A Make Believe World

So here are a few photos from the make believe world that some of us expats create here in Azerbaijan to pass the time. Three different parties are represented here, one is the 70's and 80's Disco party (where I went as Madonna in her "Like A Virgin" era, because I like to make myself laugh and it seemed appropriate here given the cultural emphasis on virginity and my job as the Gender Liaison :); the other two parties were a Murder Mystery party (characters and costumes assigned) and a Pirates of the Caribbean party (it turns out that oddly enough I have a lot of pirate-attire in my wardrobe in general so only a fake sword needed to be added). These theme parties are a lot of fun, and are an excuse for us to get dressed up, wear wigs and laugh a lot - which is a fantastic break from the real world for a night.

Other fun updates to report (other than my night as an unleashed Madonna - where my adolescent spirit rejoiced!) I should mention that this has been a packed month of busy work and travel, both for pleasure and work. In the midst of it all, I have been suffering for more than two weeks with recurrent eye infections that I apparently contracted from a kitten I was fostering (did anyone know that conjunctivitis is one of the few diseases that can be transmitted from animal to human?). So after numerous antibiotic eye drops and a recent visit to the health clinic I am hopeful that this week I will be able to rid myself of it. We'll see. Another new experience for me was learning how to give my cats injections of antibiotics (since my whole household got ill from the little rescue kitten I was fostering)...Injections in the back of the cats' necks. A scary thing but I did and feel a whole lot more capable now.