Trust in Allah...

...but tie your camel.

That's how my Peace Corps service began - with an proverb ice-breaker game where two people with halves of proverbs had to find each other among the crowd of 65 Peace Corps Trainees in Philadelphia bound for Uzbekistan. I thought it a fitting start to my journey.

Since arriving, we've been staying at a hotel / fertility clinic / homeless shelter (don't ask, because I really don't know exactly what it is) while we receive briefings on medical services, Peace Corps policies, and take language and cultural classes. I must say I've been really impressed by the quality of medical care available to me and the ability of the language and cultural training staff. They really know their stuff. The rooms are actually pretty nice and we get three huge meals a day in the cafeteria - almost every dish involves meat, potatoes, and tea - plus two coffee/tea breaks with snacks. I've met some amazing people from all walks of life - ages 70 to 22, married and single, those who have traveled all over the world and those who have never been out of their home state, but all of them with a good head on their shoulders and hearts in the right place. On Friday, Jan 28, we all move out of this place and in with our as-yet-to-be-named host families for the rest of training. I think that's when the true Peace Corps experience begins. Right now it feels a little like a summer camp - I spend most of my time with Americans speaking English, which is fun but not ultimately what I came here to do.

Still no word yet on what I'll be doing or where I'll be going at training's completion in April.

Will write more when I get the chance and have some tales to tell about Uzbek culture

The Final Update

[I've decided to retroactively add my "pre-blog" email updates sent from Uzbekistan to this blog. I think this should allow folks (just like you, or perhaps completely different from you - but folks nonetheless) to get a little background on my experience. Others will follow in similarly titled posts, but here's the first one:]


Hey All,
So here's the final email before the big move. I leave Jan 16 for my staging area in Philadelphia. On Jan 18, I'll board a plane at JFK bound for Istanbul, Turkey and ultimately Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This last week in New Jersey promises to be full of attempts to pack as much stuff as possible into two bags and as much food as possible into one stomach.

During my initial 11 weeks in country, the other new volunteers and I will live with host families while we learn about the local culture and how to speak Uzbek and (hopefully) a little Russian. After that, we'll split up to go to our various as-yet-to-be-named locations and officially begin our 2-year assignment. I'll move in with a new host family in a new city/village, at least for the first 3 months. After that, if there are places available for rent, I may move out on my own or stay on with my host family for the remainder of my assignment.

My mailing address during the first 11 weeks will be:
UZBEKISTAN, 700015 Tashkent
4 Turkestanskaya Street
c/o "Halqaro Pochtamt"
Attn: "Bradley Dakake"

[If you're feeling particularly adventuresome, you can print out the attached Cyrillic version of the above address, tape it to your envelope instead of the English version, and then (in theory) your letter will reach me sooner - just make sure you write "UZBEKISTAN" in English somewhere on the envelope.]

I'll send out my post-training address once I get it. But in the meantime, think how by sending me a letter, you can impress your friends - not to mention your postal worker - when you receive letters back from Uzbekistan. Talk about incentive... I'll probably have intermittent access to phone and email, though there's no guarantee and I think they're relatively expensive - besides, letters are more fun and only take about 3 weeks each way. As mail can be held up by the occasional labor strike, lazy mail donkeys, or big events like the local postal worker's niece's birthday party, please date your letters (and I'll do the same).

During these past weeks and months, I've had the chance to see many of you to say "See you later," and I truly appreciate all the well-wishing I've received and I wish it right back atcha. See you in 2.5 years, though if anyone wants to visit you're most welcome (really). I hear Uzbekistan is lovely in the spring...

ps - Many of you have asked me where exactly Uzbekistan is, so there's a map of the region attached as well.