Blog, September 28^th, 2015

Hello, My Faithful Readers

17 Months Served/10 Months to Completion

I am back full time now in Georgia. The summer is over and my traveling days are finished (for the moment). My concentration now will be on teaching and school as well as finishing out my final year of service in the Peace Corps.

As I returned to site and begin to get into the groove again I realized that I had missed some of the noises of the village/town. While I was staying at hotels and guest houses during the summer i didn’t hear many of the sounds that I hear now. For example, the donkey, roosters, cows and especially dogs. I don’t know why dogs cry and whimper so much, but I can say that I didn’t miss that. It makes me sad to hear that. I also didn’t miss the hollering that my family and neighbors do when then want to talk to each other and shout across the garden to the next house.

Over the course of the summer I had lots of time to think (especially traveling by marsh/train)…and one idea kept surfacing.  I have come to realize that the longer I live here in Georgia the clearer I see how much of my life was/is lived under the auspices of the Eastern European mindset, culture and traditions. More to come on this….

Your article titled Chickens
has been accepted and is now published on the OpEdNews website at:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Chickens-by-Catherine-Lawrence-Chickens-150922-735.html

Hope you will enjoy my newest article!

Shoes…I have been wondering why I see so many pairs of shoes in houses I visit here in Georgia. I have come to realize that it is because shoes just don’t last long here. I have gone through many pairs of shoes myself; which I am sure would have lasted much longer if not here in Georgia. The reason is the condition of the roads and sidewalks (if you can call them that) are just terrible. At this fact, of terrible walking conditions, makes me scratch my head when I look at the types of shoes worn by the women. The shoes are often times high heels. Now, these heels are not low high (so to speak). They are spiked and really high. They are really fashionable and to my mind not comfortable to wear. The styles are so varied, open toe, mesh, leather, spandex material and so on and so on. Often times I think I am looking at a shoe fashion show. I would think these shoes are not cheap; as they just look high fashion; but, they seem to be important to the women here.

The below link was sent to me  - hope you enjoy. Georgia is a beautiful country.

https://vimeo.com/139516834

Which then brings me to a BIG “ah-ha” moment I had recently. I have been talking about how the women all look like they are going to a wedding or a cocktail party when they come to school. They wear outfits that are very alluring as if for an evening out with a date or better half or maybe just with a night out with the girls. Well, after all this time here in Georgia I have finally, or I think I have, come to the reason for this. Here in Georgia in the towns and villages there is not much opportunity for social events. Unlike American where there are so many daily opportunities for social events; e.g. - restaurants, theaters, music venues and museums (to name a few) these things don’t exist here in the towns and village. There is not much opportunity for women to get dressed up and go out for an evening on the town. My town has many stores to buy food; however, we don’t have a restaurant.  I have come to realize that “their evening out on the town” is when they come to school every day. I have thought about how school here is such a social event for the children; however, I didn’t put it together for the adults.

I have witnessed women working  three jobs here – as teachers during the day, as tutors after school (to enhance their salaries) and then go home to take care of their families; so, even if there were museums or theaters it is not likely they would have the time or money to attend. Of course, the capital city does offer these events; but, then it involves money to travel by marsh to the city and then (possibly) a location to stay over if they could not make it back to the village. So, getting dressed to “the nines” in school is their outlet for social inter-actions. Of course, I could be wrong about this; but, it truly makes sense (at least to me). Most of the teaching workforce is women; I’ve only seen two men here as teachers, and for sure they don’t get dressed up. At times men don’t even shave; so, it makes me aware once again of the stark differences that exist here between men and women.

I have found all this very disconcerting since I arrived here and now I can see the reasoning behind why something is done the way it is. Even my host mother who runs the school store in the basement of the school looks way better than me when we go off to school. How she walks down the mountain in some of the shoes she wears is beyond me. I am just thankful that I don’t have any desire to become part of this. I know the women look kind of funny at me when I wear my very conservative outfits and shoes and I am sure they are judging me as I have been judging them; but, I now can look at things from another perspective.

So, as I said I am back in Sagarejo and I am really having a hard time adjusting being back at site. The reason for this is that while I was traveling I had access to regular good food (and lots of it); as well as nice bathrooms and other trappings of civilization J (like swimming pools; fabulous showers and terrific linen on the beds). I just love the break that we get staying in nice places; however, it does take some adjusting going back into the towns and villages. I equate it to getting “numb” once again. I often think it is not a good idea to leave the village as once I see what I don’t have then it is even harder to come back to site; but, I also treasure the time away. So, I am getting back to being “numb”.  I really cannot think about what I don’t have as it is often gets me down; but, I just have to make the best of what I have.

As I indicated, school has started and I mark the last year of service here. In the couple of weeks that I’ve been in school it is not as bad as it was last September. The reason for that is that I know what to expect. Having been through one academic year I know what is coming; so, I am not as shocked as I was last year. I am more accepting of how things are done here and not as judgmental as to how I think things should be. It has made life easier for me. Since this is only the beginning it may change; but, it is different.

I must say that even though school seems somewhat better; when I come home from a day in the school I just sit and stare. Seriously, I walk back up my mountain and sit in the chair on the porch and just stare at the flowers and the sky. I make my coffee and reflect on the day. I don’t move for a little bit of time – really, I cannot move as the experience of teaching four or five classes just exhausts me. This will get harder as time goes on as right now the weather is very nice; but, when the cold weather begins it will be more difficult.

I had the opportunity to attend the “Tbilisi night of Photography 2015” this past weekend (link below). This was a wonderful event that I got to share with some old and new friends. In addition to the festival the weather was absolutely perfect and there was a full moon. Sitting outside watching the events unfold at the festival was just such a treat. Basically, there were seven screens set up to do a slide show presentation of various artists and their photograph work. There were folding chairs to sit and watch. The slide show previewed a 3-5 minute presentation on various topics; e.g., “Foreigners in Tbilisi”; “Animals”, etc. to name just a couple of topics. These topics depicted life as it was and is happening. It was wonderful to watch.

After the slide show my friends and I ended up at a restaurant that was hosting the after party for the principals of the festival. We asked if we could stay, even though we were only participants, and they said YES! So, what a treat…free wine and pastry and other good stuff to eat. In addition, the atmosphere was just electric being in the middle of so much talent. We all had a terrific time. I stayed over in Tbilisi at the hostel so I didn’t have to worry about catching the marsh home.

www.tbilisiphotofestival.com

I am back to school and I wanted to mention a couple of things that I’ve noticed. This may have been happening last year; but, probably I didn’t notice. The first is that 2^nd and 3^rd graders (little kids) walking the hallways on their cells phones. It makes me crack up to see these children walk and talk on their cells. They look so grown up and yet they are so young. Also, since my community is a poor community I wonder where the money comes from to give young children such expensive electronic equipment. Another thing I’ve noticed is the clocks in the school. It seems that the clocks get changed before or after every lesson. I go to class and I fix my watch to the time on the wall and then when I come back to the teacher’s room after the class is over, I noticed that the time is very different. I am always changing the time on my phone and my watch. I never seem to know what time it is. I don’t know if the clock is running slow or fast; but, the times…they are a-changing. The third thing I noticed is that all the notebooks have graphing paper instead of plain white or white lined paper. Again, this is just a curiosity of mine as to why the notebooks they use have graphing paper; especially, since no one is graphing. It is just something to ponder as I walk up and down the mountain to and from school.

I will be teaching five day this semester. L. Last semester I taught four days (off on Monday) which was just fabulous; however, I will have classes every day from September to December. I am hoping that when the new semester starts in January I can manage a four day schedule….so, we shall see.

There is a road project going on here in Sagarejo. On the main road which is the road I need to walk up and down to get to and from school; they are ripping up the road (down to the dirt) and also digging holes in order to put in new pipes. This has been going on for weeks/maybe months. It is a real mess. When the weather is dry the dust is so thick when cars drive on the road and when it is wet, well the mud seems like it takes on a life of its own. In addition, trying to walk is so challenging. I have to be on guard every minute as there are big rocks/boulders to walk over and pot holes to avoid. My shoes are wearing out as it is just hard walking on all the gravel. I am concerned as to what is going to happen when they eventually pave it (at least I hope they pave it). I don’t know how I am going to get home if I cannot use this road. I feel like I am on “Tobacco Road” (if you know what I mean).

Also, dodging the heavy equipment is a real joy. The men don’t stop working/digging when people are walking by. I just pray that they see me as I walk by as they are digging or dumping dirt in the truck. The equipment makes a great deal of noise and it also spills out lots of  smoke from gasoline. As always, I watch for myself as I know that no one is watching out for me; but, I cannot wait for this to be finished (hope fully before the cold/wet weather is upon us).

I noticed that sometimes my host family washes clothes and they don’t use soap powder. Since I buy all the soap powder for the house; when we run out and I have not bought any new soap powder, clothes are washed just using water. I always have to keep a box of powder in reserve as whenever I go to wash my clothes -  there is never any soap powder. When the family washes clothes they use so little soap powder as they want to make it last. But, I didn’t realize that at times they wash clothes just using water. I noticed that when the family washes floor they never use soap. They use wet rags and then rinse them out and re-use them to wash the floors. I have never seen soap used on the floor. I do see that they use soap, when it is available, to wash dishes.

Here are a couple of final notes about school that you may find of interest. The first is that a “betting” business “Crystal Palace” opened up directly across the street from the school. I just find this odd that it would open so close to the school. Of course, there are many, many betting places in Tbilisi, Sagarejo and I am sure across Georgia; but right across the street from the school?

Also, when the teacher tells the students to take notes on items that are written on the blackboard; well, the children come up to the board and take a picture on their phone. I just find this amazing; and yet, I know it is done everywhere around the world – so, why should Georgia be different.

Finally, here is a thought on lateness here in the school. Children are taught from a very early age that lateness is allowed. Lateness is a problem. No one (adults of children) seem to think of lateness as a problem. It is just the way it is. Children come into class late, sometimes 15-20 minutes. They walk in and just sit down and the teacher does not say one word to the students. I find this upsetting but no one else seems to mind. I wonder about truancy here in Georgia. I want to do some research on this topic as off the top of my head I don’t think there is a truant problem here in Georgia (or at least what I have witnessed first hand here in Sagarejo). The students all do show up because I think there is no place else for them to go. Sometimes the children show up and come into class and then leave; however, they just stand outside in front of the school and talk to their friends. I know, but not specifically the details, of the truancy problems in the US. I believe there is an entire department dedicated to catching children being truant’ in the States but, it does not seem to be a problem here where I live. I want to look into this deeper as it does interest me.

Ok, enough for now. As we leave September behind I have mixed feelings about knowing that next September I won’t be here in Sagarejo. All is good, Dear Reader. I so appreciate your taking the time to follow my adventures.

Best, Catherine Lawrence, G14

Peace Corps Volunteer/Georgia – September 28, 2015

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