Ted asked me to blog about staging. And there was there is a free computer in the lobby, so why not fill some requests. Staging has been great so far. The day began for me early, as my flight out was at 7:00. I arrived here and noticed another volunteer at the airport, as he was carrying a large backpack and a winter coat (in August). We rode to the hotel together and then met some more volunteers. After lunch, we had registration which was just filling out a bunch of paperwork. Then the sessions began. Pretty basic stuff: Peace Corps mission, backgrounds, introductions of everyone, safety concerns (which they stress a lot, which is of course, good), expression of general anxieties and aspirations. Then we were let out on the city for dinner and hanging out.
Everyone here seems awesome. There are sixty-three of us, and Peace Corps does do a really good job of creating diversity among the group. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone more and getting to know them. It's finally awesome to talk to people who have been going through the same things (explaining where Kazakhstan is, that we have no idea where we are going, or what we will be doing there, etc.) I mean, I feel that since I know so many other MI students, I have this support more than some other volunteers, but it's nice to meet people who have been going through many of the same things.
Philadelphia is also awesome. I got to see my good friend Lauren for the first time in fourteen months, so thanks PC for staging us here. Tomorrow we have more sessions, and then Tuesday we ship out to Kazakhstan. It still hasn't sunk in completely. It has, but it hasn't. I can't really describe what I"m feeling right now. Excitement, numbness, anxiety, anticipation.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Address and Thoughts
Staging is tomorrow. I have a lot of things going on in my head. And feelings too. Nerves are kicking in, but I'm pretty calm. I've done the final things (pack, get Power of Attorney signed (which I picked up from Office Depot, if anyone ever wondered where to get one), printed out requirements for my internship assignments, got photos developed, went to the beach, etc.) and now I'm just waiting and hoping that I didn't forget anything too important and my baggage fits the crazy airline requirements.
Also, my address for training is:
Peace Corps Kazakhstan
P.O. Box 257
Almaty 050022
Kazakhstan
ATTN:
Корпус Мира Казахстан
а/я 257
050022 Алматы
Казахстан
Feel free to copy and paste that into word, put my name on it, size it appropriately, and then send me lots of fun stuff. Be sure to put my name on it. This will be good until about November. It takes about two to three weeks to get mail so, until about November 1 or so. I'll send out my new address for my site when I get it.
Also, my address for training is:
Peace Corps Kazakhstan
P.O. Box 257
Almaty 050022
Kazakhstan
ATTN:
Корпус Мира Казахстан
а/я 257
050022 Алматы
Казахстан
Feel free to copy and paste that into word, put my name on it, size it appropriately, and then send me lots of fun stuff. Be sure to put my name on it. This will be good until about November. It takes about two to three weeks to get mail so, until about November 1 or so. I'll send out my new address for my site when I get it.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Trouble in the Region
When I first found out I was going to Central Asia for NGO development work, I thought I might end up in Georgia. Obviously, it is lucky that I received the assignment to Kazakhstan instead. I've had some concerns over whether what is going on in Georgia right now would affect the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. From the books and articles I have read, Russia and Kazakhstan have a pretty good relationship right now. There are no disputed territories like South Ossetia. There may be some tension between ethnic Kazakhs and Russians in Kazakhstan, but the government and the society seem to be negotiating this well. Also, Peace Corps is very concerned about the safety of its volunteers and takes every situation seriously. If there ever were to be any sort of problem in Kazakhstan while I was there for any reason, PC would get us out of there. It happened to my friend who was serving in East Timor, and it may happen to a fellow ISU ACEDer currently in Georgia. I am confident of my safety during my two years in Kazakhstan. I hope that the conflict in the region ends soon. My thoughts and prayers are with all the people that this conflict is affecting.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Upcoming Challenges
All over the world, Peace Corps volunteers face different challenges based on their country's environment. I have friends that are going to Africa that probably will not have running water or electricity. Whereas, I'm going to Kazakhstan. Even within Kazakhstan, there are volunteers that have very few amenities in the remote villages they are placed in. However, as an NGO volunteer, the likelihood of such a placement is low.
However, one unsuspected challenge that I am preparing myself to face is the intense emphasis on personal appearance. Based on the reading packets and the listserv communication with current volunteers, it seems that Kazakhs care a lot about how they look. They put a lot of effort into always looking their best and take a lot of pride in their appearance. Examples of this include one of the Peace Corps staff saying that volunteers' bosses often talk about appearance before performance, a volunteer saying that her colleagues always talk about the previous volunteers' poor appearance, and many more volunteers chiming in about fashion and appearance. If this wasn't enough, the PC language program actually instructs us on how to ask Do you have...a washing machine, detergent, iron, lint brush, hot water (in that order!). I took Spanish for two years, traveled to South America twice, and never ever learned the word for lint brush.
Now, I don't want to make it sound like I'm a bum or a slob, but as most people know, personal appearance is not something I usually put a lot of effort into. I have won the superlative for least likely to own an iron. At my grandfather's birthday, we have video footage of my niece calling me a caveman (at least three times) due to my beard. And this past year, I did grow a mullet, color it red, and then cut it into a mohawk (mul-hawk) for a number of weeks. Of course, all of this was when I was working as a graduate assistant for the economics department at school, and people expect grad students to be a little off don't they? Based on my own personal style, a number of friends have said that I look homeless or compared me to a hobo(tard).
And its not even that I'm just lazy about it (although that is a part of it). I really believe that appearance is just this artificial facade. If we get past it and really see a person, then we are much better off. I value a person and their actions much more than their appearance. Although, I am not blind to the fact that appearance makes a huge difference, especially with first impressions. But I try to push beyond these normative social values whenever I can. End short rant.
But I can be professional. I can look nice. I can keep my clothes clean and iron them all the time. But I don't imagine it will be easy. People face all sorts of challenges in the Peace Corps. And as stupid as it sounds, this will probably be one of mine.
PS. In a previous entry, I was excited that I could keep my beard if I kept it trimmed and professional. After further honest self-evaluation, I realized that my scraggly facial hair never quite makes it to the level of looking professional, and I plan on shaving it.
However, one unsuspected challenge that I am preparing myself to face is the intense emphasis on personal appearance. Based on the reading packets and the listserv communication with current volunteers, it seems that Kazakhs care a lot about how they look. They put a lot of effort into always looking their best and take a lot of pride in their appearance. Examples of this include one of the Peace Corps staff saying that volunteers' bosses often talk about appearance before performance, a volunteer saying that her colleagues always talk about the previous volunteers' poor appearance, and many more volunteers chiming in about fashion and appearance. If this wasn't enough, the PC language program actually instructs us on how to ask Do you have...a washing machine, detergent, iron, lint brush, hot water (in that order!). I took Spanish for two years, traveled to South America twice, and never ever learned the word for lint brush.
Now, I don't want to make it sound like I'm a bum or a slob, but as most people know, personal appearance is not something I usually put a lot of effort into. I have won the superlative for least likely to own an iron. At my grandfather's birthday, we have video footage of my niece calling me a caveman (at least three times) due to my beard. And this past year, I did grow a mullet, color it red, and then cut it into a mohawk (mul-hawk) for a number of weeks. Of course, all of this was when I was working as a graduate assistant for the economics department at school, and people expect grad students to be a little off don't they? Based on my own personal style, a number of friends have said that I look homeless or compared me to a hobo(tard).
And its not even that I'm just lazy about it (although that is a part of it). I really believe that appearance is just this artificial facade. If we get past it and really see a person, then we are much better off. I value a person and their actions much more than their appearance. Although, I am not blind to the fact that appearance makes a huge difference, especially with first impressions. But I try to push beyond these normative social values whenever I can. End short rant.
But I can be professional. I can look nice. I can keep my clothes clean and iron them all the time. But I don't imagine it will be easy. People face all sorts of challenges in the Peace Corps. And as stupid as it sounds, this will probably be one of mine.
PS. In a previous entry, I was excited that I could keep my beard if I kept it trimmed and professional. After further honest self-evaluation, I realized that my scraggly facial hair never quite makes it to the level of looking professional, and I plan on shaving it.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Staging
Because of my PCMI program, I have a quite a few friends who are entering into the Peace Corps. And I think none of us understand what this enigma known as "staging" is actually about. For those that aren't in with the PC lingo, staging is a two day event that takes place in the United States immediately before departing for the country of service. PC flies all the volunteers in your training group to one city for a two day orientation of sorts. And then you all leave for your service together.
For one thing, staging also creates an awkward answer as to when do I leave for Kazakhstan. Well, officially it is August 19 at 9:35 PM from NYC's JFK airport (and after a bus ride from Philly too; the Peace Corps is already prepping us for international travel!). But August 17 is the day my Peace Corps really starts. That's when I leave Savannah (at 7:05 in the morning; no late night on Saturday....right....) and embark on my journey. And then I get to spend the next two days in "staging."
When you ask most volunteers about staging, they don't seem to have too much to say. I think that means it goes by quickly and then you bombarded with the shock of actually landing in your country of service and beginning your PST (pre-service training). Whatever happens for those two days probably seemed pretty minuscule. Well for all future volunteers who may be wondering what staging is, I will write about it before actually going. Thus, I will not forget to write about it after going.
The full itinerary is as follows:
Sunday, August 17, 2009
1:00-3:00 PM
Open Registration
3:00-7:00 PM
Welcome and Introductions
Peace Corps Approach to Development
Personal Definition of Success
Safety and Support
Anxieties and Aspirations
Nuts and Bolts
Monday August 18, 2008
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
A Slice of Life: Coping with Unwanted Attention
Managing Risk
Policies in Practice
LUNCH
1:30 - 6:00 PM
Change 5 Things
Crossing Cultures
Staging Capstone
Bridge to Pre-Service Training
Logistics of Departure
Evaluation and Closing
Tuesday August 19, 2008
11:00 AM
Check out
12:00 PM
Bus arrives for loading and departure
9:35 PM
Depart for Kazakhstan!
There ya go. That's staging described by someone who has never been to it.
And on a related note, I don't know about all the other volunteers, but honestly the first time I got nervous was when I saw that last line. "Depart for Kazakhstan!" That's the real thing. And it's going to happen on August 19. At 9:35 PM. That is the last time I plan on being in the United States until November 2010. Kazakhstan for 27 months begins right then.
For one thing, staging also creates an awkward answer as to when do I leave for Kazakhstan. Well, officially it is August 19 at 9:35 PM from NYC's JFK airport (and after a bus ride from Philly too; the Peace Corps is already prepping us for international travel!). But August 17 is the day my Peace Corps really starts. That's when I leave Savannah (at 7:05 in the morning; no late night on Saturday....right....) and embark on my journey. And then I get to spend the next two days in "staging."
When you ask most volunteers about staging, they don't seem to have too much to say. I think that means it goes by quickly and then you bombarded with the shock of actually landing in your country of service and beginning your PST (pre-service training). Whatever happens for those two days probably seemed pretty minuscule. Well for all future volunteers who may be wondering what staging is, I will write about it before actually going. Thus, I will not forget to write about it after going.
The full itinerary is as follows:
Sunday, August 17, 2009
1:00-3:00 PM
Open Registration
3:00-7:00 PM
Welcome and Introductions
Peace Corps Approach to Development
Personal Definition of Success
Safety and Support
Anxieties and Aspirations
Nuts and Bolts
Monday August 18, 2008
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
A Slice of Life: Coping with Unwanted Attention
Managing Risk
Policies in Practice
LUNCH
1:30 - 6:00 PM
Change 5 Things
Crossing Cultures
Staging Capstone
Bridge to Pre-Service Training
Logistics of Departure
Evaluation and Closing
Tuesday August 19, 2008
11:00 AM
Check out
12:00 PM
Bus arrives for loading and departure
9:35 PM
Depart for Kazakhstan!
There ya go. That's staging described by someone who has never been to it.
And on a related note, I don't know about all the other volunteers, but honestly the first time I got nervous was when I saw that last line. "Depart for Kazakhstan!" That's the real thing. And it's going to happen on August 19. At 9:35 PM. That is the last time I plan on being in the United States until November 2010. Kazakhstan for 27 months begins right then.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A Year in Illinois
I split time between writing in this blog and writing in my own private journal. My journal is for me to record my thoughts, figure things out, and document my life. While this is obviously a public forum that I want people to read. I use this to tell stories I think might be entertaining and update people on my Peace Corps process. Its especially intended to help future applicants learn about the process and keep my family and friends informed of what I'm up to.
As I look back on Illinois, I find the desire to write about my experience in my journal and on this blog. There's still a lot of reflecting and sorting and figuring out to do that will hopefully occur soon in my journal. But I want to be able to tell my friends in the Midwest what my year with them meant to me. How it changed me. And how much I enjoyed it.
Even when I was leaving to go to Illinois, I was not sure if the decision was the right one. I had not wanted to continue school originally, and I really wanted to go straight into the Peace Corps. But over time, that position had weakened and I finally decided to do PCMI instead. What's a year? Even if Illinois was awful, I'd be home in less than 12 months. I'd never been away from the South for a long period of time and although Bloomington-Normal didn't sound like the most exciting place in the world, it sounded like something different. And if anyone knows me at all, they know how much I enjoy savoring new experiences.
So my parents and I loaded up two cars full of stuff and drove up to Normal, IL. I remember that first night there. We got off the interstate and asked the gas station where Main Street was (we were on it, but it wasn't labeled that.) And the first night there we helped some guy (who may have been our neighbor) get his car from Bloomington. That was the start to what would amount to a crazy year.
The first few months were settling in and trying to find my place in Normal. My roommates were friendly, and Steve (who had lived in the house before) made sure I felt included in the scene of the city. I focused on my classes and trying to make friends. I also started attended the awesome Newman Center on campus. I quickly found myself at home among my classmates, random social work friends, and the ISU frisbee team. This trio of groups of friends remained for the rest of the year. I do wish I had tried harder to befriend the international students in my classes though, as I'm sure they have awesome stories and interesting lives.
Classes went well for me. I had a strong background in economics and research methods as an undergrad at UGA. I also have been good at math all my life (so not necessary, but type in my name and math into google and see for yourself). So I never did find my econ classes
very difficult. And my non-econ classes were mainly reading intensive. I definitely had to study and do all the work. I don't want to make it sound like a cakewalk, but at the same time I didn't feel it was that much of a shift from what I had experienced before. Oddly enough, I found myself actually ahead much of the time, which was strange to such a seasoned procrastinator. (Although this changed second semester.) Second semester my classes were about the same. Somewhat interesting, not all that difficult. I even managed to squeeze in an extra class with Dr. Ram (Economic Development) so I had a total of five classes. It was lots of work, but manageable. Overall, I felt that I learned a fair amount. I definitely became better with econometrics and I can now read many economics papers if I put my mind to it. There are still many techniques or math (mainly when they start using Linear Algebra (I still wish I'd taken that class as an undergrad)) I don't understand, but I get the overall gist. I understand broad areas within community development, but I wish I had more practical experience in implementing them.
And in addition to knowledge, Illinois blessed me with winter. I'm a Southern boy. And although I don't have rebel flags, own guns, or even have an accent (thanks for everyone I ever met in Illinois for pointing that out to me), I do take pride in some things. Coke, Waffle House, grits, SEC football, and our climate. I'm about to leave for a country that borders Siberia. Had I gone from Georgia weather to Kazakh weather, I'd probably be nervous. But I've done a year in the Midwest, so I have at least some understanding of what winter actually means now.
I can't really complain about the winter though. I enjoyed it for the most part. Before leaving, that's really all I heard about. Winter this and winter that. Just wait for the snow. Over and over again. Being that I am a very stubborn person, I said, Winter, bring it on. I still walked to school every day. I walked to church on Sunday. I even biked on icy roads until I fell down three times and realized that there was still hard pavement underneath it. I quickly found out the secret of layering and had no real problems. I do remember the day I walked to my 8:00 am computer lab assignment and felt that it had been pretty cold. I was thinking it had been like 11 degrees or so. Nope, it had been like 5 degrees with a -13 wind chill or so. That day was cold. But I had also not had my good gloves or balaclava on. (Now maybe this is not comparable to the -40 temps of Kazakhstan and this false sense of conquering a winter is actually worse than fearing it, but that is yet to be seen). Overall though, winter came and seemed to last forever. There was a lot of snow, which I enjoyed 80% of the time. And then it was over, and I enjoyed seeing spring more than ever before in my life.
Even before I left for Illinois, I viewed my year there in a strange way. It would be one year. One and done. In and out quickly. Then off to the Peace Corps. I even declared it my bonus year. I didn't have to worry about it because whatever happened would happen, and then I would be gone. Although I wasn't sure if this labeling would discount or highlight my year in the Midwest. I felt like I had to do everything I could while I was there because that was it, but I also felt like it didn't really matter in the end because I would leave it so soon. There was also a freedom associated with this outlook. Most social fears could be eliminated by reminding myself that that was the bonus year, the year between college and PC that a lot of people spent finishing their studies, and I should just do it because I could.
But a funny thing happens when you get to make friends. You realize that there is no bonus year. Unless you count every moment as your bonus moment. The view that the time spent anywhere won't matter is bogus. But the idea of living for all its worth remains valid. In other words, I was only in Illinois for a year (or 11 months actually). But I created friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. I've had some of my friends there tell me that knowing me has made them a better person. And feeling that I can inspire people is awesome. But they should know in return that they've made me a better person.
I know people change all the time. As a former sociology student, I believe that societal setting has a huge impact on how a person acts, thinks, feels, is. And it's interesting to me how malleable people can be. Even being home now, I feel like a completely different person than when I was in Illinois. But part of that previous me lingers. And that part of me was formed primarily through my interactions with others. I am who I am today because of all the people in my life. And that most definitely includes the friends I made in Bloomington-Normal, IL.
So to everyone I met while in Illinois, thank you for the awesome year. I know I won't be back for at least 27 months, but I will try to make it back some time after that. The memories and times we shared have affected my life greatly. I'm glad I did it. And I'm glad you were all a part of it.
As I look back on Illinois, I find the desire to write about my experience in my journal and on this blog. There's still a lot of reflecting and sorting and figuring out to do that will hopefully occur soon in my journal. But I want to be able to tell my friends in the Midwest what my year with them meant to me. How it changed me. And how much I enjoyed it.
Even when I was leaving to go to Illinois, I was not sure if the decision was the right one. I had not wanted to continue school originally, and I really wanted to go straight into the Peace Corps. But over time, that position had weakened and I finally decided to do PCMI instead. What's a year? Even if Illinois was awful, I'd be home in less than 12 months. I'd never been away from the South for a long period of time and although Bloomington-Normal didn't sound like the most exciting place in the world, it sounded like something different. And if anyone knows me at all, they know how much I enjoy savoring new experiences.
So my parents and I loaded up two cars full of stuff and drove up to Normal, IL. I remember that first night there. We got off the interstate and asked the gas station where Main Street was (we were on it, but it wasn't labeled that.) And the first night there we helped some guy (who may have been our neighbor) get his car from Bloomington. That was the start to what would amount to a crazy year.
The first few months were settling in and trying to find my place in Normal. My roommates were friendly, and Steve (who had lived in the house before) made sure I felt included in the scene of the city. I focused on my classes and trying to make friends. I also started attended the awesome Newman Center on campus. I quickly found myself at home among my classmates, random social work friends, and the ISU frisbee team. This trio of groups of friends remained for the rest of the year. I do wish I had tried harder to befriend the international students in my classes though, as I'm sure they have awesome stories and interesting lives.
Classes went well for me. I had a strong background in economics and research methods as an undergrad at UGA. I also have been good at math all my life (so not necessary, but type in my name and math into google and see for yourself). So I never did find my econ classes
very difficult. And my non-econ classes were mainly reading intensive. I definitely had to study and do all the work. I don't want to make it sound like a cakewalk, but at the same time I didn't feel it was that much of a shift from what I had experienced before. Oddly enough, I found myself actually ahead much of the time, which was strange to such a seasoned procrastinator. (Although this changed second semester.) Second semester my classes were about the same. Somewhat interesting, not all that difficult. I even managed to squeeze in an extra class with Dr. Ram (Economic Development) so I had a total of five classes. It was lots of work, but manageable. Overall, I felt that I learned a fair amount. I definitely became better with econometrics and I can now read many economics papers if I put my mind to it. There are still many techniques or math (mainly when they start using Linear Algebra (I still wish I'd taken that class as an undergrad)) I don't understand, but I get the overall gist. I understand broad areas within community development, but I wish I had more practical experience in implementing them.
And in addition to knowledge, Illinois blessed me with winter. I'm a Southern boy. And although I don't have rebel flags, own guns, or even have an accent (thanks for everyone I ever met in Illinois for pointing that out to me), I do take pride in some things. Coke, Waffle House, grits, SEC football, and our climate. I'm about to leave for a country that borders Siberia. Had I gone from Georgia weather to Kazakh weather, I'd probably be nervous. But I've done a year in the Midwest, so I have at least some understanding of what winter actually means now.
I can't really complain about the winter though. I enjoyed it for the most part. Before leaving, that's really all I heard about. Winter this and winter that. Just wait for the snow. Over and over again. Being that I am a very stubborn person, I said, Winter, bring it on. I still walked to school every day. I walked to church on Sunday. I even biked on icy roads until I fell down three times and realized that there was still hard pavement underneath it. I quickly found out the secret of layering and had no real problems. I do remember the day I walked to my 8:00 am computer lab assignment and felt that it had been pretty cold. I was thinking it had been like 11 degrees or so. Nope, it had been like 5 degrees with a -13 wind chill or so. That day was cold. But I had also not had my good gloves or balaclava on. (Now maybe this is not comparable to the -40 temps of Kazakhstan and this false sense of conquering a winter is actually worse than fearing it, but that is yet to be seen). Overall though, winter came and seemed to last forever. There was a lot of snow, which I enjoyed 80% of the time. And then it was over, and I enjoyed seeing spring more than ever before in my life.
Even before I left for Illinois, I viewed my year there in a strange way. It would be one year. One and done. In and out quickly. Then off to the Peace Corps. I even declared it my bonus year. I didn't have to worry about it because whatever happened would happen, and then I would be gone. Although I wasn't sure if this labeling would discount or highlight my year in the Midwest. I felt like I had to do everything I could while I was there because that was it, but I also felt like it didn't really matter in the end because I would leave it so soon. There was also a freedom associated with this outlook. Most social fears could be eliminated by reminding myself that that was the bonus year, the year between college and PC that a lot of people spent finishing their studies, and I should just do it because I could.
But a funny thing happens when you get to make friends. You realize that there is no bonus year. Unless you count every moment as your bonus moment. The view that the time spent anywhere won't matter is bogus. But the idea of living for all its worth remains valid. In other words, I was only in Illinois for a year (or 11 months actually). But I created friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. I've had some of my friends there tell me that knowing me has made them a better person. And feeling that I can inspire people is awesome. But they should know in return that they've made me a better person.
I know people change all the time. As a former sociology student, I believe that societal setting has a huge impact on how a person acts, thinks, feels, is. And it's interesting to me how malleable people can be. Even being home now, I feel like a completely different person than when I was in Illinois. But part of that previous me lingers. And that part of me was formed primarily through my interactions with others. I am who I am today because of all the people in my life. And that most definitely includes the friends I made in Bloomington-Normal, IL.
So to everyone I met while in Illinois, thank you for the awesome year. I know I won't be back for at least 27 months, but I will try to make it back some time after that. The memories and times we shared have affected my life greatly. I'm glad I did it. And I'm glad you were all a part of it.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Leaving Illinois
Today was my last day in the state of Illinois. I'm going to start the long drive home tomorrow morning. I celebrated by running my first triathlon this morning. (www.evergreentri.com). I'll update this when I get back to Georgia, but I really did enjoy my year of grad school here in Normal. I met amazing people and had a tremendous time. Also, I'm leaving for Kaz in less than a month (anxiety and excitement abound!).
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