The Year of 2 Thanksgivings.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Top 3, at the very least. I've always been fond of the day, but a few years ago I experienced a Thanksgiving that I will never forget. Ever since that lovely Thanksgiving I find that I look forward to the next one with much anticipation. Last year was my first Thanksgiving in Azerbaijan, but this year was my first real Thanksgiving in Azerbaijan. And, I had 2 of them! I definitely made up for my McDonalds Thanksgiving last year (though it was still nice in its own taste of America kind of way).

My first Thanksgiving was the Peace Corps' Thanksgiving - the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Almost all of my group went to Baku to celebrate at the Charge D'affaires' place. It was a wonderful and generous invitation for him to extend. Meredith, the Country Director, and he provided turkeys and drinks and all the volunteers brought everything else - potluck style. Everything was delicious. We were all also able to stay with American Embassy workers and families. I cannot even begin to express how amazing the family I stayed with was. They were warm, welcoming, friendly and truly American. I was finally able to be in a family dynamic again and I realized how much I miss it. My stay with the family was more incredible than I ever imagined it to be. Not only was it a slice of America family wise,

it was also a complete revisit to the amenities and lifestyle I once took for granted. For the first time in over a year, I was able to use a washer... and a dryer! I currently smell like Bounce fabric softener and it is glorious! It was spectacular to catch up with old friends, eat incredible food, spend some time in Baku, meet new people, and watch a fabulous talent show (that included a speedo, Disney tunes, and human pyramids).

Mingechevir also had our own little Thanksgiving on the actual day. We did another potluck event and I made stuffing and mac and cheese. There was a good amount of more great food and I am still full! It was nice to have a small event after our huge Baku get together and spend quality time with those I spend so much time with. We also had 2 guests, but it was still intimate and great. Not only did I get to eat more yummy food and hang out with people I enjoy, I was also able to Skype my family back home and see everyone! Everyone! I saw my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and the baby! It was the first time I was able to see the baby and my brother as a dad. It was nice to "see" them and spend some of both our holidays with each other, even though we're worlds away.

This year I have a lot to be thankful for. I've come a long way in a year even though, at times, it feels like I've gone no where at all. My support networks are strong and I know I have stellar people in both of my worlds, friends and family. Being with my American Embassy family, I realized I'm able to find wonder in the simple things that exist back home. I have beautiful people in my life in Azerbaijan ranging from my first host family to expat friends and, of course, my Peace Corps family. And, finally, I have an incredible amount of things and opportunities to look forward to in the future. Who knows where I'll be or what I'll be planning on doing a year from now, but I'm thankful for all the prospects - as scary as they may be.

Baku Goodbye Tour: Quiches and PCVs.

The next day consisted of lunch with a PCV pal, Amy, and hanging out.  For dinner, we went to Kent's and I got to spend more time with good company.  I had come up with the idea, too, to make a meal for the lovely Amy and Kim for being so gracious as to hosting me in Baku this week.  On the walk from Kent's, I asked Kim what she would want and she said something

 with eggs.  I let my mind wander for a few and thought it would be good to make a quiche.  It's easy, good, and a great brunch food that's light enough for us to all still be hungry at dinner time.  I thought about my amazing friend, Sarah, and her idea for a quiche and I ran with it tweaking where I saw fit.  I was able to spoil my friend and myself with cheddar, broccoli, and a Diet Dr. Pepper!  I'm still excited about how awesome it was.  Keep in mind, I haven't had cheddar since last September, same with Dr. Pepper.  I've only had broccoli twice since being here.  All the aforementioned products are hard to find here and, when you do, it hits your volunteer budget pretty hard.  

That night, we had the final goodbye dinners for Kim and Rob.  Rob left from the restaurant and Kim left early the next morning.  Sad face.  We saw Kim off at 5 am and I'm still coming to the realization I won't be seeing her next time I'm in Baku.  I already miss her a lot.  Goodbye Kim and Rob!

This was also the night of the big hoorah for the AZ5s leaving.  After dinner, dessert, and some lingering about, I headed to the party.  I ducked out early that night because of Kim's impending departure.  I got back and woke up at 4:30ish to say goodbye again and we all helped with taking her stuff down 6 flights of stairs.

I moved from Amy's after Kim's departure and headed over to a friend's to hang out.  It was a quiet day that consisted of a good lunch.  We made our way over to Finnegins for happy hour

 and met up with other volunteers.  Me and Laura snuck out to get apple pie where Bev and Natalie met us and I ran into new friend Evan and Pam!  Baku's a small place, apparently.  This was the majority of the AZ5's last night in town, so we said goodbyes and moved on. 

Sitemate Alexis' birthday was Thursday as was Philosopher's Lunch with Amber!  We trekked over to the Baku Roasting Company, a slice of America in Baku, hung out, chatted, and enjoyed coffee and American music.  I also got to see new friends Kent, Josh, and Evan!  Told you, small place!  I liked it!  I got jacked up on coffee, but was still, somehow, incredibly tired at Bev (and Alexis') dinner at Adams.  Indian food was yummy, but I was dead tired so me, Agsu Rachel, and sitemate Laura peaced out for soft serve at McDonalds.  It was a nice, quiet night and we watched the Bourne Ultimatum.  Or, more accurately, they watched it and I fell asleep a few times.

The rest of Baku was calm and lovely.  I spent quality time with Agsu Rachel and Jacksta, enjoyed sushi, salads, and sandwiches, saw new friend Evan (again!), worked (a little), had a softball meeting, said goodbye to the best 5 ever (Bev), and took the mental health break I needed away from Mingechevir and the 5 cats.  

Baku Goodbye Tour: Rooftop Movies and Metkarting.

I came into Baku on Friday to begin the rounds of saying goodbye to people I've come close while in this country.  There's a lot of goodbyes going on, some see you laters, and a very few (for me) definite plans on actually making those see you laters into realities.  I was in Baku so early, primarily, to spend time with Kim, my Fulbright friend who's a pretty cool cat.  She used to live with Irina, the friend who gave me the pregnant cat.

My first night in town, I had dinner with Kim and some of her friends.  I got to meet new people, enjoy a new group of company, and, probably the most surreal part of the night, I ended up at a rooftop movie overlooking a lit up Old City and the Caspian.  It was probably the most picturesque sight I have seen here, but I didn't take a picture.  I simply took it all in and watched Rushmore on the roof amongst new personalities.

Next on the agenda was Kim's goodbye party, which was the major reason I planned this trip in.  Kim made a delicious cake, we ordered pizza, hung around the house until we left for metkarting.  I don't think I can express how strange and awesome this metkarting really was, but I'm going to try.  We go down a creepy little hall to arrive at a huge open air area.  We cross a bridge and there's a pool next to us.  We look to the right and see 3 large white canopy beds.  In front of us was a bunch of tables and several lounge areas as well as a dance floor, a couple more bridges, and a DJ's area.  That's not even the best of it... all of this was inside a go-kart track!  What!?

This was the pool.  There are 2 shower heads at the end, too.

This was, to put it lightly, the most random thing I could've imagined for this country.  But, as we found out, random is awesome.  In true Peace Corps fashion, my Nalgene kept me and several others company and it's contents was strong.  So, what else do you do at a wild club with a ton of expats?  You have a dance party and you metkart.  Sweet.  We stayed there for the majority of the night and left too early, we realized upon arrival of somewhere else.  C'est la vie.

Kent and Kim's amazing Matrix moves.

Rob rounding the track.

That was my first 2 nights on this trip of goodbyes.  They were incredibly surreal and pretty much completely awesome.  

Bumpy roads to Baku

Time is flying lately!

Travel here always leaves me very tired and it takes me a couple days to recuperate from bumpy roads, hot vehicles, tested patience, and lack of any personal space.  In-country travel is a daunting task, but, typically, the destinations make it worth the troubles.

Last week, I was in Baku for medical and a PDM (Project and Design Management) workshop.  The medical was nothing big and provided me 2 days of vacation and good food in Baku.  I hurt my foot somehow, but it healed pretty nicely... pretty much right after I arrive in Baku.  So, I was in Baku for a couple days before the workshop which was, really, my real reason for being there.

The PDM conference was actually a quite pleasant and educational workshop.  The idea of this workshop is for volunteers to bring in a host-country national counterpart that one works on projects with.  I took my best Azerbaijani friend, Lale.  I wanted to take Lale for a few reasons.  One being the educational aspects of projects as well as understanding of the Peace Corps.  Another, more fun reason, is that I wanted to show her Baku, American styled.  

Though this is a small country, many people don't visit Baku to just visit.  When people go to Baku, it's for a reason and all down time is usually not as it's spent with families.  Our cultures, obviously, are incredibly different and we (volunteers) go into Baku for completely different reasons than Azerbaijanis would.  So, it was the first time Lale was able to be in Baku, walk around with friends (even in the evening!), and go to restaurants and try new foods.  She easily integrated into what Baku is for Americans and, I think, she thoroughly enjoyed that glimpse.  I was there for the first time she tried Indian and Mexican food, for those 3 days where everything she drank, pretty much, was cold and she didn't die and, inshallah, isn't barren, and for those secret friend things that brought us a bit closer.  I was there for that chunk of time where Lale experienced more freedom than she has ever been able to.  

We've talked a lot about this experience, before and after with thinking about and processing.  She had a blast, I had a blast, but the both of us were tired and needed to rest after the fact.  And, it was nice to be next to Lale on the bus on the way home and see how visibly happy we were to be home.