The New Adventures of Amy and Tom

Tom, Amy and Annie singing the U.S. National Anthem at the Peace Corps Swear in Ceremony.

We both did just fine on our final tests, and we both 'swore in' on Friday as Peace Corps Volunteers. The ceremony was very nice and quite official. Interesting fact: We raised our right hands on stage and took preportedly the same oath the President of the United States takes when sworn into office. I'm not sure if this is true, but it started with: " I Tom Schreiber, do solomenly swear to uphold and defend the Consitution of the United States..."

Friday evening we traveled to Kutaisi and we've been settling in, unpacking, and enjoying time with the host family since.

Amy Now:

Tom's been getting all the fun of posting lately!!! I don't have much to add. We're getting to know our neighbors and neighborhood in Kutaisi. I spent this afternoon writing out the recipe as my host mother made a really fantastic cake. My host brother spent the afternoon jumping in and out of the blow up kiddie pool in the driveway as it's REALLY hot here.

Tom is working at his NGO and on Wednesday I will actually be starting to run a summer English camp with sitemate Lyssa at her school, and then the following week at my school. I'll try to post some pictures of what that looks like!

Love you all, thanks for keeing in touch with comments and emails.

Congrats!!!

Happy Graduation (a few days late)!!! Since you both took the Oath of Office, should we be calling you President Tom and President Amy? When you come home again, we'll be sure to have "Hail to the Chief" playing! :) We are all very proud of you for becoming proficient in a difficult language so quickly - as well as for many other reasons :) Love you!

O.K. This photo made me cry. I am so very proud of you both and I miss you. Love, Mom

Pozdravlaiu Amy and Tom! Congratulations on making it through training. I hope you enjoy your first few months at site and especially the first bell ceremony at Amy's school coming up on September 1st. I'm looking forward to more dispatches.

You both sound like you are having the time of your lives. We are very excited for you and proud of you. How do you pronounce Kutaisi? You should post the recipe for the "fantastic cake" and we will make it for Thanksgiving and that way you can share the holiday with all of us. Check your email for a newsy personal letter. Love you both..Aunt Cathy and Uncle Mark

Hey there,

We met briefly when I was in Kutaisi a few months ago. You put me in touch with Andy at Urban Institute. Anyway, in case you're interested, I've stuck some of the photos I took in Kutaisi online at the following URL:

http://www.oneworld.am/photojournalism/kutaisi/

Please pass on the url to Andy as some of the photos are of IDPs I visited with him. Anyway, if ever you're in Armenia give me a shout.

Cheers and greetings from Yerevan,
Onnik