Blog, April 26, 2015

Hello my Faithful Readers:

I have posted  four photographs at the end of the blog. The first is a photograph is me and my host brother way back in May 2014 in Osiarui. The second is the IDP camp (Koda) that I have written about in the blog. The photo was taken from the balcony of my friends apartment. The third is me at another friends apartment in Vake, Tbilisi - Georgia. More details within the blog  and the final photo is of me on the porch recently here in Sagarejo. 

April is a hard month here in Sagarejo, Georgia. It seems that April 1^st is the magical date that is supposed to change winter into spring. April 1^st marks the date when the fire wood is gone and any extra money provided to the host families to offset heating costs is suspended (so using the electric space heater is something that you want to do sparingly if at all). However, Mother Nature does not know that it is suppose to change from winter to spring on April 1^st ; and, that the temperatures should be mild enough so that fire wood and heat are no longer needed.

All winter I have stayed somewhat warm. I’ve been cold at times but not nearly as cold as I’ve been recently here in April. It has been raining for days-days-days and with the rain comes that raw cold that just goes into your bones. The pechi is still operating but not with fire wood. It has a gas insert that allows for some warmth; but not as good as with the fire wood.

I was under the covers thinking one evening that I was hungry, dirty and cold and this was how I was going to go to sleep. I thought about this and wondered how I was going to live in this state for the next four days as that is when I would be able to travel to Tbilisi for food, shower and heat. When, to my surprise I realized that the school was closed for an additional day due to the holiday and that I could travel into Tbilisi to take care of my needs. Wow, you want to talk about a “New York Minute” – that is when everything can change. I came home clean, well fed and warm as during my travels the sun cooperated and finally came out after hiding for five days.

I don’t know if this is a trick or not; but, I am told in May the “snakes” come out in Sagarejo.  Is someone pulling my leg? I don’t know if this is true or not; but I will let you know that next time I blog. I have no idea what kinds of snakes and if this is true where the snakes have been all this time (maybe hiding underground). I hope this was a joke! As if the dogs and the cars were not enough to scare me!

So, today is the end of April. On April 26^th was my “one year anniversary” of arriving in Georgia. At times I feel like I have been here five years. It has been an amazing year filled with joys, hardships, lessons learned; new friends and everything in-between. The volunteers say that the 1^st year goes very slow; but, the second year flies by. So, we shall see.

http://www.internal-displacement.org/blog/2013/five-years-on-from-the-georgia-russia-war-georgian-idps-still-in-need

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUW8tPl-sl8

One of my friends here in the Peace Corps recently celebrated a Birthday. Her post here in Georgia is “Koda, Georgia”.  Koda is an IDP camp (Internally Displaced Persons). So, I recently went to my first IDP camp to help her celebrate. The site is about 40 minutes from Tbilisi and of course travel is via marsh. My friend works with community administration to foster development to the folks who were forced to leave their homes and relocate. The above links will provide some information; however, I could not find any links for Koda specifically.

There are approximately 150,000 IDP’s in Georgia. I don’t know exactly how many IDP’s are situated in Koda; but, based on the number of apartment buildings I would estimate there are about 5,000 (maybe?).

Koda is a former Russian military base that was transformed into living quarters for the relocation. The apartment buildings, and there are many, are not that bad. They have newly installed windows; gas heat (not pechi); electric and most of all neighbors who just blew me away with the warm and loving reception we PC volunteers received. The neighbors brought food and presents and this from folks who really don’t have a heck of a lot. Water is a luxury. It is only available at certain times of the day; so, you better pay attention or you will miss your opportunity.

The camp is mostly mud….walking around is a challenge. They have lots of gardens; live stock (cows, chickens, pigs and of course DOGS). Laundry is hung outside everywhere and I could see that these folks were making improvements (building storage units) for food and cars. The community makes and sells all kinds of things; for example, furniture, knitted hats, etc. They have a sewing room where people are taught to sew and also a beauty school where hair cutting is taught. They are trying, after so many years of being displaced, to re-make their lives as many think that they will never go home again. They will spend their lives displaced. I cannot imagine how that would feel. However, since (I was told) that when relocation was organized the government tried to group folks who had been from the displaced locations together; there was already a sense of community, shared experience, as they moved into Koda.  

It was only, for me, an overnight trip but I felt as much a part of this community as I could have in that short time.  I would like to go back and learn more and I also realized that my struggles here in Sagarejo are, of course, challenging but in comparison to what I observed in Koda – I can’t complain.

Over the Georgian Easter Holiday the Tbilisi metro was FREE! I think that is just terrific for the transit system to do that. Of course, I didn’t get into Tbilisi over the holiday as I have not really been traveling much due to my parasite. And speaking of my parasite; I am told that I am completely free. Yipee; however, the doctors tell me that it will still be sometime before I can return to normal (whatever that means). It seems that some healing needs to take place; but, I must tell you that things are a little better. One of the other considerations was the fact that my system seems to have too much iron in it and that also causes issues. So the PC will fix me up with vitamins more in line with what I need.

As a result of all this I have had blood work done and other “stuff” (don’t want to mention); but, I am told that all the results came back positive, even stellar! So, I guess the weight loss (now 67 pounds) has had a positive effective on my body. I have been so well taken care of. People have said that when you are in the PC you will have the best medical care that you will probably ever get!  When I went for the blood work I was escorted by a member of the PC security staff. He drove me over to the medical office and navigated the sign-in procedure for me. He then drove me back to the PC office. It was truly effortless.

I have finally been connected with “World Wise Schools” in the United States. I have been connected with a 6^th grade teacher in Jamesville DeWitt Middle School, in DeWitt.  It is a suburb of Syracuse, NY.  The school is grades 5 - 8 and has about 950 students.  My teacher has 24 kids in her ELA class and that is the class that would correspond with me or with some of your students.

The below links are for the school and the Peace Corps site that talks about the World Wise Schools project.

http://www.jamesvilledewitt.org/middle

http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/about/

We have been communicating via email and the students have lots of questions for me. There are lots of possibilities for lessons plans; Celsius VS Fahrenheit, The language of Georgia – history and alphabet, the geography of Georgia…lots and lots of idea. I think at some point we will skype. I am very glad I signed on to do this project.

1.  What's the climate like?  (or How's the weather?)

2.  How many kids go to Sagarejo #2?  We have about 950 students here.

3.  Is it hard to get up and down the mountain?

4.  How many other schools are there?

5.  Please tell us how to say the name of the town (phonetically).

6.  What is the official language of Georgia?

I recently spent a weekend in Tbilisi recently with a friend who is former PCV and ex-pat who decided to live in Georgia after she completed her PC service. It was an amazing weekend as her apartment is in “Vake” which is a section within Tbilisi. I have been toying with the idea of relocating in Georgia (retiring) after I complete; but it is far away (July 2016). We spent the time walking all around the neighborhood just so I could get a feel for the area. It so reminds me of NYC (the So-Ho) area. It is an interesting neighborhood. There are tons of apartment buildings, shops, restaurants and a park. There is great transportation and I was on many, many auto-buses so I could see how I could get around. The bus cost, now hold onto your hat – 50Tetri, which is about 20cents in US currency for a ride. And, if you make a transfer to another bus or metro within 90 minutes there is no cost. The marsh system is a little different, but it is also very inexpensive.

My friend lives in a walk-up apartment building. Most of the apartments are walk-ups. She lives on the 3^rd floor; so that in and of itself is a great exercise program. Her place is small; one bedroom, a nice size living room, small kitchen and bathroom but it is really perfect. The location is awesome and she walks everywhere she needs to go. She has a little terrace that she can have plants and hang laundry. It is all really very affordable as the apartments come equipped with all the furniture and pots/pans, dishes, etc. So, no big investment is needed.

We met other folks for dinner at a really wonderful Italian restaurant (I was in heaven). We had REAL coffee…and REAL butter (and toast) for breakfast before we went exploring. The weather cooperated as it didn’t rain and it was truly a wonderful spring day to tour the sites. This adventure showed me that my thinking about relocating here is completely do-able. The ex-pats who live here have given me so much information in order to figure out how to do it. I don’t need to invent the wheel and I have an already built in community of people who have truly welcomed me in the fold. I will keep you posted as this will be an on-going conversation.  The below link will provide information on the area.  “Vake” is directly below “Saburtalo” which is where the Peace Corps Office is.

https://www.google.ge/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=saburtalo

On another note, my obtaining an apartment here in Sagarejo will probably not happen. There are just not enough apartments and they are all rented. It seems that someone will have to move out so that I could move in. I have had a couple of nibbles but conditions would just not be suitable; e.g., I would be afraid due to people drinking around the building or I would need to take transportation to get to school.  Maybe it is just not that important as I really do love living where I do on the mountain. So, we shall see how this unfolds.

My host family is in high gear planting corn, beans, tomatoes, onions….and the list goes on and on. However, I was so surprised when I learned how potatoes are grown. Now, I am a potato lover “კარტოფილის = kartopilis” in Georgian. I eat potatoes almost every day. They are boiled, fried, baked (on the pechi); they are in soups and salads as well as boiled in beef and pork dishes. I think they are even in desert pastry. Potatoes are everywhere. So, when my host father brought home a 50 pound bag (I think it was that size but there were LOTS of potatoes) and he started to bury them back in the garden I thought he was out of his mind. I thought “why buy the potatoes and bury them?” So, I was asking questions as I am not a farm gal. It seems, once I had the internet to educate me, that this is the way you grow potatoes.

There are many utube videos, I’ve listed one to give you the skinny on this. My host father planted the potato whole; however, many videos say that you should cut them because of the eyes. This is a whole new world for me. I knew potatoes grew in the ground; but, I thought maybe there were seeds planted or something. Very interesting  - J

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+video+to+grow+potatoes&qpvt=utube+video+to+grow+potatoes&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=6E7A4D927CFE53A2B4C56E7A4D927CFE53A2B4C5

The other day as I was coming down from my room I saw the most amazing thing….it was a cow! Wow, this cow was humongous! I wanted to go get my camera but I knew I would be too late to get a picture. Reason being is that my host grandmother was heading towards the cow with a BIG stick. I wanted to see what she was going to do. Well, she threw the stick at the cow and he/she (cow) moved away from our house. I can imagine if the cow got into the garden it would eat whatever has been planted so far….but, I stayed clear of the cow as if it ran into you I am sure you could really get hurt. This was a first for me. I’ve seen horses, donkeys, chickens, ducks, of course dogs and cats; but, this was my first cow here on the mountain!

And the saga continues as the next day there were two bulls heading into our garden. Again, WOW! I was just flabbergasted. Neighbors came out with sticks to push them back to where they came from (that is another neighbor’s house). I even felt confident enough to walk with the folks to push the bulls back. They were both so black and mean looking. I don’t think I have ever seen a bull that close.

I was a little taken back recently when, during the school day, I watched as a couple of the boys were playing with toy guns. I have not seen toy guns in decades; in fact, I don’t even know if they are sold in the USA any longer? But, the children

were playing with black handguns and for me it was a frozen moment. The children were running around shooting each other and making the noises that guns make. They were hiding the guns in their clothing and ducking behind furniture as they were shooting each other.

This was unexpected and for some reason I thought why this was happening?

I remember growing up playing with handguns and machine-guns in the same way that these children were playing; however, things have changed since I was a kid. Maybe this has been happening all along; however, it is only now that I’ve noticed it?

I will close for now as I begin my 2^nd year here in Georgia. Actually, my 2^nd year does not officially start until July as that is when I finished training (July 2014)  and became a full PC volunteer (not a trainee). But, who is counting (HA). I can now see how “green” I was coming into service. I don’t feel that all of the “green” is gone; but I can certainly see how much I have grown in this experience.

All the Best, My Faithful Readers

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.

Blog, April 13, 2015

Hello, My Faithful Readers:

I am attaching at the bottom of the blog four photographs. The first, as promised, is the tattoo text that PCV friends had placed on their upper arm. It says “Peace Corps Georgia 2013-2015”. The second is the newly established library book corner for the children of Sagarejo School #2. These books were donated to Peace Corps and then to Georgian Schools from various non-profit organizations in the United State. Next is a photo of “me” in the English Cabinet during a recent 9^th grade class and finally a photo of the English alphabet letters that were placed in the English Cabinet.

Today is the end of Easter Break (from school) here in Georgia (April 9-13, 2015). The link below will provide additional information on Orthodox Easter Sunday. During conversations with my host family and friends I hear that even though it is a week later than the Easter holiday in the states; people here basically do many of the same things. For example: dying eggs, visiting family and friends and going to the cemetery. Of course, food plays a big part of this holiday – many of the traditional Georgian food are served. Eggs here in Georgia are colored ONLY in “red” to represent the blood of Christ. My host sister went to Easter Services that started at midnight on Sunday morning and finished at 3:00am on Easter Sunday.  It has been raining now for five days and it is so cold and raw. We all pray for the sun to come out. My host mother is baking bread and preparing food for the supra.

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/georgia/orthodox-easter-day

PCV’s have been advised that during the Easter gathering and visiting the ancestors’ cemeteries on Monday (4/13/15)  will likely result in a higher number of inebriated drivers, therefore be particularly aware when you are walking home or crossing the street and also riding the marshrutka.

LELO is an Easter Tradition – and the video link below shows how Georgians play “Lelo” in Georgia. Georgians are preparing whole year to play Lelo for the Easter day in the Shukhuti village. Ball making process is very sacred. The number of players isn't limited. All the people are divided into two groups and all of them are willing to score a Lelo, which is the Georgian synonym of try. After the match, the winner should place the ball on the grave of a glorious person from his village.

You have to see this game to believe it. It sort of reminds me of Rugby..all I could do while watching was place my hand over my mouth…it is worth the 7 minutes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvmq_K6G84Q

I am an American and according to many of my Georgian friends, we Americans do some crazy things. I say that tongue and cheek as some of my Georgian friends feel comfortable enough to needle and tease me about some of the things that I do that seem strange to them.  

Some of my crazy habits: I brush my teeth a lot! I drink LOTS of water and very little wine! I use very little (if any) salt and sugar! I arrive to places on time or even early! I wash my hands a lot (or use sanitizer)!

However, over time here I have seen many of my Georgian friends drinking a LOT more water than they did a few months ago, and the teachers ask to use my hand sanitizer during the day when I am around. I keep singing the praises of being hydrated and I think my example maybe getting through.

I heard something recently that I surely don’t hear much in the USA; that is, parents calling their children to come home. I remember as a girl growing up that I heard my parents calling me back to the house for meals or time to come in; however, in the United States I sure don’t hear that anymore. Here in Georgia (as when I was growing up) children can go away from home to play, ride bikes, roller skate  or just visit with friends in the neighborhood without having a parent hovering near. In recent years parents/grandparents in the US don’t let their children out of their sight. I will speak for myself; as I would not let my grandchildren go riding their bike freely around any neighborhood.

Parents in the US watch their kids like hawks; not so here in Georgia. Children here can roam free as it is a tight knit community and it seems to be OK here to let your children go on their own (at times). Children here walk to and from school by themselves; in the US most families take their children to school and watch them go in with their teacher. So sad that in the US many children just disappear and so much emphasis is placed on “stranger danger.” In the US we take fingerprints of our children, just in case. I am not 100% sure, but I don’t think that happens here (or at least it is not reported).  It is so refreshing to listen to mothers yelling for their children. It is just a normal thing to do here.  I didn’t realize how we just don’t do that in the USA any longer.

News Flash! All this time and I didn’t realize that there are NO soap operas broadcasted on Sundays here in Georgia. Of course this is not earth shattering news; but, I never put it together before now. Oh well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujo65bBRQ4I

Unforgettable Energy of Freedom  - you may need to cut and paste into your browser.

The above link is to a short video (3minutes or so) of Georgian Dancing that takes place at various locations around Tbilisi. Really something to see!

Pictures…..as promised in an earlier blog, I have attached to the bottom of the blog a photo of the tattoo that my friends here in Georgia had placed on their upper arm. It says” Peace Corps Georgia 2013-3015”. My friends are really happy with their tattoo and felt that this was the best souvenir that could bring home. I don’t plan to do anything that elaborate; however, I have been thinking about getting one also. They said it does not hurt that much – ouch! My friends are in their early 70’s.

The big news in my life is that I am going to see if I can rent an apartment/flat here in Sagarejo. ბინა = Bina (which means apartment in Georgian.) I have been living with host families now for almost a year and I thought it might be a good idea to see if I could live on my own here in Georgia. I do love living where I do (on the mountain) and it may end up that I won’t move; but I am putting out the feelers with teachers and friends to see if there is anything affordable and safe for me. Here in Georgia when you rent it comes furnished with all the dishes, pots/pans, linens…etc., etc. So, it won’t be a big financial investment to move. Sagarejo is very poor; and there are very few apartment buildings. I’ve heard that all the apartments are occupied; however, one apartment dweller said she would move back with her parents if I wanted to rent her “bina”. I did go and look and it was very nice; but, it was SO BIG – six rooms without counting kitchen and bathroom. I just could not afford that much space and also, since I have to pay for gas and electric, I could not afford to heat it next winter. I had another possibility; however, this apartment didn’t have any water (sorry, that won’t work). And another possibility was the place was heated by a fire place. Well, I am not so sure about that…I feel like I am part of “little house on the prairie” So often here in Georgia I feel that I am living in the 18^th or early 19^th century; that is, until a car flies by and almost hits me. So, we shall see what happens.

I’ve noticed time and time again how direct the Georgian people are in how they communicate. At times it catches me off guard as for some reason I don’t expect it. For some reason I’ve had the impression that Georgian people are mild, reserved and laid back and most times they are.  Somehow I interpreted that to mean they were not confrontational and direct; however, I am mistaken. Many times I am hit from left field with questions that I surely would not ask anyone. For example; I am always put on the spot by a Georgian to tell me what my religion is. Another big question is why I am not married and do I want a Georgian husband? Of course in these situations I have to lie as I don’t want to upset anyone with my answers.

Georgian people are so direct in asking “why not.” For example, when I say “No thank you” especially for some of the food and alcohol that is offered; most time (and immediately) the person offering will say “why not?” (their tone is very targeted).  It does put me on the spot as I don’t want to hurt feelings – but, the question is posed in such a way as to not accept my refusal. I sometimes just want to take what is offered (even if I don’t want it) just to avoid having to provide an answer. It is a high wire act at times for me. However, I have been learning and find that I am now so much better as responding, in kind, when these kinds of situations arise. It seems that it is OK to do that; in fact, I think the honesty is a cleaner way to respond rather than trying to not ruffle feathers.

In class the other day, the 6^th grade class, a student was copying from the text book and wrote “The peace of jewelry was not to be worn.” I spoke to the teacher and the student who copied the sentence and said that “peace” was not correct. They both looked at me so strange. Their question was how can that be, it is in the book. We had a discussion about Peace/Piece and the differences in meaning (although they sound the same but have different meanings). I don’t think they believed me as you see “it was in the book.” They said, is the book wrong and I said yes. I don’t get to see the book very often that the teacher uses so I wonder what else is being taught that is not correct.

So often I find the students, in a word “brazen” is the best way I can describe it. They look you right in the face and just do as they please and even give you a smile as they know nothing will be done about their behavior. They have no fear of just saying “No” to handing over their cell phone, toys, doodle papers and anything else that is taking their attention away from the lesson. I have not been in many US classrooms (as I was not a classroom teacher) so maybe it’s the same all over; but, I can remember (back in the olden days) that there was usually at least one (maybe two) students in the class who are disruptive and troublesome. Well, in many of the classrooms I’ve been in here in Georgia the opposite is true. Usually there are a handful of students who are respectful and quiet trying to do their work. However, the majority fall into the category of brazen and disrespectful. I could handle a couple of unruly students but when the majority is acting out it is so difficult, if not impossible, to teach. It is exhausting trying to be heard over the talking, laughing, clowning around, running around and often foot stomping and desk pounding. I could go on, but there is no point. Many adults when confronted with this behavior smile and they say how lively the children are. There are always excuses.

One of the things that I am looking forward to when (and if) I can move into my own place is that I will have more control over my food. The other day my host mother made spinach. Now, I was ecstatic. I could not wait to sit down at the table. However, it was short lived as the family eats the spinach fried in oil. The spinach was swimming in oil and I lost any desire. I just could not figure out how to squeeze out the oil so I could eat the spinach; so, I just figured I would refrain from eating altogether. I want to get a colander so that I can steam vegetables….and figure out how to get some butter buds.

A fellow PCV and I have formed a book club. This is very exciting news for me. We have been trading books back and forth; however, now we have selected a book read for April and then will meet in May to have a discussion. In my past life, before Peace Corps, I was a member of the Great Books foundation. I so loved this group and the books and discussions that were had. I don’t think we are going to read the heavy books that I used to read (I just cannot concentrate on anything to deep), so we are going to read “the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.” I read it years ago and like, occasionally to read books over at different points in my life. I cannot wait to see what my second reading will unfold.

My parasite is still hanging on. Things have gotten a little better; however, I am told that it will be months before my system is completed refurbished. I don’t feel sick and I am keeping records of what I am eating to see if I can fake out the parasite.  Ok, Ok – I am LOL as I am writing this and wondering if I have been in country to long J

I have written another article for my series in OpEdNews.  Title is “A Change of Plan.” I so enjoy writing about my experiences.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/A-Change-of-Plan-by-Catherine-Lawrence-Living_Living-150411-419.html

I had occasion to be on the metro one day during the week (as I am usually on the metro only on the weekends). So, I was surprised to see so many children begging for money on the metro. These children, maybe 7 or 8 years old; who were carrying babies and begging for money were in abundance both on the metro and in the station.  There are always policemen in the stations; so, I wondered why these children were allowed to do this?  I wondered why these children were not in school.  I wondered why the people on the train gave them money over and over again. It is upsetting to me to see this happen. The baby they were carrying looked drugged and the child that was carrying the baby held it out in front of it at arms length. Kind of like how they hold religious items in a procession.

I am usually home on Mondays as my school schedule does not have me teaching on Mondays. This is a good thing on the one hand; and on the other hand; on Fridays I have six classes. But it is nice to have a Monday off. However, what has been happening is that most Mondays the electricity goes off. Usually from around 10am to 3pm there is no electric. So, it is day light; however, I cannot work in my room as my electric heater won’t work. Of course the good news is no TV and NO serial soap opera; but it sure is inconvenient. It happens with great regularity so I think maybe it is a planned event rather than weather related.

During the school day we, the teachers, often find students sleeping at their desk during the lesson. I have a hard time with, among other things, and I want to have the student either wake up or leave the room. I am told by the teachers that sleeping is ok sometimes as the students are tired. So, this got me thinking and I think I know why they are tired. I can relate this to my experience in my host family. Many, many times that I get up to go to the bathroom at say 1:00 am or so, I hear my host family talking down on the 1^st floor (pechi room). I can hear everything as there is no insulation and the floors are thin. I am amazed that it is so late and yet they are still up watching television, talking and laughing. This happens most night; it is not an occasional happening. This also happened when I was in Osiauri during pre-service training. My host family there was up singing, watching television, listening to songs way into the middle of the night. I often had to go down and ask them to please stop as I could not sleep. It is a no wonder why they are tired during the school day. I don’t think my host family is unique in this behavior.

I will close for now. As I said earlier it has been raining for days. It is good for the garden as plants are starting to show signs of life; however, it is depressing. Until we meet next time!

All the best to my Faithful Readers:

Catherine Lawrence, G14

Peace Corps Volunteer

April 13, 2015

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

Blog, March 29^th, 2015

Hello, My Faithful Readers:

It has been a challenging couple of weeks for me. It seems that I have a parasite and this parasite really has his/her hooks into me. It is doing the “Macarena” on my intestinal system. I am not in any pain; but, I am exhausted with the numbers of times I need to use the facilities. At times I feel like I am prepping for a colonoscopy (if you have had one you know what I mean). It is really nasty and that, coupled with the fact, that there are very few public facilities here (both Sagarejo and Tbilisi) – well, it has been an ordeal.

One of the major concerns of all this is the “unpredictability” of when my parasite decides that I need to use the facilities. I can give you example after example, but I think you get the picture. I had to cancel my trip to Zugdidi as it was a six-hour marsh ride and there was no way that I could handle that. (The bus/marshs here in Georgia don’t have bathrooms on board). I was really disappointed as I was to represent the University of Pennsylvania at a career fair. Friends have told me to name my parasite and others have said I am just too friendly with my parasite; which is why he/she has stuck around.

In any event, the PC doctors have been terrific. I have some additional medication; however, I am told that it takes months/months to repair the digestive/intestinal systems after events like this. That is fine with me as long as I know that I am on the road to recovery.

Link below:  European Youth Olympics in Tbilisi, July 25 – August 1^st. 

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, will host the 2015 European Youth Olympics. I am told that I can volunteer to be part of this; so, I will check it out. http://www.tbilisi2015.com/en/

This was an amazing experience for me:

As I was looking out the window of the English Cabinet Room in my school, I observed many people walking silently in the middle of the street. I did not know what to make of it; and then, I saw what was happening. It was a funeral. There were six men holding the casket on their shoulders walking in the middle of the group. Now, I’ve seen this type of procession before on television; however, what made this different was that the casket was open. I, along with everyone else, could see the person in the casket as he was being carried on the shoulders of the six men. I could see the man in the casket dressed in a suit with his hands crossed upon his chest. He was lying in fabric of white and his head was on a pillow. His body was not recessed into the casket; it was raised up so that everyone could see him lying in state as the procession went by.

I am so taken back by this scene. It was so unexpected. I didn’t know what to make of it. The procession went on for some time with people walking before the casket and after the casket. There was no conversation; it was quiet. There was no music as sometimes I’ve seen happen in a funeral marches such as this. There were no cars in the procession and people who were walking along the sidewalks stopped and watched as the procession went forward. I didn’t see any flowers or religious items in the procession. I don’t know where they were going. I assume the cemetery; but, I don’t know. This was a truly unique experience for me.

English Stress Words - topic of conversation recently between me and my English Teacher Counter-part. I have never given this topic any thought, but it was interesting to read.

https://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/word-stress-rules.htm

My 9^th grade class was charged with doing a presentation on some of the “extreme sports.”  I’ve seen two of the presentations so far. The first is “Zorbing” and the second is “Parkour”.  I’ve listed links below in case you want to explore these topics. I had no idea; but then, I am not surprised. It seems like someone is always pushing the envelope of what can be done with the human body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorbing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour

Georgia named among 10 saddest countries in the world

http://www.georgianjournal.ge/society/30022-georgia-named-among-10-saddest-countries-in-the-world.html

Tattooing – So what do you think? Should I get a tattoo? Any suggestions as to what I should get?  The reason I am asking is that good friends of mine, here in Georgia decided they would get a tattoo before they left Georgia.  I have their permission to talk about this – so, no names will be mentioned but they are a married couple and they are in their 70’s. I was just stunned when they told me what they were going to do.  They decided to have “Peace Corps Georgia 2013-2015” tattooed (in Georgian) onto their upper arms. Wow, that is a LOT of text. They wanted it placed there so that they could cover it with a shirt if they didn’t want anyone to see it. But yet the location was not really hidden so they could see it whenever they wanted.  I have asked for a photograph of the art work and will post it when it arrives in my email.

Here in Georgia birthdays are celebrated like there is no tomorrow; however, there is one birthday that is not celebrated and I am told it is hardly even recognized. That birthday is the 40^th birthday!  I am reminded of a saying in America that goes: “The first 40 belong to everyone else; and, the second 40 belong to you.” Maybe that is the reason; but, I have no idea really.  Even though it is not celebrated, I wanted to buy someone special a special present for her 40^th birthday. I thought about dusting powder, like Jean Nate Dusting Powder; however, here in Georgia they do not sell ANY kind of body powder. They have lots of face powder; but, nothing else. I would have liked to know this sooner; but alas, I did not. Maybe this is a gift for next year.

http://www.amazon.com/Revlon-Jean-Deodorizing-Silkening-Powder-6/dp/B000MT1GHA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426918189&sr=8-4&keywords=jean+nate+products

Useless information - Something to think about:

I read a line in a book recently that made me LOL…that is “Do you think that the Burger King and the Dairy Queen will get married”….now, ponder that J

I had an interesting soup experience recently; this was a first for me. I love soup, all kinds and I am always up to trying new things (well, maybe not so willing here in Georgia); however, once I said I would try it I was committed. It seems that the family boiled meat (looked like beef) in a pot and the water that the meat was boiled in was then served as “soup.” There were some herbs in the broth; but, basically it was boiled water that was flavored by the beef that was boiled in it. It was LOADED with salt. Well, I had to be diplomatic about this as the family seemed like they were approaching something wonderful. They proceeded to load the broth with bread (maybe a quarter of a loaf) and that is how they ate it (maybe the bread absorbed the salt)? I did eat some; and then had some of the salty beef…..It is something that I would decline in the future.

Another food experience was the introduction of  “Salad” on the table. This was a real surprise for me as during the 11 months I’ve been here I have never been served salad in a Georgian home. I was so excited. I saw onions, lettuce (not sure what kind), cucumbers and something else that was green that I have no idea what it was. Well, my excitement turned to dread when I tasted the salad. I don’t know what kind of dressing was placed on the salad but it was awful. It tasted like the bottom of a pot that has been used and not cleaned (sort of like tin, if you know what I mean). Now, I know my family cleans everything the best they can; so, I cannot fathom what the dress was. I was not in the room during the preparation; so, I am clueless. Everyone at the table grabbed at the salad like it was going to disappear if they didn’t get a portion. I had to mask my portion with the potatoes…it was the only way that it would go down. I need to investigate this more.

Introducing the “Hokey-Pokey” to the students was a lot of fun. We didn’t have a lot of time with this dance; but, the students (3^rd grade) just loved it. I love the “Hokey-Pokey” also….so, I know we will explore this in the weeks to come.

I was surprised recently when one of my counter-part teachers showed me a clip of a TED talk on the computer. Wow, you know about TED? I found that only one teacher was familiar and I still have not found any students who know about this. The Georgian’s here in Sagarejo cannot get past playing with FB so they really don’t see what else the computer has to offer.  I was so excited about a TED talk that I wanted to create a lesson plan around it. It was on the topic of success and discussed the characteristics (persistence, etc) that go into making one successful. Well, to my disappointment the teacher didn’t like it. I tried to draw her out to determine why she didn’t want to do a lesson around it and have yet to understand why. I think this is an important topic; so, I will continue to pursue.

Closets are a “missing” here in Georgia. I have not yet been in a house that has a closet. Most have wardrobes; that is, a piece of furniture that you can hang items in or the houses have hooks on the wall so that you can hang stuff on. I imagine that the Georgian people just don’t have a lot of stuff to place in closets; so the wardrobe does a sufficient job. However, as an American – I have lots of stuff. I just don’t have any place to put things.  In my host family’s home any excess clothing that does not fit in the wardrobe or on a hook ends up piled on a chair.

If I am shopping during the week and I see something that the family needs; like tea, toilet paper, napkins, Tide laundry detergent (stuff like that); I usually pick up the items and give to the family. This is in addition to the money that the Peace Corps give the family to off-set any expense I am being for them. I am not required to buy anything additional; however, I just want to contribute and the items are not that expensive. So, what I have been noticing is that when I buy an item the family stops buying that item. One example is napkins – now I find that if I don’t buy napkins the family does not buy it. Any items that I buy the family stops buying.

Now, I didn’t know what to make of this. I really didn’t want to feel obligated to buy the item again and again just because I bought it the first time. Honestly, I started to resent it a little bit. Especially when my finances were low and I didn’t have extra money for toilet paper.

What I have come to realize is that once I buy something the family THINKS that this is something I want to do and that they don’t want to infringe on my buying the item. Now I see all of this very different and I am very hesitant to buy anything additional as I just don’t have the resources to supply the family with staples such as I mentioned on a consistent basis. There is so much I still don’t understand.

Recently, I was able to bring a company called “Education USA” to my school to talk to the students and teachers. This was probably one of the, if not the BEST, experience I’ve had in the school to date. This is a company that helps students navigate the system in order to study in the USA.

 http://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study

The 10^th graders were the target audience; however, I invited 9^th, 11^th and 12^th grades (as well as any teachers) who wanted to join in. The classroom was packed. I was so happy to see this and even happier with the behavior of the students. There was not a sound in the room, with the exception of the Education USA representative who was speaking. She spoke for 2 lessions; that is 90 minutes. The bell rang half way through the presentation; but nobody left the room. Students were actually taking notes. The speaker asked questions and gave a coffee cup to students answering. She spoke in Georgian so I didn’t follow all of it; but, I did manage to get some of it. She spoke about what they need to do in order to apply; SAT, TESOL, etc., She spoke about the timeline and also about money (both to use Education USA services as well as how to finance an education in the USA).

Days later the students and teachers were still talking about it. I hear from many, many students that they don’t think the education in Georgia is top notch and they want to study outside of the country. They felt that this may be an opportunity to make that happen.  I’ve also been asked to have the Education USA representative come back and speak to another school in Sagarejo. We will work towards that goal.

A fellow PCV has shared some of  her books with me. This is interesting to me because, as you know, I am a book junkie. I don’t know if I could really do this 27-months here in the PC without books. In any event, the books were transmitted via email and I was able to move them onto my Kindle Icon. This was SO COOL. The only down side to this is that I now read books on the computer; but, I would much rather read books with a “book” in my hand. However, I am loving all the new titles that she has been sending me. I found a new author, Michael Connelly and just fell in love with his style of writing. He writes about murder/suspense/mystery (which are subjects that I am just enthralled with); but, it is so not typical. I am very often surprised by his writing and for me that is a thrill. Most times I can pretty much imagine what is going to happen; but, no so with Michael Connelly.

One of the interesting things that continues for me here is the face that I cannot concentrate on any reading materials of great substance. I’ve tried Hemingway and John Fennimore Cooper (to name two); however, I just cannot focus on the depths of their writing. I have had spells like this before; but, none that have lasted so long. Maybe I just have so many other challenges here that I don’t need to be challenged by what I read. I just read for escape, diversion and enjoyment.

I want to close by talking a little about my host family. I just love all these people. But the one person who consistently has my heart is the grandmother. This woman is 80 years old and she is a force of nature. She takes no guff from anyone. She goes toe-to-toe with her son (my host father) and anyone else that she has a disagreement with. She works in the garden pulling up weeds and pruning flowers; she feeds the chickens; brings in the wood for the pechi; she cooks, cleans, etc., etc.,  but most of all she watches soap operas. I hate soap operas; but, I like to watch her watching soap operas. Her attention to the television is 100%. She watches television like the program is going to reveal the mystery of the universe. She takes her food from the kitchen table to the TV if her favorite program is on. I make fun of her and she laughs. I say, soap operas are “kiss, kiss – then – cry-cry” but I act it out. She just loves it.

We sit together often in the pechi room and on the porch and just watch sometimes nothing. She is so warm and loving to me. She tells me, in Georgian, so many nice things about what she thinks of me. I need my family to interpret; but, I know it will all be good. I sometimes grab her and dance for a minute if there is a song on the television. She is always surprised and exhausted when she finally sits down. We bake potatoes on the pechi and she is always stuffing my pockets with fruits and vegetables and candy.  She speaks to me in Georgian like I should be a native speaker. I laugh and say “I don’t understand” – of course, I can say that in Georgian and she laughs….we do communicate in a way that surprised me.

I have so many fond memories of my own grandmother and at times I can see my own grandmother when I look at my Georgian Grandmother. My grandmother was a Russian-Pole so there are many similarities. I feel, at times, that I am re-living an earlier part of my life to have my grandmother back again. I was named after my grandmother. Her name was Katie. I never knew if that was a nickname or if her real name was the same as mine. All I know is that this is such a unique experience for me.

I will close for now and promise that my next post will have some photographs about life here in Georgia. For example, as a walk up and down the mountain I interact with donkeys, sheep, lamb, chickens - who are all welcome in my world. Having a camera is a new experience for me. This is the first camera that I’ve owned in 30-years, so it is not a habit of mine. Also, I just cannot get into all the “selfies” that is all the rage. For me, taking photographs takes me “out of the moment of being present” and it seems like work to me. But, I will try my best to do better. J

All my best to everyone out there in blog land!

Catherine Lawrence, G14

Peace Corps Volunteer/Georgia – 3/29/15

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

Sunday, March 15^th, 2015

Hello, My Faithful Readers:

I have three photographs for your viewing pleasure.

The first is me my host brother and sister on the occasion of my host sister’s 18^th birthday!  The second is a photo of the back garden. It is finally plowed and ready for planting. I dream about the corn that will come this summer. The third photo is of me and my counter-part teacher at a recent conference.

I may have mentioned this in an earlier blog; maybe – but, all of this seems to be getting harder. I am so happy that winter is ALMOST behind us; but, with the month of March one never can tell. Maybe it has been the LONG winter (even thought it has not really been that bad). I’ve had heat and even though the cold comes through the walls and windows it has stayed between 60-65 degrees in my room. Of course I always have layers of clothing on; but, way better than I thought.  (these old houses just don’t have much if any insulation). Maybe as the trees bloom and the flowers start to grow my mood will lighten and things will seem better.

Everything here is just hard….nothing (or very little) seems easy. I think that adds to the weight that living here causes. I hear so often from folks about the poverty that exists and how difficult that is. However, what is even more difficult is the lack of opportunity. I think all of this is hitting me hard as the dust has settled now (after almost 11 months that I have been here) and I can see beyond the surface of life here.

I wanted to share something GREAT that happened in school recently!

So, the GREAT experience happened in the 6^th Grade. Now, this classroom is usually out of control with talking, punching, noises, walking around the room, etc., etc., etc. and I consistently watch the time waiting for it to be over. However, I tried something different in the hopes that it might make a difference. Now, I thought 6^th graders (and was told this also by the counter-part teacher) would be “beyond” liking to get a sticker for completed work; however, I was so wrong. I had “sponge bob” stickers and during book work I was walking around placing stickers in the book of those that were completing the assignment. Well, the room went from bedlam to one of noise, but the noise was different. The students were working in their books and talking to each other about parts of the assignment they didn’t understand. Many students were copying from one another (and I was not happy about that); but the bottom line here was that they were working rather than playing.  Wow, you could have knocked me over with a feather.  As I walked around checking the work, making corrections and placing “sponge bob” on their papers; the students continued on in the book and were doing additional exercises. They wanted me to see what they were doing!  When the bell rang to change class the students kept on working. It was a sight to behold. I imagine that “incentive” is always a good motivator; and, I will continue to use this strategy in the hopes that maybe my counter-part teacher, with the help of “sponge bob” and other sticker friends can maybe coax another or different type of learning environment in the room.

So, here is the flip size:

I did see something new for the first time in the 10^th grade; and that was, students were actually talking on the phone while class was going on. The teachers did try her best to get the phones away; but, it’s a lost cause. With so many students in the room as soon as the teacher turns her back the phones come back out and the students continue doing what they were originally doing; that is, talking on the phone, texting or playing video games (even laughing and talking back to the teacher). The teachers operate like a policeman a lot of the time and while she is patrolling for phones, etc., she is not teaching. The older students look at me and then they ignore me. The dis-respect is tangible. Usually the students are playing games on the phone during class or texting; however, this was the first for me to see students actually talking. The students are just so brazen to be so open about what they know is not accepted. The majority of the time when I ask for the phone the student looks at me and puts the phone on his/her pocket. There is not, if any, respect afforded for the teacher in the class. One student was not only was talking but she had her phone charging in the outlet so that her battery would not run out. The student actually said something to the teacher (not sure what it was, as it was in Georgian) as she was so upset to have to end her conversation and take her phone charger out of the outlet so that the teacher could plug in the audio visual device that was needed for class. I don’t know what was said but I know it upset the teacher.

I was recently made aware of a “Moniker” that has been attached to me. Now, I’ve heard the word before (Moniker) but I really didn’t know what it meant. In any event, my “Moniker” or nick name, or alternate identifier is “CLaw”. This is my first name initial and the first three letters of my last name. Well, I cannot tell you how much I like that “Moniker”. J  - I realize that on some documents or lists people are identified by the above reference; however, I never paid much attention. When you read the letters it does not make much of an impact (at least to me); however, when you hear it spoken – well, it is a completely different story. I like it!  Sometimes I think I have way too much time on my hands…HA! Also, please disregard the fact that it could also be identified as “claw” – yuck!

I spend a lot of time in the school closing doors. Yes, you heard that correct. I spend a lot of time closing the front and back doors to the school. I also close the door that leads out to the school yard. I have had this conversation with myself over and over as to “Why don’t students (and parents) close the door after they leave or enter the school?”  The school has limited heat and yet with the doors open (and sometimes the windows are also opened) the heat escapes to make the school colder than it has to be. I watch as the adults watch me close the door and then I turn away to return to the classroom only to find the door open once again and the adults that were watching have disappeared. This baffles me consistently throughout the day. I ask why and don’t receive any answers. This is also true in the home of my host family. It REALLY has been cold to have the front door closed. Most times the front door is wide open, just like in the schools.

I was recently at the Aviabari Metro stop as I was going to do a walking tour; however, as I realized it was 3-hour tour (sort of like Gilligan) and I had my backpack filled with supplies and books – well, I thought better than to lug that around for such a long period. I will schedule the tour for another day when my backpack is lighter.

However, during my time above ground at the station I noticed a woman sitting near the metro exit. Lots of people were coming up to her table; but, I could not see what she was selling. She didn’t have the usual fare on her table (candles, combs/brushes and other type items). So, I moved in closer only to realize that she was selling cigarettes one at a time. There was a pack of cigarettes open on the table and people came up and took one and lit it. Now, this was something that was completely unexpected for me. I think it was 30 Tetri for each cigarette. Not sure if there is a health law about selling individual cigarettes?   

Minor Unit: 
1/100 = Tetri

As part of the walking tour, the below location was on the agenda. I am sorry I missed it, but the tour guide will give the tour again and I will go. I’ve listed some links below if you want to obtain more information because that is all I can tell you at the moment.  Also, on the agenda was a visit to a private puppet theater of Gari Davtian. Still looking for the link; but absolutely I just love puppet theater and will stake out a claim at some point to visit. I am sure there were many other sights on the tour and cannot wait to connect with the tour guide for future treks.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294195-d4961521-Reviews-J_Stalin_s_Underground_Printing_House_Museum-Tbilisi.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g294195-d4961521-i122698308-J_Stalin_s_Underground_Printing_House_Museum-Tbilisi.html

Also, I discovered a museum that chronicles the Soviet Occupation of Georgia. I’ve not been, but it is on my list…..should be interesting. Below is the link if you want to learn more.

http://www.georgianmuseums.ge/?lang=eng&id=1_1&sec_id=1&th_id=30

I decided to cancel my trip to Baku, Azerbaijan. I know I am so close and I already have a visa (which usually cost $160US for 30-days); however, making the trek just felt so blah, blah…I didn’t want to invest the time and money. The plan was to go on or near St. Patrick’s Day. This is the country I was originally supposed to go to serve in the PC; but, the government cancelled their invitation to the PC so everyone who was currently serving ended up coming home early. I count my blessings that all that happened prior to my going in-country to Azerbaijan. Maybe that is in the background as to why it just felt so blah, blah to go.

In any event, I am working on another plan to go to Armenia over Easter break. The capital is Yerevan and I’ve listed a link to a map picture of the city with Mount Ararat in the background. I am told it is a very cosmopolitan city and there are LOTS of Peace Corps Volunteers serving there. So, even though I will be going by myself, I can connect with friends once I arrive. I will travel by marshrutka and I am working all that out now.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Mount_Ararat_and_the_Yerevan_skyline.jpg

I am now bringing in the firewood from the woodshed. Wow, what a kick that is. I don’t know why I’ve not done it before; however, it just never occurred to me before now. So, out the door I go back to the woodshed. I can carry maybe six or seven logs (depending on the size) to bring into the house for use in the pechi. It is a balancing act as the path to the woodshed is not paved. It is dirt, gravel and going out it “uphill” and coming back is “downhill.” I feel really good when I do this and the family is just amazed that I am doing this. Now, if I can get the courage I will place a log on the fire…stay tuned!

I was recently asked by my Education Program Manager to accompany her to visit three schools in the area. The purpose was to determine whether or not to place an in-coming PCV in the school starting in July 2015. I was really honored to be able to do this and it was a revelation. Two of the schools that we went to had no heat. They had “pechi” stoves; however, the school rooms were so big you would have needed maybe four “pechi” stoves in order to adequately heat the room. The smoke from the “pechi” was not so thick that you could cut it with a knife; however, there was lots of smoke in the room (even though it was vented outside). The rooms were cold; bone cold. I could see the sheer curtains blowing even though the windows were closed. The bathrooms were outside; but they were as clean as you can possible have an outhouse.

Both of these schools applied for a PCV. We spoke to the Director and the English Teachers and at each school they were so excited and so in need of having new ideas brought into the school. The third school was different. The school had heat and was in very good shape. It seems that this school did have a PCV a couple of years ago and they were looking for a repeat. I felt that this school was light years ahead of the first two and believed that resources being limited it would be best to eliminate this third school and concentrate on schools that needed to catch up. Of course, I don’t make these decisions; but, they asked for my comments and I was honest about what I thought. We shall see how this resolves; but, it was an eye opener for me. The school that I currently teach in is on a much higher level so I get to newly appreciate what I have.

I am always amazed at how much un-used land there is here in Georgia. When I take the marsh back and forth to Tbilisi; 80% (I bet) of the land that I see is unused/empty. Acres and Acres of rolling hills as far as the eye can see appear as I travel the highway. The landscape is very bleak at the moment; however, during spring and summer it is just beautiful.

I was finally able to begin my “Adult English Club” here in Sagarejo. This is a project that I have been trying to get off the ground since last year. First of all, I had no idea how to do this. I have taught reading to adults; however, I had no idea how to teach English. I spent a lot of time researching how to do this; as I didn’t want to spend a LOT of time on grammar. I wanted to give the adults some functional English that they could use in their daily lives. Finally, on March 10^th the first class was held and to my dismay no one showed up. Although I was sad about that fact I was not surprised.

My counter-part English Teachers and I created a poster (of sorts) and distributed it around the community (as it was to be open to EVERYONE). We posted the flyers in store windows and gave copies to other community organizations around Sagarejo. We had the poster translated into both English and Georgian. I will continue to hold classes regardless if anyone shows up as I think eventually some folks will arrive.  If not, I will have to change the direction in some way.

This is something that the community has asked me to do since I arrive here back in July. When it was finally scheduled the question that I was most asked was “Why am I doing this?” This surprised me as this is what the community asked me to do. In addition, since your children are learning English I think it would be helpful if they could speak English to their parents or other adults. This seemed to make sense to me – maybe, the adults are apprehensive. So, I will persist and let you know how things progress.

So, one final note on the medical front that I’d like to share. I’ve been told that due to my symptoms I probably have a parasite. Yipee and are you kidding me? I’ve been struggling with this for some time now; however, the symptoms got pretty bad so I finally went to see the doctor. They did some testing and prescribed a strong antibiotic to kill the bacteria. It will take a couple of days for it to kick-in; so, I’ll let you know in the next blog how it all worked out. I have no idea where I picked it up; other than, lots of other folks also have the dreaded bacteria. If this antibiotic does not work, they will try another strong medication.

One the best parts of this was that I got to spend a couple of days in Tbilisi at the hostel the PC uses for medical patients. It is an OK hostel. It was not a very modern hostel, but clean and close to the PC office. The shower was awesome. In two days I took four showers. Sorry if all this is redundant; however, this is my life now. I measure happiness with how many showers I can steal and how much “real” food (by that I mean non-Georgian) I can get. I was not feeling so great so I spent most of the time at the hostel; but, it was nice to be away from school and from Sagarejo for a couple of days. One day I actually slept for 12-hours straight. It felt great.

Ok, I think I will close for now more to come in another blog.

My Best to you on this The Ides of March!

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.