Keeping Up With My "To Do's"

In case you weren't aware of this thing called a "calendar," I'd like to inform you that we are over half way through with the year 2007! In fact, some might even say we're on the downhill slide towards 2008. Can you believe it?!

Well, in light of this fact, I've been reviewing my "2007-To Do List". Let's just say that some things are coming along better than others. I don't really have the time or energy to give you a play-by-play, but here are a couple of things I've noted...

1. I haven’t been taking that many photographs lately.
(A.) Because nothing says “foreigner” like a blue eyed girl sticking her head outside the car trying to focus her camera.
And...
(B.) Because I always forget my camera.

But here’s a shot I took on my way out to the village the other day. It’s melon season right now. This load that you see in the picture doesn’t even begin to show you the crazy amounts of this fruit that are currently available. But it’s good. Very good.

If you like melons and/or pomegranates, now is the time be here!


2. While I may be failing in the photo department, I'm happy to tell you that I have been learning how to cook national food. Truth be told, I really wasn't doing a good job with this task either. That was, until we started a cooking class for the ladies in SZ village. My staff is now teaching the ladies/teenage girls a variety of dishes they can cook using the food found in their area. Being the foreigner that I am, I bring nothing to the table but pure entertainment value. At least I'm making them laugh.

On Saturday I finally learned how to make "bulAnI", one of my favorite national dishes. We not only made the fried version, but we also got to test our hands at the tandoori oven. It was great!

It's amazing what cooking and eating together will offer in the way of conversation. After a discussion regarding my modest dress and the fact that I'm actually "getting" this national cooking thing, the ladies unanimously decided that I am now suitable to marry a man from their village. Phew! And to think that I was sooo worried! When I told them I probably wouldn't "take" a husband from there, they told me a "city man" would be acceptable too. One lady even came up to me afterwards and asked if my family (meaning father or brother) was living here too. I think she may have wanted to talk to them about a possible suitor.

Maybe I should have put "Find a husband" on my 2007 List?
I must have been keeping my expectations low.