Weekend in Lankeran

The Peace Corps experience includes getting away from your village and meeting up with other PCVs. AZ9s Katie and Daniel in Landeran decided months ago to host a cookout for those of us in the south of AZ. So last weekend 6 of us met up at their home. Sally and I are AZ8s still around, and we were joined by Rick in Neftchala, Liz in Shirvan, Roxann in Salyon and Samantha in Ceilalabad. Cherril and Luce are AZ10s and only Luce was unable to join us. That made a houseful for 2 nights and days.

We started arriving Friday afternoon and went shopping for snacks and beverages while Daniel made hotdog and hamburger buns for the cookout. We were joined later by 2 young women from Finland who are eco-tourism interns. Potato salad, coleslaw and s'mores made this the most American-style meal I've had in a long time. And I've become a fan of Frito-Lay cucumber-dill flavored chips even tho' I seldom eat chips in America.

Saturday morning breakfast more American food including coffee, scramble eggs with ham (purchased near the Russian border thanks to Roxann) and tandir bread. 

I survived a small mishap when I lost my balance while squatting and fell back – jamming a finger when I tried to stop my fall. It was purple and puffy but moveable, but nothing like the stupid sprain ankle I suffered Sunday evening when I got back home. (I got up from a chair not realizing that my foot was asleep. When I stepped on it I went down in a heap. Oh no. What's happening? I don't have feeling in my foot! Visions of Early Termination. Thankfully at this very moment, my left ankle is wrapped in an ace bandage so I'm laughing now.)

Saturday morning, six of us headed to Isti Su, the hot water springs high up in the hills above Lankeran. We wore our swimsuits under our clothes for an easy change when we got there. It's a 10 minute bus ride, then a 40 minute hike to the dozen brick huts with large tanks of hot water flowing through them. What is it about sitting in hot water with friends and chatting? Relaxing.

Saturday night was also fun-filled since we were also celebrating Katie's birthday. Another great meal of chicken and rice (America-style) plus beet salad. After several intense rounds of Dutch Blitz we had confetti-cake with frosting and ice cream. Sunday morning Rick treated us to crepes with either toppings or fillings depending upon your point of view. That's also when I had my first taste of carrot jam. After breakfast, we said goodbye and headed back to our sites refreshed and renewed.

I sometimes wonder if I will ever live as leisurely back in America.