More Challenges or Just Trust in God's Plan

This has been another challenging week for me.  I am infested with ants and the family I am staying at refrigerator has quit.  When I asked them when it will be fixed, they say tomorrow and tomorrow has been 5 days.  I had soup and cheese already turned bad and they are using a relative's refrigerator down the street to keep our food but the problem is that they don't get up until late morning and by then I am gone (so that means no milk for my coffee or having breakfast).  I been helping with the Zaqatala camp organizing the Azerbaijani to lead it and it has not been an easy task.  It has been a real challenge to get them to agree on anything and camp starts on Monday.  It will definitely be different then the Balaken camp!! Now the next challenge is my school site.  I was transferred to the Russia school here in Zaqatala but  I was told they were going to do some remodeling (no problem), but because of the earthquake and the damage that it cause they decided to tear it down and build a new one. See pictures.

Russian School

Russian School

This means it won't be ready in time for the new school year in September.  So where do I go?  I was told they found a school in a village about 6 km (3 miles) from Zaqatala. The housing coordinator came up here as I still do not have permanent housing.  But first I needed to know which school I will be teaching, so we can find the housing. We picked up the administrator from the Education Department and went to the village.  As we were driving, it was much further than 3 miles that I was told by the PM, it was more like 30 miles!! It happens to be the farthest village from Zaqatala and I kept thinking I am going to DIE this winter because it was so isolated!!  How was I going to get back into town in snow?  Well, the school was absolutely wonderful and the Director (a women) and teachers were very warm and friendly.  I felt genuinely welcome there (the first time since I been in Azerbaijan). But the problem was that they had no accommodations for me because of my medical (knee problems) situation (the PM forgot to check?).  They really tried to find me accommodations but it just wasn't available in the village.  I felt bad that I promised to send them a TEFLvolunteer from our next group that is coming in September (as if  I could promise that!!) and that volunteer doesn't need any special requirements in housing.  The Director of the school knew a school in Zaqatala that wanted a volunteer, so this became a win, win situation (thank you God, I didn't have to live in a remote village!!).   So the next day, we picked up the Education Department administrator again and went to that school.  A new school just on the outskirts of Zaqatala, built by the oil company (about a 25 minute walk from the square).  I was welcomed again and there were 5 English teachers there to greet me.  They were very excited and so was I. Okay, now the last bit of my challenge where do I live.  The family that I am staying, son-in-law has a apartment that needs a lot of work (again, a lot of work), but they are willing to rent it to me (and do the remodeling to make it livable, I hope) for 140 manates not including utilities.  They could easily rent it for 150-170 here as the earthquake damaged a lot of homes and people need temporary housing. But a big problem is that we (PC volunteers) are only allotted 120 (at the most) for housing (about $93 dollars), so the additional 20 manates for rent will comes out of my living expense and utilities (also out of my living expense) which will run about 20-30 manates in summer and I do not know in winter but a lot more.  I am extremely frustrated as the staff receives a good salary and all accommodation expenses paid for, but we as volunteers (who without us they would not have a job) who are out here volunteering have to live in housings that is less than acceptable because we are not given adequate living allowance.  They do not want us living in independent housing, but for some, like me, it just doesn't work with a host family (as you know, I've had 3).  So our allotment is the same as the volunteers who lives with a host family, but the volunteer who is with the host family does not paid for utilities, or food  because that is included. So again, I have to budget the money that is given to me to make it last for the month, and that is an added stress.   I have talked with several of the volunteers and their parents (either visiting or on SKYPE) and I was told that they had to send money (to the volunteers) because there is just not enough money to live on or have any extras.  I do not have that luxury of receiving money from home and we as volunteers should not have to receive outside monies to live on.  This is extremely different than the first time that I was in the Peace Corps.  For those who don't know, I was in the Czech Republic from 1995-97, the last group of volunteers before the Czech Republic entered the European Union.  I am told it is difference now, and I understand that but I believe that we shouldn't have to struggle to make ends meet.  Independent housing should not be penalize because we chose to live by ourselves. I didn't have this problem in the Czech Republic as my living accommodations was safe and healthy.  I had enough money to buy healthy food and clothes if needed.  Here, there is no way that I have extra for clothing, fortunately volunteers that are leaving gave me warm clothes and I have been sent warm clothes from home. I do economize, I only eat chicken and I buy it every other week, but now once I move it will be more like once a month.  This in my opinion is a bad reflection on Peace Corps management. We are also expected to help out at camps throughout the regions but are not reimburse for food, travel or any misc. expenses.  So last week at Balaken camp I paid 30 manates (travel, food and staying at a volunteer's I helped pay for utilities, which is only fair) for that priveledge. I just pray that everything will work out.  Oh, one last challenge is that I was walking to the Bazaar today and I didn't see a small but deep pot hole in the road, my foot caught in it and I fell hard, twisting my ankle pretty bad.  Fortunately, my friend at the wedding palace had ice (I think the only place in Azerbijan that does!!) and I iced it for 5 hours.  So now my added challenge this week is a sprain ankle.  God sure loves me but I'm not sure what his plan is!!


Life Challenge: It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf... Walter Lippmann