This could be good

After submitting some paperwork*, I'm officially a Peace Corps Trainee (PCT). Next step is to wake up in 6 hours, lug my ridiculously enormous luggages (I like that word) to JFK, hop a couple of planes, and find myself in Baku, Azerbaijan. After that, it's 10 weeks of language, culture, safety, and job training. But I can only do this one day at a time so right now I'm focused on getting myself out of bed on time.

It's neat to finally meet the other trainees and freak out together. Good to know I'm not alone.

Random coolness: Molly sent me a link to the Asgarda, a group (cult?) of Ukrainian warrior women. Wish I'd been able to fit my foil and helmet in my suitcase...

Staging

I'm at the Hampton Inn in Philadelphia. Staging is tomorrow afternoon. A fellow volunteer, Gretchen, was on my flight and we met up with another volunteer, Myriam, while waiting for the shuttle.

I'm exhausted and kinda greasy and have the kind of wicked headache that only comes from uncontrollable crying. But I'm happy. I look forward to meeting more people tomorrow.

Now I sleep.

Too frazzled to find a title

Storage unit full? Check. Unrecyclable/unloved items taken to transfer station? Check. Piles of paperwork dealt with? Check. Freaking out? Check.

Running around today dealing with last-minute stuff (need 2 more skirts, 2 more long-sleeved shirts, and batteries, clean the apartment, do a test pack) so that I can spend worry-less time with my favorite person tomorrow.

Thank goodness for lists. Lists are unsung heroes. My list is my personal external hard drive.

Stuff and people I think I will miss dearly (and kind of already am):

Fast internet
Good coffee
My east Capital Hill neighborhood
Walking alone at night
Trader Joe's
My sister
My favorite person
My amazing friends
My awesome parents
Sailing in Puget Sound
Seattle transportation system

I'm posting this so that I can return to it a few months from now and see what I forgot to add. I'm sure 'communicating in English' will be up there. I haven't been practicing Azerbaijani as much as I should have been...curious to see how much that bites me in the butt.

On Monday night I will meet the first of my PC comrades. Fun!

Oh yeah, the FAQ! Here are the questions I've been asked:

Where are you going?
Azerbaijan. It's a former Soviet republic located on the Caspian sea sandwiched between Russia and Iran, also bordered by Armenia and Georgia.

What? Why?
I'll be teaching English as a member of the Peace Corps. I am pursuing this challenge because the human lifespan is remarkably short.

What language will you speak?
Azerbaijani.

How long will you be there?
27 months.

Can you come back to the US whenever you want?
I'll accrue 2 vacation days per month after training ends in early December. I can visit the U.S. if I wish (and if I have the funds) but I'm looking forward to visiting Turkey and the Ukraine. Unfortunately Iran is not a wise travel destination at the moment otherwise I'd go.

Can I visit you?
YES! And please do. Anytime between January 2009 and August 2011 works for me!

Can I send you stuff?
YES! And please do. Flat items are welcome between now and early December. Sounds like it takes 3-4 weeks for items to arrive.

PCT Jennifer Gouine
Peace Corps Azerbaijan
Sumgayit şəhərı
Azerbaycan pr. 15
Mərkəzı poçt

AZERBAIJAN

Will you miss me?
YES!

Me in context

I'm spending about a week at my parent's (parents'? I should know this!) house here in the dry heat of northern California. I didn't realize how much I needed this time - to decompress from the self-imposed stress of my last month at work, to be a couch potato with my dad, to go shopping with my mom, to walk in the suburban neighborhood I grew up in.

Walking in the neighborhood, past homes of childhood friends, triggered some thoughts about where I come from and the path I've taken to this moment. I chose a life that was relatively safe - physically, fiscally, mentally and work-wise - and now I need a challenge, something that strips away the comfortable and forces me to rethink my strengths and face my weaknesses (like a Qualifying Exam...but real). 

It is freakin hard to take a sharp left turn at the age of 36. But I know that I need this. When I imagine not getting on the plane, I get sad. I have to try. Who knows if I'll last the whole 27 months (place yer bets!) but that doesn't bother me. I'm confident I will make the decisions that are best for me. My life is my own - a true luxury and very empowering.  

Next up, an FAQ! Let me know what you want to know!