Travel, Travel, Travel

Since my last post, I've literally been at site for 2 days...if you don't know, that's like unbelievably long!  I haven't been away this much since I moved to Tovuz.  You'd think I'd be having separation anxiety, but I'm doing just fine right now haha.

First I went to Mingəçevir on Sunday morning with the Tovuz softball team for our Peace Corps softball tournament.  We had kids from 3 regions playing and then an volunteer game when the kids were done.  It was a really good afternoon, even if it was really hot.

Then the next morning I hopped an early morning bus down to Neftçala where I and 2 other volunteers helped the 2 Neftçala volunteers with their summer camp for 3 days.  I got to stay with my friend Clarissa who has a room in her apartment that we called "America" because it had a wonderful air conditioner that we would occasionally turn on and just watch the satellite TV which actually had some English channels (read crazy music videos).  And we ate delicious, vegetable-filled, non-oily food!  Basically, it was heaven.

Then I stopped off in Şirvan for like a day and a half.  I just got to hang out and even go to this ridiculous çayxana (tea house) that has air conditioning and big screen TVs and wireless internet (I know, I don't believe it exists either...but it does!  We have nothing like that in Tovuz, not that I could really go anyway because women don't go to çayxanas).  We watched the second USA World Cup game there.

The conference ended yesterday (Friday) and after it was over I had an appointment with my doctor, Dr. Fuad.  Remember how I mentioned a few posts ago that I had a disgusting cough?  Right.  Still have it.  I've had it for a month.  This was the first time I saw the doctor, although I have been on some medicine for a few weeks.  My new prescription?  Dr. Fuad is calling my Program Manager and telling her I'm not allowed to do any work for a week, no going to school, no activities, no anything.  Those of you who know what a complete work-aholic I am know that this might actually drive me crazy instead of making me better, but let's hope I have enough entertaining shows and movies on my computer to make this bed-rest bearable!

Alright, I want to go look at some of the shops by the metro for cheap stuff before I catch the night train home in a few hours.  Maybe the next time I write a post I can tell you how many people I weird out on the train when I cough all night...I've even been weirding out Beth when we were roommates at the hotel.  Hott.