Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Either you run the day or the day runs you...

** Quote by Jim Rohn


Thank you to those of you who took the time to read the" Deep Experience is Never Peaceful" blog.

I realized after receiving some concerned emails, that the overall feeling of the blog may have been perceived as being a little down. I did not mean to alarm anyone. I simply wanted to give a real sense of the difficulties volunteers and specifically me, are facing in our service.

Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer is an incredible chance to help make the change we so often only speak about. There are really great moments, and then some not so great moments.

Overall though, I wanted everyone reading to stop and take a minute to think about the things we so often take for granted. These are the things I am missing the most.  Some of you may have also found it slightly ironic that I decided to re-post the Package Wish list right after this blog…purely accidental, of course ;)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

If you love me and you know it, Send a Package!!

*** Updated January 30, 2012***

Hey Guys!!! Soooo people have been asking the family for ideas for carepackages. I realize my previous post regarding the bathroom facilities was a little desperate sounding...but please don't waste your money sending toilet paper lol. I will survive. So if people want to be super generous and send me packages I would LOVE that. The post here is opened and inspected, so please don't send something valuable, or if it's something that might get taken, pack it in the middle with clothes or socks or tampons around it. Also, save space, take things out of packaging.

If you can't send a package, send a card!

Things I would Love!
Food & Drink
1. Flavoured Coffee Grounds (not whole beans)
       ***Starbucks especially appreciated! Caramel, French Vanilla and chocolaty flavors.
2. Coffee Mate (original and flavoured)
3. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (bite size)
4. Dry Soup Packets
5.. Measuring Cup
6. Cake/Brownie/Cookie Mix - the add water and egg kind (Especially Chocolate Chip Cookies and  
    Chocolate Brownies)
7. Instant Ranch and French Onion Dip packs
8. Twingings Peppermint Tea Bags
9. Hawain Punch packets
10. Lipton Iced Tea and Crystal Light packets
11. Butterfingers (bite size)
12. LUNA Bars (esp the Choc Peppermint, Blueberry and Lemon ones)

Exercise
1. Yoga DVD's or homemade CD with exercise videos on them

Entertainment
1. The Twilight 4 - Breaking New Dawn DVD (I don't care if it is a burned copy)
2. ITunes Gift Cards - Music and IBooks are a saviour here!

Health and Beauty
1. Dry Shampoo (Suave makes a decent spray one)
2. Clean and Clear morning burst face wash
3. Pretty Nailpolishes
4. Baby Wipes
5. Bottles of Hand Sanitizer!!!
6. Baby Powder
7. Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation (#200, Soft Beige)

Misc.
1. Incense Sticks
2. Stationary - paper and envelopes, not cards

Books: (Books are heavy I know)
1. Lonely Planet Eastern Europe Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Eastern-Europe-Country/dp/174179675X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328010066&sr=1-1)
2. Lonely Planet Turkey Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Turkey-James-Bainbridge/dp/1741797241/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328010424&sr=1-1)
3. CliffsTestPrep Foreign Service Officer Exam: Preparation for the Written Exam and the Oral Assessment
(http://www.amazon.com/CliffsTestPrep-Foreign-Service-Officer-Exam/dp/0764596462)

***There is a standard rate for packages. I think a big box is $60 and can be as heavy as you want it. There are also smaller boxes that range in prices!!! They are prices on size, not weight.
Mail to:
Email me at Corinalanglois@gmail.com for the address.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

"Deep experience is never peaceful". **

**Quote by Henry James

Coming into the Peace Corps experience, I knew my life would be altered dramatically. I knew that I would be giving up the luxuries of the 1st world and getting down to a simpler existence. In theory, I was prepared for it, but really how prepared can you every really be to immerse yourself 100% into a foreign world? This experience will be something that will change my life forever, and if I'm lucky will help change those around me for the better. I knew I would miss my family and my friends, and my favourite foods but what about the things I didn't expect? Here are a few of those things...

A woman's life can really be a succession of lives, each revolving around some emotionally compelling situation or challenge, and each marked by some intense experience".
Wallis Simpson

Tangible

Grocery Shopping – I miss the excitement of being able to plan what I’m going to eat, and identify all the ingredients. I miss the vagueness of my meat origin, as here the eyes, neck, or hooves are easily identified in your bowl.

Hot/Regular Showers – Being able to take a shower when you want, and not planning a week in advance. Also being able to linger under the hot water, after a particularly hard or cold day.

Going to the Movies, Restaurants, Shopping etc. – There is nowhere to go here, and even if there were, as a woman, it would not be allowed.
Physical Contact – This is something I never anticipated to miss, because it’s not something we think actively think about as a life aspect. Physical contact, be it friends, family, or a boyfriend’s is something that is significantly missing from my life at the moment. The human desire to be touched and held is powerful when it is absent.

Appreciating the Outdoors – Walking in Azerbaijan for the sake of walking, will get you some pretty strange looks. Furthermore, going for a run will have you branded as the Village Idiot pretty quickly. Come Spring, this is something I will do anyway, as I am in a region that boasts beautiful scenery and I will take full advantage of it. People are going to stare regardless; I guess I might as well give them a justifiable reason to stare.

Travel – While everyday here is a new adventure and new site to see, I miss the constant traveling that had become a part of my life over the past few years. I miss planning weekend trips to foreign countries, and having the freedom to book a weekend flight last minute, pack a bag and hop a bus to the airport. We are not allowed to leave the country for the 1st 7 months, so that we acclimate to our communities. This is an important part of our service, and one I don’t take lightly. After April we must have all travel approved (for safety reasons) but can then take some trips outside the country. I can’t wait! The anonymous feeling of being a backpacker is both liberating and exciting. Soon!

American/British Television – Basically anything in English would be appreciated right now. I miss watching romantic comedies with my girls, Jeopardy with my Dad, and Friends with my Mom. I miss skimming the channels and coming across a late-night marathon of Law and Order (SVU). I miss anything that isn’t Turkish cartoons. (see below for Silence)
"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions".
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.


Intangible

Silence – Living with an Azeri host family has some definite positive attributes, but silence is not one of them. The house is loud, at all times, at all hours. Between the television and the numerous people in my house, getting a moment of silence is not a luxury I am afforded. The television, thank you to my 11 year old host brother, is on a constant stream of ear-splitting, Turkish/Azerbaijani cartoons. Scooby-Doo! is not appealing at 7a.m.

Solitude – It is impossible to be alone here, and yet loneliness is something that is common. While I am able to shut my bedroom door, the close proximity to the living room does not allow for a true sense of solitude. I miss my flat in London!

Control & Freedom – Not being able to control just about every aspect of your life is super frustrating, especially if you’re slightly OCD like me. Family in Azerbaijan is one of the most important aspects of their lives, along with hospitality. This means that they open their doors to you and welcome you as a member of the family. This is wonderful, however, as a pseudo-daughter I fall victim to the same constraints that their daughters do, severely limiting my lifestyle.

Feeling like a Woman – The ability to express yourself through clothes and makeup may sound vain, but it is powerful. I miss having somewhere to get dressed up for, and having someone to get dressed up for. It is a heady feeling when you walk down the road, dressed for an event or party, knowing you feel pretty.

Being Busy & Work with a Purpose – This is something that plagues most new Peace Corps volunteers. We go from the stresses of our normal lives, into the jam-packed schedule of Pre-Service Training (PST). We spend 3 crazy months being shuffled from language class, to culture lesson, to activities and then arrive on site full of ideas and energy. Then we sit. And we wait. And we drink untold amounts of tea. It is all part of the process, but the adjustment period, no matter how typical, is discerning. There is no structure to life anymore, the only thing I can really do is try and embrace it. It doesn’t help that winter here is a time that slows down country-wide.

Communication – This is an area that has struggles all the way around. For starters, the language is a beautiful, but difficult one. Trying to communicate with work colleagues, host families, and even people at the market is a constant struggle. It is one that on some days can be really rewarding, when you are able to complete a task or conversation in Azeri that you know a month, or a week ago would have been impossible. Another aspect of this is my computer being broken. For those of you who don’t know, my first day in country, after my luggage was lost in Turkey, a baggage handler at the hotel dropped and smashed my brand-new MacBook Pro. I think I surprised everyone at that point by not insisting on getting back on the plane, and returning home. I am extremely fortunate to have decent internet access at my Organization, but the simple pleasure that go with your own computer are lost to me know. I miss watching movies in bed the most.
A man in an underdeveloped country falls into a well. He yells and yells, hoping someone will save him. A missionary hears him, looks down, and then drops him a bible. An Aid worker hears him, looks down, then drops him down some money. The Peace Corps Volunteer hears him, looks down, then with great vigor and enthusiasm jumps down into the well with him. The astonished man asks the volunteer what he’s doing, which he responds… “I’ve come here to live with you..” Peace Corps Quote



Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Bayramɪnɪz Mübarək və Yeni Iliniz Mübarək!

Happy Holiday and Happy New Years!

So the holiday season has come and gone in Azerbaijan. As many of you already know, Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, so they do not celebrate Christmas. This is of course true in theory, however, their Yeni Yil (New Year) celebration which takes place on December 31st, resembles our own Christmas tradition in many ways. Their version of Santa Clause, Șokta Baba, could be his twin brother. Șokta Baba (Grandfather Frost) and his weirdly young, maybe granddaughter, maybe hot new girlfriend Qar Qiz (Snow Girl) can be found all over Azerbaijan. Many homes and all public areas also have a “New Years” tree which looks exactly like a Christmas tree, complete with garland and ornaments. It’s not exactly Christmas, but if you ignore the details, you can pretend it is. When so many of us are so far from home, it’s a  serendipitous occasion.

I went to Xaҁmaz, a neighboring city about an hour away, on December 15th for a Community American/Azerbaijani Christmas/Chanukah celebration at a fellow Volunteer’s home. There were probably close to 60 people there and we enjoyed local food as well as American dishes. Several of the volunteers then put on a play and a description (through a translator) of Chanukah traditions for the Azerbaijani attendees. This was followed by Christmas carols and Jewish songs and dance. Overall a great time!


1st Finger Christmas!

So while Azerbaijan looks like a bird in flight, it also resembles a left hand. Because of this unique shape, we often refer to our living coordinates as if they were anatomical parts of a hand, “the Palm”, the 1st and 2nd fingers…you get it. Well I live in the (best) 1st Finger!

On December 23rd I then went to back to Xaҁmaz to spend the night at my friend Kelsey’s home with her family, and then on the 24th we both went to a fellow volunteer’s home for our 1st Finger Peace Corps Christmas. All the volunteers from the 1st finger, as well as a few from neighboring regions wishing to join, came together to celebrate together.

We had a delicious meal which consisted of Roasted Rosemary Chicken with roasted vegetables, a raw beet salad, and a spicy pumpkin macaroni and cheese. This was followed up with a buttery Apple pie and a Pumpkin pie. Everything we cook in country is of course made from scratch, so these ingredients were as fresh as they could possibly be, making them absolutely delicious.

All 14 of us had a giant sleepover and in the morning, over eggs and real (French-pressed) coffee, we exchanged our Secret Santa gifts and skyped our families’ at home. Our Secret Santa gifts had to be something we were either given or brought from home, but they could not be purchased. I received an awesome Bacon Flavoured Lip Balm and matching Dental Floss, as well as a very creative and highly researched, hand-drawn poster of Rhode Island. This was complete with accented words, food references and my state colours, and will be taking its place on my wall. (Great Job Joey!) Christmas was probably the best it could have been being away from friends and family back in the U.S.
New Years

Photo Taken from Google
For New Years, many of the volunteers made the trek into Baku for some much needed fun and relaxation. The first night 8 of us stayed in a Hostel in Iҁeri Șəhər (Old City) and had a great time catching up and laughing and eating good food. The 2nd night, more volunteers arrived in the city, making our room count up to 13. It was the more the merrier for sure! It was such a nice break to get together with all my friends from all over the country (most of us seeing each other for the 1st time since going to site). In country we are each other’s support system. It’s such a unique experience, that no one would understand exactly what we are going through, except us.

Baku was absolutely beautiful, everything lit up for the holiday and firework and fountain displays across the city. I will say that the young boys and their extremely loud firecrackers may have taken a few years off my life, but it was all in good fun.

As many of my friends are TEFLs (Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) and they had the week after New Years off from school, so….five of my friends from regions all over the country (Nefchala, Cellilabad, Yevlax, and Tovuz) came back to Quba with me to extend our vacation.  I showed them My Carpet Factory, which helped remind me of what a cool place I work in, as I saw it again for the 1st time through their eyes. We were able to go to Qusar one of the days, a village in the mountains which is home to the Lezgi minority populations. We went to visit an AZ6 volunteer who has been there for 3 years and is now leaving. We had dinner with his Lezgi family and walked around the ski resort-like town. My friends stayed with me for 3 days, experiencing Quba’s 1st main snow fall of the year (well since I’ve lived here anyway) making the whole city peaceful and white, almost magical. I swear the whole “city” of Quba hides when it snows, so you feel like the city is yours when you walk around. Everyone had a great time walking around my Sleepy City and watching movies and cooking good food at my site mates’ home. (Chicken Curry and Pasta with Garlic Cheese Bread!) I was sad to see them go, but we will plan visits as soon as we are able to. Sometimes our visits to each other are what save our sanity and our service. It’s hard to sometimes justify being out of your site for something like visiting friends, but it honestly is just as important to maintain a balance in your life and to see different parts of the country. It also makes you appreciate what you have.


Being away for a few days was really the break I think we all needed. It also gave me a fresh perspective when I returned to site of the goals I wanted to accomplish in the New Year. Service is hard, especially in the winter. The weather is cold, the modern amenities such as heat and running water become strained, and the fresh fruits and vegetable we are lucky enough to have the rest of the year become unavailable or very expensive. Cabbage is the main staple of the diet here in the winter months, which I like but ask me again in 3 months and my tune may be very different! I am extremely lucky to live in such a beautiful place and be surrounded by people I care about. It does not mean that my service is without its difficulties, but it does give me a sliver of hope to cling to when certain days seem like they will never end.

Futball

So on a side note, Kelsey and I were invited to play Azerbaijani Futball (soccer for those Americans reading this) in Xaҁmaz. Girls and Women in Azerbaijan do not do this, so it was a big step to be asked to play, and even bigger to be invited back. (All those years in the pewees paid off) So we were split on separate teams, and played 6 on 6 for 2 hours straight, no breaks and no subs. It was honestly awesome, although every muscle in my body has been screaming at me for days.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Washing by Hand

In QUBA
January 6, 2012 **Update
So once again I tackled the arduous task of hand-washing my clothes in the Eastern European winter... this time however, the only audience I had in my backyard were our family's chickens. I am making strides towards becoming a true Azerbaijani housewife, and my Host Mother leaned out the window of our kitchen and laughed at me the entire time. I have to say though, she seemed awfully proud when I stuck with it, refusing help, and finished. She also told me that my Mother in America would see these pictures and say "ohh my good girl"...hear that Mom :)


My Laundry Entourage

Making My Host Mother Proud

Our Backyard





















In CEYRANBATON
December 5, 2011
So never again will I take for granted the convenience of a washing machine, and dare I say it....a dryer. I miss them. On my day off from classes today, I decided to tackle the growing pile of laundry that has been accumulating in one of my suitcases (which I use as a hamper).

Like a real Azerbaijani woman I pulled out the buckets and filled them with hot water and detergent and went to work. From all the muddy roads, the bottom of my pants were a nightmare and the water had to be changed frequently. It took a really long time, but eventually I did it.

Ha and then stepped out on the porch, and rung out all the excess water ( it is December mind you....BRrrrrrrr) and proceeded to hang all the clothes on the clothesline over the garden. Of course this became the spectacle of the young man who works at the Market across the street. As his friends joined him, they cheered as my underwear went up....mature, I know. I will wait until my host mother gets home from the city and then enjoy watching her give them a piece of her mind, as she is sure to do. Haha never an uninteresting day.