PCV Annie Wright says: Our director has said that if we don't have a visa extension by this week he will have no choice but to withdraw us from Uzbekistan - we simply cannot stay here without visas, it's too dangerous.
Visas - Not looking good
[Excerpt]
Once again, my future in Uzbekistan is up in the air.
On Friday of this past week my PC country director sent out an email to all of us volunteers updating us on 'the visa situation'. You see, 54 of us volunteers have visas that expire on June 1st and, though Peace Corps has been trying and applying and appealing for visa extensions for the last 2 months, the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has been reluctant to reissue or even address this issue. Considering recent events, things are not looking good.
Our director has said that if we don't have a visa extension by this week he will have no choice but to withdraw us from Uzbekistan - we simply cannot stay here without visas, it's too dangerous.
Complicating the matter is the fact that we would actually have to leave BY June 1st because once the visas expire it would be nearly (legally!) impossible to get us out of country ... June 1st is in 8 days! I've had 48 hours to process this blow and I can't even begin to describe how upset I am. Just when you reach a point where you're becoming happy, adjusted and very excited about completing two years of service here, just when you're beginning to carve out a life for yourself, the proverbial rug gets pulled out from under you.
An enormous question mark is hanging over Uz-18's heads - do we stay? do we go? how do you prepare yourself mentally and physically for something like this? Do I warn my host family, students and counterpart? Do I start packing? I'm devastated. I love my new site, my counterpart, my host family. I love Uzbekistan and have made many incredible friendships here with host country nationals, PC staff and with other volunteers.
I can't wrap my mind around the concept of saying goodbye, around the fact that this time next week I may be back in America. Then, of course, there's the question of what next ... do I wait for another Peace Corps assignment? Do I go ahead and try to get a job in DC or something? What will I do during the waiting time if I am sent home and choose to accept another assignment? Waitress on the island? How much longer do I have to live in limbo? Always waiting, everything hinging on a phone call, a letter or visa received or not received ... This is a huge mental and emotional challenge. Actually, it's downright exhausting.
Every volunteer enters the Peace Corps knowing that she or he must be flexible, that you must deal with the unexpected. Well sure - I can be flexible if the train that I waited 5 hours for never shows up. I can be flexible and eat nothing but osh for five days straight if that's all my family has. I can deal with the unexpected theft of my purse, the unexpected cancellation of a meeting I'd planned for my fellow teachers, the unexpected rainstorm that soaks the laundry I spent the whole morning washing ... I can deal with all of this and find something to laugh about in the end. But what I apparently cannot deal with is NOT knowing which country I'll be calling home in one week's time. I'm relly worried about this.
The situation is entirely out of my hands and I know my worrying is pointless but, until I know, one way or another, America or Uzbekistan, I'm living in a perpetual state of limbo, a perpetual state of stress. Iltimos, iltimos Uzbekcha Hokimiyat - Bizga yangi VISA-lar bering! Iltimos ....
