The Blues

I think this blog post has had about three or four different beginnings...in my mind. I didn't prepare any of it like I did last time, and unlike the first two blogs, this one is being written on my school's computer and on its internet. (Cross your fingers that it will last until I finish writing this...)

I'm in the homesick period of my stay here, and I miss my home, my cats, my family, and someone who can actually speak my language a lot. Don't worry though! Everyone here is great and sweet and I really feel cared for, even if most of them can barely formulate their thoughts coherently in English, if at all. Have I mentioned that the English teacher I'm working with, she communicates with me usually half in English and half in German. It's rather amusing that my German would come in handy here, a place where for most people, Russian is the second language.

This past week has not been easy. It started off with a cold...just a sniffle and a runny nose, and then by the end of the week last week I had Traveler's Diarrhea. Haha, TMI (too much info), right? Don't worry, it's not going further than that. Let's just say the weekend was pretty miserable with my appetite dwindling, and lots of "tchame! tchame!" (Eat! Eat!)

Sunday was probably the worst and the weirdest...I woke up with a sore neck that lasted all day, plus a headache, and my stomach which was just upset in general. It was also the day that I sat in the car for about 4 or 5 hours. We (the family and I) drove up past Zugdidi to get Lela's mother and grandmother for a Supra (Georgian party) in Ozurgeti. They lived way out in the country, on a cobblestone road. It was some beautiful country though, near the hills, and there was a stream nearby that was just gorgeous. I also got some good mountain shots...from the window of the truck. The father (Temuri) was nice enough to slow down so I could take pictures at opportune moments. On our way between cities we went past the Black Sea...it made me want to go so badly. Some weekend!

While the drive was gorgeous, the Supra was not quite as fun. If I had been better.... It was a huge family gathering in celebration of...someone's birthday, but there were easily 50 people there. (I think). The main attraction was the meal, with the men downing toasts at the table next to mine, which held mostly the women and a scattering of men. I was the most devastated that I couldn't finish the piece of cake that Lela, my host mother, made. It was absolutely delicious and I wanted to eat it so bad, but I just couldn't. That was the real tragedy of the day.

So much to tell you all, and I haven't even gotten to this week yet! I'm finally in the classroom, although I haven't done any teaching yet. Mostly just getting used to the schedule, and figuring out how my co-teacher, Nino, teaches. I have Mondays off, which will be a blessing when I'm traveling. More time by the black sea? Yes, please! Tuesday I teach 9-1, Wednesdays, 9-11, and the same thing on Thursdays. I'm pretty sure anyways...my sense of time IS screwed, and I have been keeping notes in a notebook that I don't have with me right now. The classes are pretty small, I think the biggest is probably about 10 students, and they're all ranging from about 1st grade to 6th grade. I already have ideas to make the class fun! (They don't do any games at the moment...you need games!)

Anyways, that's about where I am right now. I guess I should stop before your eyeballs fall out. I miss everyone a lot, and hope to hear from you!