Blog, July 20^th, 2014

Hello, My Faithful Readers:

I don’t know where to start! It has been a whole week since I last left you. It seems so appropriate that today is the anniversary of the Moon Landing; as I feel that I am also in a different world. Of course, Georgia is not an alien world as is the moon, but more and more I know I am not in Kansas anymore.  The BIG NEWS is that I am officially a “Peace Corps Volunteer.”

Volunteer - მოხალისე; Mokhalise

 As you have been reading, my PST (Pre-Service Training) was very difficult for me on so many levels. At times I really didn’t know if I was going to make it or even if I wanted to make it. Very often I thought about leaving; as I questioned what I was doing here, in the PC, when I could be in my home town with all the luxuries one could ask for. 

Well, maybe those kinds of questions are built into the process of becoming a Peace Corps Volunteers, maybe, but it is because of the answers that resulted from those questions made it clear to me that I wanted to stay and serve with the Peace Corps here in Georgia. The clarity that resulted, I believe, will make this experience deeper and more satisfying as I don’t have any doubt this is where I should be.  Now, as time goes forward I will probably moan and groan about something; for example, the heat, the walking up my mountain to get home, the cold – I could go on, but you get the picture. However, those complaints (well, maybe not complaints but one of the ways to share my challenges) are not meant to question why I am here, but as I said to share what is happening.

My permanent address here in Georgia.

Catherine Lawrence

C/O- Nodar Dreidze

Satave Street, 2nd Turn, House #4a

3801 Sagarejo,

Republic of Georgia

So, let me back track a bit and fill you in on activities and events that led up to this moment. Leading up to graduation, we had to go to Borjomi to apply for our residency cards.  In order to do that, we needed to meet with a notary in Borjomi, with our passports, and sign a bunch of documents. It was only about a 30-minute drive from Khashuri. The process was really effortless as the Peace Corps staff had everything setup for us. So, in and out of the office and we were free for a couple of hours to explore Borjomi. If you goggle the name lots of information will come up. I was so impressed with this town.  It is a resort town that I know that I will visit again while here in Georgia. It is just beautiful. I am told that the mountains that you see are the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. It is worth your time to check it out. I think they are known for their mineral waters. I have so much more to learn. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borjomi

Borjomi (Georgian: ბორჯომი)

is a resort town in south-central Georgia with a population estimated at 14,445. It is one of the districts of the Samtskhe-Javakheti ...

I spent part of my free time in the Bank of Georgia trying to get my bank card activated. Also, I wanted to setup an internet banking account as that is how Peace Corps will now pay us and through us our host families. It did take some time as the only person who spoke English was limited and my Georgian is not great; but, somehow we got it done. However (as an aside) when I tried the bank card, it worked. The bank knows me as “Mr. Lawrence.”  However, my codes for my internet on-line account didn’t work. So, I need to go back and get that figured out. I thought there might be a problem as the bank staff filled in my pass codes when the account was being setup, so I was not clear if I was clear in giving the pass code. Oh well, it will get fixed – but, moving in the right direction. After the bank, I met up with a group of volunteers and we sat beneath the Lesser Caucasus and had coffee. It was a tranquil setting with outside tables and umbrellas. The sun was going down, the air was cool and we had green grass under our feet (the grass in Osiauri is for cow grazing, not sitting on). I know I felt so comfortable. Finally seeing the Lesser Caucasus was a thrill for me - majestic. The conversation was flowing and easy. It was lots of fun and I know I was not ready to leave. But, as trainees we need to be back in our villages by 7:00pm, so back home we went.

The next big event was our oral language test. In order to make the language mark in the Peace Corps you need to attain the level of intermediate low. Well, I knew that was not going to happen. That level comes only after reaching Novice low, medium and high. My first test was novice low, so I know I was going to be happy to go up one notch to Novice Medium. After I was switch into a different language class I felt so much better and I knew that I improved, so I was not afraid J to take the test.

The test is verbal with one of the language teachers. I walked away knowing that I did better than my first test. And, as expected I did go up a notch to Novice Medium. I will have to continue learning in order to meet the goal of intermediate low; so I will get a tutor and have individual classes twice a week – each class being 60-90 minutes. Whew, that is a far cry from the four hours every day (six days a week) of language class during PST with 20-somethings that have more proficiency than I had and also most had at least another foreign language under their belt. I feel that I am on solid ground and I don’t think there will be any problem making the mark when I next test in November. (Stay Tuned for on-going results )J.

At that point, our trainee requirements were complete. I know we were all relieved, as I know I was. We now had a day and a half to finish packing and get ready to move to our permanent site as well as say good-by to our host families. The luggage is like nothing else. We all knew we came in with a lot of luggage, but during our three months in training we had acquired more and the PC gave us more stuff. The question was - how to fit it all into our luggage and honestly how to get it to our permanent sites. The marsh’s don’t have a lot of carrying room like the big greyhound buses do. It was an on-going conversation and worry among the volunteers.  

The next event was the Farewell Dinner. What a wonderful event. Most of us got dressed up and away we went. It was held in Khashuri, actually not far from my village. Dinner was excellent. The food just kept coming. Kinda like a buffet but without the line. It was a sit down dinner. There was not enough room on the table for the varieties of food. After dinner there was an activity (cannot be the PC without an activity J).  We were given a certificate of completion packet from the PC for ourselves and one for our host families. Each volunteer picked a packet and then had to give the packet to the volunteer and say something nice or complimentary about that person. This was all done as a group and it was indeed a lovely activity. One—by-one as the packets were given out, there was laughter, hugs, crying and everything in-between. After that, dessert! And then the talent show. There were songs and a terrific magic show by one of the guys in our group. There was a skit that spoofed one of the language coaches, which was so funny. Out of context; however, it may not translate – but trust me, we were all doubled over with laughter. It was such a relief to have that kind of outlet after the 11 weeks of serious training. At the end, we played “Ra Ra Rasputin “on the marsh radio and we all went outside to dance. I did post a link to the song in my last post, so if you have not taken a listen you still can. This was our “theme song” traveling the highways in Georgia. It is a real HOOT!

Ah, home at last and to finish packing and talking with our host family. It will be very sad for me to leave them. They have been GREAT to me. The morning that I left my host grandmother was so upset, as was I. We were both crying as we were trying to get the luggage out the gate to get to the marsh. There was not a lot of time for a long good-by (thank goodness). I hope at some point while I am here in Georgia to go back and visit. We shall see.

Graduation day has finally arrived. The marsh picked me up at 7:05am and we were off to Tbilisi by 7:30am. The ride was very quiet. I know I was in deep thought about events that had happened and what was before me. I know I’ve said this numerous times but I still cannot get my head around living here in Georgia. When I factor in that it will be for “two years” it just still does not feel real, and yet I know it is very real. We arrived in Tbilisi. I believe it was the hottest day so far that I’ve experienced in Georgia (or maybe my blood pressure) was pumping due to the anxiety of all this.

In any event, the ceremony was at the Medical Center, which is next door to the Peace Corps Office. All the staff, the language coaches, the education coaches, the marsh drivers and of course all the volunteers (maybe other folks that I’ve not mentioned (sorry)) made their way to the auditorium. Host families, both current and future, were invited.  In addition, many of the G12 and G13 volunteers were in attendance, as well as volunteers from years past who still live in Georgia came to the event. I bet there were 300 people in the auditorium. We, the trainees, were on the stage. It was so overwhelming that even sitting here writing I am feeling the emotion of it all. The PC staff led us through the events as they would happen. The ceremony would start at HIGH noon (12:00pm – Georgia Time) and it would last about 2-1/2 hours. There was no AC and it was hot, but we all used our program to fan ourselves.

The program began with remarks from the PC Country Director in English and then was translated into Georgian by our Training Manager. We also had a brief speech from three representatives of our group of trainees. Some of the trainees sang the Georgian and the American National Anthems. It was a moment! Then, the US Ambassador Richard Norland, swore us in. I have listed below the oath that we took in order to become Volunteers. We had to repeat after him and I know for myself, and for some people around me, we had lumps in our throat trying to speak the words. It was joyous and overwhelming.  Our Program Director’s then called each of our names out and we stood up. Because there are so many of us we each place the Peace Corps pin on our lapels. The auditorium just went wild with applause. What a moment!

After the oath we took a break and went to a lovely reception outside of the auditorium. All kinds of pastry, a fabulous cake, soda, coffee and water were served. During the reception I met up with my new host mother and the woman who will be my school Director in Sagarejo. I was so thrilled that came to the event. In addition my host father, who is a police officer in Tbilisi arrived. He left work to come to the event. I was so impressed . In addition, the two women I interviewed with during my visit to ETAG (English Teachers Association of Georgia) also came to the event. I had been communicating with them both to thank them for their time during the interview and in the email I sent invited them to the Peace Corps graduation. I was so happy and surprised that they came as I know that I will have a close association with this organization during my time in Georgia.  As you can see, it just kept unfolding and getting better and better as the day went on. After the reception we were entertained by Georgian Dancers and singers doing traditional dances and songs and also in traditional costumes. It was amazing and I plan to seek them out and view another performance. It was great.

So, the day was complete. We found our luggage trucks and my host father brought the car around. He was supposed to take us all to the marsh hub, but he ended up driving us all the way home to Sagarejo. That was really a big deal as he was supposed to go back to work after the event. Instead, he drove us home and then drove back to Tbilisi and worked until the next afternoon. The Georgian people are so kind. It was a relief to have a ride home as I was so tired and hot I could have fallen asleep in the car.

Ok, I have written so much and have yet to tell about arriving in Sagarejo and my new host family and location. I will leave that for the next blog.

Thanks so much, My Faithful Readers. I now REALLY begin Peace Corps Service. So thrilled and thankful that this opportunity has been given to me and that I am well enough to maintain the rigor of it all.

All the best, Catherine, G14 – 7/20/14

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

Peace Corps Volunteer Oath:

I,____________(name) do solemly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, domestic or foreign, that I take this obligation freely. And without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. And that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps, so help me God.

Me in Tbilisi, In case you forgot what I looked like (smiles). I could not figure out how to turn it around (sorry)!