campers

I have a bunch of kid pictures from Armenia now because the kids are the light of this experience. They're pretty much the only people who you can make laugh and they're also the ones who are open to differences, even as curious as they are about you. The Armenian children are fun and I've enjoyed teaching, playing, and being at their level in the schools and out of the schools. From time to time they'll come knock at my door to come see what I'm up to, take a long look around my house and all the things I have inside, and marvel at the fact that I live alone. I will be working in Peace Corps Armenia's annual Green Camps this entire month of July helping teach young children about the environment. There is nothing they love more than to watch you act like a kid yourself.

fisherboy

Hands of a son of a fisherman. I think he wanted me to reach in and take one or two, with his big smile. A lucky boy....living on the sea.

istanbul turkey

My destination was Istanbul and after a week of traveling by bus (bus trips gone insane, bus) and train I am here. I dont know how the locals stay so pious with western tourists tromping all over the place in their revealing summer clothes but they seem to quite beautifully. I leave in a day.....back to Armenia, my small corner of home.

sinop turkey

This small peninsular town off the Black Sea coast is where I want to live for the rest of my days. It juts off into the sea, trailed by rolling countryside and full of nice people and happy stray dogs.

It has been rainy here, and while I was walking around I stumbled upon an outdoor fish market that had crabs for sale. I stupidly gestured to ask if there was a restuarant anywhere where I could eat them. They told me there was using their own gestures. When I found the place I was told by the waiter that they in fact did not have any. But there was an old man inside eating and he told me I could buy some from that market I was just at, bring them back to him, and he would cook them for me (he spoke English). He actually decided to walk there with me, bought them for me, and then once they were cooked invited me to eat them on his boat with him. So I did. It was my own ´old man and the sea´ .....he told me all about his career as a fisherman, his travels, his family. Now 83 years old, he just kicks around this town jovially being kind to strangers like me. That is him at the top, 35 years ago. King of the sea.

trabzon turkey

there are lots of people and great food in trabzon turkey. i am headed down to the coast right now to check out the carnival rides by the water. swinging boats and ferris wheels. it feels great to be in this country.

georgia

I'm in Batumi, Georgia for the day and the night....and the Black Sea is wonderful. It is hard not to compare Armenia and Georgia, but for their proximity to each other, size, and history, the cultures are remarkably different. The train ride to Tbilisi, and the bus ride to Batumi were both memorable experiences. I didn't think we would get to Batumi alive last night....our driver drove 5 hours straight, like a maniac. Passing 5 cars at a time, even the police. If it wasn't for the little bottle of apple juice and vodka I mixed for myself, I might have cried. And the train....lingering odors of sweat and urine, mean border patrol officers that practically kicked us to wake us up at 4 am, but beautiful sunsets and sunrises on both occassions. I just wanted to post a few pictures from these first few days...