Next travel adventure in Central Asia: Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyzstan

After more than a decade, I am reviving this blog to document my new and ongoing cross-cultural travel experiences. In June 2024, I'll be joining my cohort of PCVs, as we gather to head out for 27 months of training then service work in several of the small villages and towns in Kyrgyzstan. I'm excited to be taking this path, as I am transitioning out of my longtime career working as a manager for a nonprofit STEM education/workforce development/peer review organization (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) in Tennessee, USA.  

The past decade has been a rewarding time in my life and career, but as many of you have experienced as you get more years under your belts, you sometimes come to a crossroads in life. This is certainly one of those times for me. From a combination of personal life sadnesses, changing priorities, and a yearning to resume my life travels I began decades ago, this is my time to make life changing decisions. Those of you that know me well, are not surprised that I am willing to "suddenly" change directions onto a radically different path (after years of consideration). To follow my passion to explore and experience new cultures, food, and people. This is part of my soul's desire to lead a fulfilling life. 

I'm in the pre-departure phase now, having applied to the PC, been interviewed and begun my clearance process months ago.  I'm now beginning initial language learning, doing research on the country, attending regular Zoom meetings with the staff of PC Kyrgyzstan to clarify expectations, etc. Lots to still accomplish before I can  head out in June, but it's slowly coming together and taking shape.  One very helpful thing was being paired with a current PCV that is already serving in the country, and having a live one-on-one one conversation to get some of my detailed questions answered: like what is a typical day like, what type of clothes should I bring, what type of living arrangements to expect, cost of food and other items, how to get any needed medicines, etc All the many small and big questions we take for granted that we know how to handle here at home, but will be new in a new country, living with a host family.

I'm excited, and busily getting myself ready to go, and organizing things here at home while I am away. It's always more to think about than you realize till time begins to move fast towards the leaving date!

First Week in Kabul

The promised Blog has finally been created! My aim is to update this blog end of each week.

I will document my experiences and perceptions of living here in Kabul, Afghanistan as i take up the work of University Librarian for the recently formed American University of Afghanistan (AUAf). The preliminary work of drawing up a plan for the library and the initial work to start a collection was done by the previous librarian, Laura Wray. Thanks for the great foundation i have to begin my work, Laura!

I heard of the AUAf while my friend Gene was working here as an ESL instructor during the greater part of 2006. While he described a challenging startup work environment, he also was impressed by the kindness and eagerness to learn of the students. I had just finished my Masters at the University of Tennessee's School of Information Science (SIS)in May 2006, was working as an Information Specialist at a pharmacuetical company, and looking for my first professional position. Adventure had been calling to me all my life, and now that i had prepared myself with an education to supplement my desire to travel, i was ready for that next big step. On cue, my friend tells me that the current librarian at AUAf is leaving at the end of November 2006. At the same time, i got the job posting from a current SIS student and friend, Susan Jennings. I immediately contacted AUAf, and sent in my resume, thinking it is a shot in the dark, since i have no overseas experience. Two weeks later i was contacted for an interview via phone from Kabul. After a week of anxious waiting, i was offered the job! I took a few days to consider, but really i want to go, just had to consider all the professional and personal implications first. On November 29, i signed my contract with AUAf and started the hurried process of completing all the necessary details to pull up stakes and move half-way around the world with a few short weeks! Rushing to take care of details did not leave much time for contemplation, once the decision was made, but here i am, writing to you from Kabul, ready to embark on this adventure. My advice, if you are considering such a move and have the desire, take a chance. When you come to a crossroads, take it!

Tomorrow will be the first day of Spring Semester Classes for the students. I have four library presentations to give to the students, with more to follow later in the week. We are expecting a large donation from the Sabre Foundation of several thousand books for the AUAf Library to arrive within the week, and these will need to be sorted through, keep what is needed for the library and for the instructors to use for classes and coordinate the distribution of the rest to other Afghanistan schools. Being a solo librarian will be a challenge, but i am looking forward to the task!

I aim to develop links with other libraries or similar institutions that are beneficial to AUAf, including collaboration on the digital library project of the Afghan eQuality Alliance, and serving as the contact person for the AMICAL consortium of American University libraries. So, less chatter from me at the moment, and off to work i go!

Weekend in Doha

Last night, i went with my new co-worker, Amani, and a group of her friends to see the finals match in the Qatar Open tennis tournament here in Doha. I am not particularly a tennis fan and have only played the game a handful of times in my life...but, this was a fantastic event! I thoroughly enjoyed the intense competition between Andy Murray (Britain) and Andy Roddick (USA). All of my support just was not enough to pull Roddick through though, as Murray took the day with a 6-4, 6-2 win (details here). Afterwards, the group went to a Fudruckers resstaurant to eat. It was interesting that everyone at the table were muslim, except for me, but were all either US or British citizens. Very nice people leading their lives in Doha, a city far from their homes, just like myself.

This past week had me trying to adjust to the time zone here, dealing with the jet lag, completing LOTS of paperwork for my immigration to Qatar (perm resident not citizen!), and today (Sunday) i went and got my temp Qatari driver's license. It will take several weeks, up to 3 months, to complete this whole process. I'm enjoying it and learning a lot. This week more of the same, while diving into the particulars of work also. I'll post pics as soon as possible, but have to get my digital cam either repaired or get a new one as it wants to take only blurry pics.

I have driven a bit on the roads and tomorrow (Monday), will be the last day my driver will take me to work, then i am on my own. I think i can remember how to get to work :) More later...

Serdal Tower - my new home in Doha

The tower consists of 21 storey residential building located in the West Bay area. The elite tower has 108 serviced suites with a selection of one, two and three bedrooms, a penthouse and a coffee shop. The tower has several attractive facilities such as swimming pool and fully equipped fitness centre

New Adventure in Doha, Qatar

I am reviving this blog (inactive since Fall 2007) to allow my family, friends and other interested parties to keep up with my thoughts, ruminations and adventures in my soon to be new home in Doha, Qatar. I will add more postings when i arrive there during the first week of January 2009.

Happy Holidays!