of Milan. There are tons of stores everywhere, and everything is extremely overpriced. There are all types of high-street stores and you could easily spend a few thousand dollars shopping and not have much to show for it.
We went out to dinner with the country director. He said we were going to a local restaurant that served traditional Azeri food. This local place was about 20 minutes away in a taxi and was hidden behind a few buildings in a place that you could never find on your own. He knows the waiters there - all of them - and so we had a private room. It wasn't a private room in the actual restaurant, but instead there are a set of 6 trailer like dinner rooms in the back. Literally a trailer with a table, TV, heater, AC, and 8 seats. There were three of us. The food was very good, the two of us had about half a bottle of vodka over a series of toasts through the night. There was also home made kampot from a local fruit that is apparently like a larger and harder version of a pear. Overall the food was really good. My best guess is that dinner was easilly $300 for the three of us, and he insisted on paying. We then headed out to a tea/desert place that was near our hotel. Besides tea the place was also a hookah bar. I learned that traditionally tea parlors in Baku are male only smokey bars - although this was not that type of place. Besides bringing us nuts, dried fruits, tea, the hookah and pastries, they had a list of jams. The country director recommended the walnut jam and rose petal jam. Yes, walnut jam and rose petal jam. The walnut jam was not a traditional jam, but instead actual walnuts that were soaked in something and were still tough but not crunchy. They were actually very good. However the rose petal jam was something else. It literally tasted like rose petals, smelled like roses, and was extremely sweet. It's considered a delicasy in the country and the roses are locally grown in Azerbaijan along the northern border with Georgia. Truely it was something I didn't expect to have, and didn't even know it existed. The total for all of this was 55 local currency, we left a tip that made the total 62. This is probably around 70 - 75 dollars so we insisted on picking up this bill.
I'm back at my hotelroom right now and it's somewhere around 1:30AM. It's strange to think that I am literally on the other side of the world as California right now since there is a 12 hour difference in time from there. I probably should go through my notes from the day and transcribe them into something more cohearant and usable but it's late and I'm tired. I will have to do it tomorrow in conjunction with the lab we visit in the morning.
Also, the lab we went to today was the complete opposite of the lab in Kiev. Whereas the center in Kiev had around 10% of their budget from commercial work (which was one of the key goals of this project I am working on), the lab here had around 90%. The director was amazingly pleasant and open. It certainly will be the benchmark I use as I visit the rest of the centers.
Below is a picture of the tea and the hookah. The tea was interesting in that the small kettle on top is a very concentrated solution of the tea, and the center silver/steel portion is filled with hot water and there is a small fire underneath it. There is also a picture of the rose pedal jam. I've also just realized that I don't know if it's petal or pedal. Both words come up with the same pictures on Google, and neither is technically incorrect. Obviously one you step on and one you don't (unless you don't like the person giving it to you), but I have no idea which is which right now. Also, I'm going to try to upload some pictures from around town to the place I've been putting them. http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/mmmba08/Azerbaijan/ Also, it's worth mentioning that the city really feels like a European city with some arabic flair. There are some pictures in a group that look like the city is a shanti town - it's not. I'm not sure if a fire came through that area, a highly concentrated earthquake, or something else. I certainly know there are some rougher areas in this town but I haven't gone to them other than walking through the back alleys and coming across a patch of them. Finally, I figured out there is a 'bulk uploader' so I'm just uploading everything I've taken in the last 2 days as opposed to selecting specific pictures and taking the time to pick and choose.
Baku is like a mini version of Milan. There are tons of stores everywhere, and everything is extremely overpriced. There are all types of high-street stores and you could easily spend a few thousand dollars shopping and not have much to show for it.
We went out to dinner with the country director. He said we were going to a local restaurant that served traditional Azeri food. This local place was about 20 minutes away in a taxi and was hidden behind a few buildings in a place that you could never find on your own. He knows the waiters there - all of them - and so we had a private room. It wasn't a private room in the actual restaurant, but instead there are a set of 6 trailer like dinner rooms in the back. Literally a trailer with a table, TV, heater, AC, and 8 seats. There were three of us. The food was very good, the two of us had about half a bottle of vodka over a series of toasts through the night. There was also home made kampot from a local fruit that is apparently like a larger and harder version of a pear. Overall the food was really good. My best guess is that dinner was easilly $300 for the three of us, and he insisted on paying. We then headed out to a tea/desert place that was near our hotel. Besides tea the place was also a hookah bar. I learned that traditionally tea parlors in Baku are male only smokey bars - although this was not that type of place. Besides bringing us nuts, dried fruits, tea, the hookah and pastries, they had a list of jams. The country director recommended the walnut jam and rose petal jam. Yes, walnut jam and rose petal jam. The walnut jam was not a traditional jam, but instead actual walnuts that were soaked in something and were still tough but not crunchy. They were actually very good. However the rose petal jam was something else. It literally tasted like rose petals, smelled like roses, and was extremely sweet. It's considered a delicasy in the country and the roses are locally grown in Azerbaijan along the northern border with Georgia. Truely it was something I didn't expect to have, and didn't even know it existed. The total for all of this was 55 local currency, we left a tip that made the total 62. This is probably around 70 - 75 dollars so we insisted on picking up this bill.
I'm back at my hotelroom right now and it's somewhere around 1:30AM. It's strange to think that I am literally on the other side of the world as California right now since there is a 12 hour difference in time from there. I probably should go through my notes from the day and transcribe them into something more cohearant and usable but it's late and I'm tired. I will have to do it tomorrow in conjunction with the lab we visit in the morning.
Also, the lab we went to today was the complete opposite of the lab in Kiev. Whereas the center in Kiev had around 10% of their budget from commercial work (which was one of the key goals of this project I am working on), the lab here had around 90%. The director was amazingly pleasant and open. It certainly will be the benchmark I use as I visit the rest of the centers.
Below is a picture of the tea and the hookah. The tea was interesting in that the small kettle on top is a very concentrated solution of the tea, and the center silver/steel portion is filled with hot water and there is a small fire underneath it. There is also a picture of the rose pedal jam. I've also just realized that I don't know if it's petal or pedal. Both words come up with the same pictures on Google, and neither is technically incorrect. Obviously one you step on and one you don't (unless you don't like the person giving it to you), but I have no idea which is which right now. Also, I'm going to try to upload some pictures from around town to the place I've been putting them. http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/mmmba08/Azerbaijan/ Also, it's worth mentioning that the city really feels like a European city with some arabic flair. There are some pictures in a group that look like the city is a shanti town - it's not. I'm not sure if a fire came through that area, a highly concentrated earthquake, or something else. I certainly know there are some rougher areas in this town but I haven't gone to them other than walking through the back alleys and coming across a patch of them. Finally, I figured out there is a 'bulk uploader' so I'm just uploading everything I've taken in the last 2 days as opposed to selecting specific pictures and taking the time to pick and choose.
So yesterdays meetings were almost entirely not related to what I am doing. Today however I will be meeting with people I need to interview. The weather forecast says that yesterday was the best weather we will get here so I ended up walking around with my free time and took a bunch of pictures.
The internet at the hotel is probably the biggest ripoff I've ever seen in my life. It's 16 dollars for 1 hour, or 35 for 24 hours. I went out and had a steak for dinner last night that was 13 dollars. It's not that things are that expensive here - although they are, but the hotel is blatently ripping off all the business people who come here and have their companies pay for the bill. I've heard the room I'm staying in is over the state dept per diem rate for accommodations which is $260 per night. It's not that nice, and the breakfast buffet service is not that great either.
For those of you that would describe yourself as 'out of the loop', Baku is in Azerbaijan. The country has about 70% of it's population living in the main city here. It's normally a warm place this time of the year, but right now its hovering around 45 which I was not expecting.
I have to change and get ready for work now.
The internet at the hotel is probably the biggest ripoff I've ever seen in my life. It's 16 dollars for 1 hour, or 35 for 24 hours. I went out and had a steak for dinner last night that was 13 dollars. It's not that things are that expensive here - although they are, but the hotel is blatently ripping off all the business people who come here and have their companies pay for the bill. I've heard the room I'm staying in is over the state dept per diem rate for accommodations which is $260 per night. It's not that nice, and the breakfast buffet service is not that great either.
For those of you that would describe yourself as 'out of the loop', Baku is in Azerbaijan. The country has about 70% of it's population living in the main city here. It's normally a warm place this time of the year, but right now its hovering around 45 which I was not expecting.
I have to change and get ready for work now.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
I've landed
I need sleep - haven't got any. In Baku. Needed to buy a visa again since mine apparently expired 4 days ago. Time to work.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Shopping
I just spent 20 minutes trying to find and then try on some white undershirts. Nothing here has sleeves and I really don't want wife beaters.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Looks safe
the openair market appears to move outdoors on the weekend.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Misc
I put some new pictures up, not a lot though: http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/mmmba08/
(I would post them here but the formatting for this site is crap)
It's nice that it's finally warmer here - mid 50's. 60 this weekend.
Start of this business trip next week is going to suck. I have a 1AM flight that is 3 hours long and arrives in Baku at 6AM. (2 hour time difference) From there, we start our meetings at 11. I won't be able to check into my hotel before we start. I think I'll be able to leave my suitcase with Liudmila and change in her room. I'm going to try to sleep during most of the day I leave so that the 3 hour flight will be more of a nap to my body and not where a deep sleep would go.
(I would post them here but the formatting for this site is crap)
It's nice that it's finally warmer here - mid 50's. 60 this weekend.
Start of this business trip next week is going to suck. I have a 1AM flight that is 3 hours long and arrives in Baku at 6AM. (2 hour time difference) From there, we start our meetings at 11. I won't be able to check into my hotel before we start. I think I'll be able to leave my suitcase with Liudmila and change in her room. I'm going to try to sleep during most of the day I leave so that the 3 hour flight will be more of a nap to my body and not where a deep sleep would go.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
October 25th
The political system is a little different here than in the States. In particular the presidential elections. There isn't a set date for the voting, but there is a set day by when the vote must happen. Apparently today the parliament voted to hold elections on October 25th - which is much sooner than the day most people were expecting of around January 10th. This is good news since it means the chaos that will most likely be associated with the elections will come sooner. I'm looking forward to chaos.
14 Hours of fun
So I worked for 14 hours today. Was a long day. The 5 teams that won grants - I was only surprised by a few of them. Of the 6 teams I worked extensively with, 4 were winners, and the last grant took about as long to award as the first 4 - but both of the two potential winners were people I worked a lot with. I think this means that the work I did was instrumental in separating the contenders from the pretenders. If it doesn't, well, you can't prove otherwise.
Also, a Russian diplomat was found dead today in southern Ukraine. Apparently he hanged himself with his wife and child in a separate room of the hotel they were staying at.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Also, a Russian diplomat was found dead today in southern Ukraine. Apparently he hanged himself with his wife and child in a separate room of the hotel they were staying at.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
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