Can You Burn?

Interested in trying a few recipes from this side of the world?

Almost Turkish [link]

Turkish Cookbook [link]

Tourism in Azerbaijani: Kitchen [link]

Farida's Azerbaijani Cookbook [link]

I Like Big(ger) Butts

I always thought that as a PCV, I would lose weight during service and I am not talking about a pound or two, serious poundage was expected to just melt away.

Well, that ain't happening.

I am pretty sure my hiney has gotten bigger. Significantly bigger. It may be the several cups of sugary tea I consume a day or the 3 kilos of potatoes I downed last week, but the point is...my hiney is big(ger)!

Ugh! Well, my newest plan is to run more (or at least start running, again) and to do more ballet (already was doing this, so...I am just going to step it up a bit and do it more).

Hopefully, my hiney strinks. Soon. I cannot walk around with this junk in my trunk. I just can't.

Peace Corps Parents

This post is dedicated to you Peace Corps Parents.

You are amazing.

You don't hang up on us when we call at 2:17 a.m. because we can't figure out the time difference.

You don't worry when we finally email to explain we were being detained by the Russian government when we were supposed to be Skyping you.

You don't laugh when we admit we pooped our pants outside the bus station.

You don't cry when excitedly recount how our new "mom" made us our favorite meal.

You don't complain when your monthly box's shipping costs more than the merchandise inside.

And of course, when we call crying, you tell us to it's okay to have a bad day and tomorrow will be better.

I love Peace Corps Parents. 

(P.S. Thanks Dad for the awesome spices, dried fruit and Borax! Thanks Ma for the massive amount of reading material, the agav syrup and the awesome hair products!)

Hair Update #5

I know, I know. I am a bit obsessed with my hair. You would be too if you were always one 90% humidity day way from a full blown afro.

Anyway...if you had not already guessed it by now, Az does not have a whole lot of Black people running around. Thus, my hair is a bit of an...attention getter. Even more so now that summer is here and I am changing up my hair style as the days get hotter and my hair gets longer.

My new style of two-strand twists get regular comments and often an errant hand or two (Az culture does not have the, "thou shalt not touch a Black woman's hair" creed). Even with all the cultural faux pas and humorous hand slapping, I think I am looking pretty good, but hey, you be the judge.