The ABLE Experience

So this past week I had the opportunity to participate in the Azerbaijan Boys' Leadership Experience (ABLE) up at an Istirahat Merkezi (Relaxation Center) in a town up near the mountains called Qebela. It was a great time. There were forty-seven boys that came from regions all over Azerbaijan and learned about leadership, teamwork, and civic engagement. We divided the boys up into four different teams and and I was one of the team leaders. The boys in my team chose the name "Fireland Gang" and the other teams were "White Lighting", "The Twelve Winners" and the "Red Dragons". Though out the camp each team was awarded points for completed various activities and winning certain games. When all was said and done the Fireland Gang won by a landslide which was a pretty proud moment for us all. We even recieved MEDALS!!! Anyway here are some highlights from the week.

My camper that I brought from Ucar, Ferid, getting his medal from the Ambassador

The US Ambassador talking to the ABLE campers about leadership

One of the better acts of the talent show where the guy with the sunglasses imitated the different Americans getting thier bad Azeri down just right

Camp mascot "Air Bud" and my team leader Muslim

Morning Exercises

Morning Meeting

One cool dude

Georgian Vacation

These days I spend most of my time hiding from the sun. It has gotten really hot here in the Ucar with temperatures reaching 100 degrees F in the shade pretty much every day. Going out during the day has become a daunting task so I try not to as much as possible. It is especially hard in Ucar as I have just returned from a little vacation up North in Georgia. The Georgian border is only about five hours travel from where I am now but it is amazing how much things can change in such a short distance. The land turned from flat and dusty desert to rolling green hills with the Caucus mountains rising up in the background. Upon entering the country I immediately realized that no one spoke Azeri. All of the sudden I was a mute. Hand gestures and the word Tblisi were pretty much the only things my fellow travelers and I had at our disposal but it turns out that is all you need. Despite the language barrier we made it to our hostel fairly easily and had an amazing time eating delicious Georgian food, walking around the beautiful city, and getting scrubbed down and massaged in the turkish bath houses. Here are some pictures from our adventures.

First up are a few pictures the Lavra monastery which was founded in the 6th century and flourished until the invasion of the Mongols in 1265 CE. It was restored in the 14th century but again sacked and pillaged in 1615 CE by the Persians who massacred 6000 monks but then restored again in 1675 CE. Later after the USSR took control of Georgia it was used as a barracks for soldiers and wasn't inhabited again by monks until the mid-nineties.

Cool Graffiti

I won!

Friends and some guy clinging onto Jim

Cool Graffiti