We Are Thankful...

...for the clothes on our backs, the food in our stomachs, the roof over our head, the air in our lungs...
...for being given opportunities each day to recognize both our strengths and our weaknesses and for the chance to learn from both
...for being raised in a place where we were free to make our own choices...even bad ones...
...for bus stops and umbrellas...
...for fond and vivid memories of broccoli and cheese casserole...
...for you...

Our First Azeri Thanksgiving...

As promised...here are a few pictures that the computer refused to load last week - I think we're on better terms today...

My AZETA Counterparts

KJ and D and the Caspian Sea

My favorite soon-to-be butchered cow...

My favorite soon-to-be butchered sheep...red ribbons and all...

We're All Going To Ganja...



Less Than One Month of Training To Go...

We're counting down the days to the end of PST. Things are busy and we're exhausted, but all is well. Here are a few pictures from my McDonald's trip in Baku...The computer is refusing to load any other pictures...I think it is trying to make me feel guilty and disgusted for demolishing a "royal cheeseburger" in less than one minute...Oh well - it was the best minute of the last two months!! (Not really...but close...)

I'll add more in the next fews days - keep an eye on us...

McDonald's Day in Baku...I Think I Cried A Little...

Going to Ganja...

This week we learned where we'll be spending the next two years...Ganja.
Ganja is the second largest city in Azerbaijan - population approximately 300,000 - and is located in the center of the country. We are really excited about our next step. There will be more to come as we learn about our organizations and host family.

Check out these links for more information...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganja,_Azerbaijan
http://www.travel-images.com/az-ganja.html

Here are a few photos from the week...

Our language lesson from an 8 and 4 year old...humbling

Dustin And Our Azeri Teachers - Khayal, Gaymar, and Fuad

D, KJ, and Jane - Celebrating Site Announcement

Celebrating Site Announcement With the CED Guys - Trey, Jonathan, Jim, and Colin

Another Week Down...

Another week of PST down...five more to go. Here's what's new this week...
- Practicum went very well, but I'm very glad it is over. The lesson planning is pretty hectic because you have to create all your own resources. I've become quite the stick figure artist. I taught 5th, 6th and 9th forms. My kids were awesome. I've included a few pictures of one 5th form class...just pretend they're all smiling. The serious face in pictures is an Azeri tradition - even wedding photos! I managed to convince a few of them to show some teeth - mainly because we learned the word that day! :)
- D shaved his beard today!! :( Our host dad told him he looked like an unsavory religious zealot...in so many words...so that was the last straw. We're back to baby-face Dustin...for now anyway.
- D gave a presentation this week that was a great success. We were both running on empty by the end of the week and have used most of the day to recoup. We are SO excited to go to sleep every night...so sad!! Hahaha...
- D's program (CED) finds out their region placements on Tuesday!! That means in just a few short days we'll know where we'll spend the next few short years...exciting and terrifying! Keep your fingers crossed. We'll let you all know ASAP.

We love you all and miss you like crazy. Please keep the e-mails coming...the "little things" at home are the "big things" to us...



Our "ata and gardash" - father and brother - cooking at the garden house.

Ata and Dustin making a toast at our Ana's birthday party...

Kamala, Me, and Saedat - The Sisters