As some of you may already know, I'm quitting my job, moving out of my apartment, leaving my family and friends behind, giving up all the comforts and conveniences of Western life and departing the fair city of Vancouver all within the next few days. People I've told inquire why I'm doing all this and have posed many other questions. So, I figure I'd share just some of these questions and my answers to them.
Where are you going?
Tajikistan
Where??!?!
Ta-ji-ki-stan.
It is a is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia and shares its borders with Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east. With a population of 7 million Tajikistan is considered one of the poorest former Soviet Union countries in Central Asia. It suffered from a civil war in 1991 but is now a relatively stable republic with a slowing developing economy and government.
Why on earth would you go there?
I'm crazy.... Well, perhaps a little. However, I've always enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, and have had a desire to gain some experience in international development work. My girlfriend, Anne, is currently in Tajikistan doing a nine-month internship with the Aga Khan Network assisting with a monitoring and evaluation project. So I figured this would be the best opportunity for me to scratch this itch of mine. Ironically, before Anne was offered this internship I told her that I'd be willing to join her pretty much anywhere in the world except for Iraq and any of the "Stan" countries. Well, here I am, leaving for Tajikistan!
What will you be doing there?
I will be volunteering for six months with a micro-finance organization called kiva.org where I will be helping Kiva build better relations with a local micro-finance organization in Tajikistan. I will be meeting ordinary Tajiks on a daily basis who are seeking micro-finance loans to help support their expanding small-businesses. I will get to interview these local entrepreneurs, most of whom are poor and are unable to access traditional credit. I will post their profiles on http://www.kiva.org/ in hopes that ordinary lenders like you and I will contribute to a loan, which will help improve their quality of life and economic well-being.
Are you excited to be going?
I am excited but it hasn't fully hit me yet since I've been extremely busy making last minute arrangements, learning Russian, and trying to pack 6 months worth of my life into a hockey bag (it's a new bag so it doesn't stink, thank you very much). I think once I get on that plane and can't turn back, it will sink in.
As I will need to post updates on Kiva's website on a weekly basis so hopefully I will be able to provide updates on my adventures and post some pictures. So if you're interested, please come back to read and feel free to post comments/questions. I would love to hear from everyone!
