week 7

at present I am cruising through week 7 of my PST her in the 'baijan. The weather has been over 100 degrees the last few weeks, well it feels that way anyway. Yesterday was the first break we got, it was cool and overcast. Made me miss home. Definitely didn't make me feel any better when a friend from home texted informing me that it was in the lower 80's back in lovely Seattle.

Next week TEFL finally finds out where the cehhenum we go for our site placements. As in, the communities we will be working as formal Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). Exciting isn't it? Well more exciting than a squat toilet with a really wet mysteriously muddy floor anyway.

My site interview went well I hope, in my opinion the staff here does genuinely want us to be happy and accomodated but with a group our size, they do what they can with regards to the rules governing our region. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst I guess. I told them all my major no-nos, and I hope that will be taken great consideration when they decide where to place me. I tend to really freak out in hot hot weather.

Yesterday I went to a birthday party of one of my buddies here. His host family is amazing, really the epitomy of how I've envisioned the notorious hospitality and warmness of the Azeri people/family. I'm glad that I usually experience something positive with the locals to balance the not so positive "cultural exchanges." Good thing I learned how to hold my tongue better in the home from my mom before I came out here.

at any rate. Azerbaijan is hot. I'm finding my coping strategies here to be not entirely different from ones at home. I miss air conditioning, popsicles, spinach, bacon, and chili paste. Not much more to say til next time!