Blog, December 10, 2014
Hello, My Faithful Readers:
I've included two photographs at the bottom on the blog. The first (and I hope you get a giggle out of it) is a before picture of my Thanksgiving Dinner! The second was taken of me and my host mother back in September, 2014. She runs the school cafeteria and makes lots of delicious hot food to sell to the students and staff!
Let me open this blog
with one word “lettuce!” I cannot find lettuce here in Georgia, so when
“lettuce” was on the menu at the Bazalti Lake Hotel last month I was dancing on
air. Who would have thought! J
I am pretty much holding my own at 60+ pounds
lost. I have stabilized, although I have lost a few more pounds (and lots of
inches). I now have some supplemental foods (tuna in a pouch, soup, oatmeal,
etc.) that friends have sent or I’ve ordered from the States – so, I have more
food than what the host family can provide. It is really a good thing for lots
of reasons that I’ve lost the weight. In addition to health and being better
able to climb my mountain home, I need to have on many layers of clothing on
when I go to school. The heating in the school is so-so. If you stand right by
the heater you can do OK; however, the heaters are just not big enough, or work
well enough to do the entire room. All my clothes are so big and that is good
as I can wear two or three layers underneath my big clothes. Sometimes I feel
like “Ralphie’s” brother in the movie “A Christmas Story,” as if I drop
something and have to pick it up with all the clothes I have on – I fear that I
might stumble/tumble over and not be able to get up! This is a real concern for
me – as in addition to looking stupid I don’t know how I would get up – I wear
a lot of clothes J
Whenever I eat chicken
here in Georgia I think of that “Purdue” guy who always said “It takes a tuff
man to make a tender chicken.” Well, the chicken we eat here in Georgia is ok
(especially since I get to know the chicken before I eat it); however, it is a
little tuff (not as tender as I remember from the States). Maybe that is
because the “Purdue” folks feed their chickens with supplements that are not
available to chickens here on the mountain? My chickens (see I’ve taken
ownership) have to hunt for any food in addition to what the host family
provides. Now, the pig is another story. He eats whatever is left over and then
some. I won’t know about him as he is not slated to be our dinner until
Christmas here in Georgia; that is, January 7th! Stay tuned - Bacon is hopefully on the menu!!! Even though my host family said I could not
name the pig, I still think of him as WILBER!
The 2nd and
4th grade children greet me at their classroom doors with shouts of
“Hello, how are you” and they run up and grab and hug me. The first time that happened I was taken back
as it was unexpected. I am literally dragged into the classroom with sometimes
up to ten students walking with me. It is a joyous way to start a lesson. I so
miss my hugs from my granddaughters; but, this somewhat makes up for it J.
At that point usually a student gives me some art work they have drawn for me.
I have kept every single scrap of paper that they have given me as I feel so
appreciated and loved by their actions. Maybe I will make the drawings into a
book! It is just a thought; however, I must say that I do keep this in mind
when I am so frustrated and annoyed with the older students and their antics.
Because it is so cold
now, in the morning there is a glaze of ice on the hand railing and on the
steps. A friend warned me about this; so, I am extra careful when I come back
to the 1st floor in the house. I am probably going to have to wear
gloves when I use the railing as holding onto the icy railing won’t stop me
from falling if I need to grab onto something.
I have also secured a
very nice RED bucket that I’ve set up in my room so that I don’t have to go
downstairs in the middle of the night to use the facilities. It has taken some
thinking to get it right (and maybe this is way too much information, my
Faithful Readers!!). However, this is part of my life now and I must face the
fact that using the bathroom is like going on safari (at times). Dealing with
the cold weather (leaving a warm bed); dealing with the steps (icey) and soon
snowy and it is so dark. I must remember my flashlight so I can navigate and
not trip over shoes or anything else that may be in the way. (Also, remember
toilet paper) J
Do
You Recognize this Symbol?
(sorry, I cannot get the image to print) - If you search on the internet I am sure it will come up!)
On
July, 2014 the national currency of Georgia got its own sign. The Lari sign is
based on a graphic outline of one arched letter ლ (Lasi)
of the Georgian script. Selected new symbol obeyed world practice, where signs
of other currencies were crossed with one or two parallel lines. It is notable
that with regard to various currency signs addition of parallel lines is
designed to transform a letter-mark into sign. In the Lari currency sign the
two parallel lines crossed the Georgian (Lasi) are the organic parts of the
letter.
I have been watching the rate of exchange
and when I looked earlier this week it was almost a 2:1 rate of
exchange. 2 LARI for each US Dollar. Good for me but not good for the Georgian
people.
I went to see a movie recently at the
Tbilisi International Film Festival. The movie was called “Don’t Breathe” and
the link above will give you the gist of what it was about. It was in Georgian
with English sub-titles. I really enjoyed it as I think it touched something
very fundamental in all of when we are faced with a medical crisis. The movie
theater was lovely. It was near the Tbilisi Concert Hall (which I was very glad
to discover). The theater was really big and had at least two (maybe three)
screens in the complex. Of course, lots of people attended. At the end of the
show the actors (who were in the audience) as well as the Director went on
stage and had a Q&A (in both Georgian and English). I really felt at times
that I was at home as that format of Q&A is also used in the States after a
festival movie. Also the theater itself rivals anything the US has to offer!
Recently, I had an amazing four nights
and five days. The movie was one of the events that was a component of this
adventure; but, there were so many other discoveries.
To begin, I spent Thursday night with a
friend as we attended a meeting of SERVAS at a wonderful Italian restaurant in
the Vake District of Tbilisi (link below). I had the Lasagna and I fully
intended to eat only half and save the remained for breakfast; however, it was
SO GOOD I ended up eating the entire thing. SERVAS Georgia is planning a Regional
conference in May 2015 that will include SERVAS members from around the region.
SERVAS is an international organization that promotes “travel with a purpose.”
It is a worldwide organization that allows members to secure lodging &
contact with fellow SERVAS members throughout the world. I love this
organization and now, in addition to being a member in the US, I am now a
member here in Georgia. Of course, this is ALL done during my time off from
Peace Corps. For this meeting; however, I used a day of my annual leave as I
thought it was important enough to do that.
It was great not to have to worry about
catching the last marsh back to Sagarejo as I was staying overnight in Tbilisi.
The next day I was supposed to return home; however, my friend has a house in
Choporti which is a village about 40 minutes outside of Tbilisi. The house was
wonderful and big. Choporti is known for its tomatoes. The village is very
poor. It reminds me of the village I stayed in when I first arrived here in
Georgia. Nonetheless, the time away gave me a feeling like I was on vacation
and thanks to my friend got to see a village that I may never have seen. I
didn’t bring my camera so I don’t have any photographs to share…..hopefully I
will be invited back this summer and then I can make sure I take photographs.
After we left Choporti we headed back to
Tbilisi as for some reason we didn’t have internet in the village and it was
needed to accomplish some work that was on deadline. I stayed with a new friend
in a lovely apartment on Saturday in Tbilisi and got to roam about Tbilisi at
night. The movie was part of the roaming around and it was all terrific. I must
also say that during this time I had many, many showers…Ah, I felt like a new
woman. The apartment has an elevator; however, you had to pay to use it. I have
never seen an elevator that you need to pay to use. I was told that the fees
are used to maintain the integrity of the elevator so that it is never out of
service. It is only 5Tetri (I guess about 2cents in US). Of course there are
steps nearby; but, if you are carrying lots of packages it helps to have an
elevator.
On the last day of my sabbatical (as
I’ve begun to think about my time away) I did a site visit at an International
school in Tbilisi, QSI (Quality Schools International – link below). What a
treat that was. The school is unlike the public schools I have been working in.
QSI is very small, about 140 or so students. It is very modern and they have
many, many more resources than we do in Public School #2 in Sagarejo. Of
course, there is a fee attached to attending QSI and the public schools are
free via the Ministry. I was able to meet with the English Teacher at the
school and obtain from her some help on starting a program here in Sagarejo for
adults who want to begin learning English. The teacher at QSI already has a
program up and running so I was happy that she shared information with me. I
also sat in on a class of adult beginner English learners. It was so
informative to watch her methods unfold. I also sat in on a 2nd
grade class. There were (10) student’s in the class and it was conducted by a
teacher and an assistant teacher. It was a wonderful experience to watch how
the teachers interacted with the students. It was joyful to watch the students.
They were very involved in the learning. I also got to share my weekend events
and stories (along with the students). I held the “apple” which gave me the
right to speak. I had a snack at the school as well as lunch. I was only there
for about 4+ hours, and I’ve been invited back (which I will do after we all
return to the classroom in January). I caught the bus outside of the school and
came back to Tbilisi and then back to Sagarejo.
I didn’t expect to be gone 4 nights and
5 days; but, it was so welcomed and needed. I must share the fact that during
my sabbatical I was wearing the same clothes for the entire time. I had fully
expected to return on Friday and since I didn’t (and didn’t bring a change of
clothing) – well, I wore the same outfit for 5 days. Really, no one except me
seemed to mind. It was not hot so I was not offensive. I really didn’t want to
miss all of these experiences because of clothing and I am SO GLAD that I made
that choice. No one cared what I wore. They were more interested in me and our
conversations. I washed socks and undies! I came back (my body) fresh (and clean!) with
lots of new ideas and new friendships ! I am also feeling so comfortable
getting around in Tbilisi and surrounding areas. Sometimes I have anxiety about
getting from point A to point B; but, then I remember that I can always jump in
a taxi if I feel lost – but, most times I just figure it out. I do need to
spend more times on buses as I miss being on buses.
As I was traveling in and around Tbilisi
and staying at the apartments of many wonderful and generous friends I found
out a couple of interesting facts. The first is that all transactions for car
purchases/sales and the same for buying property (or renting) is handled in
U.S. Dollars and not Georgian currency. Also, all apartments come furnished
(and what great furniture) – not like what I’ve seen in the States for
furnished apartments. Just information that is good to know!
I was just approved for my third article
in my series on OpEdNews. I wrote about shopping here in Georgia as there are
so many unique and interesting shopping venues here in Georgia. I hope you
enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Not sure what I will write
next; however if there is one thing I’ve discovered is that all my questions
about anything here in Georgia get answered and work out. It is kind-of-like
magic (or at least that is how I think of it). Don’t stress, Catherine – the
answer will come (and it does!) J
Thank you for submitting an article to OpEdNews. Your article titled Shopping in Georgia! has been accepted and is now published on the OpEdNews website at: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Shopping-in-Georgia-by-Catherine-Lawrence-Shopping_Shopping-Mall-141210-79.html This article has been placed in the Life Arts category with tags: Shopping, Shopping Mall
I will close for now and wish everyone “Happy Shopping” (as we count down the days to Christmas and New Years). In my life, I have always had many blessings to count but this year is extra special. I can count my extreme fortune to be part of Peace Corps Georgia and now have a forum to write and share my experiences and adventures here in Georgia.
All the Best,
Catherine Lawrence, G14
Peace Corps Volunteer/Georgia
The
contents of this blog are mine personally and do not reflect any position of
the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.
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