Hip-Hop From the Land of Fire: Remo - Здесь Не Было Любви

I find that I'm a sucker for rap tracks that have somewhat of a 'quiet storm' melody; like, smooth jazz seduction under some rap.  Is this corny?  Does anyone else find these tracks catchy?  I sure do.  And I immediately dug on a track from Remo's strong new album that had this sound.  Listen to it out below, and listen to the entire album HERE.

Props to AzRap.Az for the drop.

Remo - Здесь Не Было Любви (which means: There Was No Love...daaamn Remo! you cold.)



Previous on Hip-Hop From the Land of Fire: Xan ft Kavkaz Clan

Skills Transfer: 4 Steps To Successfully Train Azeris (Or Anyone) To Write A New Training

Whether it's a new job or a new country, as one becomes more familiar with a new culture, less time is spent learning the norms of the culture and more time can be spent achieving goals.  Its for this reason that second year volunteers are more productive in their 'work', because we're able to achieve more within the rules and traditions of our host country's culture.

The more I accomplish (in Peace Corps, at Apple, in life, etc), the more my thoughts turn towards the time beyond mine.  Will everything I'm working on come to a halt when I leave or will it continue?  Whether its a project or skills, anyone who spends their time developing human capital wants to believe that what they are doing will have a lasting impact in some way.

Currently a lot of the work I'm doing Azerbaijan is workshop and training design; writing trainings together with host country nationals and, in the process, teaching them how to do this independently (inshallah*).  In general I've been pretty successful and thought people may find my process useful.  This process requires writing and delivering 4 trainings together (though I'm only focusing below on the skill of writing a training).  It usually takes me about 4 months to complete it.

1) The first time we work together is highly instructive.  Together we will brainstorm key ideas and potential activities.  Then, using what we've brainstormed, I will sketch out a potential outline for the upcoming training.  We then discuss the logic of the outline, I'll ask questions such as 'does this make sense as an outline?' and 'does it seem to flow together'.  I then tell them I will write a training based off this outline for the next time we meet.

2) The second time we write a training together is a bit more collaborative.  Just like first time, we brainstorm together.  Then we develop an outline together.  To give them a reminder of how a training flows, I give a copy of the previous training we wrote.  As we draft the outline I make comments about why certain parts make sense (like an activity after a new concept) or suggestions to what they have, or have not, written (like needing an introduction).  After, we split up the training for each person to write at home, usually with me taking the introduction and conclusion.  The next time we meet we combine our sections into one training and discuss the training as a whole.

3) The third time we write a training together I have them 'teach' me what they are doing.  Again, we have a copy of the previous training and I ask them to lead the outline discussion and explain their reasons after we brainstorm together.  If I have concerns about the training I ask questions like 'how will we see that they understand this main point?' or 'what is the goal of this activity?'.  After the outline we split up sections for each of us to write at home and I usually ask them to write the introduction and conclusion.  The next time we meet we combine our sections into one training and discuss

4) The fourth time we write a training together we don't do it together.  I ask them to write the training and we discuss it the next time we meet.  At this meeting I may give one or two suggestions but I try not to have it be a massive overhaul.  Them writing this training is an activity to develop confidence, seeing that they can do this on their own.

This strategy has served me well in Azerbaijan and in Apple.  Because I know that this is a skill I can effectively transfer, its a main reason why I work with Azerbaijanis in writing trainings so frequently.

*inshallah-an Azeri word meaning God willing

Hip-Hop from the Land of Fire: Xan ft Kavkaz Clan-İmza

Right now Xachmaz looks as if a massive cotton ball has replaced the sky and is furiously shedding everything it can on us; its snowed about 8 inches already today and no one is expecting any slowdown on the dump.  For the last two weeks, its been ice and snow, with a distinct lack of water.

But its not all bad.  The snow coming down today set a gorgeous scene-turning the entire city into a never-ending snow globe.  And I best liked watching the snow fall with this playing on my headphones this week.  A track with an easy beat and repeating guitar strum, it seemed to fit the lopsided flakes blowing whichever way the wind might choose.  This is one of my fave tracks of the year so far.

Props to AzRap.Az for the drop.

Xan ft Kavkaz Clan-İmza (which means 'Signature')



previous Hip-Hop from the Land of Fire: Elşan ft Rǝhmǝn Atǝş

Februarys Are The Same Everywhere

I don't often look back over what I've written in my journal, its usually a mediation in the moment and my handwriting is bad enough to prevent much reflection on what was already done.  However, when searching for a topic on what to write about this week I thought it may be inspiring to see what I've been writing about over the past few weeks in hopes of gaining inspiration for ideas.

The thing is, its winter and these past couple weeks it's happened to be really really cold.  The city of Khachmaz broke two records this week-coldest day and longest span of coldest days in a row, meaning we actually continued to break the coldest day record day after day after day.  Actually, all over the country PCVs (and Azeris) are getting a taste of what a bad winter week can be like in a developing country.  Most people are without water (my friend's pipes haven't been unfrozen for over 10 days), electricity is spotty in some areas, and some places are having to ration gas due to it being so cold and concern over demand.

Back to the journal, much of my journal is filled with concerns over winter seclusion, introversion, and guilt.  During these months volunteers repeatedly tell themselves 'I should be out there making a difference,' 'I should be holding more clubs,' and 'I should really get out of this sleeping bag at least once today'.  But its hard to stay motivated when you hold a conversation club that only one person shows up to, and you end up canceling midway through because you both just want to go home.

Last year at this time I excitedly wrote about my success in using my minimal Azeri to order a camera charger (which-by the way-was never ordered).  Just like the toddler no longer thrilled by their parent's 'peek-a-boo,' a year makes a big difference, and the successful (or perceived success) of purchasing one item doesn't motivate me for the week.  Right now, there are no camps nor softball games to get excited about; my biggest accomplishments this week were finishing Season 1 of Game of Thrones and The OCD Project, not exactly something I'll be advertising to my Country Director during a close of service interview.

But its not hopeless, the end of winter isn't in sight, but 29 years of experience tells me that February ends.  Written these past few weeks are also anticipations and excitements for the future, for those projects that come, come the months that bring spring.  And these projects all have boring prep that must be done before they can even begin, just how the boring depths of winter must be survived before the trees can bud.  Camp occurs months from now, but my Azeri counterpart and I have already begun meeting to plan and organize how we will expand it to two more cities in surrounding regions.  Training of trainer sessions for Azerbaijani English Teachers won't begin for a while, but it wouldn't happen at all unless the time was taken this week to submit the grant.  And as much as I want this trip to Turkey to get here, there is also a need to submit vacation requests and purchase airline tickets.

So, though there is nothing much to report on as having happened, there is a lot happening to ensure that I will soon have something to report.  And screw it, tearing through Game of Thrones is something to be proud of.

Some Hip-Hop For A Snowy Day-2K12

This mix marks the 5th anniversary of my winter hip-hop mix, which strives to be a soundtrack for your snowed in day.  I've been working on it for a couple months and think you'll really enjoy it.  Its mostly hip-hop with a few random tracks to compliment the mood.  So decide to not go outside today, and get warm and press play.

Download it HERE (or at soundcloud)




1. A$AP Rocky - Palace
2. Yelawolf - Stage Lights (remix)
3. M83 - Midnight City
4. Drake - Lord Knows ft/Rick Ross
5. PRoMete - Sus
6. Madonna - Sorry
7. Big K.R.I.T. - Free My Soul
8. AiD - Hisslǝr Danışanda ft/Ayka
9. The Weeknd - Wicked Games
10. Terius Nash - 1977 (Miss You Still)

P.S. to make room for this track on soundcloud, I had to remove 2K11 In Review.  But, you can still download it HERE