May 17th,
2014
Hello
everyone. I received my modum this week so I will have more access to the
internet and email. I did not think I would miss the electrons as much as I
have. Maybe it is because everything is so new and different. Seeing an email
from home makes life just a little easier.
I have a cow
barn next to the house I live in. I can hear them moooo..ing, but more
important is the big pile of manure almost outside my window. I feel like Jesse
(Breaking Bad) when I think of the “Cow House” J. I’ve not been in yet, but trying to
get the courage to go in. The family has gardens in so many places. Before
meals, they go out with a basket and get green onions, tomato, cucumber,
potatoes and other stuff I am sure I am forgetting. It has been raining a lot
here. The mud is something else. The roads are all dirt, so the rain just makes
things worse. The potholes fill with water. The rocks on the road become so
slippery. A good day is when it does not rain. It takes longer to get
somewhere, as I have to be so careful not to fall or trip. It is like an obstacle
course. Driving is not much better. Because of the rough conditions, when you
are in a car you stomach feels like a milk shake. People only travel about 5
miles an hour, if that. Everyone seems to just go about doing their thing…only
us Americans seem to notice the conditions.
I finally fixed my backpack. All the years I’ve had my backpack I was
never wearing it correctly. What a world of difference it makes when you use it
the way it was intended. HA. Also, the backpack is something that Georgian’s
don’t use. They use something called a “Messenger bag?”
We started
teaching school this past week. I taught a class of 10th graders on
Thursday and a class of 1st graders on Friday. We teach at times
with another PC volunteer and also the regular classroom teacher, referred to
as “Counterpart.” The classes that we
teach are of course, English. Children start English training in the 1st
grade. By middle school they can take a second language and in high school they
can take a third language. All the children refer to the teacher as “teacher.”
So different, as usually the teacher is referred to as Miss or Mr. Most
classrooms have central heat; however, those that don’t gather around a”Pechi”
or stove that will heat the classroom. If that is the case, then usually
classes are much shorter than the usual 45 minutes. They would run around 30
minutes, or if it is so cold the children would be sent home. The bathroom
situation at the school is so grim. The “outhouses” are in the back of the
school. It is about a 2 minute walk (at least for me it is) to get down one or
two flights of steps to get to the bathroom. One must never wait to the last
minute and make sure you bring toilet paper and wet wipes as none of those
items are available. No water is available either. Just another challenge. The
children mostly write with pens as pencils seem to be far, few and in-between.
The text books are written in British English. Not sure what that is about. Not
much difference except for some of the terms. For example, they use trousers
instead of pants. Also, they use shops instead of stores. Many, many examples
like that. Cheating is also a BIG problem in the schools. Again, not sure what
that is about. The teachers do talk about it in our information sessions. I’ve noticed with the children that very few
have glasses. I wonder if they all have good eyes or maybe eye care is not
readily available? None of the teenagers
work here. They say that their job is to be a student. The teenagers were
preparing for a graduation event and they were dancing to the song by LMFAO and
“Put a ring on it” – I think Beyonce?
They pulled me up on stages (they had to twist my arm J - it was lots of fun. Lots of
American songs on their version of MTV they listen to.
TV is
interesting. So many commercials on TV. I clocked almost 10 solid minutes of
commercials. They watch a lot of news here and talk shows, like Letterman,
etc., but of course with their celebrity. The Georgian people LOVE Turkish soap
operas that are dubbed in Georgian. I have never seen so much crying and drama.
They beat the American versions. I have a hard time from laughing as they take
the soap opera very serious. I think the plot is two women love the same man.
Very original. Most houses have a
satellite dish, or two. Some houses even have internet. There are street lights
throughout the village. It is so funny that at times when we return from
classes in Khashuri we end up on the same road as all the cows that are also
coming home for the night. Feels like “City Slickers” and the cows won’t move
for the cars. There are at least a couple of dozen making their way home for
the evening. I must take pictures. The PC is planning a day event on Sunday to
“Borjomi.” I have no idea where that is. The plan is to hike 5 to 7 miles. The
views are supposed to be tremendous; however, I am not going. I need the one
day we have off to recover and get myself ready for the week and work on my
Georgian.
The language
lessons are so painful. I’ve discovered
that the pain is not about the language, as I am now able to transcribe
Georgian (hard to believe). The pain is the speed or pace of the classes. We
meet for four hours (6) days a week. We have (2) fifteen minute break, so it’s
a 3-1/2 hours of instruction. When we have a “review” it is really a “review”
of new information. I am so frustrated. I realize they are trying to prepare us
for when we go to our permanent sites; however, the materials covered during
the time for me is unreasonable. I keep showing up, as I do want to accomplish
this; and some things get clearer. I have a fabulous teacher. She is so patient
and supportive, but I cannot absorb or process the volume and depth at this
rate. They say they will give me a tutor and pay for it; however, leaving the
house at 8:30am and getting home at 7:30 or after; there is not much time for
additional instruction. Also, my head may fall off and roll into the “cow
house”. I do the best I can. A fellow
volunteer said that the language is not the only thing we are here for and he
is right; but, its not fun sitting in class when the material is going over
your head. Add to that the fact that we are in school with the children and
when they break (every 45 minutes) and recess begins in the halls…screaming,
running, fighting like kids do) and
knocking on our door as they like to look at us and giggle. Its hard to hear
with all the distractions and trying to distinguish the symbols and letters of
the language…I need a magnifying glass. The words “bread” and “money” are so
similar. With my meditation practice I
work on giving up being stressed and upset over the language and just try to
enjoy the experience of it all. Its not easy for me to be “unprepared”; I just
don’t recognize myself at times.
I am reading
“Robinson Caruso” here. It is one of the e-books I brought. I find myself
feeling like him at times. And also, I feel like Stephen King “The Stand” when
I have to walk on the road by myself to
school. It is early and most people,
except the cows and chickens, are not up yet. The food is OK, I know I have
lost weight. Cheese and bread is a big staple. Lots of salad from the garden
(but no lettuce). Also, potatoes are a big staple. However, much of the food is
fried with lots of oil and salt…My family has an apple tree in the back yard…so
I try to manage with apples and fruit (when I can get it – oranges and bananas.
Ok, faithful readers. Thanks for listening and please write and let me know
what is happening…Best, Catherine, G14
Beautiful
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