T-stan and Technology

Today I officially accepted my position for teaching English as a foreign language. So I only found out two days ago and I have already been in contact with a couple of other trainees that will be headed out on Sept. 29th. Technology sure has changed the Peace Corps experience from the Kenndy kids in the 60s. It used to be that you went into the whole experience totally clueless. Now there are websites, and networks that explain what the experience will be like as well as ways to connect with returned volunteers as well as the group that you will be with.

As of today, my blog is a link on PeaceCorpsJournals.com, on Facebook I have already been friended by others in T-18s and I am also a member of Peace Corps Turkmenistan group. Not going to lie when I first got my packet there was part of me that was like “holy crap, I am really doing this…can I really do this.” With reading all the info I was sent as well as reading about other T-stan volunteers experiences, I’m super excited and sure of my decision to join.

Many people have been asking what are you doing, where are you going. Here is a little about where I’m going and what I’ll be doing from the Peace Corps Turkmenistan Welcome Book:

Turkmenistan borders Uzbekistan in the north and
east, Kazakhstan in the northwest, Iran in the south, and
Afghanistan in the southeast. Slightly larger than California,
the country has an area of 195,200 square miles.

Turkmenistan is dry with a desert terrain. Fortunately, most
cities have trees and are quite green in spring and summer.
There are four distinct seasons: Winters can be snowy and
cold with bitter winds; summer temperatures can reach as
high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit (with low humidity); and
spring and fall are rainy but pleasant.

An average Turkmen earns between 1 million and 2 million manats a
month, equivalent to about $50 to $100 (U.S.). According to 2005 estimates, there are approximately 4.9
million people in Turkmenistan, the least populated of the
Central Asian republics.

Turkmen are extremely friendly and warm, though they may
appear cold and distant on the surface. Volunteers enjoy both
Turkmen and Russian hospitality and are intrigued by the
different cultures.

Peace Corps Turkmenistan requires that Volunteers live with
host families for the first three months of service to better
understand the cultural context within which they are living
and working. All trainees will learn Turkmen during Pre-Service Training
as it is the dominant language in the country. Some trainees
may find that learning a little Uzbek or Russian will help them
be more successful at their permanent sites.