West Lutheran High School

Q&A with Exchange Student Tural Asadov
3/6/2012

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with the eight foreign exchange student at West Lutheran for the 2011-2012 school year.

Tural Asadov comes to West Lutheran High School from Baku Azerbaijan where he attended Baku Oxford School. He is currently a junior at West Lutheran High School and plans to return for his senior year next fall. Tural is a very outgoing, friendly young man who makes friends easily and is well-liked by the students and faculty. He lives with his aunt, Sabina Asadova and his cousin Farah in Plymouth. Tural has a mother, father, and an older sister back home.

Q and A with Tural

Q: Why did you decide to come to the US?
A: For the education.

Q: What differences do you notice between your country and the US?
A: Everything seems different – there are not a lot of similarities. The people are similar – everything else is different.

Q: What differences do you see between your school and West?
A: At West, there is much more discipline and structure.

Q: What is your favorite thing in the US?
A: I don’t really have one.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about the US?
A: There is not good public transportation. If you do not have a car, you cannot get around. In Baku I was able to call my friends and we would hop on the Metro and all meet at a café where we would visit and have tea. We would also go to the Internet Club where you can rent a computer to use by the hour and we would play games.

Q: What do you miss the most from home?
A: Being near the Caspian Sea.

Q: What is the major difference between the US and Azerbaijan?
A: The laws.

Q: What are you most looking forward to during your stay in the US?
A: Continuing my education. I plan to go to college in the US as well. I am not sure if I will stay after that or return home.

Tural also shared that March is a special month in Azerbaijan. On March 8th, they celebrate “International Women’s Day”. On this day the men give gifts to the women in their lives (mothers, wives, sisters, close friends). The tradition is to give a gift of flowers or perfume or something substantial to respect and show appreciation and love. Also in March (20-26) is the Novruz (A New Day) festival. It’s the most ancient holiday on the Earth, coming with the vernal equinox (March 21-22). The celebration marks the first day of spring and the New Year. Usually preparation for Novruz begins a month prior to the festival. Each of forthcoming 4 weeks is devoted to one of the four elements. Each Tuesday people celebrate the day of one of the four elements - water, fire, earth and wind. As a tribute to the element of fire every Tuesday during four weeks before the holiday children jump over small bonfires. They also place a hat on the neighbor’s door and knock and the neighbor puts a treat in the hat. There are also painted eggs – similar to Easter eggs. This is a family holiday with special meals and much celebration.