Q: Turk-what?
A: Turkmenistan, not to be confused with Turkey or any of the other "stans"
Q: Where is that?
A: On the border of Iran and Afghanistan. (It also borders Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea)
Q: Gulp.
A: Turkmenistan is relatively safe as there is a mountain range separating it from Iran and Afghanistan, and the government is very proud of their neutrality in global affairs.
Q: Are they Arab?
A: No, they are Turkmen.
Q: Are they Muslim?
A: Yes, the vast majority of Turkmen are Sunni Muslim with about 3% of the population Russian Orthodox. I've read that their practice of Islam is mixed with the animism of their ancestors and is less strict (e.g. many drink alcohol, eat pork, etc.)
Q: Will you have to wear a burqa?
A: No, nor a hijab or any other head covering, except probably if and when I go to Orthodox services or visit a mosque.
Q: What language do they speak?
A: Turkmen. It's a Turkic language, related to Turkish, Uzbek, Kazakh, Azeri and Kyrgyz. (The same way Spanish is a Romance language and related to Italian, French, Portuguese and Romanian). I'll get intense language training for three months when I'm over there. Because Turkmenistan was once part of the Soviet Union, I may have to learn some Russian depending on where I'm placed.
Q: Where in Turkmenistan will you be?
A: I don't know. All the volunteers will be training in the capital, Ashgabat, for three months, after which time we will be assigned our locations throughout the country for our service.
Q: Will you have phone/Internet?
A: Again, I don't know. It will depend on where I'm stationed. It seems like most of the volunteers there now have access to the Internet at least once a week. But don't worry if you don't see me posting regularly while I'm abroad. My wish is to be placed somewhere where I can so I can fulfill the third goal of PC, which is to educate Americans about other countries, but again, there are no guarantees. Phone, I'll probably get a cell phone in-country but only use it for in-country.
Q: Can I send you mail?
A: Yes, and I BEG you to do so, as I'm sure it will help with homesickness. Keep in mind that letters and packages can take up to 4 weeks to arrive (so you could send some now even though I'm not there yet) and some may not make it at all. Expect packages to be opened by postal workers, so as much as you might want to, don't send me diamond jewelry or wads of cash. Send to:
Maresha Mead, PCT
U.S. Peace Corps/Turkmenistan
PO Box 258, Krugozor
Central Post Office
Ashgabat, 744000
TURKMENISTAN
This may change after training. If so, I'll post new contact info then.
Q: What will your living arrangements be like?
A: I will be living with a host family. They may or may not have children. They may or may not have indoor plumbing. They may or may not have goats and camels. They may or may not speak any English. I am entering the great unknown.
These are the most common questions. If you have others, please ask. I'm sure other people are wondering the same thing. Understand I'll have better answers once I get over there, but I've been doing some research ahead of time and can make good guesses about things.