I've seen the Azeri side learn how to handle foreigners, too. It took a while to build trust between the two groups. The people who negotiated the oil deals were very professional. I'm glad that my company saw the opportunity much earlier, and had enough faith in Azerbaijan to believe that it could be a viable investment. It's difficult to do business in Azerbaijan unless you understand their point of view and get to know and trust them.
Valuable relationships go beyond business.
One thing I'm taking away from this experience is an appreciation for the individuals I've met and worked with here-I'll never forget them. Tell us about your experiences at the American Embassy. I've had a lot of fun with the American ambassadors. They've had some very good people here. I've also enjoyed the local people in the embassy, especially the security guards.