My Fulbright.

Fulbright researchers and teachers have been a vital part of my time in Azerbaijan. I've now met members of 3 groups in country and have had to say goodbyes to 2. Last year I got a taste of saying goodbye to my Fulbrights, Kim and Irina, but this year's goodbye was a little different.

This past year's group, I met Evan pretty much right upon his arrival into country. Kim introduced me and I was then passed over to him. It was an awkward exchange on a rooftop in Old City. From that time onward, I became his Peace Corps Volunteer and he my Fulbright. . Over the past year he became a constant figure in my life and, with that, a good friend. We spent loads of time, shared fantastic food, celebrated Novruz, paddle-boated against a current going nowhere, traveled to Georgia and played some fun Ultimate together.

At the beginning of August, it was time to say goodbye to my Fulbright. At his final Ultimate game, a homemade Slip N' Slide was made and a BBQ out of a Lada was had. It was an amazingly fun day and Evan scored the final point of the game in a, perhaps, overly dramatic fashion. After the game, the (other) fun began. The day continued on till the next events (with a brief pause of naps and rest for some and work for me) which ended up in karaoke until 4am without him. It was a truly memorable day in Baku.

The rest of the non-organized goodbyes was productive in the making of the Legendary Lada video, relaxing and general hanging out, and final in that we went to the Korean restaurant one last time together before having to part ways.

It's always weird to say goodbye, but it's not, too. I've kept in pretty good contact with my old Fulbrights and I know I'll see my new old Fulbright soon back in the US.

Goodbyes are easy when you know they're not.