Azerbaijani Culture and Hospitality Brought to Dallas

Monday, May 17th, 2010 dgs

As a thank you for presenting to the Azerbaijani delegation, my wife and I were invited to a farewell dinner at a local home. The affair was very informal with plenty of wine and beer flowing amidst the non-stop flashes of digital cameras, (the Azerbaijani’s were most fond of photographs).

Soon after our arrival, dish after dish began to appear for dinner. As it tuned out, the Azerbaijani women had made a traditional dinner for us. Through an interpreter, the table was laid out for us:  Shepherd Salad (everything was in it), vegetable omelets with yogurt, chicken stuffed with (a wonderful) nut dressing, rice pilaf and roasted lamb with apricots and dates. Spectacular.

Dinner was accompanied by Azerbaijani music and one of the women I had presented to earlier in the day now appeared in indigenous dress and treated us to traditional dancing

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. As the evening wrapped up, each delegate was presented with a gift and each had a few words for us (again presented through an interpreter).  I was astonished to hear such emotional, grateful words from people that did not show much emotion during my presentation (hopefully it was because they were focused on the interpreter). One of the most moving comments was this:  We are looking to you to give us the keys to the west. In return, we give you the keys to the east.

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The last person to receive her gift was the head of the delegation, Ulviya (Olivia, same as my daughter’s name) Mammadova. When she received her gift, she was told to look inside the bag because there was something special for her. As she looked into the bag she said, “I hope it is American flag”. It was. As she unfolded it and wrapped it around herself, she began to weep. She said, one of her greatest dreams had come true, she had visited the United States.

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She tearfully thanked all of us and told me a few minutes afterward that she hoped to win a Fellowship in the fall so she could return to the U.S. to study women’s rights and domestic abuse (a serious problem in Azerbaijan).

As we prepared to leave, Ulviya gave my wife a beautiful touchstone bearing an Azerbaijani image

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. I was given a CD of Azerbaijani images and music. There was also a second CD in my package, this one on tribal genocide – not your average party favor.

And so, a truly life changing day came to a close. I will never forget these people and their cause. Ulviya promised, once she returned home, she would send me more information on IREX and specific plans about what they are trying to accomplish.  While I recently got out of the free idea business it may be time to reopen the doors.

 

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