I really like coffee.

If you asked me to describe what I believe to be the coolest cultural tradition of Azerbaijan, without hesitation, I would say, "çay mədəniyyəti" [tea culture].

In Az, 99.99999% of the population drinks tea. You drink tea when you wake up, an hour after you wake up, when you are getting ready to leave your house, when you arrive at work, before and after lunch, when you re-arrive at work, when you arrive home from work, before and after dinner, and throughout the evening. Tea is everywhere and a big part of Azerbaijan.

Now, don't get me wrong. I like tea. I mean, my dad has at least 200 different varieties in his house. Tea is pretty neat, but...I am a coffee drinker. A good ole cup of joe is how I start my day (and how I would end it if I had decaf).

Still, I feel like I have adapted pretty well. I can drink four or five cups of tea in one sitting with no problem. It doesn't feel the same as when I take second coffee with Sarah, but it works.

Z'Photo Club Update!

Whew! I feel like I am on a roller-coaster that's going too fast to control.

What was it...three blog posts ago that I wrote about the first Z'Photo Club meeting? And, look at us now! Our 6 week intro course is almost done.

Although, I feel like I have done quite a bit in Azerbaijan, this project holds a special place in my heart. It's my first project driven and implemented by local youth. Pitfalls and frustrations aside, it has been a success. In June, we will being a new intro photography course and I already have 3 students signed up.

Geez...this is the stuff that dreams are made of. When you sign up for Peace Corps, this is what you imagine doing: development work. Frustratingly enough, when you first arrive in your community, you realize that was a pipe dream. It's not like you just show up and everyone comes running to you with project ideas. You've got to work for it and, in most cases, you never actually get to the good stuff. No. You spend countless hours laying the groundwork. I think my site mate Amy puts it best when she says as a grassroots organization in Azerbaijan, "we are growing the grass."

All I can say, is I got it good. A handful of Volunteers before me put in the time and effort to get this grass to grow. I am just reaping the rewards. Without Natalie, Donny, Josh, Robert, Steve, and David, well...I would still be sowing seeds.

I am falling behind...

So, one thing I pride myself on is this blog.

If I do say so myself, I do it up pretty well. New material gets posted at regular intervals; I try to include at least one photograph each post; and, I try really hard to keep things interesting.

So, what the heck is going on? Why am I falling behind?

Ugh. I really don’t know. All I can say is that I have been slacking and I am sorry. Rest assured, though, it ain’t you guys. I am just not keeping up these days.

At any rate, it’s time for the photographic montage of my past few days to get you all to speed. Enjoy.