Seems like months have passed, yet it was only two weeks ago that the call came in from Peace Corps for all Uzbekistan volunteers to go into "stand fast" mode, which means to stay at site and to limit movements between home and work. I had just met with two NGOs in Nukus for a possible reassignment, ready to finish out my ten months of service in the wild wild west desert of Karakalpakistan - a very short-lived arrangement since another call came in the very next day to pack our bags and head into Tashkent to be evacuated out of the country two days later.
It was a smooth, expedient exit full of mixed emotions and uncertainty which quickly turned into the reality of being back in the United States for our "close of service" conference - three days of information overload and signatures - and we were sent off as RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers). I get to keep that acronym for life.
Next steps?...family visits, the open road...then check our Foreign Service exam scores at the end of July, some resume writing, job searching...
It's only been two weeks.
