My Oh My, How Time Flies.

I'm sitting here at my computer in my office staring at the calendar on the wall when I realize tomorrow is the last day of November. It feels like last week was the beginning of November, not four weeks ago. Time flies when you're having fun.

Earlier this week, Melissa and I decided to make sugar cookies - simply because we wanted to cook something. She got a cookie recipe and she told me she had these ninja cookie cutters and I was like "Awesome!". Anyhow. It was only after we put two cups of sugar and FIVE cups of flour into the mixing bowl that we realized how many cookies we were making.

"Melissa, do you realize the serving size on your recipe is 60 cookies?"
"What?! No it's not."

Hiyah! My decorated ninja cookies!

Serving size: 60 cookies. It felt like we made a hundred, and maybe we did. We had ninja cookies, heart cookies, circle cookies, flower shaped cookies, etc etc you get the point. We even made two ginormous cookies and made a small christmas tree cookie. Goodness so many cookies.

Poor, poor headless ninja.

But I honestly think we had more fun playing ninja than anything. I tried to teach Melissa how to do a flying jump kick. I could barely remember - it's been years since I've done taekwondo and my skills are rusty. We posed with our ninjas. Someone bit the head off one of our ninjas. That was sad. Poor ninja. Anyway, it was just great to spend time with Melissa and the other Marines because they're such good people and so welcoming and they make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Or maybe that was just the cookies talking.

Clearly, I fail at running jump side kicks. 

The Christmas Market started last weekend, and everyone is so excited, especially me! It doesn't feel right without snow on the ground, but supposedly that's coming soon enough. If you ask me, it can't come soon enough because if it did, it would have been here a month ago. Anyhoo, the Christmas Market is basically a bunch of wooden stalls set up in the Town Square in Old Town and they have all this wintery food, Glogg (hot wine, alcoholic and non-alcoholic), wintery stuff like hats and mittens, and of course Christmas-y stuff like gifts, ornaments, etc. It's pretty incredible and they even have performances every day at certain times. When I went last Sunday with Melissa, I was pleasantly surprised to see these performers dancing to what I was pretty sure was Arabic music! And maybe Turkish music as well. It gives the feel of diversity that is extremely hard to come by here in Estonia.

Posing by the fish tank. Oh yeahhhhh.

 Last weekend I also got my first pedicure ever! It wasn't your average pedicure - my toes and toenails aren't super pretty now. I basically stuck my feet in water for 30 minutes and let these fish eat the dead skin off my feet. It was probably the strangest experience of my life, but definitely not the worst! At first I couldn't control myself - I'm pretty ticklish when it comes to my feet. But then I kind of got used to it but honestly, it felt like my feet were asleep or something when they really weren't. At the end of my 30 min, the fish didn't want to let go. It was only when my feet were actually emerging from the water when they thought "Shit I should probably let go of this yummy foot if I want to survive." All-in-all, a rather interesting experience.

Itty bitty fishies eating my feet!

Finally, yesterday was Thanksgiving. I spent it with the Marines and with Embassy folks at the Ambassador's residence (delicous turkey dinner, thank you!), so even though it was my first Thanksgiving on my own without family, I was by no means alone. It feels so strange that it is Thanksgiving already, and that the new year is just around the corner; and with the new year comes my departure from Estonia. Best not talk about that yet - I'm not ready to leave or become emotional or any nonsense like that. So i'll just stick with Happy Thanksgiving!

More than an Application

I'm going to be frank - Tallinn was not even remotely close to my radar when I applied for the State Department internship. Public Affairs wasn't even my first pick! I mean, I've been studying Russian the past two years - of course my first choice was Russia, my second choice the United Nations. You only get two picks. Let me tell you about the day I got an email from Embassy Tallinn asking if I wanted to be considered for an internship in Estonia. I was sitting in the quietest digital union on campus. I could barely contain my excitement. I reread the email a dozen times, I even refreshed the page to make sure it was real and still in my inbox! Then, I made a phone call. "Mom, I'm being considered for Estonia. I need to let them know by close of business tomorrow." "Go for it," she said - or something like that. And I've never looked back.

We all know what happened - I got accepted, I was placed in Public Affairs, I got my security clearance after a long 4 months of waiting, and here I am in Estonia having the most incredible three months of my life. When I look back, I realize how lucky I am that I even got this internship. I applied for it on a whim, on the day of the deadline, and only because I didn't get into the other program I wanted to get into. Call it whatever you want - fate, destiny, luck, skill - I'm just grateful to be here, grateful that someone at this embassy saw potential in me.

It's no secret my first pick was Pol/Econ. I always mention how glad I am I didn't get what I wanted and got Public Affairs instead. It's not that I don't like the Pol/Econ section or the people there aren't nice - they are some of the kindest people here! I just wouldn't trade my boss, Ali and all the work and FUN I have here in PA for anything. I'm convinced more and more with every passing day that I want to pursue a career in the Foreign Service. It might be difficult, but ultimately from what I can see and from what I've heard it's worth it. The public affairs cone is giving the political cone a run for its money. I'm not sure which cone I'll try to get in to; I guess I still have time to decide. But at this point, nothing is off the table.

Next week is Thanksgiving, and maybe it's corny and cheesy that I want to start giving thanks, but I've been so blessed over the past few months it will take much longer than the day of Thanksgiving to show and tell how thankful I am for everything that has happened to me and for everything that I have.

This blog post is for the people at this embassy to show my appreciation for them and all they do. It is also for all the other embassies around the world who work night and day in good conditions and in horrifying conditions. Even though I am only an intern, I feel as if I am a part of this network of embassies. I hope to one day give other people the same opportunities Embassy Tallinn has given to me. I hope to reciprocate to others all the faith, love, and goodness my embassy team here has shown to me.

Thank you Embassy Tallinn for seeing me as more than just an application.

Happy Birthday Marines!

November 10th marked the 238th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. On Saturday, November 16, the Marine Detachment at Embassy Tallinn hosted a birthday ball - a tradition practiced by U.S. Marines across the globe for decades. I am happy to say I attended, and what a ball it was.

In May, I thought I would not have to shop for a dress for a long, long, long while. Dress shopping is my arch nemesis. I hate it and it hates me. When I heard about the ball, I thought it would be great to attend but I wasn't quite sure I wanted to spend the money. However, what you must know is that my closest friends here are in the Marine Detatchment and when I heard the ball tickets were going fast, I had to get one because it would be such an honor to support my local marines as well as the ones who have served and continue to serve our country. I also thought what the heck, it's a ball! I've never been to a ball!

So, I got a ticket and I delayed dress shopping for literally the longest time - basically by time I started it was too late to order one from the States (too damn expensive as well). So I asked around and opted to rent one. I went to ONE shop and ONE shop only - it's a good thing I found a dress at that one shop because I was really not looking forward to going anywhere else. Melissa the Crandallster gave her stamp of approval, and that is how I managed to find a dress with relatively low amounts of stress involved. Before you ask, she gave her stamp of approval on the name as well. Score!

All the women were presented roses by two marines as they walked in. I know it's cliche, but I actually really love roses. Pictures were taken - I got a couple candid ones myself, courtesy of photographer extroadinaire Filipp.

I think this has become a typical "Ayesha" candid photo.

The ceremony was fantastic - the Marines doing their march with the American and Marine Corps flags, the presentation of the cake, the tradition of the guest of honor (in this case the Ambassador) getting the first slice of cake, and then the second slice goes to the oldest Marine present who then passes it to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing on knowledge to the younger Marines. Then it was dinner time! I'd long since forgotten what I ordered since I decided what meal I would have when I bought my ticket. I had chicken something which was delicious, and beef something with mashed potatoes which was delicious as well. I love how inclusive of potatoes the Estonians are.

I had to say good-bye to Melissa the Hardcore, All Work, No Play Marine as she had to work early (tears). I went up to the open bar area where pictures with the remaining four marines were being taken. Apparently I was swishing my dress and shawl back and forth causing Coral the Marine to have problems focusing on smiling and not smiling for the camera because she's trying too hard not to laugh hysterically at me. I guess payback was her making faces during my photos with the Marines.

Just look at that face. Oh Coral.

When I got back to the ballroom, people were dancing! At first I didn't want to join. But then I didn't want to be that person sitting at the table all alone looking depressed and not having a good time at all. So I immersed myself with Coral. Then I saw the Ambassador standing by his table. I motioned for him to come in, and HE DID. Score one for Ayesha! Just kidding, but forreal, it was great.

Then the Marine driver asked me to dance, and I did and then I accidentally abandoned him because someone put the Ambassadors tophat on my head and I had to go dance in the middle and pass off the hat to someone else. Then, I begged Filipp to come in because he had been taking pictures and videos the whole entire time and he needed to come join the fun. After much persuasion from the Ambassador and I, finally I managed to pull him in. Score two for Ayesha!

Finally, to pretty much top off my night the song "Summer Lovin" came on and I needed to dance this one with someone, and since a certain someone said no I went to the Major S and he gladly danced with me. He was silly too, it was hilarious and awesome and fantastic and he's such a sweet person. Score three for Ayesha!

Good guy Filipp getting a picture of me coming out of a twirl with the Major.

But really, I had a fantastic time. Hats off to all the Marines who made it possible. One person told me it was the best ball he'd been to yet. I'm so happy for my Marines, and in this month of thanks I am so thankful for them. I am thankful for everyone here at Embassy Tallinn who have welcomed me so warmly with open arms into their community.

Happy birthday Marines. Thank you for serving our country and fighting to protect our freedoms.

Semper Fi.

A Failure, and a Promise

I apparently fail at keeping up a blog.

At first I just didn't know what to talk about. And then I didn't have anything to talk about. And then I had so so much to talk about that I didn't know where to start, and now I'm beginning to think I'm just plain lazy.

So my hopefully faithful readers - I promise to post a new blog post at least every 3 days. Please feel free to slap me (literally or virtually) if I fail to keep my promise.

So much has happened over the past 3 weeks that it's impossible to jot it all down in one sitting. I went to the island of Saaremaa last week and got to climb into a yacht (probably the only time I will ever have that opportunity). I also probably drank more tea in those two days than I probably have ever drunken in my entire life. Maybe I'm over-exaggerating a bit, but every time someone offered coffee, Filipp would stare at me and ask expectantly if I wanted tea, and I couldn't refuse. Not one time.

I also took a weekend trip to the Netherlands, where I visited high school friends (yes I'm naming you) Nour and Omotola.

On Halloween I dressed up as a mime (but ultimately failed at being completely silent) and participated in a pumpkin carving contest with an embassy team at an Estonian high school (we won the most traditional pumpkin - but not best overall, I don't even think we came close). We had trick-or-treat at the embassy and props to the Marines who created a (pardon my french) kick ass haunted basement.

Crandall the Vampire, Brown the Zombie, and Myself the Mime.

This is a very dull blog post, but starting tomorrow it will be event after event after event and so there will be no time for dull! So bear with me please, I have a lot in store for you for the next month and a half.

Until next time, it's time for a ball!