So It's Begun (Part 2)

It's happened. The event I surely knew was coming, but was successfully able to keep myself in denial about. My sitemate, Andrea, is currently on her plane ride back to America. Peace Corps has sent her back to the States (where she was on medical hold for 2 months December - February) to resolve her injured foot.

What?! I know. Trust me, I know.

Coming to Mingechevir last last December, I barely knew Andrea and wasn't sure how and/or if we would even get along. Luckily, my fears were based on pure ignorance and turned out to be not even remotely true. Andrea became a source of sanity for me. She became my go-to person. More so, she became what I would, in any world (Peace Corps or "normal"), call a genuine friend.

A big part of my Mingechevir has left, but I truly am fortunate to have had the sitemates I've had for as long as I have. It's going to be strange not finishing out my service with her and, in the short term, that aforementioned Environmental Project. All I can hope for is that she gets what she needs done to get her as fixed as possible. Well, that plus constant Skype dates.

A 2nd Year Project.

Now that I've been at site for over a year, I'm a bit more respected within the community. Well, at least with the officials (who are the ones that really make or break you big project wise). It has made my 2nd year significantly easier, but also quite a bit busier. When we first become volunteers, I think the majority of us realize our bigger projects are held for the 2nd year because of the trust gained within the 1st year of just being bumbling, looking for volunteer work foreigners.

I've been committing my 2nd year of service to a couple bigger projects and ones that I hold close to my heart. The biggest project currently on my plate is Mingechevir's Environmental one. This idea has been months in the making. In November, Sitemate Andrea and I sat down with the idea of an Art Contest (which is currently being held citywide) promoting the environment and youth's role in it. This idea seemed like it could fit in beautifully with a mural project I'd been toying with since I arrived in this country (the winner of the Art Contest will be the basis for the city's mural). From there it grew a little bit more to include an Environmental Club (which me and Sitemate Sean will be teaching), utilization of the local newspaper to feature youth, and perhaps a couple little gardens. While we're upping the antes this year around, we're not forgetting the yearly Clean Up that past Ming volunteers began and continued.

Here's where we need you guys' help. The costs of this project is around $550. This will include all the supplies we need, majority being for the mural. We've actually gotten quite a bit of support from the community in kind wise including rooms for the club, some free labor, a wall for the mural, newspaper space, and some other things. I have tried my best to not ask for donations in the past, but if you can give a little, it will be thoroughly appreciated. And! Your donation is tax deductible... right on time, yeah?

If you'd like to donate, click here.

I've Been Adopted.

I have a new xanam friend. Her name is Rosa. A couple posts back, I actually introduced her. It was her birthday party I unknowingly walked into after that random ride from Baku.

Today after my club at School 13, I went back up to Rosa's (she lives in IDP housing in the school) to say hello and tutor with Little Rosa and Tural. Little Rosa forgot and didn't tell me, but Rosa xanam welcomed me in nonetheless. I hung out, ate some fruit, and chatted a bit with her; and, soon, the awkward 'I want to leave, but don't know how' time hit. Instead of being able to successfully maneuver my way out of the room, I found myself pretending to nap on the couch for a good amount of time under Rosa's instruction. Rosa was sweet, covered me up and told me that I should come very often since we both live alone. She also told me that I was now her daughter.

I eventually almost made a successful getaway (I really wanted to come home and sleep), but I was then informed I couldn't leave because she was making me dinner. So close. It's funny the silly little situations I can get into here.

Side note on this day: I've always heard how small our sites really are and how everyone talks about everyone else, especially the foreigners. I got inklings of this this past week hearing little things about Ming visitors, but today at Rosa's it fully hit me. Lankaran Aaron was here last week and I heard a bit about him from others kind of in my circle on the streets (because he's quite tall and handsome). Today Rosa and her daughter was talking about him, too! They kept asking me questions about him whilst I was laying on the couch and, yes, commented on his handsomeness.

Pancake Day!

One weekly event I look forward to is Pancake Day with my best Azeri friend, Lale.

I started cooking a little with her before she left for PST, but it was after she returned that we started doing pancakes. One night for dinner I made us breakfast and discovered Lale's affinity for the delectable treat. Since then, we've started Pancake Day. The main goal, aside from eating and getting quality time in, of this delicious day is to make a new pancake every time we get together. We've only done this for 3 weeks now, but we've done plain, chocolate chip, and apple cinnamon pancakes and I don't see us stopping anytime soon (so you can keep on sending the syrup my way :)). It's a day that we both look forward to to catch up, chat, laugh, eat, and unwind. Ah, the simple things.

This past Pancake Day was a bit more exciting, too, as our friend Nazim is back in town on a 10 day leave from the Army. It was great to see him again, though I don't think he enjoyed the pancakes as much as Lale and I do. To each their own.