Chronicles of a Peace Corps Pet

For those of you cat owners around the world, I'm sure we all know that in any country, in any home...if there is a cat, it is Queen. (or King?) The rules are no different in Azerbaijan. Many PC volunteers choose to adopt animals, and in many cases (such as mine was) the animal adopts you.

A chronicle of how I've become "one of those" PC volunteers.

Quinn
It was a warm April night when a mangy little kitten wandered into my kitchen. I didn't want a cat, since taking them home is a hugely expensive operation, and I get attached. So I let her sleep on my floor and gave her water and some bread and figured that was that....ha

She knew a sucker when she saw one, and Quinn quickly because my buddy.

The bread that she ate at first, soon became store bought hotdogs and she started to fill out...at least, her belly did. It soon became obvious, that my sweet little kitten was in fact a "bad girl". May 17th, 2012 Mikro and Juno were born.

In Azerbaijan people do not keep pets like cats in dogs. Some richer people in Baku, maybe, but in a village? So my neighbors all thought I was crazy enough having one cat, never mind three. Especially three girls. I vowed to find homes for the kittens once they were big enough.

Mikro

Named for her size, she is still as snuggly as ever.

The smaller of the two kittens came with me on a road trip, 2.5 hours South to Baku and about 9 hours West to Tovuz. She now resides in a village on the other side of the country with one of my best friends in PC, Annie. 

Last Day all together, before Mikro's road trip to Tovuz

***In response to this blog, Mikro's mama provided this updated photo

Mikro in February 2013

Then there were two...

Juno

Quinn started doing her own thing, as all teenagers do, and the animal person that I am could not part with the other kitten.  Quinn comes every morning and every evening for her hotdogs, and on cold or rainy nights she sleeps in the kitchen. Perhaps it was her teenage pregnancy that led her to her independence, but I still get to snuggle with Juno. (whether I like it or not)

While I watch movies...

While I eat my dinner...

Steals my food

While I chop wood for my house... (she watches from above)

Annnnd when I try and sleep...

Winter time sleep...She crawls right in my sleeping bag

Conclusion: Life as a Peace Corps pet has it's advantages. 

Reflections, Realizations & Risks

With every New Year, there is a time when the inevitable question of "What are your New Year Resolutions? is asked" This question is dreaded by all procrastinators world-wide, who will more than likely get a glazed look in their eye as they stammer to improvise well-intentioned, heart-felt-sounding general statements. One usually walks away from such conversations thinking about the year past, wrought with a feeling of guilt and dissatisfaction. New Year’s is a time of reflections on the past year and the years prior, which often make us feel unfulfilled and the other dreaded ‘R’…regretful.

But why? Why is it that when we get to this point in our year, do we forget all the amazing things we did? If Peace Corps has taught me anything, it is to value the small successes.

A few years ago, I was one of those people who always said, Oh I wish I had had more time to do things for me, or I wish I had traveled or adventured more, and other such excuses we make for ourselves.

Living life full of What Ifs is no way to live. Sure there are realities we need to face such as health, financial and proximity barriers, but why not start small? Try a new food. Read that book that's been sitting on your nightstand for a year. Get in a car, without a map and just go somewhere unknown for the day.

The end of 2011/2012 saw the biggest risk I have ever taken in my life. I did something I never dreamed I'd have the courage to do; I joined the Peace Corps. I accepted an assignment in a country I had barely heard of, learned an impossible language and assimilated into the culture.

I had contemplated the idea of doing the Peace Corps since I graduated UNH in 2007, but had for one reason or the other, talked myself into other options. To be honest, I'm glad I waited because it is easily the most humbling and self-realizing challenge I have ever taken on. I have learned so much about myself and about the type of person I want to be.

My New Years resolution this year is to never have to say “What If?.  It is to push myself out of my comfort zone and take risks  everyday.