My country.

I've been referring to each Azerbaijan and the U.S. as my country as of late.  Right now, when I say "my country," I'm typically referring to Azerbaijan as the audience are my counterparts in the U.S.  Natalie asked me what I was going to say when I am finally in Azerbaijan and I easily spouted that, then, I would refer to the U.S. as my country.  With this thought, it made me think about what it was I am going to claim the U.S. for, and, the thing I've realized most is that it's not the country in itself, it's the people within the area.  And, for the country itself, the freedoms I'm afraid I'll be forced to forget about and let go for a bit.

The most pertinent question I've been on the receiving end of is how I am going to cope with gender roles and difference while away.  I honestly don't know how it is in reality there, so I've been putting that issue in the back of my mind as I cannot know how it will be until I am living it.  Speculation is well and good, I enjoy looking at every angle, but the truth at the moment is is I'm ignorant to how it will really be.  Yes, I know I will have to push aside my anti-authority, establishment, and systematic notions, but I can see that in that case, I will be forced to expand my mind.  So, perhaps it's farewell to my individualistic attitude for now (but I really kind of doubt it).

So, getting back to the original issue on my mind on what I will associate with "my U.S." as these are the thoughts that will motivate me are my memories.  Aside from that, I will definitely miss:

Freedom to be

Sitting on a porch talking the days and nights away

Mixed media backgrounds in the company of a friend

DC excursions

Accessibility for communication

Driving aimlessly listening to whatever mix or nothing at all

Summer drunken downtown nights

Wine nights and Bottega

Having the option to have a cup of Java Dog coffee while going through a Bojangles drive-thru

I doubt I'll be able to have or do any of this a week from now for a while.

Finally, the most important aspect I will genuinely miss that I hit on earlier are the people that I spent time with.  I have truly amazing friends and acquaintances in Wilmington.  That was proved to me pretty overwhelmingly this past weekend on my final visit.  Thank you for all who came out to my goodbye party Friday, I had a blast and it was incredible to see everyone all jam packed in one night.  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to spend one more night with you all.  And, everyone else I saw this past weekend, thanks for making my last visit memorable and exciting.  Please do keep in touch as you are all in my thoughts; you and the interactions I've had with all of you are what I'll claim as my U.S. when speaking of my experiences in my new country.

P.S.  I wish I had more pictures to share from my goodbye party, but those there know that I was more into Polaroids than digital pictures.