Azerbaijani Boys Leadership Experience

Thank you to everyone who donated to ABLE! Stay tuned for next year's camp!

3 Sister Dolma

Ever get a hankering for some good ole' down home cooking? A heapin' bowl of mashed taters and fried chicken? Maybe a slab of shepard's pie or a plate full of ooey gooey lasagna? Maybe a boş qabı of üç bacı dolması? Yes? No? Huh?

Üç bacı dolması or 3 sister dolma is a summer treat here in Az. Before I tried my hand at this tasty dish, I craved it with a passion and often would beg my host mom to whip up a batch. Again, that was before I tried to recreate the deliciousness.

Now, I will never beg for it again. Not because I do not find it scrumptious, I do. It is because I now know how much work goes in to preparing it. First you chop the onion. Then you fry the meat (for an eternity). Then you prepare the vegetables (coring, cleaning, boiling, salting). After, you add a bunch of stuff to the meat and then stuff the prepared vegetables. After all that, you cook the entire thing and finally, YOU EAT.

Whew. What work!

Sacrificing for My Country

This past weekend, I made the ultimate 4th of July sacrifice: my skin.

Yup, that's right. I sacrificed my skin, the prospect of skin cancer, my only set of shoulders, for the good of America.

And why? Well, it was my duty (and my pleasure) to lead the "Dancing with Löki" station at Azerbaijan's first ever American style 4th of July bash. For 5 hours, PCVs from all over Az joined together to educate and entertain Az youth! We had a great time educating youth about America, describing the events of Independence Day and sharing fun cultural tidbits about the land of red, white and blue.

Unfortunately, we also had to brave the scorching sun and blood-thirsty skeeters.

My shoulders never hurt so good.