Ali and Nino part 3

Continuing along with Ali and Nino, I see a huge difference between this book and Kite Runner. The students are not oppressed like they were in Kite Runner; rather they take advantage of the teachers and get away with it. On page 32 Ali explains the term "Leprosarium" and the plan behind it. The students invented in the teachers mind the false existence of a Leprosarium near Baku where sick people would be kept away from the town. But when the students wanted a break from school, they would have a their form's spokesman go talk to the form's teacher and alert them to the news that some sick people had escaped and currently the police were searching the town for them. So the students would get up to a week off just because the teachers never checked with officials to verify the statement. Already I see the culture difference between Afghanistan (Kite Runner) and Azerbeidshan (Ali and Nino) and the rights of the children and their say in society. 

Another big thing I learned in Ali and Nino is the importance and symbolism of dancing and singing/poetry in Baku and that culture (Mohammedan and Georgian). Nino and Iljas Beg (Ali's best friend and son of Seinal Aga who was a peasant turned upper-class status after an earthquake unearthed an oil field under his land) dance in a traditional dance that is more a story than steps. The boy twirls around the girl with arms spread wide like a bird looking at its prey who is the girl. After circling closer and closer into the girl, the boy overtakes the girl who then lets down a handkerchief. As the handkerchief hits the ground the boy then throws a dagger at it to nail it to the ground. This is a symbol of power over and almost ownership of the girl, so Ali switched Iljas Beg's dagger with his so that when the handkerchief was nailed to the ground it actually was Ali's dagger pinning Nino's handkerchief. 

With the poetry bit- there is great importance put on poetry because it is written by the Ashouks who actually never write their poems down but rather they recite them. This is a point of personal pride for Karabagh. So poetry is huge part of culture and there is much pride for their country among its people.