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Azerbaijan


Azerbaijan flag

Country Overview
Azerbaijan is a small country about the size of Maine, but it is a very vibrant country. After becoming independent from the USSR in 1991, Azerbaijan has faced many problems, but, as your exchange student will be able to tell you, the country shows a great deal of promise and has made great gains.

Azerbaijan has a population of 7.6 million. Its capital city of Baku is home to over 1.7 million. 85% of the population is Azerbaijani, while Russians, Armenians, Lezgins, and other ethnic groups account for the rest.

The land is half mountainous with flatlands in the center and along the Caspian Sea coast. The mountains get very cold, but the southeast is subtropical, the coast is temperate, and the steppe of the center and east is dry and semiarid. The country receives little rainfall so irrigation is a significant concern.

The main language is Azerbaijani, a language related to Turkish. Russian is commonly spoken, a remnant of the Soviet days. The Armenian population speaks Armenian as well. Many young people speak English.

The government is led by the president, prime minister, and the Melli-Majlis (the legislature). These politicians are popularly elected.

The currency is the manat.

Major industries are agriculture, oil, machinery, and chemicals. Azerbaijan is well suited for the cultivation of grapes, cotton, tobacco, citrus fruits, and vegetables.

Baku is the caviar capital of the world. The delicacy is not enjoyed every day though. The basic meal is meat with potatoes and peas. School Education is very important in Azerbaijan. Families support students, and scholars are treated with respect.

Education is compulsory through the eighth grade. There are many preschools, secondary schools, vocational schools, and universities.

The school system is rigorous and students attend six days a week. Classes generally have about 25 students. Students are expected to treat their teachers with respect.

The grading system is on a scale of 1-5, with five being the best. Students devote a great deal of time to studying after school.

Most students (85%) go on to university.

Teenagers
Teenagers in Azerbaijan enjoy many of the same things as teenagers in the United States. They play sports, go to films, date, go for walks, and hang out with friends.

Dress is fairly casual, but a bit more formal than usual American teenage dress. They wear jeans, for example, but would not be wearing baggy jeans like Americans.

Azerbaijani teens begin dating around 16 or 17 years of age. Dating isn't much different than in the U.S.

Whether or not teenagers have curfews depends on the family. Staying out until 11:00 p.m. is generally acceptable.

The legal drinking age is 18. Youth do not generally drink before then.

Teenagers can get their driver's licenses when they turn 18. It is not common for teens to have their own cars.

Community
Teenagers watch two or three hours of television per day. They do not receive American programs.

Business hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Most people use public transportation to get around.

Azerbaijan is predominantly a Muslim country. About 87 of the population claim to follow Islam. Many mosques have reopened or been established since the end of the restrictions of the Soviet period.

Muslim religious practice affects social roles and practices. Although Azerbaijan is much less restrictive than other Muslim countries, women who appear alone in public, smoke, or drive may earn disapproval. These restrictions are more strictly observed in rural areas than in urban areas.

Despite these restrictions, the majority of women do work outside the home and women have even entered politics.

Other religions are Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic. These are Christian religions.

Family
Although work is generally seen as part of the male realm, women have entered the workforce in large numbers, especially in the cities.

Most families have three or four children. Children usually live at home until they turn eighteen. Then they often enter university or military service or find work.

Grandparents live with their children, rather than in nursing homes. Family is very important and provides a support system. Extended family members assist each other.

Customs Azerbaijan has been heavily influenced culturally by Turkey. The Soviet culture had little influence.

People shake hands when they greet each other. Men may kiss exchange kisses on the cheek and women may hug and kiss each other, but men and women do not hug and kiss each other.

Understanding
Your student will arrive with certain expectations about life in the United States. Azerbaijanis generally view Americans as rich and happy. They often have a good opinion of the U.S.'s democracy, level of development, and openmindedness.

Few people will probably know anything about Azerbaijan. Please prepare your student for this so that he or she is not insulted. This is your student's opportunity to share his or her country with your community and to build understanding.

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