First kidnapped, now homeless

Where to start?

OK, first, I have had a terrible stomachache yesterday and today. I think it was something I ate- specifically, I think I was given tap water to drink, and not knowing it, I drank a lot. Today is not as bad, but still bad. Yesterday I was miserable, then I threw up, and then I slept all day. I was so weak I couldn't move. Today it just hurts.

And now the big story. I was "kidnapped" and now I am "homeless." On Saturday, I took the bus from Ganga to Baku. 7 hours! I sat with a guy named Lolu, who was so excited to meet an American and speak English. When we got to Baku, he asked me to come to meet his family. Even though I was tired, I felt that I had to say yes. Well, I went to his apartment and met his grandmother, brother, and cousin- all very nice. Then it was getting late, and they all just assumed I would stay there instead of going home, so again, even though I wanted to go home, I stayed. I joked that they had kidnapped me.

The next day, yesterday, I was so sick. I was in bed until 5PM weak and miserable. Everyone else was out except for me and grandma. I was finally feeling better, everyone came home, we ate, talked etc. I finally managed to convince Lolu that I should go home because I had work today. So me, Lolu, his brother, and his cousin went together, planning to go for a walk after dropping my backpack off at home.

Get to my apartment, and my key doesn't work, and I can see that the lights are on. Why? My landlady had returned while I was in the regions, and moved back in!!! Her little daughters were home alone, and they would not let me in. I was freaking out, seriously. I knew that someting bad was going to ahppen sooner or later with her. So, I was calling people from work and freaking out. Finally, my landlady shows up and started yelling and going crazy immediately. She was saying that I should have been gone on the 29th or something, which is nonsense, we signed a contract until the 4th of August, when I leave. But she doesn't care. She had already gone and put all my things into my suitcase and bags. I was so incredibly mad at her for having gone through all my things. I wanted to kill her. There were so many people there, my three friends, her kids, and like 4 other people. It was an absolute madhouse. Finally, we left and took all my things with us, refusing to give her the key, which made her so mad but I just couldn't let her have it and said that I would go through the agency.

Anyway, she is a terrible human being, end of story. I stayed again last night with Lolu's family. They are great, but the place is small. THe diresctor of my orgnanization has offered for me to stay with him, but I don't know if I can get away from Lolu's family. They might be offended if I go, but at the same time, their place is small and I am an added expense. Oh well, we'll see!

So I'm homeless and sick. My god, life is just crazy! But I will survive, I know. And then Friday I leave for Moscow. My office is actually closed, I can come in only in the afternoons. So I won't achieve much this week, but given all the other stuff going on, I think it's OK!

Pics of Ganga:

My lunch- fried dough stuffed with potatoes and spices + a coke. Cost? A lot less than a buck.

At the Immamzade shrine.

Statue of Heyday Aliyev on the main square

Chess school!

Wonderful town hall on the main square