so off I go

I am flying to Philly tomorrow. The nervousness has just kicked in and I wish I had been more prompt with shit so I could be in bed now. This is just a nice break from last min. packing. - love you all - keep in touch.

mere

To The Wire

So, there is almost exactly a month left. Ouch. It is getting hard to tell the nervousness from the excitement, well not quite but there is definitely a lot of both. I have resolved to get all formal work that I need done done THIS WEEK. Otherwise I will just be running around like a chicken with my head cut of till I leave. - Today I got my Durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney & and living will done. How exciting. Not really in case you did not catch the sarcasm. Reading all the stuff does not make me more nervous about the PC, paperwork is not going to make something more dangerous. But their is something about putting in writing how you want to be handles if you are a vegetable. I am not sure I like the finality of it. It make me a little nervous for my family to be so restrained in their decision making ability. I have decided to write my own sort of Medical power of attorney, as long as it is witnessed and notarized I don't see why it wont work. Lets cross our fingers. - enough glum - I just got back from a week at the beach. I had bunches of fun, but finally goodbyes are sad. of well so long to another town. Here is a pic of my and bub in Francis Marion - It is pretty flat so I would not call it hiking but the swamps are nice. - just hoping I don't end up with lime disease;)

Mixed Reviews

I joined this Azerbaijan Network on face book. I have met the nicest and most interesting people. Marines-people form Azerbaijan-people working with different companies-and those who just moved for other random reasons. They are almost all young, so I guess my demographics will be off and I am going to miss out on a lot of info, but it is still a world of help. Everyone seems to genuinely want to help, and a lot of them have made the same long term moves ( usually for some other reason) and want to share what they found out. So, everyone who has taken the time to write me, THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!

I have heard from two guys in the Peace Corps AZ4, they will be leaving about a month or two after we get there. I am getting sort of mixed review on how people like it. It is probably best if I just listen to the good stuff. I have no urge to show up pre-depressed. I think I will have enough of that in due time ;) After talking with one of the guys I am starting to change my ideas of what I am going to be doing. I was thinking out in bum fuck, with some cows and farmers. This other guy is in CED and is working in an American NGO. I am starting to think I might be working less directly with the farmers and and more with a bigger organization that they are all related to. I am not sure how I like that. -More remote, less Americanized or more Americanized but more convenience? I guess it depend on how much I want to suffer while I am there and how much I want to have to adjust. I don't really know why I am even thinking about it. It is not like I really have much say anyhow:)

Here is a list of things that I have gathered so so far, as the more pertinent
1. Taxi Drivers They are going to try, and I am quite sure succeed, at cheating me (at least until I can figure out what is going on)

2.English My host family is more than likely going to try and make me teach them and/or their children English - and when I refuse, even politely, they are going to talk trash:)

3.Summers are hot and humid as hell, as someone told me " In fact, it is not Saudi Arabia but sometimes it is unbearable because of the humidity" - Though I know even less about Saudi Arabia so that analysis was a little ever my head.

4.Boots/Warm Coat It is not that winters are that bad, but I will never find a either of these that will last more than a month- at least not on my future budget - almost nothing.

If there is anything else supper important it cant be that important b/c is all I can remember right now. Maybe my brain is just being overloaded.

Philadelphia, here I come

I finely heard where I will be leaving from. Good ol Philadelphia. I don't really know anything about it. I was sort of hoping west coast, but oh well. They sent a note that was stern. I think they just want to scare us into good behavior so we don't all show up and make a fool of ourselves and them first thing. They will give me a plane ticket, but I think I may try to drive, so if there is anyone I know along the way you should get in touch with me so I can stop by.

Power of Attorney?????

SO...... Power of Attorney....... Does anyone know anything about power of attorney/durable power of attorney or medical power of attorney? I am trying to take care of all that right now and am stumped. I am looking for forms online but have know idea which one I should use. I would love any help.
Mere

To Pack or Not To Pack

something another girl from our group sent us last night and think there are I know I really need to start getting some stuff together but I am having a hard time of it. I have a lot of stuff I just cant seem to keep it in one place. I am an incurable slob sometimes. And I just keep pulling things I have put inmy bag out and using them. I was readinga few things I am missing. I kept hearing about how dressy everyone is on the streets. Appearance is VERY!!! important. Another girl who is there now says she has seen men doing construction in suits, women walking down the road in dresses and heals with live chickens in their hands. So, to the thrifts store it is for me. Wish me luck!

Off We Go

Several months ago I got my Peace Corps invitation. I was hoping for Africa, afraid to get freezing eastern Europe and love what I ended up with. I am going to the Republic of Azerbaijan. To be honest I did not even know where it was when I first heard of it. Turns out is is a secular Muslim country located on the Caspian sea. (the lighttan/cream colored one) They are surrounded by Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran. The only place in the country that seems volatile is the
Armenia /Azerbaijan border. They have been fighting for some time over an alcove of land outside Azerbaijan. I will be leaving June 24th and will gone for the next 2 years and 3months. I am excited but nervous as hell.
Well I don't really have much to say, just thought I should start with something. So far I am still just going through the grind of trying to get there. Paper work and studying. I feel sadly like I am back in school. I will try to keep utd.
Mere