At our departmental meeting on Tuesday they surprised me and all had something nice to say about me. They had written their notes on pretty paper and gave them to me at the end. They had a cake for me and also gave me some beautiful beaded jewelry (made by one of the girls in Admin) It was sweet to hear their memories. Some of the things that stuck out in their mind didn't seem like a big deal at the time and it was encouraging to hear that they appreciated those gestures or memories. As my Dad reminded me last night, the little things really do count!
Almost everyone in the Admin Department was there. From top left: Abba, Anthony, Kazeem, Esther, Kehinde, Nuru, Mary, Wunmi, Ethel, me, Hope, Ada, (Taiye is behind peaking over), Lucy, Awe, Lucky. In the ront squatting down from right to left: Busuyi, Yusuf, Kabiru, Hannah and Uchendu.
The Accommodations Team! Abba, Kehinde, Kazeem, Uchendu, me, Awe and Hannah. Adesola wasn't able to be there because she is on leave to have her baby.
The Travel Team! Ada, me, Wunmi, Busuyi. Bili is out on PTO so she wasn't able to be there.
Yesterday Monty and I had a going-away lunch with the Program Director and our Project Supervisors (Al, Larry, Randy, Boris) My team saw it on my calendar and presented me with this beautiful Nigerian outfit (with matching shirt for Monty!) and insisted we wear it to our lunch at the restaurant. Awe designed the dress herself. They are so thoughtful, and love to give native outfits...it's something unique that they can do and I think they really love to see us dressed in native.
Monty was a good sport. They roped him in to coming over to my building and putting his shirt on so we could take pictures :)
I was also given a copy of the book "Things Fall Apart" (Famous Nigerian novel) and the mini-series on DVD from Uchendu. Hannah gave me a necklace and earring set that I wore with my dress.
I really do have one of the best teams in all the company. I have loved getting to know each of them and they have taught me a lot about the culture.
No more City Express Bank Building...
Almost everyone in the Admin Department was there. From top left: Abba, Anthony, Kazeem, Esther, Kehinde, Nuru, Mary, Wunmi, Ethel, me, Hope, Ada, (Taiye is behind peaking over), Lucy, Awe, Lucky. In the ront squatting down from right to left: Busuyi, Yusuf, Kabiru, Hannah and Uchendu.
The Accommodations Team! Abba, Kehinde, Kazeem, Uchendu, me, Awe and Hannah. Adesola wasn't able to be there because she is on leave to have her baby.
The Travel Team! Ada, me, Wunmi, Busuyi. Bili is out on PTO so she wasn't able to be there.
Yesterday Monty and I had a going-away lunch with the Program Director and our Project Supervisors (Al, Larry, Randy, Boris) My team saw it on my calendar and presented me with this beautiful Nigerian outfit (with matching shirt for Monty!) and insisted we wear it to our lunch at the restaurant. Awe designed the dress herself. They are so thoughtful, and love to give native outfits...it's something unique that they can do and I think they really love to see us dressed in native.
Monty was a good sport. They roped him in to coming over to my building and putting his shirt on so we could take pictures :)
I wish I could remember the Iranian names for all these delicious dishes...One was the chickpea stew that I love (Amy taught me how to make it once too!), chicken that just fell off the bone, some greens, three different kinds of salads, 3 different kinds of rice (all with saphron and the special Zereshk that only grows in Iran!) plus separate platters of rice-crunchies! 
The whole group: Ed, Bill, Monty, Troy/Bonnie, Dave/Suzanne, Masoud/Mastane, Mimi, Shahram, Ted, Reza, Amy, Ana and Emily.
Mimi and Suzanne
The Taheri's are such sweet and generous people...she started cooking at 7am that morning to make this delicious feast! We will miss their friendship and hospitality.
Digging in...
Reza is such a funny guy...
...and so is Monty!
Also, WE GOT A CAMERA! A guy at work had just bought one and then got buyer's remorse and wanted to sell it. Perfect timing! Thank you God.
Monty, Smatt, Me, Eric, and Ana. Enjoying some of the roast pig.
YES, we got a roast pig. It was entertaining, and tasty.
Speaking of ham...
Our friends the Taheri's and Lang's...we were just missing one couple! The Soliman's had left the day before. Turns out the Lang's are leaving in a month too!
