Mama and Papa O Come to the 'Baijan: Epilogue

It was a great trip, and though expected, went way too fast.

I got back to town at about 6 on Tuesday, and it was so sad to come home to an empty house. It was so nice having my parents stay with me for the week, and showing them the life that I've built in town. They met everyone that was important to me, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, and Americans, and I think they have a better understanding of why I'm here, and of some of the reasons I'd like to extend my service just a little longer. It was good for me too, it seemed to give the people I interact with so regularly the chance to express how they feel about knowing me, and having me around. We don't get much positive reinforcement, and I don't really need it, but it is nice to hear every once and a while.

Of course, having them around also made me realize how much I miss them, and how much I miss having a normal life style, with water that comes all the time, being healthy more days than not (whereas lately I feel like I've been unhealthy more days than I've been healthy), and being able to see all the people you love whenever you want to see them. It doesn't help either that my Mom has always done this thing, where she leaves little notes for me. She's done it as long as I can remember – when I'd go to camp I'd find a weeks worth of notes stuffed in my suitcase (one for each day of the week) – and this time, I got back home to find little notes tucked in my wardrobe, next to my pillow, and under the teddy bear she brought for me from home.

But, it's part of growing up, and it's part of the choice that I made to be here. And these feelings will pass, things will get busy again (two weeks of school, trip to Turkey, Arts Camp, home to America, COS conference...then school starts up all over again!) and I'll remember what I'm doing here in the first place. It's just hard sometimes. But it reminds me of how lucky I am, to have such wonderful support in America, and such a wonderful life here...I'm lucky to not know which place I'd rather be because they are both so important to me.