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!

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!

LOCK DOWN

I'm sitting here on my bed, in the guest house in which i live while working in Kabul at the AUAF. My next door neighbor, Sav, is playing a random assortment of music on his laptop while busying himself with laundry. Others in the house are doing sundry things to occupy their time, since we cannot travel outside the walled compound of the house. The 'Lock Down' was ordered a few hours ago by our security director, when we received news of a German woman being kidnapped from a local restaurant just down the street. Times like this allows you to talk a lot with your housemates, so that is what i will be doing shortly, and of course cooking food, and eating, which gets me through most situations. My friends know this to be true :) I need to update my presentation slides for the new students, since our Fall Semester classes start Monday also. I have tomorrow free, since it is the Afghanistan Independence Day, and can stay up late, so will update if necessary. Peace.