Sag Ol Azerbaijan

Thank you for the kindness, hospitality, and love. You have enriched my life and made me a better person.

Business Development Facilitator

According to my Volunteer Assignment Description, my job title is Business Development Facilitator working with an organization that is part of a local community and serving as a combination of resource specialist, trainer, skills specialist, and business advisor.

Community Economic Development

"The purpose of the CED program is to develop the capacity of businesses, counterparts, host organizations, and other community members in Azerbaijan by providing training and advice in business skills, technical expertise, and access to free market activities. The program is oriented towards building management and associated operational capacity to achieve sound economic gains."

Invited to Azerbaijan!

Just got my invite in the mail for Community Economic Development in Azerbaijan this June. I'm excited about the assignment, but also anxious about what the living conditions might be like. As a little tidbit, the Azeri language uses the Latin alphabet and is related to Turkish. WOW, this will be a real adventure!

Peace Corps Update

Well, i got my Dental and Legal Clearance updated and I'm just waiting for my new invite. I'm expecting a June invite to Eastern Europe for a Business Development assignment. That'll make it 2+ years since I started my app. As it turns out, the delay is all for the better.

The Qwest for MCI is over.

After a dogged pursuit for MCI over the past 3 months, my company finally pulled out after MCI spurned our latest ~$10B bid in favor of Verizon's ~$8.5B bid. I will move forward with Peace Corps on my own timeline. I'm looking at departing in the first half of next year.

Delaying Peace Corps.

I made my decision and declined the China invite. I will figure out next steps after the Q/MCI/VZ saga ends. I'm just letting events unfold and going with the flow. If Qwest wins the bid, I will stay for another 12 months. If not, I will depart whenever. Either way, I will move forward with selling my home this summer.