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
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