Monday, February 27, 2012

Article Response

As the Rhode Islander's know, I recently worked with The Providence Journal to publish an article regarding my service. For those of you not in RI, I have listed the article below for you to read. Thanks for everyone's support!

Providence Journal - February 19, 2012 Sunday

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Help me Bring Softball to Quba!!!


Hillary Clinton visits the PCV Softball League
So Many have people asked what they can do to help along my service. I am co-captaining one of the new Azerbaijan Softball teams in Quba!!! I am really excited to participate in the youth community in such a positive way.

However, if we do not raise enough money, our team may be cut due to lack of funding. The funding is for transport to the games, uniforms, and equipement. This is an awesome way to contribute to my service. Please do what you can, even if it's $1 or $5, everything helps!!!!

The following is all the information regarding the league. Thanks in Advance!!!!



This league is not possible without the generosity of individuals/organizations like you/yours. We are currently seeking financial contribution for our 2012 season. Thus far, the local communities have contributed $7,321.05 (43%) to the league’s total operational funds. With plans to expand the league to fifteen teams and add more tournaments to the schedule, we need your help now more than ever. Your generous, tax-deductable donation will help cover transportation costs, allowing teams to travel to tournaments and ensuring that we are able to continue this valuable youth project.




If you are reading this blog, you already know that I am currently a United States Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) serving in the Republic of Azerbaijan, a small Eastern European/Central Asian country on the Caspian Sea. In 2006, a few baseball-loving PCVs decided to start a youth softball league. After soliciting donors in America for equipment and travel funds, they gathered the very enthusiastic youth of their communities and Azerbaijani softball was born! That first year fielded four teams. Since then, the league has tripled in size, with twelve teams having competed in tournaments this past season (2011).


The Azerbaijan Interregional Softball League (AISL) has been one of Peace Corps Azerbaijan’s largest projects, with more than 200 youth participants from all over the country. It is a project that has allowed the Azeri youth to compete in a friendly environment, exhibit community pride, and travel their country. In addition to teaching the rules and skills of the game, the main goals of the league are to promote healthy lifestyles, teamwork, sportsmanship, self-discipline, respect, and gender equality. Seeing my community’s youth develop and implement such important life skills has been truly inspiring.
Donating is very simple and can be done online by visiting our PCPP (Peace Corps Partnership Program) grant at: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=314-091  . Our goal is to raise $9,616 by May, the start of our 2012 season.

Remember, especially before the new year starts, any donations you make are 100% tax-deductible.


By supporting our National Pastime, you can help support the youth of Azerbaijan. Please join us today so that we can play ball tomorrow! Any Amount will help!


Warmest Regards,

Corina Langlois
United States Peace Corps Volunteer, Azerbaijan



Hillary Clinton visits the PCV Softball League


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Xoşbəxt Sevgililer Günü Arzulayıram

Happy Valentine's Day! 

The day dreaded by all single people around the world, and Azerbaijan is no different.

I had an interesting chat with my host sister about our dislike for this holiday, at which point our (younger & engaged) host sister chimed in that she liked it. Both our answers, rolled eyes and a firm... əlbəttə (of course). 

My site mates and I have plans to watch a movie, cook dinner, and finish off with brownies and maybe a libation or 2 ;)...

It's great that some traditions do not change, despite location. Good friends, good food, and some laughs.

Happy Valentine's Day from Azerbaijan. 

Peace Corps (& other relevant) News

Please note, that I have added a new column to the bottom, right side of the blog.

It is headlines that I find are in direct relations to my current life. Some are Peace Corps related, some are  in relations to my current neighbors (Russia, Iran, Georgia, etc).

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Periodically, take a look!                                                         

Xx Corina

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Yaz Haradasan? (Spring, where are You?)


Winter is nature's way of saying, "Up yours." ~Robert Byrne


Winter is that time that exist between Christmas and Spring. It is cold. It is wet. It is long and in short, it sucks.



















Honestly, I thought I had dealt with some pretty cold winters having been from the Northeast.  Silly, silly girl… I clearly didn’t have a clue. Winter in a mountainous reason of Eastern Europe is a whole new ballgame.
Harsh Winter Kills Scores in Eastern Europe - Aljazeera
Eastern Europe Scrambles to deal with Brutal Winter - CNN

In my final placement interview during training, one thing I really wanted was to be somewhere with mountains. My program manager willingly obliged and off I went to Quba, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains practically in my backyard. I have had a chance to live in a region with such stunning backdrops to daily life.
 
My Street!
 This is grand and all, but then the snow set in. The first few days of excitement and snowball fights are now a distant memory.

The primary source of heating in most Azerbaijani homes is called a peҁ. It is a gas-based, sometimes wood burning metal contraption.
Peҁ in my Office


We have been without water (with the exception of last Thursday) for almost 2 weeks. Picture a peҁ with buckets of snow next to it, in an effort to melt it so that we can “shower” and wash the dishes and clothes… yes really. See below.
Washing my socks in melted snow water. My host mom (left)




Last Thursday I got to shower for the 1st time in 9 days! Haha I honestly am weirdly getting used to it, which does not bode well for my single-status. I sleep at night with Extreme Expedition Long Underwear underneath heavy pair sweatpants and sweatshirt with 2 pairs of wool socks, a hat, and gloves…In short I look like a homeless person.

It is here that I would like to make a dedication to my two most valuable possessions (see picture to the right).
1. My Peace Corps Issued Brown Monster (it’s not what you think) Sleeping Bag and...
2. My Grelka (Russian) Hot Water Bottle Heater (English)

Without these two things, I could not survive the winter here.




So that is my vent about winter in Azerbaijan. I am ready for it finish, but in the mean time I'm making the best of things.

** Update 9 February 2012** With the exception of 3 rare days, not together, we have now been without water for over 3 weeks. Since 16th January. Also the temperature in Quba yesterDAY was -14C (about 6F).