Conflict In Georgia & Pre-Departure Information

Emma and I leave for Azerbaijan in just under a month and 1/2. The weeks leading up to our departure will be hectic so this post is a quick attempt to answer possible questions and address likely concerns.

We are keeping an extremely watchful eye on the situation between Russia and Georgia as Azerbaijan borders both countries. We haven't heard anything that would make us believe it will affect our departure... but anything is possible. Here is a link to the Peace Corps press release addressing the situation:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1364

We will be sure to update our status if we hear of any changes.

Here is our most up-to-date departure schedule.

September 5th is our last day of work. September 12 we leave Belleville for Atlanta, Uhaul and all. September 20th we should head from Atlanta to pre-departure staging and then on the 23rd we will take off for Azerbaijan. We have yet to receive any information on where staging will be held but we are hoping for New York or Philly. I really want to see Yankee Stadium before it is gone...

Once we leave Atlanta, contact will be rather limited. I plan to cancel our phones the week of the 15th and I assume email access will be hard to come by during staging. When we arrive in Azerbaijan we will receive cell phones but it is unlikely that we will be able to call home, all that often. We should be able to receive international calls and from what I hear, there is a decent cell network. However, email (as difficult as it may be to access) is probably going to be the best option.

For those who wish to use snail mail (this option was once reserved for/dominated by my Grandma Akins but as she is off somewhere bigger and better I am ready for the next all-star to step up... who might it be... mom?) here is our address.

The first 3 months we are in Azerbaijan we can be reached at:

“Emma and Mathias Jackson,” PCT
AZ 1000
Main P.O. Box 77
Peace Corps
Baku, Azerbaijan

Once we move to our permanent location we will post that address, but for now this is what we have.

Emma probably has tons more to add, but for now I am done.

-Mathias