Leigh in Azerbaijan

One of my favourite blogs is Zen Habits . Todays blog is about “paying it forward”. It struck me that volunteering is exactly that. I’m proud of my volunteering for the SA Country Fire Service and believe that it makes a difference. I’m unaware of much volunteering in Azerbaijan and my [...]

[Read more]

It seems that spitting is part of Chinese tradition.  The Chinese government is trying its best to re-educate the populace towards its elimination before the Olympics begin.
It must have been a Genghis Ghan thing as it’s the same issue here.  Men think nothing of spitting at your feet as you walk past here.   It’s not [...]

[Read more]

Geoff Robinson’s commentary on John Howard, Australian Conservative, gave me a new insight into the conservative philosophy of our evicted Prime Minister. Howard was the first Aust. PM to identify himself as a conservative. With a little research I’ve discovered that conservatives believe, not in the self-determination of liberalism, but in authority, [...]

[Read more]

While St Andrew’s Day itself may be a week away, it seems that the Scots in Baku get first choice on entertainment. They’re having their celebrations this weekend.   Today at TISA there was the world champion bagpipe band playing in the hall.  The Scots weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the 15 mins of music.  [...]

[Read more]

Having completed two days of THRASS (teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills) on this past weekend and now having started 10 weeks of ESL in the Mainstream, I’m feeling like a student again and preparing myself for nights at the desk doing assignments and reflections.  If I start a Masters next year I’ll be just [...]

[Read more]

Today we had Day #1 of Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills.  Day #2 tomorrow, then back to a four day week.  This is the second long weekend in a row but we’re giving up two days to attend this conference.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fleighnewton.edublogs.org%2F2007%2F11%2F18%2Fthrass-not-exactly-the-most-memorable-title%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘THRASS+-+not+exactly+the+most+memorable+title%21′;
addthis_pub [...]

[Read more]

The following is a worry:

Eynulla Fatullayev, founder of two papers and vocal opponent to the rule of the President, has been imprisoned for 8.5 years. ref
An Azerbaijani Interior Ministry official, ordered the murder last year of an opposition journalist on behalf of then Economic Development Minister Farhad Aliyev. ref The accused denies the [...]

[Read more]

An Azerbaijan Terror Plot Reality Check | Asking Tough Questions in Tough Places
This blog is worth reading. Was there a terror plot in Baku?

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fleighnewton.edublogs.org%2F2007%2F11%2F14%2Fan-azerbaijan-terror-plot-reality%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘An+Azerbaijan+Terror+Plot+Reality’;
addthis_pub = ”;

[Read more]

Forum 18, Oslo, Norway reports on restrictions to religous freedom in Azerbaijan.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fleighnewton.edublogs.org%2F2007%2F11%2F12%2Freligious-freedom-a-struggle-in-azerbaijan%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Religious+Freedom+a+struggle+in+Azerbaijan’;
addthis_pub = ”;

[Read more]

Sumgayit, a city to the north of Baku,  which had the world’s highest infant mortality rate in the Soviet days,  continues its high polution.
This article describes various things including how the infant mortality rate is still twice that of the rest of Azerbaijan.
When we went to Xinaliq we passed on the outskirts of the city [...]

[Read more]