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