A Few Of My Favorite Things

As I've thought about our time with the Joneses and what I can show-and-tell from our experience in Sharbakti, I can't help feeling like there are some things that can't be retold in a description or captured in a photograph. I've tried to show-and-tell about some of the various things we did, experienced, or made, but all fall short in capturing how much I enjoyed our time there. It was so much fun to spend three full days with another woman doing some of my favorite things side-by-side: cooking, eating, and talking all the while.

A few of my favorite things about our time with the Joneses would have to be:

• Desi making himself Addie's personal entertainment system;
• Zoe coming up to me and randomly kissing my leg (because she likes me, she really likes me!);
• Watching the horror on Saltanat's face when she saw that Heather diced the tomatoes for the rainbow salad, rather than julienned them;
• Being the "pushy" American and getting to help roll out noodles for bishbarmak even though guests aren't supposed to help;
  
• Being able to convince the merchant women in at least two locations that they should accept my money for groceries (rather than Heather's) by handing them my money, saying "Moshna pajalusta" (may I please), and giving them the most perfectly sweet, innocent, and irresistible smile;
  
• The reaction, facial expression, and general discomfort of the woman who sold us our pork when I pulled out my money, my Russian, and my smile (when Heather and I were competing to pay for the meat). If only we could have gotten it on film!
• The "kids are in bed it's our free time" discussions with Nathan and Heather;
• That we talked about toothpaste and dental care;
• All of the wonderful food Heather made (Mexican pizzas, yummy eggs, pasta salad, French toast, bishbarmak, & shashlik to name a few). Food may be the way to a man's heart, but it's the way to Evelyn's heart too. =D
• Getting to know the Joneses better. They are awesome and I'm so glad we were able to spend time together in close quarters. It was seriously >>so. much. fun.<<

Thank you Joneses.