Final Softball.

As you might know, I've been involved with Azerbaijani softball since the first season I was actually a volunteer. I've written about it a few times and I hope I've conveyed how much this project has meant to me. I absolutely love softball and thoroughly enjoy the time I get to spend with the kids I get to through it. I've seen this project through 4 seasons (Spring and Fall) and, sadly, this season was my last.

This season's end was completed with a national softball tournament in Bilasuvar and one last scrimmage back in Mingechevir.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the first day of the Bilasuvar tournament, but I was able to make it for the evening's PCV game, the sleepover at the Olympic Complex, and the second day's games. Mingechevir is a very strong team and has yet to lose in a tournament. There are many reasons for their strength... they know the rules, we have quite a few people that have been on the team since my first season and, well, they're older than a couple of the other teams. I was met with the news that they did not lose in the day's games and they also did not lose the second day's ones though the championship game against Gence was quite tense and had our team nervous. Champions since the inception. Glad it wasn't in my years that that proverbial ball was dropped...

We returned to Mingechevir and organized a final scrimmage since me and Laura are out of Mingechevir soon. Seeing the team organized for probably the last time was incredible. I met a lot of these guys 2 years ago when I was a brand new volunteer adjusting to all that is here and, now, I'm saying goodbye. I've seen them grow and they've seen me do the same. We've laughed, played, learned, etc. I think I've somewhat expressed to many of you my frustrations here being a woman and dealing with men, but these guys... they've always been the source I go to when I'm looking for an Azeri male that does not fit within those frustrations.

I miss it already.

Absurd AZ.

Things are getting crazy here as I'm about to leave. There's been a progression of things and events that I don't think would fly so easily in other places occurring here. The latest is that there are some new visa regulations that began with visas only being issued for a week period at the airport; the next was that visas were no longer available at the airport. It's getting a little wild as this has actually affected people I know that had people visiting and were trying to get out/in.

The thing is, of course, Azerbaijan is completely within their rights to do what they please with people coming in and out of their country, but it's annoying and unnecessarily difficult when there was no word from the Azeri government before these new regulations actually took place. Great guys, really. I live in Azerbaijan and we didn't really know about this. There were a few rumblings of the possibility with the impending parliamentary elections, but there was no concrete confirmation until the day of. We didn't get any type of notice from the embassy (because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't give them notice) until it was too late.

Thinking of how I'm in the supposed perfect spot to hear about all this and didn't, it makes me feel bad for Richard Norman who came here to vacation and went through some really unfortunate things. It might just be me, but I'm getting a kick out of the comments at the end just because... well, it's so Azerbaijan.

Flying Carpets and the Land of Fire.

I'm pretty sure I've talked about this blog before. It's written by Arzu Geybulla, who is an Azeri blogger. Her ideas and interests are along the same lines as mine, but I think a lot more interesting because she is an Azeri in Azerbaijan opposed to me being a foreigner in Azerbaijan. You don't come across as many outspoken and progressive people here, especially living in the regions. So, this blog really makes me feel like I live a world away from Baku at times (which is worlds away from the Western world). If you are curious about social freedoms and lack thereof in this area, you should most definitely check her out.

And, while you're there, read this. That one has been my fav as of late.