The Roof Is On Fire

My Two Cents for the AZ8s

2010-06-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

AZ8s, we look forward to meeting you! Not that long ago, I was in your shoes. Freaking out over what to pack and what to put everything in, spending as much time as possible with my friends and family, and searching high and low for PC/AZ advice. Here’s my two cents. Note that this perspective comes from a 37-year-old, female, university TEFL volunteer. I live in Sheki, a

Update

2010-01-22T03:23:00.000-08:00

Time goes by more slowly here. My day is divided by teatimes – breakfast tea, mid-morning tea, tea after lunch, afternoon tea, before-dinner tea (I’ve cut this one out), and after-dinner tea. Semi-weak black tea is the national beverage. For all teatimes except breakfast, it is customary to eat ‘konfet’ (candy) with the tea. This is eaten in lieu of adding sugar to the tea. So that means I am

Christmas at 'home'

2009-12-27T05:04:00.000-08:00

Had a GREAT time with my new American friends at Christmas. People from both years (AZ6 and AZ7) were there – 20-25 of us in all. It was fun because I could really be myself. And I got to be domestic, which I have been craving. Stephanie and I made pancakes while Brandon watched and commented on our lack of artistry. Stephanie is only a couple of hours north of me, in Balakan, last stop before

Sheki!

2009-12-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

Swearing-in was successful and I am in Sheki. But I am exhausted. It is difficult to adjust to a new culture. I will write more when I can. And hopefully post pictures!

Getting excited

2009-12-03T01:13:00.000-08:00

Next week, if all goes well, I will swear in and become a Peace Corps volunteer. The next day I will be shipped off to Sheki. I'm glad I have something to look forward to during this holiday season. It's hard to be away from home! Here's a photo of myself and my Sheki counterpart. Fellow Sheki-mate Irene and her counterpart are also in the photo.

I'm going to Sheki!

2009-11-19T01:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Peace Corps held a sweet ceremony to reveal where each of the 31 teachers will be sent. "Drum roll please....AMANDA! You are going to DEVACHI! Woooo! Come on up here and place the yellow flag on the map!" I already knew I was going to Sheki but I was anxious to see where my new friends are going off to. Beth will be near Tovuz, Sierra and Irene will be with me, Stephanie will be about

Rollercoaster

2009-10-31T04:37:00.000-07:00

Every day is a rollercoaster of emotions. My mood changes by the hour. Stuff that bums me out: Waking up and wishing I were with my favorite person Walking through 1/4 mile of mud twice a day The dead cat near Beth's house Cramming onto buses Speaking my classroom Azeri and not being understood All the damn Masazir construction that screws up my daily, and expensive, commute to Sumgayit Stuff

Life is good

2009-10-17T02:36:00.000-07:00

I don't have much time to write but here's a quick update - I will be a teacher trainer at a teacher's college. Yay! Next month I'll find out which city I will be posted in. My practicum is at a local university. It's been interesting to observe a different method of instruction than I have practiced and was taught in. The week after next I'll actually get to teach. My goal is to model

I am so gonna get fat

2009-10-09T02:44:00.000-07:00

Quick update - my host family is awesome and they feed me really well. Almost too well. Homemade everything: grape leaf dolmas, cabbage leaf dolmas, garlic yogurt sauce, chicken-fresh eggs, preserved cherries in cherry syrup, sweet tea, goat cheese, the list goes on. My left-handedness is a source of curiosity and amusement. I am fortunate to have a Western toilet at home which is a good

More difficult than I thought

2009-10-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

I tried to call my favorite person and broke down crying when I listened to the voicemail message. Just hearing his voice made me question my decision to be here. Which is interesting because until that moment I was eager for this adventure, the ups and the downs. I guess that was my first hurdle. I did some breathing exercises and came back to center. I know that this is exactly what I should be

In Azerbaijan!

2009-10-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

After 24+ hours of travel, I am in Azerbaijan. I haven't seen much of the country yet because we're in a hotel for Orientation Week but what I've seen so far is nice. The weather is warm and a little muggy so I'm sure I seemed ridiculous carrying my giant winter coat through the airport. This morning we'll find out who our clustermates are. We'll break up into clusters of 5 or 6 for our 10 weeks

This could be good

2009-09-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

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

Staging

2009-09-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Me in context

2009-09-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

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

The Schedule

2009-08-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Sept 28: Sea-Tac to PhiladelphiaSept 29: OrientationSept 30: JFK to FrankfurtOct 1: Frankfurt to BakuOct 2 - ~Dec 7: Pre-Service Training in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan (winner of the 2006 and 2007 awards for most polluted place on Earth!). I'll live with a host family and get intense language, culture, and job training.~Dec 8: Swearing In ceremony~Dec 9, 2009 - Dec 2011: Co-teach English to Azerbaijani

Leaving September 28th

2009-08-24T13:35:00.001-07:00

My flight to Philadelphia has been booked. Whoa. This is really happening!

Countdown

2009-08-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

It begins!Staging is September 29 in Philadelphia. We leave the next morning on a bus to JFK where we'll then fly (via Frankfurt?) to Baku.It would be fantastic to receive mail during Pre-Service Training (PST). I'll be in PST for the months of October and November and during the beginning of December. The Peace Corps peeps recommend, during PST only, flat mail or padded envelopes. Send me larger

Animal omens

2009-07-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

While walking across the Montlake bridge to work this morning, I saw a sandhill crane* fall out of the sky, hit a bridge support and land in the middle of traffic. I was unnerved. It was barely moving and seemed unable to walk or fly. I stood staring at it and tried to track down the Fish and Wildlife number. A couple of other pedestrians went into the traffic, shoo'ed the crane onto the sidewalk

Saying Goodbye, Part II

2009-07-10T16:35:00.001-07:00

Last night I held a dead cat. Everyone, including the cat and her owner, knew the end was coming but it was difficult to endure when it actually arrived. I have a sincere fondness for felines and that one will be missed.Read this in a Modern Love column and it speaks to me:It doesn't seem fair that we can look back and connect the dots in life, and see what led from that to this, but we cannot

Packing list on paper

2009-06-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

So much to purchase and gather! Second Ascent has been my go-to store and I plan to take a fresh look at stuff I already own. My Illinois snow boots could probably be patched, I have some no-longer-remotely-stylish wool sweaters that I was going to donate, etc.Suggestions welcome![Most of this list is compiled from the Azerbaijan packing list ]General clothing:_A good supply of

'It doesn't get any better than this'

2009-06-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Or, "Saying Goodbye, Part I."Last night was an absolutely gorgeous night on Lake Union. I was fortunate to sail and the weather was fantastic - short sleeves until 9pm! Duck Dodge was in full swing and the lake was covered in sailboats. At one point, we gave way to Circe and the skipper joyfully called out, "It doesn't get any better than this!" Indeed.Right now, my life is abundant with good

Nerves

2009-05-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

This week I started to get nervous. What the heck am I doing? Can I stick it out for 2 years, 9 weeks? Is this really what I want to do? I will probably struggle with these questions until the day I return so maybe it's a good time to remind myself why I'm doing this. My aspiration statement talks about some of my intentions but the Blue Scholars song "Motion Movement" gets at the emotion (and is

Aspirations

2009-04-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my aspiration statement and sent it off. Here are some highlights.Q: What professional attributes do you plan to use, and what aspirations do you hope to fulfill, during your Peace Corps service?A: One of the primary reasons I am pursuing Peace Corps service is to test the language and culture theories of my graduate school training. At [university] I combined anthropology,

Lousy Smarch

2009-03-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Oi. March is killing me. Work has been so busy and I have been so stressed that this week I realized I have had an on again/off again cold since December. DECEMBER. I do not like to be sick and do not look forward to being sick in an unfamiliar country.Poor me.FedEx confirms that my dental forms were delivered to Peace Corps this morning. I think it will be an easy clearance because my teeth

Excitement and a Timeline

2009-03-05T12:35:00.001-08:00

It is not possible to overstate my excitement. I just got an email from someone (hi Stephanie!) who is also going to Azerbaijan. Aiii! That makes it real. Yay!Lots of exclamation points!And lots of organizing to do. Over the years I've been pretty good about getting rid of stuff but now realize just how much stuff I still have. Anyone want a tiny ceramic teapot?This wouldn't be a Peace Corps blog

Azerbaijan!

2009-02-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

I am going to Azerbaijan to co-teach English to children ages 7-16. Staging is at the end of September and then pre-service training runs through the beginning of December. My actual service will be December 2009-December 2011.I am thoroughly excited and definitely nervous!This blog is written by a couple currently serving in Azerbaijan: http://bakutothefuture.blogspot.com/Azerbaijan on Flickr:

Invitation!

2009-02-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

This morning I received a lovely surprise in my email..."your application status has been updated." WOOHOO! Unfortunately my toolkit doesn't tell me where I am going; for that, I must wait for the mail to arrive. Archaic! The package was sent from DC yesterday so I hope it will arrive by Saturday. I am so anxious to know where I am going! And when!

All I Need Is A Little Patience

2009-02-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

I am doing my best to be patient while I wait for my invitation. I keep worrying (because I'm good at it!) that something will go wrong and I'll be deferred to Jan 2010. Aiigh! It is ironic to me that I must learn to be patient with the large bureaucracy of Peace Corps when I work as a semi-bureaucrat. We get what we give...These letters are interesting reads. They are remarks from current/

Nomination!

2009-01-10T14:37:00.001-08:00

After much thought and internal hand-wringing, I re-activated my Peace Corps application. I had made an application to WorldTeach's Bangladesh program and was very excited about it but ultimately decided that I needed something different and somehow bigger. It looks like I'll get what I asked for because I've been nominated to Central Asia/English Teacher Training/September 2009. These are the

Biblioburro

2008-10-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

Just read a heartwarming article about a Colombian teacher delivering books to the countryside via donkeys named Alfa and Beto. If the link doesn't work, search for 'Acclaimed Colombian institution has 4,800 books and 10 legs' at http://www.nytimes.com/I rearranged the desks in my office. It is more welcoming now and that makes me happy.

"Permanent Employment for Physicists for Decades"

2008-09-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/science/11collider.htmlThe article presents a melancholic tone in its description of Fermilab's new second-place position in the world of particle collision and in the dejection that followed Congress' decision not to fund the Superconducting Supercollidor.In a roundabout way, CERN reminds me of the scene in 'Contact' where John Hurt's character explains to Jodi

The world may end

2008-09-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

tonight! Those Swiss scientists are gearing up to recreate the Big Bang. Hold on to your hats.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/science/09collide.htmlIf, like me, you don't really understand the science, this video may help:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtMAnd this video is just incredibly cute:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpAl58XyV5Q

Rhetoric

2008-08-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

I was impressed with Obama's acceptance address at the Democratic National Convention last night. Man, that guy can speechify like nobody's business. He and his wife are rhetorical powerhouses and I mean that with the utmost respect, recognizing the definition of rhetoric as the art of speaking or writing effectively. Just over 2 months until November 4...'Rhetoric' is more commonly used as a

Peace Corps cutbacks

2008-08-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post reports that the Peace Corps has been asked to cut its budget by 15% which will result in 400 less positions in the coming year. I think I'll be safe but I've been researching alternatives just in case. I'm actually rather interested in WorldTeach's Access Academy position in Bangladesh.Washington Post article If the link is broken, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/ and

The Wild

2008-08-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Into the Wild. I remember seeing it in an airport bookstore, years ago, but can't recall why I didn't pick it up. Probably because it didn't sound interesting. "Oh, rich hippie kid eschews privilege and dies due to stupid mistakes? No thanks."But I picked it as my book club selection because I am interested in learning about people who choose something a little different

Thankfulness

2008-08-05T17:40:00.001-07:00

Recently I watched two documentaries that reminded me how privileged I am.The first was The Devil Came on Horseback, an on-the-ground perspective of the genocide in Darfur. Brian Steidle was a Marine who went to work in 2004 as a ceasefire monitor for the African Union. As a monitor, his job was to observe and write reports. He heard stories about the violence in Darfur but that region of Sudan

Muskrat Love

2008-06-27T16:19:00.000-07:00

A 5lb muskrat has undone all of the work put into a Winfield, MO levee. It's funny, from way up here in the sunny (snicker) Northwest, until you read this quote:"How bad do I feel? You have no idea," said Travis Tutka, the Army Corps of Engineers' dam safety expert who helped coordinate the effort to save the levee. "The challenge we met for so long out here — I can't come up with the words for

Courage

2008-06-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Edith Macefield died on Sunday at the small home she courageously refused to give up. Hers was a small battle in the global scheme but it impressed me nonetheless. Seattle developers offered her up to $1 million to leave her $130,000 property but she said no. The developers built around her.RIP Edith.http://www.komonews.com/news/20188164.html[If the link doesn't work, go to komonews.com and

Inactive status

2008-05-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm officially 'inactive' with Peace Corps until I show them that I've taken care of my financial obligations and/or have a plan to take care of them while I'm away. I am cautiously optimistic that, very soon, I'll be able to show PC that I'm financially clear. YAY!Right now the Pacific Islands desk has my application but I think I'll get thrown back into the mix when I become active again. Often

Peace Corps criticism

2008-05-21T10:22:00.001-07:00

Interesting article written by a former Cameroon country director on the failed promises of the Peace Corps. I agree with him that sending untrained recent college graduates is a poor idea and I applaud PC's recent efforts to heavily recruit retirees. Also I agree with him about the need to measure success. 50 years and no assessment? That's disappointing.http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/

Fear

2008-05-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

What is there to be scared of? I mean, really?