First Trip to Baku — 1 Day One
NOTE: This was first published on Facebook on October 16, 2016.
A longish post…I am here! I will share photos, but it is supposed to rain much of this week. I don’t want your opinion to be colored by gray skies and days!
The trip from Norfolk to JFK was uneventful and accompanied by a glorious sunrise over the Atlantic. Those who travel internationally may be familiar with JFK. I had never been there in any of my many travels. Interesting to say the least. We landed at terminal 4 and needed to get to terminal 1 for the international flight. The sky train (or whatever they call it) was not working yesterday. So we were told to get on the bus that would take us. We waited and waited a little longer.
Finally, the bus came. The driver was simply the worst New York had to offer. Trying to be kind here but …he said he worked at La Guardia and “they” called him to come to JFK because they needed help. He was rude, drove like a maniac (complained the entire time, scraped the side of the bus on the curb and screeching halts). The first time he passed the exit to terminal 1 we were surprised. Then he drove to Federal Circle (? May have the name wrong, but it seems to be the place where people coming through the airport connect to regular public transportation for the city). He got out of the bus at the circle and proceeded to yell at the supervisor…”fire me…” and other craziness. He got back on the bus and then, PASSED terminal 1 again! We were getting nervous. The almost three hours we had to get from terminal 4 to 1 was evaporating. Everybody on the bus was nervous and beginning to yell at him! He pulls the bus over at terminal 4 (again) and tells everyone “get off, get off the bus. I’m turning this thing in and going home.” Yikes! We got off, made the right connection immediately and were on our way to terminal 1, the next stop! Crazy!
We had a lovely break in the Air France lounge that Azal Air (official Azerbaijani airline) was using yesterday. Then we got on the plane. Azal uses the new Boeing 787 (Dreamliner). What a beautiful, NEW, pristine airplane. I am very lucky to be working for someone who upgrades to first class for long trips. The service never ended for drinks and food and was so well elegantly done. A bag of toiletries is provided — lotion, face mist, toothbrush and a teeny-weenie tube of toothpaste, eye mask, socks…nice. The coolest thing is that the seat converts to a recliner and, ultimately, to a flat bed. It’s not the Ritz, but it is so nice to be able to change positions and elevate your feet. The photo below is of the bedding that is available…and they even throw in PJ’s if you want to put them on! (stripped photo in hopes this will post).
We arrived in Baku about 6:30 Sunday morning and got to the hotel (Marriott Boulevard) by about 7:30. On the ride to the hotel, I was amazed by the confluence of very old and very modern architecture. The new buildings are amazing. I will try to get photos of some of them.
For those who are wondering what the heck I’m doing in Baku, AZ, the story is too long for FB. The short version is someone at ODU who knows me and also has a long-time friend who has her own higher ed consulting firm needed someone with Registrar’s Office experience. My ODU colleague recommended me since she knew I was retiring this year. It was a gift for me to be able to take this on. I think I would be really bored to stay home and vegetate in the recliner. The University here is implementing Banner Student, a module of the system we used at ODU and that I know well.
This is a country that has evolved somewhat dramatically, I think, since it was set free of the Soviet Union. Higher education is important, and the particular University we are working with wants to follow the American model for higher ed organization and management. The role of the Registrar really does not exist here and there is much for me to share with with the current Registrar and office.
I am excited to have this opportunity and will share more as able! We begin a week of training, development and working though business processes tomorrow.