Hello Shabran!

Hello all! 

I am so sorry that I have not posted in so long. But we were told at orientation not to go off and write off steam when you’re having a bad day and post it. That we should sit on it, and so back when we are feeling better. Well, I'm afraid that steam has been coming out of me all month. 

I have decided that adjusting to a new culture is like a twelve step program. Month one was discovery, observations, and mental note taking. Month two was adjustment. Two was when the observations became reality and instead of looking in from the outside, I was in it, all the way in it. From getting touched on the bus, to getting sick, to having to actually teach my own azeri class, it all hit me in a matter a few weeks.

But now I'm on month/ step three- acceptance. After two day trips to Baku and finding out my sight, I feel much better. Things are the way they are here, and I am learning how be myself and still accept where I am. Hopefully step four will bring a fondness for it. One step at a time, which I have a feeling will be the theme for the next two years. 

SO.....I am going to Shabran. A town 75 miles up the shore from Baku. I will have a sightmate, and my new host family has a grandmother, father, mother, 11 year old sister and 13 year old brother. This week we had a counterpart conference where I met the director of my new school. He seemed like a very nice man, and I am relieved to have a director who is taking a personal interest in the work I will be doing at the school. My school is in the center of town and the building I will be working in was built just last year. I am looking forward to getting to sight and starting my service, although I will miss my current host family very much! I can only hope that my next family is just as kind and loving. 

I hope everyone back home is doing well. I will email my new address when I receive it. Happy Thanksgiving!!!