This will be a quick update with no pictures.
We arrived in Azerbaijan on Tuesday at 21:05. We were in our pretraining hotel by midnight. We slept very well after 13 hours in airplanes and 8 hours in airports.
We have begun our Preservice Training and are able to introduce ourselves, count to a million, and know most of the alphabet. The language will be difficult, but we will make it.
There are 61 Trainees. On Saturday we move to our host families and training communities. Linda and I will be able to stay with the same family, but I will have to travel about 10 minutes by bus each day for my language and program pratical training.
Our training hotel is right on the Caspian Sea, but we have not had time to even walk along the beach yet. The weather has been warm, but rainy and windy.
Saturday is the big event, moving to our host family.
Internet availability is on and off here at the hotel, and will probably less available in the next few weeks.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
On to Azerbaijan
Our staging is complete, and we are about to leave the hotel for JFK. During our instructions last night we were told that we would not have internet or phone privileges for about 2 weeks at least.
Our feelings - we are ready and excited to become members of the Peace Corps and Azerbaijan family. We are both confident and scared. We want to be good representatives of you the citizens of the United States, the Peace Corps, and we want to both contribute and be a part of Azerbaijan.
Denney and Linda - on to our new home.
Our feelings - we are ready and excited to become members of the Peace Corps and Azerbaijan family. We are both confident and scared. We want to be good representatives of you the citizens of the United States, the Peace Corps, and we want to both contribute and be a part of Azerbaijan.
Denney and Linda - on to our new home.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Staging begins
Linda and I have arrived safely in Philadelphia. Linda said as the plane lifted off in KC, "This is the beginning of a new era for us."
We met many wonderful people. Presently there are 63 people here for the staging. We leave Monday for Azerbaijan.
We met many wonderful people. Presently there are 63 people here for the staging. We leave Monday for Azerbaijan.
Friday, September 19, 2008
We are leaving for PA in less than 24 hours
The last of our goodbyes is tonight. We plan to have supper with Matt and Andrew, then Barry Bohlman will take us to the airport at 4:15 a.m. on Saturday 9/20.
We have had a wonderful time getting ready with our trips to Texas and up to Maine. We have had many great times renewing friendships as we prepare for our service in the Peace Corps.
This posting is to express our gratitude to all of you who have demonstrated your love, friendship and care for us. Anytime you acknowledge special people there is the danger of leaving someone out, and we deeply regret anyone we failed to mention.
First, our thanks to all our family and friends in Texas for the wonderful visits and opportunities this past summer.
A special appreciation to Edna Smith for her generous gift of allowing us to live in her home while she traveled. We gave possession of our home on 9/8 and have lived at Edna's until today.
It is wonderful how people have shown ways to participate with us in serving the Peace Corps. Lyle and LaVerna Baker will be taking care of business stateside. John and Wanda Foster have donated storage space for all our memories and special keepsakes. Words fail us in expressing appreciation.
To all the churches, Hopewell, Freeman, and Archie who have hosted us these past weeks and with your promise of prayerful support, we are thankful. To Frank and Joeann Saunders, Chuck and Linda Logue who each housed us for a few nights, you made our visits special.
Dave and Sandy Cole, Barry and Laurie Bohlman, gave us a special night of food and friendship. Linda and my fellow workers who have met us for lunch or refreshment, to say goodbye, and to reflect on our past accomplishments - that will keep us going!
We are ready to go. We are going to try and post on the blog from Philadelphia and New York, and then when we can from Azerbaijan to let you know how our trip is progressing.
Matt, Andrew, and John, it's up to you to keep me posted on our beloved Dallas Cowboys.
God bless you all.
We have had a wonderful time getting ready with our trips to Texas and up to Maine. We have had many great times renewing friendships as we prepare for our service in the Peace Corps.
This posting is to express our gratitude to all of you who have demonstrated your love, friendship and care for us. Anytime you acknowledge special people there is the danger of leaving someone out, and we deeply regret anyone we failed to mention.
First, our thanks to all our family and friends in Texas for the wonderful visits and opportunities this past summer.
A special appreciation to Edna Smith for her generous gift of allowing us to live in her home while she traveled. We gave possession of our home on 9/8 and have lived at Edna's until today.
It is wonderful how people have shown ways to participate with us in serving the Peace Corps. Lyle and LaVerna Baker will be taking care of business stateside. John and Wanda Foster have donated storage space for all our memories and special keepsakes. Words fail us in expressing appreciation.
To all the churches, Hopewell, Freeman, and Archie who have hosted us these past weeks and with your promise of prayerful support, we are thankful. To Frank and Joeann Saunders, Chuck and Linda Logue who each housed us for a few nights, you made our visits special.
Dave and Sandy Cole, Barry and Laurie Bohlman, gave us a special night of food and friendship. Linda and my fellow workers who have met us for lunch or refreshment, to say goodbye, and to reflect on our past accomplishments - that will keep us going!
We are ready to go. We are going to try and post on the blog from Philadelphia and New York, and then when we can from Azerbaijan to let you know how our trip is progressing.
Matt, Andrew, and John, it's up to you to keep me posted on our beloved Dallas Cowboys.
God bless you all.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Celebrating Christmas On Labor Day
We gathered together as a family to have Christmas before we leave for Azerbaijan.
Matthew, Andrew, Linda, and I had a "traditional" Christmas dinner at Abuelos Mexican Restaurant. Afterwards we opened presents. It was a wonderful time.
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