Ten things that were not true 3 months ago

1. My clothes have taken on the "Peace Corps Sag".

This is due in part to the fact that I hand wash them and dry then on clothes lines, and in part to the fact that I am a lot thinner now than I was 3 months ago (down almost 18 pounds (8 kilo)).

2. While once known for my vocabulary, I know speak like a 3 year old in a language I had never heard of as of 3 months ago.

3. It is not uncommon for me to pass cows and chickens on my walk to work. Or get chased by geese on a casual village stroll.

4. I now know what it is like to live without consistent running water, gas/heat and electricity. As in everyday, at least one is not working.

5. I am lucky now if I shower once a week. If my shower day falls on a day without running water, we pump it and heat it in a bucket on the gas stove. Also, on day 5 of no showering, I am still stared at by men in a desirable fashion...go figure.

6. I am no longer an only child! I currently have 1 brother and 3 sisters in Quba, and 2 more sisters in Ceyranbaton. I also now have 3 mothers, and 3 fathers (only one of each that are real though :) )

7. It is not uncommon when riding a Marshrutka (van-like bus transportation) with 15 or so people, to be accompanied by farm animals. If you are bored, don't worry though, sometimes there are holes in the floor that allow you to watch the road. No one in American can every complain about transportation to me ever again. Until you are in one of these for 8 hours, you don't even know...

8. I celebrated my 1st Christmas in a Muslim country.

9. People think I'm weird if I wear different clothes each day. If you have a good outfit, you will wear it for a week straight.

10. I use high speed Internet in the office, and then walk down the hallway to use the squat toilet...a contradictory country most definitely.

Peace Corps Mourns the loss of Volunteers in Paraguay and Mozambique

With the holidays here, and Peace Corps Volunteers around the world trying their hardest to bring Christmas to our respective Countries, Villages and Communities. Please take a moment to send your prayers to those families this Christmas who are doing without their loved ones.

Peace Corps Mourns the Loss of Emily Balog

Peace Corps Mourns the Loss of Elizabeth Alden Landis & Lena Jenison

Azerbaijani Carpets - UNESCO World Heritage

Azerbaijani Carpets have made the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list

Azerbaijani Carpets

Photo Taken from the UNESCO world heritage Site - My Director!!!

Life Update

Hey All! So I know I haven’t been great about the whole blogging thing, but now that I am in my permanent site, I have better access to Internet.

So life in Quba…

My family is really sweet. I have a brother (11) and sisters who are (24, 22, and 20) and a host mother and father. The youngest sister is a student in Baku so I haven’t met her yet. My room is big and bright, and generally the house is really warm. Such a nice thing when you live in a mountain “city”. (City is in quotes as it’s not a city by any American or English standard). So my family is super sweet, but absolutely no English is spoken so it’s a real test of my language. As of right now I communicate like a 6 year old cavegirl. It is frustrating, but at the same time will do absolute wonders for my language abilities. They asked me what kinds of foods we eat in America and I was explaining pizza. The next day my host mother found a recipe for pizza and we made it together from scratch, dough and all. I was the nicest thing ever and turned out pretty good (See Below). The effort that they’re making to make me feel part of the family is really heartwarming and helps with the lack of actual communication. My host mother works at my organization; she is one of the Carpet Masters which is pretty cool. She showed me on the looms how to weave some of the carpet, but I was afraid I would mess it up so I didn’t try lol.

My work is really interesting; it is a Carpet Factory, with about 20 Master Weavers and a few Apprentices. The women sit in front of giant looms (See previous post for pictures) and hand weave these pieces of art. The carpets are some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, and I love to sit and watch them work. I’m sure they think it’s hysterical; some random American girl likes to watch them weave when I could be doing something like watching t.v. lol.

 I am working with my Counterpart (a person in your organization, that Peace Corps pairs you with to work) to start English classes for the weavers as well. I’m not thrilled with this, as I have zero experience teaching English, but I am willing to try since they want me to. We will also be doing the classes at the Shahdaq Milli Park for the Ministry of Ecology, as my Counterpart works for them part time. We will be helping to teach useful phrases to the workers, so when tourists come through they can communicate better. I’m hoping come Spring I can assist in some of the actual tours through the park, maybe as a translator or basic tour guide if my language allows me to. The park is in the mountains and has ancient villages and waterfalls and apple orchards, definitely a tourist highlight of Azerbaijan. The Carpet Factory also works in the Springtime with a local orphanage, teaching trade skills. I will be helping with English classes there as well. As a Community Economic Development Advisor (CED), English classes are not exactly my forte but I will do what’s needed to integrate into my community and gain a level of respect and trust I will need to do other projects. Also, English classes are a great way to practice my Azerbaijani, and find out who people in the community are and what opportunities for CED projects I might find. So for now, I am a jack of all trades.

That’s it for now. Please send emails and messages! They are greatly appreciated. Love to all!

Xx Corina

Site Placement......(drum role please)......... Quba!

We have received our site placement sites (pc lingo for our 2 year sites) and I am heading directly North to Quba! I will be working with an ancient carpet maker, and don't entirely know what I will be doing but am really excited. We move to site on December 10th and my new host family in Quba is a mother, a father, an 11y brother and sisters who are 20, 22, and 24. Not an only child anymore lol. Quba is t the base of the Caucus Mountains and is very cold, but beautiful. There are forests and waterfalls and mountains, so absolutely beautiful. Google it up and I will post more when I can!

Xxxx

Ps. Send letters!

***12.12.2011 Update

Streets of Quba

Streets of Quba

Streets of Quba

Quba Center w/ the Mountains!

City Center Mosque

Jewish Community

Carpet

Master Carpet Weaver

Mən Sülh Korpusu könüllüyam!

Translated..."I am a Peace Corps Volunteer"!

It's official, we have been sworn in. Our ceremony on December 8th was attended by not only the American Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matthew Bryza, but also representatives from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Economic Development.

CED Cluster with our LCF (Tural) and Program Director (Elmir)

My Host Mother, and Sisters with Kelsey, Carissa & I

Matthew Bryza (U.S. Embassador to Azerbaijan), and The Azerbaijani Ministers (or representatives) from the Ministry of Education, Sports & Youth, and Economic Development

U.S. Ambassador Bryza and our Country Director Macie

How much do you know about Azerbaijan? CNN Quiz

Here is a chance for you all to learn a few fun facts. It's only 10 questions...I got 10 out of 10 :) Let's see how well you do. Take it, it's educational and fun!

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/10/world/europe/azerbaijan-quiz/index.html

Moving Right Along

So as of December 8th I will officially be a United States Peace Corps Volunteer. On December 9th I will be moving to Quba in the north of Azerbaijan, about 15 kilometres ( 9.3 miles) from the Dagestan border of Russia. My new Host Family in Quba has a mother, a father, an 11 year old brother, and three sisters who are 20, 22, and 24. So much for being an only child! Lol I'm definitely excited and a little nervous to meet them. My Host Family in Ceyranbaton has been so amazing. I truly feel like part of their family and the whole adjustment to a new one will be really difficult. Quba is only about 2 hours from Ceyranbaton though, so I will be able to come visit them often and they have promised to come visit me as well.

I will have three site mates (AZ'8s, i am an AZ9) in Quba and more friends in the neighbouring city of Xaçmaz, so I will be surrounded by good people. My address will change, and I will post it as soon as I have it confirmed. 

We took our final language exam of PST ( pre-service training) on Saturday. We must score a certain level of proficiency in order to be approved for Swearing In ( as a volunteer). The results and tapes are sent to Washington as part of our government file. I'm glad to have it over with, and I think it well. We had a mid- training exam as well and I scored the necessary level for the final one, on the mid exam so fingers crossed I maintained it. Te language is coming along, but is very difficult. My new organisation, an Ancient Caret Weaving Factory, operates in total Azerbaijani. So I will be business advising in the language....talk about daunting. 

While things are difficult, they are also really right. I don't know if that makes sense, but I have the feeling of being exactly where I should be right now. During the 17 month application process ( see separate tab above if you want the details) there was so much that was unknown, but I honestly Peace Corps tries to prepare you during that time, for the ambiguity you will face in service. I am embracing the ambiguity ha, which for those of you who know me well, know that the not being able to plan is such a challenge!

I will be going to Xaçmaz for a Christmas party in mid- December which will be great. Christmas will definitely be a difficult time, as it is the first time I will be way from home. I'm lucky to have such good friends here to be with

The things we eat

So many people have asked me what types of food we're eating here in Azerbaijan. With Thanksgiving just happening, I have gotten it even more. For starters, yes! we had Thanksgiving dinner atnmy house, with my cluster and my family. We made an Azerbaijani turkey, which my host family bought for us(so expensive here). We cooked ourselves, but she plucked it for us. Sme of the other clusters actually killed their own turkey, so at least it was done for us too. Not sure I could have slit the turkey's throat.

Other food...here is the breakdown.
Azeri food is not bad, with of course a few exceptions. They cook with a TON of oil. They serve incredible bread (çorek) at every meal as a cultural thing. It is sacred and must not touch the ground or go in the regular trash. It is so delicious, but of course is making us all fat lol. Çay ( like herbal tea) is served about 15 times a day, no joke and cold drinks cannot be drank at meals as Azerbaijani's believe you will have digestion problems. Candy and sweets are also everywhere.
A few traditional Azerbaijani dishes are:
Plov - a rice dish
Shorba- soup, all kinds especially cabbage
Dolma- meat and rice stuffed cabbage leaves, grape leaves, or eggplant
Kabob- lamb skewers, but with a ton of animal fat
Lavash - like a wrap filled with meat, vegetables and yogurt
Diner- same as lavash but with bread
Tushir - pickled vegetable (I especially like the cabbage)

Foods I avoid...
Xas- soup made with the (whole) head and front legs of a sheep. They are boiled in a pot. Brains are eaten separately
Xengel- flat pasta like pieces with cheesy (see own category) and onion sauce
Fish- served whole and eaten whole
Ciz Biz- fried animal (?) liver, lungs, intestine,he tart and kidney

Cheese....as many of you know, is my favourite food. Not here....it's gross. They have 2 kinds 1. Stinky, super-salty, sheepy cheese and 2. Stinkier, saltier, sheepier cheese. Disgusting.

For those of you reading this and thinking About my first post which entailed my stomach issues....I filter my water, but now in think it has just sort of toughened up.

More soon. Miss and love everyone. Ps. All the food is making the girls fat and the boys are desperately loosing weight due to lack of protein. So not air!

Biri Var Idi, Biri Yox Idi....

Once there was, Once there was not.... The Azerbaijani version of Once Upon a Time.

So things are moving right along here. Azerbaijan got it's 1st snowfall, and as someone from the NorthEast I am ashamed to say I have never felt cold like this before. At night I can see my breath, and we wear like 6 layers of clothes to school.

On This Thursday (10th) we get our permanent site placements! Cannot wait! We will continue with training until December 10th and then we will head to our new sites and new host families. I am so looking forward to this, especially as it will mean we are real Peace Corps volunteers. I am not looking forward to leaving my host family. I have grown really close with them and it will be difficult, especially right before Christmas.

Our language learning is moving along. The Azeri language is very difficult, but we're learning the best we can. Our training is broken into two language oral exams (lpi's) that we must reach certain levels on, in order to pass through to becoming a volunteer. We had our mid-lpi last week and my results were good, so I'm pleased. Some days feel like great progress, and then others feel backwards. One step forward, two steps back. Little victories they say lol.

I will update everyone soon when have my Site Placement Announcement. Miss everyone. Send letters!

Finally Some Photos

Sheki

 

 

View of Sheki ( my PCT Site Visit)

My Room! (And no, the t.v. does not work)

 

 

My CED Cluster

 

Lobeya cutting party (Lobeya are like giant green beans, that must be sliced very fine to jar for the winter months when produce is scarce. My family sliced 15 kilos (about 8 pounds) with giant knives. I cut a little slower lol, but did my part.

A trip to Sheki

Hey everyone. Sorry about the lack of posts, the non-internet/computer thing is rough. So yeah, things are good. I am currently on site visits in the Northern city of Sheki. Peace Corps sends us to a Volunteer from the previous year (AZ8's) to spend 4 days with them talking and getting to know what they do. Sheki is beautiful, it's in the mountains up near the Russian border. Our site visits are sometimes potential placement sites (where we go for the full 2 years after training ends in December) so it's great to see. Even if we get a totally different site, it's helpful to share your experience with whichever trainee gets the assignment.

Things in general are good. Training is busy and for some really difficult, but I'm honestly enjoying it. The language is definitely a challenge, but getting to visit the AZ8's and seeing how far their language has come in just 1 year is so encouraging. It makes me feel like maybe one day in the future I can do more than say, Hello my name is Corina lol.

I will say that we are dealing with harassment a bit. The trainees & volunteers of minority backgrounds have it the worst, which can be hard. We have been given a list of useful things to say though and I'll be studying up. As a white woman I don't necessarily get harassed, but I certainly get starred at. I have never in my life been more watched. I am wearing the same clothes and not showering for days and the men act like I'm Julia Roberts walking through town...very bizarre lol. I did get the comment yesterday that I looked Turkish, which is a compliment here but not something I would have ever thought about myself.

In general things are coming along. I know this post is a bit general, mostly because time is so limited. I will say that I observe so much and then want to share it, and yet by the time I make it to an internet connection I can't think. I hope everything is going well at home and anywhere else people may be. My experience so far has been good, definitely a lot of absorbing information and trying to process. I will try and post some more in the next few days. They have internet cafes in Sheki (!).
 

Through the Wardrobe and into Narnia...

I am officially in Narnia.

So in today’s Azerbaijani language lesson, we discovered (by total accident) that there are a shocking number of Azerbaijani references in C.S. Lewis’ famous Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. For starters the word for lion in Azeri is “aslan”; there is a reference to Turkish delight; there is a Prince Caspian (Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea); and there is an island named Nargin. Possibly a coincidence, but I’m certainly looking forward to reading it again and looking for clues.

Me vs. the Marshrutka

  Salam from Azerbaijan!

A Marshrutka is a small bus. Although our weather has been (up until today) beautiful...today it is pouring. The walk to school involved very flooded viallage roads, with lots of mud. I had the ultimate game of chicken with a marshrutka and the giant puddles...I won. :)

***Disclaimer this blog will be very real. If you are delicate or sensitive, I suggest you stick to something easier. Also, if you are a grammer fanatic, I apologize. These are foreign keyboards and the spelling errors will be many. If you can handle it, read on :)

The daily stuff. For starters I will say that the Peace Corps program here in Azerbaijan is doing wonderful work. The in-country staff really does everything to prepare us for life and work in Az. Having said that, there is a lot of uncertainty in the work that will be done here and in our current daily lives. Life as a PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) is not an easy one. 

There are different levels of challenges, some expected and some unexpected, but both equally difficult. Expected challenges include language, host family assimilation, culture, food, etc. Everything is different and new, I walk to school, past geese and cows and ducks. Communication within host families is almost non-existent and extremely frustrating. We work tirelessly at language skills, both in and out of the home. These challenges are something you would assume will be hard, and they are. It is, however, the challenges that we take for granted, which brings us to…

The Toilet. In Azerbaijan, squat toilets are typical. Toilet paper is not. Our host families understand that Americans use toilet paper and many have gone to the trouble of placing it in their outhouses. This leads to a more difficult problem of where to put it, because there are no trashes. Yes, you must take it with you and dispose of it later and while Azeri food is great, it is not kind to the foreign stomach at first meeting.  This therefore creates an even harder time with squat-style outhouses. I’ll let you put 2 and 2 together….
It is these types of tasks that make daily living a rough adjustment. This experience is truly like nothing I’ve ever encountered, but in a good way. Life is simpler here. The language is beyond hard, but I know there will be a moment when it comes together and that will feel so amazing. 

For now, my posts may be limited as internet pretty much does not exist in my village, Jeyranbatan. There are a few internet clubs nearby, but they are forbidden for women. I will do my best to post with my limited resources. 

For anyone that wishes to do some research and call me, my number is (994) 51-770-62-78. I don't know how much it is to call it from the U.S. but if you get a calling card and do a little google-time, it shouldn't be difficult. Annnnd it is free for me to receive, so please text and call! I am 9 hours ahead, so after 7pm my time is perfect. For now I will leave you with that, I h ave to go back into the rain!

Miss & Love everyone back home!!

Sag olun!
Xx Corina

Staging here I come!

First thing I see at Philadelphia Airport

If that's not a sign, I don't what is...

   **Update**

As I sit in my hotel room in Philly, I can't help but embrace that this may be my last night to myself. The next few weeks will literally be planned out for us, right down to when and what we eat. I am excited, nervous, anxious, and oddly content. I have been truly lucky to spend 5 amazing months back home in Rhode Island and have made some wonderful new friends along the way. 

Having said that, when I sat down on the plane to Philly I found myself at home. A friend recently called me a Nomad (Kelly :)) and I suppose she's right. I'm more comfortable on planes and trains than I am driving  a car.  At this stage in my life I belong traveling, and what's more, I am beginning quite possibly the greatest adventure of my life to date. I am looking forward to the challenge and I am eager to begin work in a field I hope to make my career in. I have been desperately trying to read through the many manuals of new customs that are to become 2nd nature to me, and staring at a language that looks more like something from Star Wars than this planet. 

In the morning I depart for actual Staging (conference with the other 41 members of the AZ9 Peace Corps group) before I board a bus and planes on Friday to Azerbaijan. Here's to new friends and new adventures! Wish me luck and send your love, I'm off to Azerbaijan. 

Xxx Corina

President JFK 's Peace Corps Message - Click Here!

Staging Instructions have Arrived!

Staging Location:
Philadelphia, PA
September 22, 2011 12:00pm EST

Travel Itinerary:
September 23, 2011 8:30am Depart (by Bus) to JFK International Airport


Depart: 5:05pm - Flight from New York -->
Arrive September 24, 2011 10:15am - Istanbul

Depart Istanbul 2:15 -->arrive Baku 7:00pm

So exciting! Starting to feel real now. Will be sending out contact information soon!

Please give me a moment while I google that.

So the mysterious land of Azerbaijan, neighbor of the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains... here's a little info for those of you who don't know (which is probably most).

Country Facts:

Official Name:   Azerbaycan Respublikasi

Capital:  Baku

Population: 7,830,000

Currency:  Manat

Exchange Rate to the $: 1AZN = $1.27

Language: Azerbaijani

Government: Presidential Republic

Famous for: Oil, Saffron, & Cavier

                                                                                                                  Miles from Rhode Island: 5,680

Kilometers from Rhode Island: 9,140

Neighbors: Russia (North), Iran (South), Caspian Sea (East) & Armenia and Georgia (West)

Salutations:  Salam Aleykum (Hello), Lutfan (Please), Tasakkur Adiram (Thank You)
Time Difference Between  Rhode Island (EST) and Baku:  +9 Hours

      

Invitation has arrived!!!!

It's Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been formally accepted to serve in the United States Peace Corps service in the Republic of Azerbaijan. I will be working as a Community Economic Development Advisor, leaving September 22nd!

Patience is a Virtue Part II

***Update***
I have now relocated back to the U.S. and I am in round 2 of Placement and am now playing the waiting game. 440 days since application and counting.

So according to my Placement Officer, she is now looking at programs departing between Oct-Dec. Cross-refrenced with PCWiki the Business Development programs leaving are...

August
Mexico, Guatamala, Panama, Dominican Republic,Kazakhstan, and Nicauragua
September
Macedonia,Vanuatu, Cameroon, Peru, Togo, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Paraguay

October
Tonga
Kenya
Burkina Faso
Niger suspended January 2011

October (All Business)
Tonga, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Niger, Costa Rica, Rwanda, and Samoa

Patience is a Virtue

One thing that the Peace Corps teaching you, is Patience. That patience starts with the application process...

I am now getting really impatient in the process because I am so close to the finish. I know that my medical is all in place to be cleared and the next step is the actual Placement process. I cannot wait! Part of this is being accelerated by my time in London coming to a close. This transition is going to be very difficult for me and I am already trying not to think about it. Here's to hoping I get some good news in the next few days! FINGERS CROSSED.

Thailand!