Sept
28 2001
I'm home. We were evacuated. So was Peace Corps Turkmenistan
and Kyrgyzstan. PC Kazakhstan will probably leave in the near
future too. Don't send me anymore packages or letters because
they will be returned to you. Where do I start? The last week
has been pretty crazy. We've been stressed, angry, sad, confused,
sick, etc. I could write forever about what's gone on in our lives,
but I won't. I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm in America,
although I really don't want to be here.
I'm in Potomac, MD right now at a leadership conference center
run by the US Postal Service. I arrived last night. We're going
through a 5-7 day (maybe longer) readjustment/transition conference
in which the Peace Corps talks to us about all sorts of things
ranging from reassignment to money matters to mental and emotional
stress.
Most of you probably got my last e-mail (Saturday), in which
I assured you that everything was safe and our lives and programs
were continuing as usual. I wrote that none of us really believed
we would leave. All that was true. Five minutes after I sent out
that e-mail, I found out we were going to evacuate. Everything
after that just sucked. Emotions went crazy. Our Uzbek friends
and families were very sad, and they didn't understand why we
had to leave. And at the time, neither did we. We've been fed
a lot of rumors and un-truths about our evacuation and everything
else. A lot is being clarified for us now, but we already have
a grudge.
I have a lot more to say, but I'm really tired. I apologize
if I sound angry, but everything is very confusing and difficult
right now. I should be back in Chicago late next week. If anyone
knows where I can get a job, let me know.
I would love to talk to some of you, but I have a phone card
with about 25 minutes left on it. So if anyone has a chance, give
me a call. The number is (301) 983-7000. My room is D415. I would
love to talk to any American who is not from Peace Corps and who
has no connection to Central Asia. I need to get my mind onto
other things.
In any case, I'll probably talk to many of you once I get home
. Okay, so bottom line: I'm back in America. I have no idea what
I'm going to do or where I'm going to be in the next few months
or years.
I have more to write, but I'm tired.
-Sofia
