March Madness- Day 1

One of the funnest times of year for me back in the states is March Madness. Growing up with "It's tournament time.... the best time of the year!" in my bones, I can't help it! So although we can follow some of the basketball madness on the internet we don't have the hype of it all here. However, we have our own hype this week. Kurdistan's version of March Madness- Nawroz!

We just completed our first official day of Nawroz. The 3 day celebration for the beginning of the Kurdish New Year, which also coinsides with the first 3 days of spring!

We started the celebration with some badmitton and volleyball in our yard with the neighbors. They came with a gift- Alum Kurdistane (Kurdish Flag).

We then took a drive out of town to the top of a mountain that overlooks the city. It has a large flat area on top, so many people like to go there to jump start their celebration with fires, food, and flying kites.

It started to be a cloudy day, but the city was also full of smoke. Since fire here is a sign of victory, everyone celebrates by having some sort of fire (but since there isn't much wood here people burn tires instead) :S

We saw many people we knew there, which was fun!
After the fireworks were over we made our way back to our house to have a fire on our roof. But first we got a few of these Chinese mini hot-air blimps and let them go in the sky.

Zander even got to participate.

What better way to finish our celebration than with a HOT DOG! That's right you heard me.... a hot dog! Although they aren't American Hot Dogs, they are Kurdish friendly- Chicken Franks. Our neighbors have never had them grilled before and they actually loved them! Who knew?

Crispy and all! Just the way I like em'Kurdish Hot dog bun (a piece of nan quartered and wrapped- sorta like a pig in blanket)
Bon appetite!

yummmmm!

Mom aren't you proud?!? I thought of you a lot tonight :)

So that's Day one of our 3 days of Kurdistan March Madness!!! Fun Times!!!!