Blog, May 31^st, 2014

Hello My Faithful Readers….

Here we are on the last day of May, 2014. I have completed (1) month, so only (26) to go. I still cannot get my head around that. Sometimes it feels like I am here living in Georgia and at other times I think that I will be leaving for America soon (vacation over, time to go!). I am getting into a routine so the weeks seem to be moving a little faster; however, some days feel like way more than 24-hours. It finally stopped raining, so my friend “mud” has gone into hiding; but then, “mud” has a friend and he is called “dust”.  However, I will gladly take “dust” over “mud.”  J I’ll let you know otherwise, for sure.

I must tell you, and I do say this tongue and cheek; but possibly a little serious, if left here in Georgia to order or buy food for myself, I am very clear that I will starve to death!  We did an exercise today in class and I played a customer who was ordering food. Well, it was not pretty…the poor waiter (my classmate) had no idea as to what I wanted.  We were laughing so hard, as I think I actually ordered a cow or possibly soup with hair at one point. Not a clue. I’ve learned the phrase below and use it frequently. Actually I think this may be my new name. Hello, I am “Excuse me/sorry” J

Excuse me/Sorry

ბოდიში (bodishi)

Everyone is extremely supportive and forgiving around the language. We all stumble and try to get our mouth around words that have so many consonant. I am still so far behind but still giving it my best efforts. Working with my language coach and scheduling extra sessions. I truly don’t know when we can make the time. As it stands now most days are 12+ hours long; but, let’s see what we can do as without sufficient language it may limit my placement opportunities. I am going to stop requesting in my weekly evaluations to the Peace Corps my frustration and overall dismay around the speed of language delivery. It seems that really nothing (other than private tutoring can be accommodated) and I am just going to have to find ways around how the language is delivered, as it does not work for older volunteers.

We had our interviews yesterday as to where we will be placed for our permanent two year assignments. I think we will be advised on June 19^th.  Our team is (57) strong, so I know it will be a major accomplishment to match locations with the needs and requests of all (57) of us. In keeping with my NEW way of being (that is, needy and high maintenance), I made my requests. One being, that I didn’t want to be placed in a really remote area. Another is having indoor facilities. With that said, as much as both are important I hesitate to think what opportunities I would be cutting off by limiting myself. Well, it remains to be seen how it will all pan out. We all must live with a host family for the first (3) months after permanent placement, but then after that we can (if available) find locations where we can live alone (if that is what we want). I’ve been reading about the IDP population “Internally Displaced Persons.”  It has been reported that there are approximately 300,000 people living in Georgia with IDP status. I won’t be placed in these areas; however, I have been reading and expressed interest in possibly doing a project or so in the areas. More to come on this topic.

Back to life as it is presently - My host family has the television on from the moment they get up until everyone goes to bed. The tv is in the main living area, which also includes the dining room table. I have spoken about the amount of commercials in previous blogs; however, what I’ve begun to notice is the amount of “American type” tv shows there are. For example, they have programming - X-factor; Cartoon Network; bloopers; Dancing with the Stars and morning programs like Good Morning America. Charlie Chaplin is big here, no idea why.  Although I cannot hear the TV in my room; when I am with the family I am just amazed at how transfixed everyone is to the tv. I don’t have television in my home in the State and have not had television for 15+ years; so for me, it is very intrusive. However, my host family does not feel that way. I am thinking that possibly it may be their window to the world as they have many channels and options for just about every type of entertainment and news.  I wondered if it was a good thing that American television has found its way to Osiauri? 

We had a written test yesterday on the topics of Peace Corps Health Policies and also Peace Corps Safety and Security policies. It was an hour long test that gauged how much we have been paying attention to all the meetings and training sessions we have been sitting in on since we arrived in late April, 2014. I was a little surprised although we were warned that testing would be part of the program. We also had a gender split sessions to discuss issues that one may or may not want to discuss in mixed company.  The Peace Corps also presented sessions on HIV, sexual assault and condoms. These life realities were handled in such a sensitive way.  They were very hard topics to discuss, but necessary.

On another note, I wanted to talk about the two (2) lane highway that we drive to get from Osiauri to Khashuri for meetings.  This road reminds me of traveling in India. The two lane highway ultimately becomes a three lane and often a four lane highway at times. It takes our breath away (at some point gasping) at how close another car is before we or it moves out of the way. The drivers are experience at driving in Georgia, so I don’t have any fear we will crash; however, it is a rollercoaster ride watching this unfold. Another transportation issue is the trains that run through the village. The railroad tracks are behind the house that I am living in and at times I can feel the house shake as the trains go by. Also, very interesting is the train whistle. Not all the time, but sometimes, the whistle sounds like the whistle from documentaries and movies of trains moving through Nazi occupied Europe. The first time I heard it I was taken back and then I heard it a few more times. It is a distinct sound but it does not conjure good memories and thoughts.

Tea bags are never used only once. There are special little cups provided so that once you have your tea you can place your tea bag in the cup for someone else to use, or get more hot water and use it again. I didn’t pick up on this immediately so I was using a tea bag and then throwing it away. The family didn’t say anything, but now we all share tea bags (it’s the more than one dunk rule).  I have been buying tea; and I am surprised that my coffee addiction has been replaced with tea. I had a Starbucks instant coffee last weekend (I brought it from home) and it was OK. I am surprised at how quickly my taste changed.

I miss ice as no one in the village, or at least anyone families I’ve associated with have ice.  Also, it is made with tap water, so no drinking the water. I think I ate lung and heart this week. One of the families that host a volunteer lives with is a butcher and he brings lots of meat and organs home. No one said anything until after we had eaten, so if I did eat it I didn’t think it was that bad?  I’ve also noticed that everyone and I mean everyone involved with the PC (including us trainees) is on time. I think this is the first time in my life that has happened. We are informed to be at a certain place at a certain time, and Wow, every time – all show up.  The rose bushes are coming into bloom in the garden of my host family.  There are no vacuum cleaners here (at least not in the house that I live in). Today, Saturday, is a day off so I am doing catch up; laundry, etc, and decided (since it has been a month) to sweep my room. The family laid some carpet pieces around my bed and I almost wished that they didn’t. I would rather sweep a floor area than carpet, but I will do my best with it. I’ve noticed that the dogs eat a LOT of bread. Not being a dog person I don’t know if this is usual (or not?). There is no dog food here in the village. I do see water placed out for the dog as well as milk, but all the bread? The dog cries for food. Again, I am not sure if this is usual or not? Once the dog cries then the food (bread) is taken out. I also noticed that the majority of the dogs I’ve seen in the village, I bet 90+%, all have some type of limp. I wonder if that is because of diet or possibly, as cars don’t watch out for people let alone dogs, maybe most have been hit of side-swiped at some point. They all seem to function well, but the limp is noticeable.

I received an email yesterday inviting me to submit my blog address for a Peace Corps contest. This is the 3^rd year for this type of event. I am sure it was a blanket email, but since I met all the criteria I submitted my blog address.  I know that the Peace Corps does monitor all blogs so I had to give my address almost as soon as I arrived in-country.  I will keep you posted.

I feel like I am writing a lot today. Maybe it’s the thought that I will be away from my blog for three days. I am sitting here listening to the cows moooooing. I will see if an opportunity presents itself, or I make one, to go and see the cows in their “cow house.” Today is Saturday and I have to remind myself of that. Most days I have no idea as to what day it is. Back in the States, as a retiree, every day felt like Saturday and it was a GOOD feeling. Here in Georgia I could not tell you what it feels like. 

One more point, that I know I will talk about on-goingly throughout the next (26) months, is my relationship with food.  I’ve written in previous blogs that I am not that thrilled with the food here in Georgia and as a result I eat very little and I know I have lost weight (and all without Weight Watchers J). In any event, the interesting thing is that I am not that hungry (as I was hungry all the time in the states) and don’t think about food that much. Well, during times of high frustration and “melt downs” I have wanted to resort to make myself feel better with my friend “food” – specifically, in this instance, “crumb cake.” Well, can’t do that anymore.  I am going to have to figure out ways, other than food, to deflect or deal with the emotions and feelings of frustration, sadness and the multitude of other emotions and feelings that I am sure will arise during my time here in Georgia. No more, at least for a little while, “Little Pete’s” (the restaurant in my building) and all the hundreds of great food places in Philadelphia. This is something I didn’t expect. This will require some thought, but it is not a bad thing. 

Alright, I’ll close for now. I hope to be able to get my hair cut in Bakhvi while I am on my trip out WEST (in Georgia).

All the Best, Catherine, G14

Note:  The contents of this blog are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.