Nawruz

Whomever said that Nawruz started on March 22 and ended on the 24 was exaggerating just a little bit. People started inviting us over the Saturday before to celebrate (March 19). Above is pictured our delicious celebration meal. Usually, we would have a bit of meat and horse sausage (very good) and at this particular home we enjoyed the sheep's head featured above. Then to the drinking of Kuzhe (milk, wheat, broth, salt, and aartz (like a fermented yogurt)). One is supposed to have 40 bowls of Kuzhe during the celebration, but some people told me this is just a saying, but you do need to drink two, one for each leg, per house! The bowls varied in size, but overall it was pleasantly easy to drink. Men get the large bowl...good thing I have been doing all that milk drinking (GOMAD).

This is one of the homes we visited in the countryside. The family's herd just birthed so lots of little ones around. Maybe fifty something lambs and a hundred kids. Our kids loved being around all those lambs and kids.

This is the Amazing family that is moving to Kazakhstan this summer. They are also selling us their home!
Above, Eli is showing the locals boys how it is done...

The celebration was lots of fun! We got to help sponsor and attend the Kazakh concert. We visited more then ten homes. Unfortunately, I only ate 30 bowls of kuzhe, but I believe that is pretty good for my first time.