Seriously...I am too cool.

I am super duper famous now. Check out this link: http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/returned/hotline/current.pdf

Happy Birthdays

Happy Birthday to:

ME!!! (and Mathais)

(Well, first Liana Rose and Jessica)

And then to Meghan, Regina, Mom, and Erik!

Some of you may know, or since you have received that automated message, that I am traveling around the Ukraine until September 16th. I have several blog posts scheduled, so do not worry about getting some fun material between now and then and of course, after I return to Azerbaijan.

Until then, happy birthday to all you virgos out there!

Top 15 for Under 15

Okay guys, I am at it again. Remember that list I made last time I was in Nome for National Literacy Day? The Top 50 Books A High School Student Should Read Prior to College [link]? Well, since I have been hanging out in Nome, I decided to read all 7 Harry Potter books in 7 days (not the smartest idea I have ever had, but...). I love reading - I think it is the best thing on the planet and I fear that the last few months I have put my pleasure reading on hold. Now that I gots some time, I hit up our local library and who did I run into but the librarian?! Twenty minutes later I had agreed to write up a list of young adult books (YA) that were appropriate for young young adults. If I can inspire some young kid to pick up a book this summer just by helping our library meet their reading needs...then...awesome.

So...what better place to figure out the best list for young people than my blog? So???

What are the top 15 books for youth under the age of 15? Leave me a comment with your list! Let's get us some summer readin' going on!

GRADUATED!

So, I sent a package...

And it never arrived at its location. This has happened to me twice now. Seriously. Have I forgotten how to write addresses?

Anyway, sorry Brad . Inshallah, when I come to visit AK I can get this to you.

Which brings me to my next point, another package sent from the US to me has been lost :( As much as this sadnesses me, I am still all about the love, so...shameless plug for Mail Instructions (located on my menu bar). PCVs love mail. It does not matter if it is a Hallmark card or a 20 lbs box packed to the brim with Oreos and coffee. We love mail. Anything you send will probably get used, hoarded, shared, eaten, enjoyed, you name it - it will probably happen. That is the life of a PCV.

Tangent - Counterpart's Peace Corps Comments

Quick side note to my video series, To Peace Corps With Love:

Check out my counterpart's blog post about Peace Corps in her community.
It made me smile.

http://konul88.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/peace-corps-in-zaqatala/

Happy 50 years Peace Corps!

And this is why we serve...

Today this popped up on my sweet Mac Twitter app. It was from a former counterpart and friend who moved to Turkey at the beginning of the school year. I definitely feel all warm in fuzzy inside today :) Way to go us!

@eayna İ got new work in american culture society ! thanks to Peace corpus volunteer 4 they education how 2 teach!!Löki Jessica and others!! love u

I love social media (well, all except for Facebook...still not on it).

ReTWEET!

Okay, family, friends, fans...I have a request.

Can you please please please retweet me [link]? It's the tweet about Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams being invited to Come On Jon Stewart...

But if you cannot find my tweet, just cut and copy this:

50th Anniversary PCV present! Calling on @TheDailyShow to invite #PeaceCorps Dir. Aaron Williams to #ComeOnJonStewart on March 1st!

!! Yippie !!

PS March 1st is Peace Corps 50th Anniversary...and I love Jon Stewart (and Peace Corps), hence the request.

The Key to Great Care Packages

I know a lot of you parental units happen to be reading my blog, so I thought I would drop a bit of knowledge on you all: the key to packing the perfect care package.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “Uh, what they heck does Löki know about care packages?” Well, over my 18+ months in country, I have received a fair number of said packages. I am still speechless as to the generosity, love, care, consideration...really all of the above, that goes into a care package. I have received delicious chocolate from Europe, a Black Bean soup kit, reading glasses for older people, vacuumed sealed bacon, expired canned food, toys for kids, dictionaries, A PASTA MACHINE!, young adult novels, computer cleaning cloths, gelatin...you name it, I have received it.

This stuff is great. It puts a smile on my face and gives me new ideas. I love care packages....and I think with all the ones I have opened, I know a few things.

• Diversify. Novels are great, but sometimes a little light reading goes a long way. My ma sends crosswords, which keeps me entertained, but doesn't weight down my mind.
• Maximize space. My friend Troll is a pro at this. She uses tea and chocolate like packing peanuts.
• A taste of home goes a long way. My bestie’s mom sent me all the ingredients to make a black bean soup. I think I cried between spoonfuls.
• Holiday candy. I am not sure how that is a bullet point, but my aunt sent me a couple packages of Cadbury eggs and I LOVE[D] them.
• Don’t give up. At first, it was ridiculously hard for me to ask for things. From a PCV perspective, it's a little weird to pass out a list of “demands” (I think my ma would cringe at how some of my manners have just gone to the wayside). Care packages are amazing, but PCVs are overly aware of the huge costs that go into shipping things overseas. For us, a $50 package is equal to our monthly stipend. Unfortunately, you are gonna have to poke and prod your PCV until they tell you what they really want.
• Listen to the subtleties. PCVs talk about care packages a lot. Mostly, it is about how to ask for something without actually asking. The general consensus? We expound on the things we liked and barely mention the things that weren’t useful. It sounds weird, but that’s what most PCVs do. [Löki specific note: This does not apply to me.]

I hope this helps. Oh! Don’t forget the pictures, cards, and family newsletters. We all feel disconnected. Keep us in the loop.

FULLY FUNDED

Just a quick hello from Thailand (I am having a super wicked sweet awesome time - more on that later) to say:

THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU

My PCPP Photography Club has been fully funded. Thank you to everyone who donated, emailed helpful hints, and sent me boxes of photography things. You all are the best family that any person could ever ask for.

Zorsa! (Awesome in Avar)

Reach Out and Touch Your (Az) PCV

Got a PCV abroad and wondering how you can reach out and touch them? Just listen up and I'll give you the skinny:

Tap it out: Use AT&T International Texting [link] to contact your PCV. Texts from the US of A to Az cost $.025 a pop ($0.20 to receive). A relatively cheap way to put a smile on a PCV's face!
 Scott D tip: Use biteSMS [link], an "unofficial" iPhone application to save money.

Skype It! Skype To Go Number allows you to call an Az mobile for dimes on the minute.
Löki T tip: My ma calls me once a week for 10 minutes. Not only does make me feel more connected and supported, but it gives me an opportunity to say, "I love you!"

Chat services make the world go round! Use Google Chat, Jabber, AOL, MobileMe, that weird duck program Liana put on my computer... Chatting is free, easy and can often be done while reading online news sources or typing up emails. A PCV's life is a multitasking one.
Liana T tip: Arrange a chat "date" with your PCV! That way, you are talking computer to computer and it is free!

*For Az PCVs, AT&T seems to be the only carrier that carries text messages over this way.

Thanks Sharon

A few weeks ago, I published a blog post about homesickness. At first, I was scared to write the blog. What if people did not understand that even though I love my service, there are days where I contemplate returning home and hugging every person in sight? What if people thought I was whining? What if once I wrote it, it became even more true and I ended up ETing?

Even with all these questions, I still wrote the post. My service is about the good, the bad, the frustrating, and the funny. It is about how to navigate the Peace Corps system and expectations. It is about being an American overseas who wants to help, but isn't sure how. It is about everything that goes into international development.

At any rate, at the end of that post, I mentioned a taste of home would go a long way for easing my hurt and lo and behold, Sharon (and Mark!) sent that taste to me. Even though the cereal and soy milk (and coffee) were fantastic, it was the reminder that even though a huge body of water separates us, I am still connected to each and every one of you. That makes my heart smile.

A Darn Good Birthday

For those who know me, my birthday is the biggest holiday in the book. I love it. I love being surrounded by my family and friends. I love birthday cake (preferably chocolate) and cooking related presents. I love sitting in my kitchen and enjoying countless cups of coffee and talking the afternoon away. I really love my birthday.

That's why, when I woke up at 5 a.m. Thursday morning, I was deflated. I was sad that my birthday was going to eek by without so much as a nod to signify the day. I was scared of spending my first birthday away from my home, my Team, and my family.

And what happened? I had one of the best birthday of my 26 years.

My sister called and we chatted for hours. My awesome site mate Amy showed up and we sat, drank coffee and chatted. Amy made a delicious flourless chocolate cake (really chocolatey) and we gorged ourselves on chocolate and fresh blackberries. My host family threw me a surprise birthday bash with all my extended Azerbaijani family and a few other PC friends. Amy brought her computer and we watched a cooking show. Overall, it was spectacular.

I could never have asked for a better birthday.

An Answer to a Prayer

It finally happened. It really did. And now I own it!

I watched the Star Trek movie.

It was good. I liked it. I mean, I obviously have my comments and my rantings as a die-hard trekkie, but, for purely entertainment purposes, it was okay.

However, I am upset how this influences some major TNG points - least of which, the relationship between Captain Picard, Spock and Sarek.

At any rate, thanks Jesse for the movie!

Birthday No!

Please do not send me a birthday gift. I have another request (a donation to my Z'Photo Photography Club partnership grant) that will post in a few weeks (I am working on the grant with several young girls, so it is a learning process of how to write a grant and is taking a bit of time).

!

Watching Things I Never Would Have Watched Before

Should I also mention I am watching all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

If I do, will someone take pity on me and send me Deadlist Catch?

Mailin' It

I have been getting emails with mail questions, so I thought I would post a few helpful tips, along with another plug for my handy information packed link (located in the left-hand column for quick access) entitled Mail Instructions [link].

1. Your address contains funny letters: Yes. It does. As you may have guessed, the Azerbaijan alphabet contains non-English letters. At least it is not Cyrillic.
2. What is the best shipping method: International Flat Rate mailer. Go to your post office and check out their sweet stand.There are many sizes of envelopes and boxes for a range of prices. The mailers are free (you pay for them in the shipping costs).
3. Did you get my letter/ package: If you do not receive some sort of confirmation from me, probably not.
4. Did your address change: Yes. It did. It will be my address for the next 2 years.
5. Is there anything specific you would like: Yes! There is a pretty comprehensive list going on under Mail Instructions [link], but when in doubt, send dark chocolate and sauce mix packets.
6. Wow! Shipping is expensive: Yes, it is. Packages are awesome (really awesome), but I understand if it is out of your price range (it is definitely out of mine!). Send me emails, collaborate with others to reduce shipping costs, send me a holiday card. I really just want to know what is going on with you!

Did I miss anything?

An Ode to Family & Friends

I would write this in prose, but two in a row (see previous post) is a bit much!

At any rate, I want to thank everyone who has sent me a card, a package, a wedding invitation, an email or good mojo & thoughts!

I know I am only 4 months into service and will probably appreciate these things way more around month 18 or so, but right now, I cannot express how great it feels to get an “update” email from a friend back home (packed with gossip, of course) or a holiday card with pictures of a cute baby all over it.

It really means a lot.

It is incredible how separated you can feel when you are thousands of miles away and you know all your friends and family’s lives are moving on without you. Just the chance to take a glimpse back into all yours is worth every internet minute and gepik at the post office.

P.S. And special thanks to my dad (Lew Tobin), my mom (Lydia Harris) and my sister (Liana Rose Tobin) for sending countless boxes, the “oh! crap, I forgot” things, and chocolate.

If you think I am weird...

I keep telling people I am the most normal person in my family...this was emailed to me recently from my dad.

Sent you a box today in the Non-traditional way.

Your pad wouldn’t fit, not one little bit.
In the standard size box, which hold a lot.

So I used something other, a box I got from my brother.
I wrapped it and taped it, and its covered in love,
I hope it won’t hurt when the mail comes to shove.

Not much fit but the pad, which wasn’t so bad.
But I sent all the chocolate I had, to help cushion the pad.

There might be an occasional bauble, but I don’t see that as too much trouble.

This way you can open it with glee, you can have faces smeared with sticky sweets you see.
Just be careful of where you put the knife, if you cut wrong it will bring strife.

Work on the edges at bottom and top, but when you get a clear shot let the knife Stop.

Enjoy! Enjoy there is no foul ploy.

Express just went as far as Baku,
So I had to send it slower to you.

6-12 days they say will do.
But I can’t trust the Post office voodoo.

By now you should have the last box I sent.
I hope it had everything without dent.

I could go on all day with this old fellows’ rapp, I say.
But I should go to work so Kawerak will let me stay.

Good luck this year. I hope you good cheer.
Steer clear of any fear, hear that, my dear.

You've Got Mail

I love mail. I love letters, I love wedding invitations (sorry, but unless your name is Meghan, Sarah or Aggie, you’re out of luck on my showing up), I love holiday cards, and I do love boxes.

So, what’s up with this post? Well, it’s that time when my address changes. I’m going to post it here, but I’ve also updated my Mail Instructions link (located in the left hand column). Check it out!

Löki Gale Tobin,PCV
Mǝrkǝz: Poçt
Tǝlǝb Ƌdilǝnǝdǝk
Zaqatala, Azǝrbaycan
AZ 6200
Azerbaijan

This will be my permanent address for the next two years, so keep it handy!

And of course, here’s the answers to a couple frequently asked questions:

• Do I have to pay to pick up my mail? Moo question. Like a cow’s opinion, it doesn’t matter. I like mail (unless it is completely frivolous things....uhm Mr. Tobin).
• How long does mail take to arrive? My site mate said it’s 10 days from Oregon. Alaska, probably 2 weeks (that’s for flat rate mailers).
• Is there anything specific I would like? Yes, I’ve got a list going (located in Mail Instructions). Don’t forget the chocolate.
• How confident is the mail system in AZ? I am confident I will get my mail, however it is a good idea to insure boxes of expensive things (like parkas).
• How important is writing the address correctly? Very important. You may notice the address has a few non-English letters. If you are uncertain, please email me. There is a big difference here on an i with a dot and and an ı without a dot.

I hope that answers everything...oh, before I forget. I know a PCV who’s friend shipped bottles of their local brewery’s deliciousness...if anyone wanted to bubble wrap some Alaskan Amber, I would love you forever.