Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Blog, February 25, 2016
Hello, My Faithful Readers
22
Months Served/4 Months to Go!
Photographs are posted at the bottom of the blog......The Envoy Hostel is usually where I stay while in Tbilisi (if not with friends at their flats). A slice of life here.
I am now back, full time, to life here in Georgia.
My travels are behind me and I have been concentrating on living out the final
months of my Peace Corps Service. Life here (in so many ways) is very hard.
One aspect that has been consistent throughout is
the how my back has hurt throughout my service. The reason for this is that I
am constantly stooped over. There are many reasons for this; one being that
there is not much shelf or closet space to store things on; so, most items need
to be placed on the floor. Another reason is always being bent over watching
where I walk so that I don’t trip or fall and one more; that is, there are very
few comfortable places to sit. Most of the furniture is exhausted from use. The
furniture/bedding has varying levels of sinkage which does not lend
support. I imagine another reason is the
walk up and down my mountain. Especially when I am going up; I feel bent over
making my way up. I sometimes feel like a skier as I try to fold in on myself
to make my body less of a drag. Maybe, I don’t know…all I know if that I mostly
feel bent over living here in Georgia.
One of the comforts I miss tremendously is something
comfortable to sit on. My bones hurt at times and I know I have spoken of this
before; but, I’ve sat on rocks more comfortable than some of the furniture. I often wonder if it is the cold here in
Georgia that makes my bones hurt. Often, it is the kind of cold that just gets
into the bones. Or, and here is an idea…it’s a result of age. Heavens, could it
be J!
My mind thinks it is 20-something (ok, maybe 30-something); but my body is push
70 (which is approaching). These last 22 months have felt like years and
years..I often think Peace Corps could be the antidote for stopping time (or at
least it feels that way). Deep thoughts
(HA)! – Being in service has certainly made me (or has given me the time) to
reflect on so many things that would have just gone over my head in my old
life.
I only have (1) annual leave day left. We are given
(24) days for each year of service here in-country; so a total of (48) annual
leave days. Since we need to count weekends as annual leave time when we leave
the country; I won’t be traveling outside of Georgia while still in-service. I
need to use this (1) day before March 30th; as we must take all
annual leave 3-months before we leave service. So, what am I to do. I really
don’t have any burning desire to travel within Georgia; well, maybe out to the
coast on the Black Sea; but, I don’t know if I want to travel that far. I still
have time to figure something out.
We had a snow storm back at the end of January. Here
in Georgia, at least here in Sagarejo, snow removal is not something that is
done. They rely to the sun (when it comes out) to do the job. As a result,
melted snow turns into ice which just adds to the challenge of getting around. The
area in front of the school is one large sheet of ice. The kids just love it as
they glide into school; but, it is a nightmare for me. I walk at such a slow
pace; fearful all the time of slipping. It does not seem to bother anyone else;
or they are just used to it. The locals tell me that unlike America where we
must clear the sidewalks; here in Georgia they have no such rule. They don’t
worry if someone falls on their property as no legal action can be taken if
that happens. And, the locals tell me they like it this way. Safety is not
priority.
About 400 schools were closed during January due to
heavy snow and also because there were some deaths from the “swine flu.”
Washing hands here, at least in Sagarejo, is something that most times does not
happen as very often we do not have water. If we do have water, it is not hot.
I use my tea kettle to boil water so that I can wash my face and hands. But, I
can only do this once a day and not when I am in school. I use wet-wipes and hand gel but these items
sure don’t replace good old fashion soap and water.
I remembered an interesting fact when I was
traveling in Switzerland. On the tour bus in Switzerland, all the cities
require that passengers wear seatbelts on the bus. If the bus is boarded by
police checking to see seat belt status; the passenger would be responsible for
the fine (If they would not be wearing the seat belt). The bus company is not
responsible. This announcement is made
when the bus begins in journey and needless to say, we all buckled up!
Ok, back to Georgia. One of the methods that is/was
used to combat the spread of Swine Flu is that the Director of the School
requires that the windows be open. I was so upset about this. The school just
does not have enough heat; and in addition since Georgians don’t close doors we
all wear layers of clothing and/or our winter coats, hats, boots and gloves
during class time. So, when the Director also wanted to window open – well I
drew the line. In the rooms I was teaching in I closed the window. I would
really wish they would concentrate on getting the water/hot water flowing
(along with supplying soap) and tissues to cough into or blow nose – but, those
items are just not a priority.
When it is really cold the classes are cut short.
They go from 45 minutes to 35 minutes for each class. In this way school gets
out a little earlier than usual. Also, at times during the winter the classes
have a start time later than 9:00am. Because we don’t have daylight savings
time; it is usually still dark (or just getting light) at 8:00am. So, starting
classes at 9:30am or even 10:00am allows students/teachers to travel to school
in the day light. It is all very confusing to me as most times no one tells me
that the times are changing. I end up going to the school at the normal time
and then standing outside in the cold waiting for the school to open.
One of my big issues here is when I have to do
things that don’t make any sense. Maybe it is just because I am coming to the
end of my service here in Georgia that I am just getting a little tired of the
nonsense. For example; If children don’t show up for classes for any number of
reasons (cold, snow, religious holiday) and the ministry has not officially closed
the schools; well, the teachers must show up or they won’t be paid. So, we end
up sitting around all day as because there are no students so there is no one
to teach. In addition, when this happens the teachers ring the bell for the
start and end of classes even though there are no classes being taught. This
just does not make sense.
Another confusion is (and this seems like it is
across the board) is that children don’t go to bed at a decent hour. I am told,
and I witness this here in my house, that sometimes children are up until 12:00am
on a school night. As a result, many times during the day the children are
laying their heads down and trying to sleep. When I wake them up they are not
happy with me. Sometimes after eating, around 4pm or so, Georgian’s lay down
and take a nap. I would imagine this allows them to stay up late. This cycle
just continues and continues…..no one seems to think these practices are
unusual (and especially since they are done on a regular basis).
My skin feels like sand paper and I think the
reasons are multiple. For example, showering happens for me on a weekly basis
and the remainder of the time I have multiple layers of clothing on to combat
the cold. Routinely I have long underwear on underneath my clothing. I mostly sleep
in my regular clothes because it is just too cold to wear Pj’s to bed. I wear a
hoodie and scarf to bed, and sometimes gloves; however, with all this clothing
and my sleeping bag and blanket I do sleep very warm; it is just getting out of
bed that is a problem.
So often living here in the village many things just
feel like a “big effort.” Sometimes even
when I get to Tbilisi to take a shower; and that is weekly or beyond, I often
have this debate about if I really want to take a shower. It is a lot of work
and that is because I don’t do it very often; however, when I get to stand
under the wonderful, streaming hot water – it is truly fabulous. It is just
getting myself under the water that is the issue (at times). The water
situation here in Sagarejo has been an on again/off again thing. When we do
have water it is so cold; I often think that ice is coming out of the faucet. I
know some folks that don’t brush their teeth as the water is so cold; and then,
they end up at the dentist. The normal, daily things that I used to take for
granted now often become a long conversation as to whether I want to do it or
not. It just all feels like work.
Recently I was in Tbilisi and spent some time doing
one of my favorite things; that is, going on and off buses and marsh’s to just
see where they are going. I like to get lost and then found; and I’ve
discovered that more often than not I actually know where I am. I don’t get
lost as often any more. Even sitting on transportation is an effort. There are
so many people on the vehicles that no matter where you sit someone is pushing
or bumping into you. The bus stops are designated stops; however, the marsh
will stop anywhere someone flags it down. So, very often we are stopping
numerous times on the same block.
The drivers accelerate so fast only to stop short
when someone flags them down. So, it is a back and forth thing (a body in
motion) when the driver stops quickly. I don’t eat before I use transportation
as I know I would feel sick to my stomach with so much motion in the vehicle. Each
passenger either pays with a metro card or cash; so the driver is usually
making change as people get off the marsh. I don’t know when to pay. Some folks
say you pay when you get on and others say you pay when you get off….I still
have no idea. I think one time I actually forgot to pay…..sorry, Georgia.
My school has submitted an application to request
another Peace Corps Volunteer for July 2016 (after I leave service). As a
result, a meeting was conducted with the PC program manager, my School
Director, my counter-part teachers to discuss the possibility of having a new
volunteer. It was an almost two hour meeting. So many questions; like, what
would be the goal of having another volunteer; how would a new volunteer
integrate into the community. The list goes on. I hope that they do get another
volunteer; as I feel it would be beneficial for the school and the community.
One of the downsides to this is that the teachers submitted the application
late. I sometimes feel like a nag as often Georgian’s don’t really take kindly
to deadlines. The school was lucky to get an interview as usually late
applications are just set aside.
So, my final entry to this blog is about my day
recently that I went to the US Embassy. I had to have a couple of forms
notarized; so, away I went to the Embassy. This journey was not easy. It took me
2-hours to get myself to Tbilisi and then another hour of travel (once I get
the marsh) to get to the Tbilisi Mall. At that time I need to get a taxi as I
don’t know the bus/marsh route to get to the embassy (need to figure that out).
Getting the taxi was more trouble than I thought; as the drivers didn’t know
where the Embassy way. This surprised me as the US Embassy looks like a city unto
itself. It is on one of the main roads; so another period was spent trying to
find the Embassy. Total, of 4+ hours in-transit.
One thing I want my family and friends to know about
Georgia is…..that nothing is easy in this country.
Once at the embassy, I had
to stand in line-outside
to wait for 2pm (as that is when they open the doors for appointments). Going
through Security was another adventure. Finally, I get to where I need to have
the forms notarized. I felt like I was back in the United States. I stood at a
window with the assistant on the other side of a window that I don’t think a
cannon would have put a dent in.
Conversation was through an intercom; so, everyone
in the room heard not only my responses but also the questions of the
assistant. I was not happy about this as some of the information was private.
The topping of the cake was that after all this I was told that maybe I didn’t
need to do what I was told that I needed to do (whew…that is a mouthful).
However, since I made the effort I insisted we take care of the business that I
was there for so that at a later date someone could not say I needed to do
it…and then, back I go to begin the process all over again.
I keep saying finally, but finally – my business was
complete and now to find my way back. I had to walk many blocks (and not safely
as there were no sidewalks so I was walking very close to traffic to finally
find a crosswalk) – The crosswalk is an endangered entity in Georgia….even so,
I still pray and swivel my head around constantly so see if a car or whatever
may be heading my way. Got on a bus that I thought would take me to where I was
going to go; but, had to get off and get on another marsh and then onto the
metro and finally, the marsh to get back to my home. Just writing about this
makes me exhausted…..but finally, I was home. Another four hours and then I
went and bought a beer and cookies….and slept.
I could never say that life here is boring; and yes,
that is important to me. In my old life I could predict what would happen
(mostly) every day/sometimes every hour and here in Georgia – that is not the
case. It does get tiring at times as I need to be on guard or alert all the
time while traveling. Really, sometimes I wish I had an extra set of eyes
(HA)……
So ends 22 months of service. Thank you for spending
your time, my Faithful Readers, to ride along with me.
All
the best, Catherine Lawrence, G14
Peace Corps Volunteer/Georgia – 2/25/16
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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