A Personal Rule.

I've been back in Azerbaijan for about 2 weeks. While all is well and I'm settling back in, you might've noticed that I haven't said a word on here. It's not because I don't have things to say, but it's because I don't write when I feel like I'm more complainy than reasonable. Once again, the Azerheat has hit... hard, and I'm readjusting to what I've apparently forgotten about from last summer.

There are some noticeable and differing bits from vacation and life in Azerbaijan. Just some small things that I was surprised I had let go of in my time here.

• Metered taxis in Turkey. Instead of thinking the normal idea of taxis being a relative sum with the distance driven, I was ready to haggle and predetermine a rate. Oops.
• Travel Expenses. Traveling across a country costs more than $10-12.
• Attention. I got less attention walking around Istanbul like a pirate than I do in Azerbaijan being me. People on the street thought we were actors and let us be.
• Old Friends. Seeing my old friends' reactions to my reactions really drove home what a different lifestyle I'm used to... and comfortable in.
• World Cup. I was in England for the majority of the World Cup. It was intense being an American in England throughout, but it was also very energizing.
• Country Roads. In Liverpool and Newcastle, I was lucky enough to stay with friends who had cars. This means I got to ride through green country sides and along water. It was glorious and reminded me of North Carolina.
• The Gaslight Anthem. I went to a concert in Glasgow. I saw a band I started listening to pretty intensely since I got to Azerbaijan. This was a perfect show and so... American. Felt like the old days. This also made me realize that I've lived in AZ since 2008.
• Stores and Shopping. I don't know how much of this I really enjoyed. I did have a pretty good-sized panic attack at Hither's amusement. But, I can't lie, going into a Whole Foods might've been a small highlight of the trip. And, I did enjoy buying new shoes and such.
• Restaurants. I ate out a lot, and I got used to it. I enjoyed eating Thai whenever I pleased. But, slightly surprisingly, I missed cooking a lot. So much so that when I got back, I cooked and baked pretty much non-stop for a week straight.
• Essentials. I most assuredly brought back what I thought necessary ranging from personal items to food. Coffee, peanut butter and chocolate did make it back... kind of. The chocolate had a rough time withstanding the heat.

This vacation might've been a good idea for me to take at the near-end of my Peace Corps service. I don't feel like re-adjusting to American life will be as difficult now that I had a crash course with a month in the UK. Better yet, I now know what I'll eventually miss about this crazy land.