Sweating Already

Its not even June yet and the temperatures are in the high 80s, and to think it will only get worse! So here I am again, school is finished and I have a ton of free time on my hands! So far I have napped a lot, sweated a lot, and managed to get a nasty stomach flu which is not desirable when the WC is a jog away. I am not completely worthless though, I actually have an agenda for this summer: I am hosting an all girl conversation club at my house, teaching adults at the municipality, participating in a number of English camps and hopefully getting involved with the Pre-Service Training for the new group which arrives in less than a month. Other than filled with mosquitoes and sweat, May was also quite a productive month. I participated in America Day in Lenkaran (a region in the south), where we taught teenagers about American culture through fun and games. There, we also celebrated Cinco De Mayo like real Mexicans thanks to the generous parents of the volunteers down there. The weekend after that we hosted the first ever softball tournament in Azerbaijan. Teams consisting of Americans and Azeris came from 3 regions and competed against each other the 1st day, while the 2nd we had an all American game. I don’t know how it was possible but I did not play on a winning team that whole weekend! Additionally not only did my team come in 4th on Saturday because our Azeris didn’t get that running after the ball is a necessity, but also because our captain, insisted I pitch. Regardless it was one of the best weekends in country so far. Our next tournament is in 2 weeks, and I am getting ready for another Barda bashing tournament.

So there, that first paragraph was aimed at proving that I am not actually worthless. I have realized that none of my other entries deal with what I actually do, and thought it was about time I show you that I do more than feel sorry for myself. Even though greasy boys haven’t stopped harassing me, and it doesn’t seem like they ever will, the fact that I am finally on my own has made me a much happier person. I haven’t eaten Azeri food in over a month and am definitely not missing the 10 cups of hot tea I was force fed last summer. So it is due to this major improvement that I have decided to NOT quit early. I was definitely considering it when I lived in the waterless apartment and who knows what would have happened had I stayed there. I definitely lucked out with my house, while my poor site mate Sarah got kicked out of “the palace” for no reason what so ever. That, however, is a whole story on its own….

Pics: 1) Me looking surprised at my school 2) At the Peace Corps Lounge in Baku 3) How we travel around in 90 degree weather!