AZ 6: 7 to 10 Months of Service:
Problems
• Slow work progress
• Language plateaus
• Cross-cultural frustration
Behaviors
• Comparison to others
• Over zealousness
• Homesickness
• Uncertainty about adaptation abilities
• Intolerance with host culture
Coping Skills
• Reunions
• Cards, letters to home
• Talk with program managers about work issues
• Simple projects; personal crafts, meeting,
gardening
• Work on friendships
• Refer to culture shock information
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Oh Azerbaijan!
I did not write most of the following statements, but I totally live by them. It's interesting how I don't even notice these anymore...
Getting stuck in traffic behind various farm animals
Being watched by Ilham and Heydar eyes everywhere you go
Developing community projects to increase your chances of questing (amongst other reasons of course)
Jumping over fire and throwing your hat at people to celebrate Spring
Not showering for two weeks at site then twice a day in Baku
Living between a war zone and Iran across from Iraq
Being called "Dollar" at the bazaar
Dude on dude "action"
Dudes dancing in front of the mirror whilst and admiring themselves
Bread having more uses than a Leatherman
Explaining to locals that you can't take a bus or train to America
Answering the same 5 or 6 questions everyday
Being called "Ingilis" everywhere you go
Eating a bowl full of assorted guts
Crapping in a hole sometimes and feeling really accomplished when you don’t get pee on your shoes
Cheap Azeri vodka that can double as nail polish remover
Bone-jarring marshrutka rides
Mass anarchy at ATM's- putting in people codes for them
Holding a completely random woman's toddler while she stands on a bus
Watching hours upon hours of wedding videos (usually the day after the wedding you actually attended)
Getting off a marshrutka to find that someone has paid your fare!
Khash- a national dish that is eaten mostly by men after a night of heavy drinking. It is traditionally consumed early in the mornings, with some vodka (you gotta have vodka to be able to enjoy boiled cows feet). The below the knee parts including the hooves get placed in a large pan of cold water and left simmering over night. YUM!
***Old traditions***
Sitting at the corner of a table means you'll never get married
Sweeping at night is bad luck
The Evil Eye protects you from, evil
Watering the ground to cool it off
Balder dudes are supposed to have more wives
Cold water makes you sick
Wind makes you sick
Sitting on the ground makes you sick/infertile
Stepping on people’s feet should be followed by a handshake
At wedding a normal toast is to wish for the new couple to have 7 boys and 1 girl
Elders get respect
Only young boys are allowed to ride bicycles (for the most part)
Walls are built around houses to "protect" the women
Women generally can't leave the house unless they teach for example
Not throwing bread away, placing it on ledges
Don't put bottles in your pocket
Taking shoes off inside homes
Fruit vodka that can double as rocket fuel
Obtaining running water from a hose in the road across town
“Compote” which is like Kool-Aid but JACKED UP
Straight grease meals
Crappy houses. Literally made of mud and poop.
Getting stuck in traffic behind various farm animals
Being watched by Ilham and Heydar eyes everywhere you go
Developing community projects to increase your chances of questing (amongst other reasons of course)
Jumping over fire and throwing your hat at people to celebrate Spring
Not showering for two weeks at site then twice a day in Baku
Living between a war zone and Iran across from Iraq
Being called "Dollar" at the bazaar
Dude on dude "action"
Dudes dancing in front of the mirror whilst and admiring themselves
Bread having more uses than a Leatherman
Explaining to locals that you can't take a bus or train to America
Answering the same 5 or 6 questions everyday
Being called "Ingilis" everywhere you go
Eating a bowl full of assorted guts
Crapping in a hole sometimes and feeling really accomplished when you don’t get pee on your shoes
Cheap Azeri vodka that can double as nail polish remover
Bone-jarring marshrutka rides
Mass anarchy at ATM's- putting in people codes for them
Holding a completely random woman's toddler while she stands on a bus
Watching hours upon hours of wedding videos (usually the day after the wedding you actually attended)
Getting off a marshrutka to find that someone has paid your fare!
Khash- a national dish that is eaten mostly by men after a night of heavy drinking. It is traditionally consumed early in the mornings, with some vodka (you gotta have vodka to be able to enjoy boiled cows feet). The below the knee parts including the hooves get placed in a large pan of cold water and left simmering over night. YUM!
***Old traditions***
Sitting at the corner of a table means you'll never get married
Sweeping at night is bad luck
The Evil Eye protects you from, evil
Watering the ground to cool it off
Balder dudes are supposed to have more wives
Cold water makes you sick
Wind makes you sick
Sitting on the ground makes you sick/infertile
Stepping on people’s feet should be followed by a handshake
At wedding a normal toast is to wish for the new couple to have 7 boys and 1 girl
Elders get respect
Only young boys are allowed to ride bicycles (for the most part)
Walls are built around houses to "protect" the women
Women generally can't leave the house unless they teach for example
Not throwing bread away, placing it on ledges
Don't put bottles in your pocket
Taking shoes off inside homes
Fruit vodka that can double as rocket fuel
Obtaining running water from a hose in the road across town
“Compote” which is like Kool-Aid but JACKED UP
Straight grease meals
Crappy houses. Literally made of mud and poop.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World)
I had an amazing time at GLOW this year!
Camp GLOW is a weeklong leadership and skills-building program organized by Peace Corps Volunteers and our local Azerbaijani counterparts for young women entering the 9th and 10th grades from regions throughout Azerbaijan.
The purpose of this camp is to encourage young Azerbaijani women to become active citizens within their communities and the country at large. Camp GLOW also aims at demonstrating successful cooperation within members of the community by introducing camp participants to successful women in Azerbaijan, and some of the Peace Corps volunteer in the country.
During camp, the girls participated in a variety of lectures, discussions, and group project activities. This year we started our first day by defining leadership and community development; and build on this concept by talk about teamwork on day two where we played “Olympic Games” such as the trust fall, blindfolded walk, balloon toss, spider web, etc. On day three we discussed self-exploration and had an incredible talent show at the end of the day. The next day we discusses gender roles and overcoming obstacles, which was Lenkerans contribution to GLOW, and that night we had “GLOW Prom” which I was so jazzed about! Our last night we learned about project planning during the day; where we separated into region specific groups to plan potential community development projects and ended the night with a bonfire where we made smores (which tasted like America in my mouth) and sang campfire songs! All of the sessions were lead in Azeri, and our Azerbaijani counterparts facilitated most of them.
Upon completing this 6-day camp, participants are expected to initiate service projects promoting youth involvement, civic consciousness, and environmental awareness within their respected communities. I’m looking forward to working with the Lenkeran girls; we are planning on working with our local orphanage this summer!
Camp GLOW is a weeklong leadership and skills-building program organized by Peace Corps Volunteers and our local Azerbaijani counterparts for young women entering the 9th and 10th grades from regions throughout Azerbaijan.
The purpose of this camp is to encourage young Azerbaijani women to become active citizens within their communities and the country at large. Camp GLOW also aims at demonstrating successful cooperation within members of the community by introducing camp participants to successful women in Azerbaijan, and some of the Peace Corps volunteer in the country.
During camp, the girls participated in a variety of lectures, discussions, and group project activities. This year we started our first day by defining leadership and community development; and build on this concept by talk about teamwork on day two where we played “Olympic Games” such as the trust fall, blindfolded walk, balloon toss, spider web, etc. On day three we discussed self-exploration and had an incredible talent show at the end of the day. The next day we discusses gender roles and overcoming obstacles, which was Lenkerans contribution to GLOW, and that night we had “GLOW Prom” which I was so jazzed about! Our last night we learned about project planning during the day; where we separated into region specific groups to plan potential community development projects and ended the night with a bonfire where we made smores (which tasted like America in my mouth) and sang campfire songs! All of the sessions were lead in Azeri, and our Azerbaijani counterparts facilitated most of them.
Upon completing this 6-day camp, participants are expected to initiate service projects promoting youth involvement, civic consciousness, and environmental awareness within their respected communities. I’m looking forward to working with the Lenkeran girls; we are planning on working with our local orphanage this summer!
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