Goodbyes.

With all these lasts of things, I think I'm continuing the gradual 'goodbye' to this blog. It's funny to look back on when I first got here. One big reason it's a bit weird to look at my blog is because a new group, AZ8, has just arrived and are beginning their adventures in Azerbaijan while mine is completely winding down. It's not a bad thing, but it sure makes me realize how long 2 years have and haven't been. And, furthermore, it's making me understand how much I've grown (maybe) and changed (definitely).

Anyways, you might've noticed blogs are becoming less and less frequent. The novelties of life for me here have faded a bit, I don't write about the possible touchy subjects I'm fascinated with and, you know, it's no longer really my turn. AZ7 has stories and AZ8 will. I'm like the old lady in the rocking chair reminiscing about the old days or just talking out to no one in particular. I'm okay in that role, but I'm officially calling this as my route to the way out.

Colonel Mustard.

Something phenomenal about living in Azerbaijan is that it takes creativity. A lot of times you have to think out of the box to get something very simple done. This thinking paves the way for new approaches and, sometimes, creating new ideas and challenges to motivate oneself.

Earlier this year, Baku friends decided an amazing way for them to entertain themselves and further explore Baku and Azerbaijan was to buy a 1980 Lada, Colonel Mustard. And, I've been lucky to reap some of the benefits of their collective fine decision. This car has provided me with so many good times and memories thusfar, but the best just occurred: the Lada and visitors came to Ming.

The first challenge the 'comrades' created was to test out my 'street cred' and find me without my aid. They didn't even tell me they had arrived in town. After about 20 minutes and talking to around 7 people, there was a knock at my door. Friends had arrived and I fully realized too many people I know nothing of know where I live. But, hey, looks like I passed that test with flying colors.

Our next mission was to find Lenin in Yevlax. There's a halved Lenin statue from the Soviet days around my areaish. I was able to navigate decently in the right directions and we had to ask a few people, but we found him... sitting in dumpyard of sorts with decrepit vans and a bunch of goats. My favorite part of this venture was asking the first random man about Lenin's whereabouts. We didn't quite know how to ask about him, so my friend explained that the Lenin statue didn't have a head on his body. The man was confused.

Riding around and traveling in a beaten up (down-to-earth) Lada older than me attracts a good amount of attention. People watch and stare in disbelief as foreigners are driving about in an almost 30 year old car. Azeris tend to think foreigners/Americans are rich and the visual of us in this particular car is something completely astounding and shattering. It provides Azeris with something else to look at and us with hours of entertainment. I think that's called a win-win.

Homestretch.

Since COS Conference, I've been in a limbo state of sorts. I can't start any bigger projects that need more than a couple months. I can't plan things for a timeframe past too long, either. It's the homestretch, kids. I'm officially in my last 90 days of Peace Corps.

This period of time is a lot like last year at this time. I'm continuing work with my FLEX girls (hoping that my favorite student will be in America next year), waiting for softball to start and figuring out what my schedule will be once school starts back up and kids are around again. It's still hot and I'm over summer. Yep, just like last year. Except, well, that whole being in the last 90 days part. So, along with the seemingly routine, add in traveling to visit places and people for the first/last time, figuring out the COS game plan, packing and giving away my life of 2 years... it seems like a lot.