Meet Zahra: Homestead Interview with Vance

On November 21, 2000, Vance was checking the Guest Book at http://www.homestead.com/vstevens/ and was surprised to find Zahra there. Zahra works at a bank in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. She had left a message asking about our classes, so I we had a conversation. As often happens with the Homestead chat, I lost the first part of the chat when it disappeared from the memory buffer. As we begin, we are talking about the languages we speak. Zahra speaks several languages such as Farsi, Azeri, Turkish, and English. I asked her is Azeri was similar to Farsi. She says ...

<Zahra> nooooo its like english and japanese))))))

<Zahra> azeri is similar to turkish

<Vance> Oh, I've been to the far west province of China where they speak Uigar. That's also very similar to Turkish.

<Zahra> do you know my grandmother was arabic woman from Karbalai

<Vance> Karbalai? It's unusual when I don't know a place. Where is that?

<Zahra> so i have arabic blood

<Vance> Have you traveled in any Arabic countries?

<Zahra> it the the most important place for all muslims in the world in Saudi Arabia

<Vance> Ah, did you go on the Haj?

<Zahra> no i am 23 years old but i think i will

<Vance> I lived in Saudi Arabia for 5 years, but as a Christian I was not allowed into Mecca or Medina

<Zahra> yes i know just we muslims can go there

<Vance> Where did you go in Saudi?

<Vance> still there? Hope your boss didn't catch you chatting.

<Zahra> i am here

<Zahra> i am the chief of international department

<Zahra> so nobody will say me something

<Vance> Oh, you are the boss. No one will say anything to you. Very good.

<Zahra> not boss but chief))))))

<Zahra> but i will

<Vance> How big is your department?

<Zahra> i had never be in Saudi i just heared about it from my grandmother but i was in Dubai, Turkey and Iran

<Zahra> 2 employers and i

<Vance> Dubai is just 180 km from Abu Dhabi. I've been in Turkey and Iran also, but never Azerbaijan! I would like to visit one day.

<Zahra> i will be glad if you will come Vance

<Vance> For now we can meet with Webheads.

<Zahra> yes

<Vance> Webheads makes the world a very small place. We can talk with each other at one of our chat sites.

<Zahra> yes

<Zahra> and your family is also with you now or in USA

<Zahra> sorry i have to leave you for 5 minute you will wait for me?

<Vance> My wife and youngest son are with me in Abu Dhabi. My oldest son is in California at college.

<Vance> Yeah, I'll just leave this on. I may have to go for a minute too. But I'll be back.

After a few minutes ...

<Zahra> i am here and you?

<Vance> Same chair, just in other windows on my computer

<Vance> We're supposed to have visitors today. At some point someone will call me to come give them a presentation.

<Vance> Is your family there in Baku?

<Zahra> i see also i have some transfers now

<Vance> Do you get them there on your computer?

<Zahra> no i have no in computer but my family with me in Baku

<Zahra> the current i am with my family))))

<Vance> So you live at home with your parents?

<Zahra> yes

<Vance> How do you get to work (own car? bicycle? bus?)

<Vance> (Just curious to get an idea of what it's like in Baku)

<Zahra> i have my car also my work is near my home so sometimes i come by myself it is for 10 minutes

<Vance> I live about 10 min from where I work too. I travel by car. My wife and son travel by taxi to school. Bobbi, my wife, is a teacher there.

<Vance> Our weekend is Thursday and Friday. What about yours?

<Zahra> and our on Saturday and Sunday

<Vance> What do you like to do on weekends?

<Zahra> Actually i stay at home and make homemade things)))

<Vance> That's interesting. What do you make?

<Zahra> make eating, cooking,clean the dishes and home and clothers

<Vance> Do you have a big family?

<Vance> I mean, many brothers and sisters? Big meals at home on weekends?

<Zahra> no i have no sisters and brothers i am the only child in family

<Vance> Who do you cook for?

<Zahra> me

<Vance> only? Mom, dad?

<Zahra> yes mom dad and me

<Vance> Do you like to read? Go to movies? Beach? Parks? Sports?

<Vance> Shopping?

<Zahra> shopping for clothers its for me, also i like to go to the cinema

<Vance> What kind of movies can you see in Baku?

<Zahra> al movies that are famous in the world

<Vance> Are there many cinemas in Baku?

<Zahra> no 15-18

<Vance> It's a very big city isn't it. Does it have nice beaches, or is it very industrial?

<Zahra> yes a lot of beaches

<Zahra> we have Caspian Sea

<Vance> Do you like the beach?

<Vance> Do you stay in the city most of the time or travel outside a lot?

<Zahra> yes i stay in the city

<Vance> Is it easy for you to travel around Azerbaijan or are there restrictions?

<Zahra> yes it is easy buy i have not much time

<Vance> What's the most interesting place to visit in Azerbaijan?

<Vance> (in your opinion)

<Zahra> a lot of interesting places

<Vance> ok, can you name a few?

<Vance> I don't know much about Azerbaijan beyond the main city there.

<Zahra> the main is Baku and there is a lot of other cities

<Vance> Well, I mean what are the most interesting cultural or natural places to visit there?

<Vance> Or where do you like to go if you get the time?

<Vance> I hope I'm not taking too much of your time. I'm able to work while chatting, so I'm ok.

<Zahra> Vance the Azerbaijan is very cultural and entioned place and there is a lot of places not one or two a lot of so if you want to see it you have to stay in azerbaijan for 1 year to see all

<Vance> Well, what if someone visited for one week, where would they spend their time?

<Vance> What about for one month?

<Vance> I would imagine there are some nice mountains there.

<Vance> Of course it must be flat near the Caspian sea.

<Vance> Me, I like to walk in mountains.

<Zahra> also we have a lot of mountains

<Vance> Do you like the mountains?

<Zahra> no)))))))

<Vance> OK, what's the most interesting city outside of Baku?

<Zahra> Ghandja, Guba, Sheki all

<Vance> I never heard of those places. I like learning new things.

<Vance> What do you like about Ghandja?

<Zahra> all

<Zahra> and what country did you like where you stay?

<Zahra> sorry Vance now i have to leave you i have to go to the Central bank

<Vance> ok. I'll email you a copy of this chat.

<Vance> I lost a bit at the beginning but I have most of it.

<Zahra> ok

Zahra has left the chat room.

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Meet Zahra: Homestead Interview with Vance

Last updated: November 24, 2000 in Hot Metal Pro 6.0