Jason's Journal in Turkmenistan
Jason's Journal
Saturday, September 6th, 2003
Last entry before I leave
Here it is the day before the day I start the next two years, everything is packed up and ready to go down to the car. Now is when the real waiting begins, since I will be waiting in airports tomarrow and for the next few days. I am going to breakfast with my grandma, mom, and step-dad this morning which should be good. Not quite sure what I will have yet, but there is a good chance that it will be the last time I eat it in two years. I don't really feal like I have alot of anxiety but obviously I do because I have been having anxiety dreams for the past two nights. Which is strange for me because I am used to not dreaming. Well, I guess I will get myself ready for breakfast.
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2003
Just Waiting
I haven't updated what I have been up to lately, mostly because I haven't done anything except wait for my plane to leave. Well, that isn't exactly true, I did tear apart my room and most of my things into boxes or the garbage can. I already have my stuff packed, but need to repack to fit some more things in. Other than that nothing is happening yet.
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Monday, August 11th, 2003
Church, Friends, and Family
Today at church there was a really cool recognition of my joining the Peace Corps. Several people stood up and prayed. Then I got up and said a few words, basically about where Turkmenistan is and how I was going to cope with certain obsticales that might come up while I am in Turkmenistan. Afterwords there was a very nice blue cake that said something really nice on it, there were several pictures so I am sure I will get to read it again, and refresh my memory. Then a large group of us went to Leatherby's and had sandwiches and ice cream. Did I mention my family came up all the way up from Modesto? It was really good to see them there, and I had a good time talking with them at lunch and latter at my mom's house. Then I got a ride back to Modesto and drove myself and my car, which was in Modesto, back up to Sacramento. All in all it was a really good day and probably one of the last times I will get to see that many friends and family gathered in one place. On a seperate note, I am still so excited about going to Turkmenistan with the Peace Corps, I just wish it would get here sooner (it is no longer the 10th and is now the 7th or 8th, but it still isn't soon enough), besides today the days have dragged on very slowly.
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Thursday, August 7th, 2003
The Conference Call and The New Clothes
This morning at 8 AM we had the conference call. It actually worked rather well. The only real problem was knowing when to talk and we even figured that out. I found out many things: the value of the manat; the value of duct tape; how fat soup can grow on a person; to bring spices; how hot it gets; and how much fun Volunteering in Turkmenistan can be. After the conference call I went and picked my dad and stepmom up from the airport. Then we went to a store and I got about six pairs of pants/slacks/khackis and a shirt and dress socks. So I will need to get more shirts later and maybe another set of dress socks. Other than that I should have enough clothes. I think I will throw in a some Tshirts and then maybe one pair of old jeans and one pair of shorts to wear when I am not in public or in case I get the chance to go hiking or backpacking. I also think I can get away with one pair of dress shoes and two pairs of regular shoes. Of course, all this is what I hope to bring. I still have to weigh it and make the final cut as to what stays and what will go.
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Wednesday, August 6th, 2003
The First Entry
This is the first installment of what could be a very interesting journal. In the past few months I have been jumping through all the hoops necessary to get into the Peace Corps. I have now been accepted and will be departing for Turkmenistan in Central Asia on September 10, 2003. The next big thing that is coming up for me, is a teleconference call with 10 other people who will be going to Turkmenistan. To moderate the discussion there will be two returned PCVs from Turkmenistan, a man and a woman, and the country desk officer. We will get to ask questions from these people, and gain from their experiences a better understanding of what we have gotten ourselves into. This is something that Peace Corps has never attempted before, so it is pretty exciting and I hope it goes well because it sounds like a great idea
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