Heads up....

Hey all,

I'm doing fine, I haven't done anything interesting thus the reason for no posts. My English has gotten really bad here not that I'm complaining too much. But it is pretty funny when some of the Tajiks want to speak English and I only respond in Tajki/Farsi. One is because I don't want to talk in english and two because its hard for me to switch...I am finally thinking in Persian so its hard to switch my brain over...once i explain that and i refuse to switch over they often switch back or they keep talking in english if they feel like hearing the answer in Persian.This weekend there are alot of celebrations going on for Norouz so I should have alot of pictures up after Monday. If you haven't heard yet I have gotten into the Critical Language Institute located at Arizona University. I come back from this program May 23 and I have to leave for Arizona May 30 and I start classes there the 31st. I will be in Arizona until July 22, then from July 22 to Aug 12 I will studying abroad her in Tajikistan again. This program is 2 semesters in one summer. So I am definitely hoping to get some credits to come back to UMD. I joined a "Gold's Gym" one because I fear for my 3 pairs of pants that have to last the next couple months and two I have gotten tired of sitting down for most of my day and not being active. I joined last night.  I felt a whole lot better after going. of course the gym in segregated which have no complains bc the culture with men and women interaction is very different than the US.The women and the gym mostly speak russian only and maybe a mix of tajiki and russian but some can speak english...its a small group no more than 16 of us during the house of 6-8pm MWF  but they are welcoming and nice. They offer a class with an instructor which seems pretty intense but for now I am enjoying working out on my own.. Its so hard not eat all the time here...some students east less which i find unappealing and a waster of time in this culture so I chose to be active. Other than that nothing new has really happen...I really enjoy talking to the taxi cab drivers their lives are pretty interesting since during the day most of them do other jobs. I find it way easier to talk to people who want to talk to me...meaning they just don't give short answers ...its easy now for me to hold an everyday conversation.... yesterday after my conversation with the taxi driver  about his life and job and the differences between farsi and tajikiwhen i went to get he handed me his number i only took it because I didn't want him to ask for mine. 

Stay Tunned for pictures after norouz....

Shaharzad