2009.11.10: Joe and Azat was a damn cool book-a captivating story about an American working for the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan
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2009.11.04: Jesse Lonergan's time teaching English in Turkmenistan became the graphic novel "Joe and Azat," a fictional tale based on Lonergan's year and a half assignment from September 2005 to February 2007 :
2009.11.10: Joe and Azat was a damn cool book-a captivating story about an American working for the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan
Joe and Azat was a damn cool book-a captivating story about an American working for the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan
There was no mention of any of the actual work he did, just several funny stories that illustrate the cultural differences he experienced. Jesse Lonergan tells a story loosely based on his own experience in the former USSR through the tales of Joe and his Turkmen best friend, Azat. And the book was also educational. I learned about Turkmen drinking customs, marriage rituals, politics and driving habits. And that it's usually a good idea to pay with exact change there. I also learned how much money it might take in order to bribe a police officer into returning a lost American passport so he doesn't sell it in the black market.
Joe and Azat was a damn cool book-a captivating story about an American working for the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan
JOE AND AZAT
By ANNA MARDEN
NBM/COMICSLIT
11.10.09
Honestly, Joe and Azat was my very first graphic novel, so I wasn't too sure what to expect. My impression of graphic novels was always that, well, they're geeky.
High school kids standing next to me on the Orange Line while I read it confirmed this rather common assumption. I got quite a few odd looks and giggles. Yet Joe and Azat was a damn cool book-a captivating story about an American working for the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan. There was no mention of any of the actual work he did, just several funny stories that illustrate the cultural differences he experienced. Jesse Lonergan tells a story loosely based on his own experience in the former USSR through the tales of Joe and his Turkmen best friend, Azat. And the book was also educational. I learned about Turkmen drinking customs, marriage rituals, politics and driving habits. And that it's usually a good idea to pay with exact change there. I also learned how much money it might take in order to bribe a police officer into returning a lost American passport so he doesn't sell it in the black market.
Lonergan's simple black-and-white line drawings made great visuals. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes to laugh, likes culture or who doesn't really like reading, because the sweet pics do a lot of the work for you.
Never mind the gawkers.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: November, 2009; Peace Corps Turkmenistan; Directory of Turkmenistan RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Turkmenistan RPCVs; Humor
When this story was posted in November 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: dig
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Turkmenistan; Comics; Humor
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