I am trying to access a variable that is return from the "success" setting from an $.ajax call. I am not sure how to do this. I have attached the code below. Maybe there i a different way to get this variable?

2. $( function( $ ){
3. 
   
4. var xmlPath = '/site_media/xml/regions.xml';
5. var regionMap;
7. function parseXml( xml ){
8. var map = {};
9. $( xml )
10. .find( 'region' )
11. .each( function(){
13. var regionName = $( this ).find( 'regionName' ).text();
14. var manager = $( this ).find( 'manager' ).text();
15. var phone = $( this ).find( 'phone' ).text();
16. var email = $( this ).find( 'email' ).text();
18. map[ regionName ] = {
20. 'regionName' : regionName,
21. 'manager' : manager,
22. 'phone' : phone,
23. 'email' : email
24. };
27. }
29. );
30. return map;
31. }
32. //get the xml
33. options = {
34. type: 'GET',
35. url: xmlPath,
36. dataType: 'xml',
37. success: function(data){
38. //NEED ACCESS TO THIS VARIABLE!!!
39. regionMap = parseXml( data );
41. },
42. error: function(){
44. alert( 'Could not load XML file for contact');
46. }
47. };
49. $.ajax(options);
50.       
51.       // NO GO :(
52.       alert( regionMap.Central );
53. });