The other day, I woke up at 7 am with chills, full body aches and a massive headache. I made a valiant effort to go to school, but all I did was collapse onto my bed in defeat.
    I couldn't help but realize the irony. A year ago, around this time, I was bragging about the wonders of my Iron Stomach-undefeated. A few days in Azerbaijan and I was ill like I'd never been before. Happy anniversary to me.
    Still, I can't imagine a better way of remembering the beginning. Well, technically, my body remembered and decided to slap my brain into remembering.
    The parallels are uncanny, really. September of 2009 was full of temporary goodbyes, lots of good food, plenty of good friends and a very happy birthday. Mostly, my main accomplishment was packing way below Peace Corps requirements.
    What? Good packing is an art.    .
    This September has been pretty much the same, sans goodbyes. I gave myself a great present, a weekend in Tblisi. Probably one of the best trips of my life, even if Georgia swallowed my ATM card via an ATM machine. This was followed by the most eventful birthday I've ever had: four cakes, three separate meals, one picnic, dancing in a field, more games than I'm used to and even a rock through my window.
    Ok, that last part wasn't awesome, but it gives the whole birthday a sort of rounded feel.
    (That was sarcasm)
    The best gift was watching my students run our second picnic all on their own, emphasized by yelling at me to sit down when I asked if they needed any help. I can't take credit for it but they wanted to do it for me. That is a compliment that I will continue to work hard to deserve.
    Right after that was a wedding that brought the old Ceyranbatan cluster back together again, to see our teacher off. A toy is always more fun with other Americans, mostly because the attention is evenly distributed. And, if one of you dances like an idiot, it's more likely that the other ones do too.
    Naturally, we're all fantastic dancers. Of course.
    The next group of volunteers have been here for a week or so now and the group before us will start leaving soon. Welcomes and goodbyes are coming soon. I wish them all a similar sense of completion, now or in the future. I hope that another year from now, mine will be a little less painful.
    Realizing your limits is humbling and necessary, even if ironic. I always used to say that irony is god's sense of humor. Still right.

Your Azerbaijani for the day:
toy – wedding