Clearance

So today I go in for my PPA (PPD? something with a big P). And I'm kinda excited. Do you enjoy pain? Not so much. Do you have a crush on one of the nurses? They took my blood how can you like someone that does that?

After I get this done (and measured on Wednesday) I'll only have eye paperwork to fill out for clearance. Ahhhh the sweet sweet thought of being done with paperwork. Well thats if they don't require any more medical work. Lets hope not.

On a sad note my once prevalent saying of "Don Johnson told me that my balls are okay" has run lame. So sad. I enjoyed saying it for the fun factor and the odd looks. Alas there was a time limit.

On an even sadder note (possibly happier note?) I learned today that I'll probably be invited to Azerbaijan and not the Republic of Georgia......wait a minute....you lied to us!!!

No my faithful readers I've not. Alas I was under the impression from my recruiter the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Georgia (ie the Caucus region). When I repreated Azerbaijan and the Republic of Georgia to him he said "don't forget Armenia". So I ASSUMED (yes I know what that means) that it would be Armenia. Turns out he has no clue. Then I met someone on Yahoo! (note the exclamation mark...don't want that to get confused for regular Yahoo) that has the same nomination heard they were starting up a pilot program in ROG (got tired of spelling it out...besides I've that its the way PCVs refer to it). So I thought ROG was it. I mean here's a source. Well she must've lied or gotten some bad info (or got lied to but thats not a real option...probably got lied to but who's counting correctness here?). I got in my email from said Yahoo! from another group I joined recently the PeaceCorpsEEandCA (which doesn't happen to be very active....yet....) or maybe it was CIRPCA...anyway. A PCV in Azerbaijan posted about a new pilot program for Azerbaijan was starting next summer. Ahhh I fit that category AND that region. Man it seemed like a sign. Then she said that it was for Youth Development. BING BING BING!!!

So now I get to meet some Azeris (as I have learned from Wikipedia that they go by this), eat some caviar, and plan on learning a difficult language. But on a bright side a lot of people can understand it. Weird...I know. In some places its called Turki or Turkmen. Its spoken in northern Iran, Azerbaijan (duh), ROG, parts of Russia, eastern Turkey, and some parts of Western Europe. Chance of using that ability for the government later on? Lets hope.

On a really sad note I've met two highly educated people that didn't know where the Caucus Mts (or Black and Caspian Seas) were. No not my parents. No not some friends (although I met some people over the weekend that had no idea either). My dentist and Don Johnson (MD not Tubbs' best friend).

Its unfortunate but the best way I give directions is to say "if you know where Chechnya is then go south a bit" or "look at Ukraine...go south to the Black Sea and go right". Telling a doctor that makes me feel smart. :-)