Blog, May 24^th, 2014

I believe this is Memorial Day weekend?  Really, I almost missed Memorial Day the same way I missed Mother’s Day. Monday will make (1) month into the adventure. Also, Sunday is the 14^th anniversary of becoming Catherine Lawrence. It was May 26^th, 2000 when I received my notice from the courts that my legal name change was approved. I do consider it a birthday or sorts, like a creative birthday as I created my name “Lawrence” using the authors T.E. and D.H. Lawrence as sources. It is also a holiday here in Georgia. I cannot find the specific information on the Holiday, but I think “Independence Day”. If I find my book I will write about it, if not I am sure if you google it information will come up.

 Lots to share! The First thing is that I will be traveling within the country on June 1^st through 4^th, 2014.  The program requires that trainees “me” shadow current volunteers to see what their days are like and we get to do it “up close and personal.” I will be traveling with one or maybe two other volunteers to the

 “Guria Region” of the country to a village called “Bakhvi”.  We will be living with the G12 volunteer and her host family during the time; however, we have to get to the location on our own. I am sure we will have help from the PC to figure out how to do it. So, this week, in addition to everything else, we need to make travel arrangements and also figure out what to take. I have not done research on the area, but it is in the west (heading toward the Black Sea). Maybe it is about 3-1/2 or 4 hours from my current location. Population is about 3,000 and it is 330KM from Tbilisi. I will be working with other English teachers in their public school. There are 153 students in the school. I won’t be teaching, only observing.

 Honestly, I am not looking forward to this. I was hoping it would be someplace closer and possibly not a village. I am not at all sure that village life is for me. I am a “city gal” and that is what I was hoping for; but, I will take the experience and look to see what is available for me to discover. Also, as much as I love to travel (and plan to travel in the region) at the moment I am overwhelmed with what is currently on my plate. I thought I would have a little more time to settle before traveling within the country. This will be my last free Sunday, as next week I will be in Bakhvi and the next Sunday I will be in (Tbilisi, I think?). It’s a cultural trip and I heard a rumor its Tbilisi. Be flexible is what the PC says, so that is what I will be. J I treasure my free Sundays as I have a chance to catch my breath, wash cloths, language homework and do my favorite thing, my blog.

We also received our questionnaire and appointment date so that permanent site placements can be made. We each meet with a site placement coordinator and talk about what, if any, preferences we would have (where) to spend the next two years. They try to match our skills with the needs of the community and the interview allows the PC to see (based on their experience) what would be the best fit for both.  I don’t think at this point I could make an informed decision. I know so little about the country and even if I knew certain areas, how would that knowledge translate into the experience of living there? I have no idea. Of course, they want to know what skills and experiences we have to offer. In addition, they want to know what types of projects and activities we would be interested in, because you don’t have just one job in the PC. Also, they want to know about what our concerns are about the Education Assignment and anything else that is of concern. There are no safe bets that we will be assigned to any location that would support our specific requests; however, the more they knew the better it is to place into situations that may be able to accommodate some, or even all of our requests.

I know I would like to work in the development sector. The PC talks about another section that works with Displaced People and that seems interesting. Creative problem solving skills are required, and I think I would qualify; but I need more information. Also, my concern would be the language – but, I figure I am just going to request everything that makes sense to me and see where the ball drops.

And speaking of language training I had my second melt down this week (and it was a beauty). After four weeks of feeling bad about not being able to keep up with the speed of the language instruction, well I just broke down. I think I scared my instructor, as I cried almost the entire class. I know I can handle the language, but not at the speed it is being presented. So much information is just overwhelming (not to mention the gazillon (new word) things we are all dealing with.  I have requested, requested, pleaded, asked, etc., etc. but nothing changed. I have held it together and tried (and I am still trying) to do my best, but as an older volunteer it is impossible to assimilate and comprehend the way the language training is organized and presented. Saying a word, once or twice, does not work for me. Also, the letters are written so little I need a magnifying glass to make distinctions. I hope what I listed below comes through. Gosh, I have never felt so high maintenance and/or needy in my life. On top of all this, the school turned off the electricity on Thursday, so we had no lights for Friday and Saturday’s class.  We did have light from the window, but it was even harder to see those little letters. I don’t have any hope that the structure will change, but I don’t know how much longer I can sit in these language classes feeling so bad. I am told that it won’t be like this after PST and that is what I am holding onto. I will have more time, I am told, so I can get a tutor and slow down the process. I felt so much better after the “crying class” (as I now refer to it). It was sort of a line in the sand; in that, I am not going to buy into the unreasonableness of the language schedule. I just could not hold my feeling in any longer. The frustration, without resolve, just bubbled out. I can do hard and hardship, I’ve done both. But, unreasonableness/unrealistic are different stories.

Let me close on a lighter note. I noticed the lack of pollution here in Osiauri. I was walking and was amazed at how clear the sky was, how fresh the air was. No hint of smog. Coming here, I was worried or concerned about this as I was told Georgia was a “smoking” country; in that, everyone smoked. Although my host father does smoke, he smokes so infrequently and when he does he smokes a lot outside. This has been a welcomed surprise for me as I didn’t expect it. Hopefully the summer months are will soon be upon us will continue with the clean air. Maybe it’s the mountains that are so close by; but in any event, I like this part of village life.

My Best to call my faithful readers, Catherine, G14

Hello, გამარჯობა (gamarjoba)