Dancing in the Streets...

Springtime has officially arrived and the city is making the best of it.  Friday night was the beginnings of the festivities with party that lasted until midnight, and a charlie horse from dancing that lasted for a few more days.  Saturday was the official Naw Roz, a day in which the streets were filled with thousands celebrating Kurdistan and all that this country means to a people who have lived through so much.  Everyone wore Jilly Kurdi, the traditional clothing, and walked up and down one of the main streets which was blocked off for the occasion.  The night grew darker and the festivities continued with fireworks (set off above our heads and raining down dangerously close) as we made our way to a local TV station, Gilly Kurdistan (which means the country of Kurdistan) to have tea with a friend of ours who had met us along the way and works there.  There we saw some very familiar faces on TV... our own.  A reporter had come to the Friday night party, taped some of the dancing as well as Cherly answering questions about what Naw Roz meant to her.  Made me realize how much I need to work on my dancing.  

Did the partying stop then?  Nay!  Again I say my good people, Nay!  Or neigh... as the next day we went off on a picnic which was complete with horseback riding! More dancing of course, as no Kurdish gather is complete without it.  Mix in some bryoni (stuffed onions, peppers and eggplant), meat roasted over coals and sun that gave me a little more than a tan.  We also were able to go out on Lake Ducan on a rather shady looking boat (I mean, it only died twice in the water...)  As the whole city takes part in these picnics the hills were literally flickering with the sun shining off of sequins and silken fabric.  This years' style of Jilly Kurdi is Hindi, with fabrics making their way over from India and into the hands of the at least slightly well to do.    I went the cheaper route and stuck to some basic maroon glitter and golden sequins, which also happened to be in my favorite Harry Potter house colors.  Gryffindor forever.  

The bulk of Naw Roz has passed, but the city will continue to empty every Friday (causing hours of traffic in either direction) the hills are filled with friends and family enjoying each other and the warmth of the sun.  This coming Friday I am actually going out with my "family" and a bunch of my old students.

Tonight was the second night of registration, and it was a hopeful beginning with 45 already signed up.   We are partnering with the American University and are helping 20 of their students work towards the TOEFL level, a test required for many attempting to go overseas.  The levels have been switched up a bit this term so I am moving up to level 2; it'll be a challenge to both my students and I.  I'll know English grammar better than I ever had before.  The class schedule has also changed with classes being two days a week and one day of coffee shop rather than three and one.  This will spread the duration out to three months but will allow for greater freedom during the week.

Prayer Requests:

1)  Direction- It looks as though I will be heading back to California for at least a year and hopefully taking some classes in order to become more profession in my graphic art, but who knows but God?  I do so greatly appreciate prayer for this, as well as for housing and a job for when I get back!

2) Opportunities with Friends - I have truly enjoyed getting to know some wonderful women during my stay here, please pray for guidance and a deeper relationship with them.  The picture below is of the picnic on Saturday, with from left to right: Carey, Raizhan, Van, a lady whose name I am blanking out on, Me; cheating by wearing only half of my jilly because I was cold, and Elise.  3) The language:  while not a priority as we are usually speaking English and do only have four precious months left, I would like to continue learning.

4)  That God would grow in me the desire to change into the person that He wants me to be and allow him to do the changing.  Sometimes cliche, but always needed. I was reading in 2nd Peter this morning and came across 1:19 "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."  Beautiful.