Hi, friends and family. Peace Corps stipulates that I have a password-protected blog to record my experiences related to my next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Azerbaijan. Please visit http://AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com/ for my photo gallery and http://AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com/blog for my Peace Corps blog. The password is my first name.
See you there!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Just in Case
Hi folks, I am taking advantage of the internet access at our hotel one last time before we depart tomorrow. We've packed (repacked, I should say) our bags along with the heavy-duty sleeping bags, smoke detectors, water filters and medical kits we've been issued and are excited to move in with our first host families.
Orientation Week has gone well. I am getting to know my fellow trainees better, feeling slightly more comfortable with basic phrases in Azeri (thanks to 2 hours a day with Sabina and Elshad), and understanding a little more about what it will mean to be a Peace Corps trainee and volunteer. My body has not quite adjusted to the new time zone (10 hours from home), so I am a bit tired. Nonetheless, I am excited about jumping in to the next phase!
As I mentioned before, I will be grouped in a "cluster" of a few other volunteers who are also in the Community Economic Development (CED) Program. We will spend 4 hours a day working on language and culture with Elshad followed by afternoons with our fellow CED trainees for pratical training and exercises. From a rough map of the community where we will be living, it will be easy to get around and in the afternoons, we will only have to take a short bus ride to meet up with the other CEDs. I think our community may also have an internet cafe! I have not idea what to expect at the moment, so I find it best to try not to expect anything and be pleasantly surprised. ;)
On a side note, due to Peace Corps policy, I may have to make this website password-protected. If that is the case, the password will be my first name. I apologize in advance for the inconvenience if it comes to that, but I will do my best to ensure that checking in on my blog is easy and convenient.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Week 1 in Azerbaijan
After two tiring days of travel, 61 new Peace Corps Azerbaijan volunteers arrived in Baku late Tuesday evening to be greeted with several current volunteers and key staff members. We traveled by bus to our resort/ hotel approximately one hour from the capital along the Caspian Sea.This week ("Orientation Week") we have a fairly rigorous schedule of training seminars, introduction to the language and culture, and opportunities to talk with current volunteers and staff. Despite the entire group being a bit jet-lagged, we are all holding up pretty well, just excited at this point to learn the ropes and meet our host families this weekend. We've already gotten a handful of vaccinations and talked over safety, health and security procedures at length.
We will move in with our host families this weekend and begin the awkwardness of trying to communicate with them given such a significant language barrier. For the training period of almost 3 months, I will be living in a community with a number of other volunteer trainees, including the 4 who I will be training alongside with a native Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator. We will have language lessons 4 hours per day, followed by lunch with our host family and an afternoon of work training or practice sessions. This will occur (most weeks) 6 days a week with Sunday to rest although during the next 3 months, there are a few outings to Baku or days in which all 61 of us meet up in Sumgayit scheduled.
All in all, things are going great, and I am both excited and nervous to meet my host family and really experience Azerbaijani living! Unfortunately, it looks like our internet access will be somewhat sporadic during training, but I hope to be able to post once 2-3 per month.
Monday, September 22, 2008
And We're Off!
Along with my fellow 60 future Peace Corps Azerbaijan volunteers, I spent the past two days in Philadelphia doing general Peace Corps orientation and preparing for our next three months of training in Azerbaijan. It seems like a great group of people of all ages and from a variety of walks of life coming together for the common mission of development in Azerbaijan! Approximately 15 of us are Community Economic Development volunteers, there is a group specifically focusing on Youth Development projects and, of course, a large number will be teaching English. It has been such a relief to finally meet some of the people I will be working alongside, and I can already tell we are going to establish some amazing friendships over the next 27 months!
As I have visited with many of you over the past few months as I have prepared for this adventure, I have been unable to specify exactly what I might be doing in Azerbaijan and what my life there may be like. Unfortunately, I am still unable to answer many of those questions, but I can share with you what I know to expect of the next 3 months:
Tomorrow we will ride a bus to JFK Airport, from where we will depart for Frankfurt, Germany and unltimately Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan). After approximately 2 days of travel (fun!), we will arrive in Baku Tuesday evening and remain in Baku for Orientation Week at a local hotel. On Saturday, we will be taken to the communities where we will live during training and meet our host families. All 61 volunteers will be training in communities near the city of Sumgayit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumqayit) north of Baku, and we will be broken into "pods" of 5-6 volunteers per community. For 11 weeks, we will train in the language, culture and various aspects of our positions and are encouraged to spend a lot of time with our host families to better understand the culture and practice the language. On December 10th, we will graduate from training and be sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. At that point, we will be taken to our posts around the country and begin 2 years of service.
I know there are still a lot of unknowns, but that is as much as I know at the moment. I want to thank you again for your encouragement and support. I am very excited about this adventure and cannot wait to dig in and see what happens! At least for the next week, I will not have internet or phone access, but I promise to blog about my first experiences in-country as soon as I am able.
Finally, two great quotes about tackling scary circumstances:
"I have been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." -- Georgia O'Keefe
"The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
As I have visited with many of you over the past few months as I have prepared for this adventure, I have been unable to specify exactly what I might be doing in Azerbaijan and what my life there may be like. Unfortunately, I am still unable to answer many of those questions, but I can share with you what I know to expect of the next 3 months:
Tomorrow we will ride a bus to JFK Airport, from where we will depart for Frankfurt, Germany and unltimately Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan). After approximately 2 days of travel (fun!), we will arrive in Baku Tuesday evening and remain in Baku for Orientation Week at a local hotel. On Saturday, we will be taken to the communities where we will live during training and meet our host families. All 61 volunteers will be training in communities near the city of Sumgayit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumqayit) north of Baku, and we will be broken into "pods" of 5-6 volunteers per community. For 11 weeks, we will train in the language, culture and various aspects of our positions and are encouraged to spend a lot of time with our host families to better understand the culture and practice the language. On December 10th, we will graduate from training and be sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. At that point, we will be taken to our posts around the country and begin 2 years of service.
I know there are still a lot of unknowns, but that is as much as I know at the moment. I want to thank you again for your encouragement and support. I am very excited about this adventure and cannot wait to dig in and see what happens! At least for the next week, I will not have internet or phone access, but I promise to blog about my first experiences in-country as soon as I am able.
Finally, two great quotes about tackling scary circumstances:
"I have been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." -- Georgia O'Keefe
"The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, September 15, 2008
A Shout Out to My Peops!
Just days before lift-off, I am feeling amazingly prepared for my upcoming journey. My bags are almost packed, I have said most of my "good-byes" and, regardless of what is done or undone, I head to Philadelphia Friday morning for a few days of orientation before flying to Azerbaijan early next week.
I want to say a quick thank you to my family and friends, who have gone out of their way to help me prepare both physically and emotionally over the past weeks. The outpouring of love I have received has been overwhelming and truly gives me a sense of peace about what I am about to do. It is through such support and encouragement -- people going out of their way to show they care -- that I am able to take this bold step.
Friends, I will do my best to keep blogging, so that you know how and what I am doing but, as you know, I have no way of knowing or promising that I will have frequent internet access. I will appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers for myself, my new community and my family here at home. I encourage you to send me emails and leave comments on my blog posts as a way to remind me of your support. When I have a more permanent address, I will disperse that for mail and care packages. ;) For more information on what to expect, visit the "Family & Friends" portion of the Peace Corps website at http://www.peacecorps.gov/. If you would like to get in touch with my parents for any reason, you may also post a comment to one of my blogs.
I want to say a quick thank you to my family and friends, who have gone out of their way to help me prepare both physically and emotionally over the past weeks. The outpouring of love I have received has been overwhelming and truly gives me a sense of peace about what I am about to do. It is through such support and encouragement -- people going out of their way to show they care -- that I am able to take this bold step.
Friends, I will do my best to keep blogging, so that you know how and what I am doing but, as you know, I have no way of knowing or promising that I will have frequent internet access. I will appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers for myself, my new community and my family here at home. I encourage you to send me emails and leave comments on my blog posts as a way to remind me of your support. When I have a more permanent address, I will disperse that for mail and care packages. ;) For more information on what to expect, visit the "Family & Friends" portion of the Peace Corps website at http://www.peacecorps.gov/. If you would like to get in touch with my parents for any reason, you may also post a comment to one of my blogs.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Getting Ready
I cannot believe how quickly time has flown since I received my Peace Corps invitation three weeks ago, but I must face the fact that I leave in about three weeks for a two-year journey almost impossible to prepare for. As you can imagine, I have so much to do in my time remaining ... there is paperwork for Peace Corps, bank accounts, legal matters, etc. that is necessary for close out my affairs here. Then there is shopping and packing to prepare for a variety of climates and seasons with a very limited restriction on how much I can bring and what I am allowed to wear. Also, there is mental preparation, such as reading through materials Peace Corps has sent, beginning to learn the language and culture, and saying good-bye to family and friends. Luckily, I have been working diligently for the past few weeks to get some of these things taken care of and hope to enjoy some downtown (a little, at least!) before I head out.
I took a quick trip to D.C. last weekend and had a wonderful time! It was so nice to have an opportunity to see the people I care about one last time and feel at peace leaving that part of my life. This weekend, I have two of my best friends from childhood in town (with their babies!), the next weekend I am going on a work retreat (my last official responsibility at work), and the weekend after that, my family (including my sister!) will be at a family reunion.
I've had the opportunity to begin to community with some people who have served as Peace Corps volunteers before, including one who served in Azerbaijan and still works there. It has been very helpful to hear their perspectives on what I should expect, what I should bring and what I should be sure to do in my last weeks here.
Overall, as I've said before, I am both excited and nervous about my adventure. I understand that it will be a challenging experience in many ways, but I look forward to growing in those areas and becoming a stronger, more well-rounded person because of it. Mostly, despite my anxiety, I feel blessed and joyful that I will be realizing one of my dreams and doing what I believe is God's will for my life in the process. I see this experience as a jumping-off point for a new chapter in my life, and it is time to take the plunge!
I took a quick trip to D.C. last weekend and had a wonderful time! It was so nice to have an opportunity to see the people I care about one last time and feel at peace leaving that part of my life. This weekend, I have two of my best friends from childhood in town (with their babies!), the next weekend I am going on a work retreat (my last official responsibility at work), and the weekend after that, my family (including my sister!) will be at a family reunion.
I've had the opportunity to begin to community with some people who have served as Peace Corps volunteers before, including one who served in Azerbaijan and still works there. It has been very helpful to hear their perspectives on what I should expect, what I should bring and what I should be sure to do in my last weeks here.
Overall, as I've said before, I am both excited and nervous about my adventure. I understand that it will be a challenging experience in many ways, but I look forward to growing in those areas and becoming a stronger, more well-rounded person because of it. Mostly, despite my anxiety, I feel blessed and joyful that I will be realizing one of my dreams and doing what I believe is God's will for my life in the process. I see this experience as a jumping-off point for a new chapter in my life, and it is time to take the plunge!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Conflict between Azerbaijan's Neighbors
If you've listened to international news or seen an online news forum recently, it is hard to miss mention of the escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia, two of Azerbaijan's neighbors (see map below - particularly section in yellow). While I won't begin to describe the reasons or potential ramifications of the "conflict," I will address a question pertaining to my future that has been raised numerous times since the bombing began late last week. In other words, yes, I am taking a history-making international episode and making it "all about me" ;) . . . in all seriousness, I appreciate your concerns and will continue to keep you posted on my preparations for Peace Corps.
This afternoon Peace Corps posted a news release on their website, stating that volunteers in Georgia have been temporarily pulled and are awaiting further instruction in Armenia. In other words, as soon as the U.S. Department of State began pulling embassy personnel from the country, Peace Corps volunteers were whisked to safety. Peace Corps has a very specific action plan for emergency situations and takes great care to ensure the safety of its volunteers. I trust Peace Corps staff to make a well-informed decision about my security, and we'll just have to wait to see what happens in the next month or so. To be clear, Peace Corps has not talked about pulling volunteers from Georgia permanently or from its neighbors, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Again, I appreciate your concern for my safety and as always, welcome prayers. I find the recent events to be unsettling but not nearly to a point where I would consider abandoning this dream. The way I see it: I am going to continue to plan like everything is on-schedule and if this is not where I should be, God will close the door.
This afternoon Peace Corps posted a news release on their website, stating that volunteers in Georgia have been temporarily pulled and are awaiting further instruction in Armenia. In other words, as soon as the U.S. Department of State began pulling embassy personnel from the country, Peace Corps volunteers were whisked to safety. Peace Corps has a very specific action plan for emergency situations and takes great care to ensure the safety of its volunteers. I trust Peace Corps staff to make a well-informed decision about my security, and we'll just have to wait to see what happens in the next month or so. To be clear, Peace Corps has not talked about pulling volunteers from Georgia permanently or from its neighbors, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Again, I appreciate your concern for my safety and as always, welcome prayers. I find the recent events to be unsettling but not nearly to a point where I would consider abandoning this dream. The way I see it: I am going to continue to plan like everything is on-schedule and if this is not where I should be, God will close the door.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
And the winner is . . . Azerbaijan!
I have finally received my official invitation from the Peace Corps and am set to leave in late September for the Republic of Azerbaijan, where I will be a Community Economic Development Advisor. Here's a map to give you a better idea of where I'll be (Azerbaijan is the green country next to the Caspian Sea):
Azerbaijan is a former Soviet republic in what is called the Caucasus region. It has approximately 8 million inhabitants and is about the size of Maine. It is an oil-rich country; however, as is often the case in developing countries, there is a huge income gap between the elite (with oil money) and the general population. Peace Corps developed the Community Economic Development program that I will be a part of in 2005 to work with non-governmental (non-profit) organizations and small businesses to diversify the economy.
My first three months in-country, I'll be living with a host family and studying alongside 4-5 other volunteers to learn the native language of Azerbaijani (or Azeri), a Turkic language using the cyrillic alphabet. At the end of this 3-month period, I will be transfered to my yet-t0-be-determined town of assignment, where I will work for 24 months.
I'm bogged down in paperwork and preparations at the moment, but I will blog more as I learn more about the country and what to expect.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
More Delays (or "My Future Hangs in the Cogs of Bureaucracy")
As many of you know, I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps and am waiting for my medical evaluations to be reviewed. Unfortunately, I recently received word that I need to send additional information before they will continue reviewing my paperwork. I've been told not to expect to hear anything for another month at the least. :(
No one could be more excited about getting the official offer than myself, and I appreciate the support my friends and family have offered thus far. It truly is a blessing to have so many people encouraging me to follow my dreams!
If you've spoken with me about Peace Corps (or even read the blogs), you know how ecstatic I am at this opportunity! As I have said before, I have thought ("dreamed," you could say) of volunteering overseas for more than 10 years, and as I researched and applied for Peace Corps this spring, it just felt right.
The way I like to look at so many things in life is: "if it is supposed to happen, God will make it happen. If something else is supposed to happen, God will make that happen." And that is exactly the attitude I take with Peace Corps as well.
I'll let you know as soon as I know anything, but for now, my future hangs in the cogs of bureaucracy.
No one could be more excited about getting the official offer than myself, and I appreciate the support my friends and family have offered thus far. It truly is a blessing to have so many people encouraging me to follow my dreams!
If you've spoken with me about Peace Corps (or even read the blogs), you know how ecstatic I am at this opportunity! As I have said before, I have thought ("dreamed," you could say) of volunteering overseas for more than 10 years, and as I researched and applied for Peace Corps this spring, it just felt right.
The way I like to look at so many things in life is: "if it is supposed to happen, God will make it happen. If something else is supposed to happen, God will make that happen." And that is exactly the attitude I take with Peace Corps as well.
I'll let you know as soon as I know anything, but for now, my future hangs in the cogs of bureaucracy.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Patiently Waiting
As you may have read from my last post, I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps and am now waiting for my official offer and the details of my assignment. All I know at this point is that I will doing NGO (Non-governmental Organization) Development in Eastern Europe and should leave sometime in September. Any more specifics, as in exact assignment, country or town of posting, etc. are unknown.
I had to go through rigorous medical evaluations to make sure I am in tip-top shape to live in a developing country for 2 years. I think I had around 10 appointments with various kinds of doctors and specialists over the past few weeks, I submitted my medical paperwork last week and now it is a waiting game. I am told that because my posting is relatively soon (September is soon in Peace Corps terms), my paperwork should be given higher priority. Nevertheless, I am on "pins and needles" until I hear that I have received my medical clearance and will be given an official offer!
Right now I am trying to stay optimistic (I know this is what I am supposed to be doing; I just have to keep the faith that it will all work out) and open-minded (I don't get to choose the country anyway, so I don't want to form a preference). This next few weeks (hopefully it won't take longer) is going to be tough for two reasons: (1) I think I will continue to feel like my future is up in the air until I see something in writing and know the specifics of what I will be doing; (2)I can't help but recall the statistic that 15% of people who have made it as far as me are not given medical clearance. Nevertheless, this is a time for waiting patiently with the faith that God will work things out exactly the way they are supposed to be. That is enough for me!
I had to go through rigorous medical evaluations to make sure I am in tip-top shape to live in a developing country for 2 years. I think I had around 10 appointments with various kinds of doctors and specialists over the past few weeks, I submitted my medical paperwork last week and now it is a waiting game. I am told that because my posting is relatively soon (September is soon in Peace Corps terms), my paperwork should be given higher priority. Nevertheless, I am on "pins and needles" until I hear that I have received my medical clearance and will be given an official offer!
Right now I am trying to stay optimistic (I know this is what I am supposed to be doing; I just have to keep the faith that it will all work out) and open-minded (I don't get to choose the country anyway, so I don't want to form a preference). This next few weeks (hopefully it won't take longer) is going to be tough for two reasons: (1) I think I will continue to feel like my future is up in the air until I see something in writing and know the specifics of what I will be doing; (2)I can't help but recall the statistic that 15% of people who have made it as far as me are not given medical clearance. Nevertheless, this is a time for waiting patiently with the faith that God will work things out exactly the way they are supposed to be. That is enough for me!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Peace Corps
A lot of you have probably been wondering what the heck I am up to! I have been back in Oklahoma since October with little progress to show on my career development, and my last post was more of a cry for help than a wealth of information. I won't deny it's been a tough road; I spent 6 months working every job angle with no success. I applied for dozens of jobs I was overqualified for without a bite. I enlisted the help of friends and family from all over the world to gather advice and harvest contacts that may lead me to what I thought I wanted to do. And to those who provided help, I thank you.
At the end of the day, however, I felt like I was trying to force a square peg into a round hole. It finally dawned on me a few months ago that half of the jobs I had applied for were not even something I'd be happy with. Most likely, they would be unchallenging and not fit my ideal job description well enough to keep me interested. As the country song tells, "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I thank God for not handing me a job here in Oklahoma or others I pursued around the U.S. because he had much greater plans for me. I am ecstatic to tell you that I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps!
As I mentioned earlier, a couple of months ago it dawned on me that things weren't working out because I was pursuing the wrong things. I have always had this idea in the back of my mind that I would like to do volunteer work at some point, but I never knew how that would fit into my career path and was never completely convinced I could make the sacrifices it would take. But I believe the way to determining one's purpose in life has to do with how you answer the question: "If money (and reputation and status) were not an option, what would I do?" As I wrote on my Peace Corps application, if I could do anything with my life, I would travel around the world and help others.
That Sunday afternoon when I sat on my bed feeling sorry for myself and contemplating what a huge failure I had become, it occurred to me that I was "failing" because I was not pursuing what I was supposed to be pursuing. If I had always dreamed of doing volunteer work, why not now? My situation (not being committed to a job or spouse or many material positions) is perfect for taking the leap, and I cannot bank on being able to do it in the future.
It took a couple of months to complete the lengthy application process, and at the end of probably-the-most-pleasant-interview-I've-ever-witnessed, I was told I would be perfect for Peace Corps! I have been nominated for a position in Eastern Europe doing NGO (Non-governmental organization) Development. I won't know any more details about my assignment until the paperwork is processed and I am medically cleared, but the plan is that I should be leaving in September for 27 months in Eastern Europe.
I am so excited about this opportunity, and I can only describe it as God putting me exactly where he wants me to be. Peace Corps (http://www.peacecorps.gov/) is a great organization (U.S. government agency) and will allow me to volunteer a developing country, teach me the language and cultural skills I need, and will be an excellent jumping-off point for any number of careers in the international field. It gives volunteers a modest stipend to live on and takes special care to ensure the safety and health of its volunteers. Since I have such a passion for traveling and living abroad, this is both a safe and promising opportunity.
In the meantime, I am working part-time at a property management company here in Oklahoma and preparing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for my journey. I have the whole summer to spend time with family and friends, get organized and prepare for a new life!
At the end of the day, however, I felt like I was trying to force a square peg into a round hole. It finally dawned on me a few months ago that half of the jobs I had applied for were not even something I'd be happy with. Most likely, they would be unchallenging and not fit my ideal job description well enough to keep me interested. As the country song tells, "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I thank God for not handing me a job here in Oklahoma or others I pursued around the U.S. because he had much greater plans for me. I am ecstatic to tell you that I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps!
As I mentioned earlier, a couple of months ago it dawned on me that things weren't working out because I was pursuing the wrong things. I have always had this idea in the back of my mind that I would like to do volunteer work at some point, but I never knew how that would fit into my career path and was never completely convinced I could make the sacrifices it would take. But I believe the way to determining one's purpose in life has to do with how you answer the question: "If money (and reputation and status) were not an option, what would I do?" As I wrote on my Peace Corps application, if I could do anything with my life, I would travel around the world and help others.
That Sunday afternoon when I sat on my bed feeling sorry for myself and contemplating what a huge failure I had become, it occurred to me that I was "failing" because I was not pursuing what I was supposed to be pursuing. If I had always dreamed of doing volunteer work, why not now? My situation (not being committed to a job or spouse or many material positions) is perfect for taking the leap, and I cannot bank on being able to do it in the future.
It took a couple of months to complete the lengthy application process, and at the end of probably-the-most-pleasant-interview-I've-ever-witnessed, I was told I would be perfect for Peace Corps! I have been nominated for a position in Eastern Europe doing NGO (Non-governmental organization) Development. I won't know any more details about my assignment until the paperwork is processed and I am medically cleared, but the plan is that I should be leaving in September for 27 months in Eastern Europe.
I am so excited about this opportunity, and I can only describe it as God putting me exactly where he wants me to be. Peace Corps (http://www.peacecorps.gov/) is a great organization (U.S. government agency) and will allow me to volunteer a developing country, teach me the language and cultural skills I need, and will be an excellent jumping-off point for any number of careers in the international field. It gives volunteers a modest stipend to live on and takes special care to ensure the safety and health of its volunteers. Since I have such a passion for traveling and living abroad, this is both a safe and promising opportunity.
In the meantime, I am working part-time at a property management company here in Oklahoma and preparing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for my journey. I have the whole summer to spend time with family and friends, get organized and prepare for a new life!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Update and Request for Help
This is a long overdue update and, more immediately, a shameless solicitation for help. First, a quick update:
The past year and a half could best be summed up in the word: adventurous! Like any story it has its ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, moments of sheer joy and those of complete desperation. The summer of 2006 found me at the brink of a wholesale life change. I had completed my Masters degree the August before and was coming close to my five-year anniversary with the Environmental Protection Agency. In my short-lived “adult life,” I had excelled at my job, bought a home, made a plethora of friends in a new city, and generally created a comfortable life for myself. But I was reminded all too quickly of my constant desire for challenge and adventure and soon resolved myself to making a complete life change to explore the person I wanted to be and the life I wanted to have.
In the fall of 2006, I took a 4-month sabbatical, spending two months backpacking around Europe by myself and two months with my family in Oklahoma. I have always been an avid traveler and my most recent adventure was no exception! I visited amazing places, met interesting people, and ultimately realized that my lifestyle and career must incorporate my passion for international travel and learning. I went back to Washington in January of 2007 only to quit my job and rent out my condo. I had decided to go to Italy for a “look-see” trip; that is, I gave myself three months to begin to learn the language, acclimate myself within the culture, and try to make a life there.
My time in Naples, Italy, was a challenging yet enlightening experience. I found I was able to secure sufficient work teaching English, pick up enough of the language to get around, and make a life for myself in an unknown place, but the culture shock was intense! To be honest, I did not like Naples or the way of life, but I was determined to give it my best try! Only after two 3-month stints there did I regrettably conclude that I was never going to be happy there, I was never going to reach my career goals there, and frankly, God did not want me to be there.
I returned to Oklahoma in October to live with my parents, giving myself some time to recuperate, to decide what I wanted to do next, and ultimately to find a job. After almost four months, I have learned a lot about what I want to do but am, embarrassingly, still unemployed.
This is where I would use your help! I am looking for employment opportunities with international companies, where I could gain valuable private sector experience and break into the international business field. Anything you know, any ideas you may have, any people you could put me in contact with could take me one step closer to achieving my career goals! So please, let me know what you know. If you know anyone who works at a great international company (in Tulsa or elsewhere) or has done what I am attempting, I’d love to talk to him or her. No piece of information is insignificant. In fact, from all of those job search handbooks I’ve read, I am told that this is the most certain way to get a job.
I apologize for my shameless self-promotion but thank you in advance, as my friend, for anything you can do to help!
The past year and a half could best be summed up in the word: adventurous! Like any story it has its ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, moments of sheer joy and those of complete desperation. The summer of 2006 found me at the brink of a wholesale life change. I had completed my Masters degree the August before and was coming close to my five-year anniversary with the Environmental Protection Agency. In my short-lived “adult life,” I had excelled at my job, bought a home, made a plethora of friends in a new city, and generally created a comfortable life for myself. But I was reminded all too quickly of my constant desire for challenge and adventure and soon resolved myself to making a complete life change to explore the person I wanted to be and the life I wanted to have.
In the fall of 2006, I took a 4-month sabbatical, spending two months backpacking around Europe by myself and two months with my family in Oklahoma. I have always been an avid traveler and my most recent adventure was no exception! I visited amazing places, met interesting people, and ultimately realized that my lifestyle and career must incorporate my passion for international travel and learning. I went back to Washington in January of 2007 only to quit my job and rent out my condo. I had decided to go to Italy for a “look-see” trip; that is, I gave myself three months to begin to learn the language, acclimate myself within the culture, and try to make a life there.
My time in Naples, Italy, was a challenging yet enlightening experience. I found I was able to secure sufficient work teaching English, pick up enough of the language to get around, and make a life for myself in an unknown place, but the culture shock was intense! To be honest, I did not like Naples or the way of life, but I was determined to give it my best try! Only after two 3-month stints there did I regrettably conclude that I was never going to be happy there, I was never going to reach my career goals there, and frankly, God did not want me to be there.
I returned to Oklahoma in October to live with my parents, giving myself some time to recuperate, to decide what I wanted to do next, and ultimately to find a job. After almost four months, I have learned a lot about what I want to do but am, embarrassingly, still unemployed.
This is where I would use your help! I am looking for employment opportunities with international companies, where I could gain valuable private sector experience and break into the international business field. Anything you know, any ideas you may have, any people you could put me in contact with could take me one step closer to achieving my career goals! So please, let me know what you know. If you know anyone who works at a great international company (in Tulsa or elsewhere) or has done what I am attempting, I’d love to talk to him or her. No piece of information is insignificant. In fact, from all of those job search handbooks I’ve read, I am told that this is the most certain way to get a job.
I apologize for my shameless self-promotion but thank you in advance, as my friend, for anything you can do to help!
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