You CHEATERS!

Oh My Goodness, the cheating on tests is out of control!

I was on facebook and saw that my 8th grade English teacher (Hi Mr. Hayes!) was grading papers. He was noting that he had already found 8 students who had copied their book reports off the internet. When I read this I instantly thought, "How dense are those kids? Mr. Hayes tells them numerous times that he will be checking and with all of the problems it's just plain smarter to read the lousy book?" But then I thought about my classes and how the children are not only expected to cheat but it's encouraged. With the education system and bribes and blah blah blah it's simply expected.

During my tests that I give the students I try my hardest to split the students but then they just yell across the classroom at each other and the teacher laughs. I thought this was pretty bad but I was recently witness to the most intense cheating EVER. It's time for Country-wide testing. All 9-11 form students come to school on a Saturday and take a test that can last for 1-3 hours ranging on all of the subjects they are enrolled in. A student asked one of my counterparts for her cell phone number for the test and she gave it to him. I didn't even bother asking why, it was one of those days. I didn't care.

That Saturday brought me to my club in the village. Since the older students were getting ready for the test I was just waiting for the younger kids to come. A group of 10th form girls came in and asked for my phone number.
Me: "Sure, but why?"
Them: "For the test."
Me: "What do you mean, you'll be in the test?"
Them: "If I don't know an answer I'll text you and you'll send the answer."


WHAT? This was completely normal. When I explained that I wouldn't do that they all got pretty angry with me and said that this is Azerbaijan not America and I live here. I stood firm with my no and they stomped off complaining about how I was rude and they would fail. I began asking just about every teacher I came into contact with this week and found out that they all do it. I was in shock, no wonder I can't get honesty out of my kids in class. Cheating is expected of them.

This made me cut back to America and I was even angrier with the students who cheat there because they are given these opportunities and are throwing them away. Uh oh, cut to 12th grade where I didn't study, cheated, got caught and was terribly embarrassed. After seeing this intense cheating and with that watching the learning opportunities slip away from these kids, I'm truly ashamed of that time.

My new goal is to calm down when the kids cheat because they're taught to do it. To use these new emotions and realizations to do some good and to push integrity even more than before. This is the new goal...integrity.

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Remember that one time where I WIN!?!?!?!!

Well for those of you who are wondering who would be so silly as to doubt me, I will fill you in.

Around last March Mr. Big Daddy J and I were discussing food at his hFam's house. I say that surhulu, xengel, girs, qutab and mostly all dough-based azeri foods are all from the same dough. Sure they end up getting cooked in a different way but the dough is exactly the same: flour, water and salt (in the exact same proportions). Well Mr Chef (that he is), disagreed. I give in assuming I know nothing, but every time I eat any of those foods I get into mini arguments. Now it's just within my head as opposed to across the table at Big Daddy.

Well I went over to my counterparts house and made some delicious pumpkin qutab (more or less a quesedilla but with pumpkin instead of cheese). Normally food is just served to me but I've been complaining about this so she taught me. As I was standing there making the dough, that re-occurring argument I have with myself popped up. So I ask, and you know what......I WAS RIGHT! Boom!

So for your pleasure you may now watch me prepare Pumpkin Qutab using the same dough as every other dough based meal. PS Note how awesome it is that I get pumpkin qutab! It is so delicious.
The dough balls, pumpkin, flour and rolling board

Me getting the perfect thin dough, you wrap it around the rolling pin and it is super easy.

Freshly filled and pressed qutab's ready for frying.

Fry the qutab and then coat with butter!

As I have promised when something goes well for me I will develop it. As this has been haunting my meals (this is a no no folks, food is sacred) I decided merely posting developed wasn't good enough. So it's branded. Will he kill me...probably but I'm in Azerbaijan - try and catch me now!

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November Holidays in Qax

Bayraq Günü - National Flag Day
November 9

The Republic of Azerbaijan had freedom from the Soviet Union for 2 years beginning in 1918. In this time they adopted a flag and the national holiday to celebrate this freedom. It's three colors represent:
Blue - Heritage relating to the Turks
Red - Europeanization
Blue - Loyalty and relation to Islam

Then Azerbaijan was once again a part of the Soviet Union until 1990. At this time the 8-pointed star and half crescent moon of Islam were added.
Konstitusiya Günü - Constitution Day
November 12

There have been roughly 4 Constitution of Azerbaijan but this final one was accepted in 1995. So on this day Azerbaijan celebrates their constitution and yet again their freedom.

Qurban Bayram - Festival of Sacrifice
November 16-17 *rotating

This holiday is rotating but this year it fell on November 16-17 (Which meant I also got Monday the 15th off!) Each year it is 10 days before the last. This holiday is just what it says a Festival of Sacrifice. Sheep are killed and given to the poor and those who need it. This holiday is about being good to your neighbors and keeping God in the front of your mind.
"The religious rite of sacrifice appeared after the case with the Prophet Ibrahim. Ibrahim dreamed that Allah ordered him to sacrifice his son Ismail to test his faith. As a true believer, Ibrahim was ready to execute an instruction of Allah. Ismail himself was ready to become a victim. However, according to Quran, Allah sent a sheep and it was sacrificed. "
-http://en.trend.az

Müqəddəs Giorgio Günü - St. George's Day
November 23

That is my own translation as it is a Georgian Holiday. It is highly important as St. George is the the St. of Georgia. This holiday is celebrated twice a year. The first being on May 6th (his birthday) and this one representing the day he slew the dragon. I celebrate this holiday with the Georgians. How awesome is that? We will eat pork and drink wine to honor the Saint who slayed a dragon. Awesome!

The day began with Stephanie and I going up to the working church in Qax to welcome the heads of church from Georgia. It was a full ceremony, absolutely gorgeous. I spent the entire service filming, per the priests request, the beautiful decadence of a full blown religious service.

Here is a woman lighting her candle during the service.
After the service we hopped in a taxi and made our way out the festival site. It's about 30 minutes out of town and the church is on top of the hill looking over the valley of Qax and Şəki. The other, 13, Americans had already made the pilgrimage. So we went to go eat. At the festival grounds there is a wrestling match and a cock-fight. The winning wrestler gets the prize rooster. This part is added by the Azerbaijani's but some Georgians also take part. Wine, pork kebabs and lots of Georgian bread make for a delicious meal.

These are some burning candles you will find on the large rocks (Temple ruins) just outside the church on the top of the hill.
This is what the church looks like a bit earlier in the day when it is pretty populated. You have to walk around the church 3 times, kissing each corner before you enter. Once inside you find a place on the wall to place your 10 candles. The Georgians have 10 candles, each representing a different person: St George, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc. I did a few of the Georgian ones and then added some of my own.
These are our beautiful kebabs. My Georgian hDad made them for us out of hazelnut tree branches. he is so talented! Then he stuck around to teach us how to properly kebab because we're American and we need to know how to do it right. I kept telling him to go back to his friends because he looked bored but he was in crazy Dad-mode and wouldn't leave until it was all over.
Stuffed and ready to go to the church Stephanie models the skewers. They look awesome!

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