Departing my SF post

Novels, biographies, text books, all upside-down and sideways. In shelves and on the floor, I'm packing them to sell, donate and keep for my own library. It's hard, though. As it will be difficult to sell and donate clothes, furniture, knick-knacks--what the hell do I do with the Hawaiian barrel penis man and his standing partner, the carved two-inch boot? Both were given to me by good friends, and on their merit I'd like to keep them. But most everything in this room has got to go.
On June 24, 2007 I depart for Republic of Azerbaijan. There I will spend two years teaching English to 9 to 16 year-olds. It is the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) program with which Peace Corps supplies countries, to help in the way of development for business and education. My program will be in a village, most likely, and will include at least a couple other PC members, I hope.
What I know about Azerbaijan so far is as much as the guidebook (one of two on this country) and my PC packet has told me. It is cold. The electricity is sporatic. Women get harassed--constantly. I have to wear a skirt below the knees on the job, and most likely at home too. The wind goes at it Chicago-style. Mutton, the flesh of full grown sheep, is a staple food.
But see, the people, I am told, are deeply, deeply kind and hospitable. And I hear that there is a tropical region bordering Iran, where fruits and nuts are bought and sold and sent all around the country. And hell, the wind makes wearing skirts slightly more eventful. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Amber, Max, Shannon, Lisa and John, Carly and fam, Roseann, Crystal and the team, cousins and good friends, perhaps strangely, but more truly, I am looking forward to it.

Keep watching this blog. I'll update it, as I pack, then as I depart, and as often as I can in the AZ.