I can't use the value returned by $.post() method out of the scope of success function.

For instance in below example myvar alerted as empty even though var is alerted with a value. Besides, hide does not work in the scope of success function.

I appreciate any help/workaround. 

Thanks..

var myvar = "";

$.post("somepage.php", {first: "1", second: "2"}, function(val){

      alert(var);

      myvar = var;

      this.hide('slow');

});

alert(myvar);