Leslie Went Over to Georgia: Birthday week

This past week had been pretty good. Went to Kutaisi on Sunday for my “sister’s” birthday. It was a pretty calm party. Not too much drinking but still lots of toasts. I don’t know how that happened. I think I just wasn’t drinking on every toast. That probably explains it. Nothing really happened on Monday. I went to Chochkhati School after my school to do English club but that was about it. On Tuesday I slept in late (I don’t have lessons on Tuesdays) and when I finally got up to go to school it was thundering, and lightning and hailing. I tried to wait it out but I waited for almost 2 hours and then I just braved it. I don’t think I’ve ever walked so fast. I was so scared and I ended up pretty wet from the rain and hail. I eventually made it to school and taught time at English club. I think they get it. But I don’t know.

On Tuesday evening Aniko and I were sitting around and I mentioned that my birthday was the next day and she looked at me and said, “I thought your birthday was the 31st of November?” (In Georgian of course). I looked back and her and asked how many days are in November? She counted on her knuckles, I don’t know if you know that trick but I can explain it if you ask me, and then looked at me and just laughed. This wasn’t the first time that someone has thought my birthday was on the 31^st of November. Yes my birthday is the last day of November but there are not thirty-one days. I laughed for a good half hour about it this time. She made a bundt cake for my birthday. It was tasty.

Wednesday was a great day. I woke up to warm katchapuri and hot tea. I got my ride to school and lots of good wishes once I got to school. All of my students somehow found out it was my birthday. After second period the 8th and 9th grade girls ambushed me, and they sung happy birthday to me and gave me a present. They gave me candy and perfume. I opened the perfume when I got home and I have to say that I don’t think I will ever be wearing it. It smells super cheap but if I ever smell really bad it would cover it up. Ha-ha. Also the Education Minister Dimitri Sachsomethingsomething called me to wish me a happy birthday and to thank me for coming to Georgia to teach English. I felt super special. All of the teachers were impressed too. After school we had a supra and of course Badri (my school director) was the tamada (toast master). By the end of the afternoon he was quite drunk and was talking about everything. It took forever to get the final toast out. Rather than wine though I was drinking champagne or as it said on the bottle fizzy wine. It was almost 5 when I left school and I made it home for a quiet evening with my host mom. We ate some "sauce". It was a beef stew of sorts. Very tasty. As for the rest of my night it was pretty typical. Watched the Spanish soap operas waited up for the weather to come on and then I went to bed.

Thursday was less than exciting. It has been raining for almost a full week and I am sick of it. I just want some sunshine. I also don’t have lessons on Thursdays but I go to Chochkhati school to teach the teachers English. The sun did come out for a little bit while I was walking to Chochkhati so that was nice but then the rain started again as soon as I was inside the school. I left my umbrella at home that morning but it was just my luck that someone offered to give me a ride home. Didn’t have to deal with the weather after all.

On Friday morning I was leaving the house and there was frost everywhere. I was walking down the driveway and well I fell I busted my butt. Evidently when it rains a lot the driveway gets wet. And then if there is a hard freeze said driveway gets a nice thin
layer of ice on it. And even if you are careful you will still fall and bust your butt. I only fell once but then I got to the gate and it wouldn’t open because it was frozen shut. I had to open the big gate (normally reserved for cars) to get out of the yard. It was so cold but everything covered in a layer of frost it so pretty. I imagine snow is equally as pretty. I do and don’t want snow at the same time. It will be interesting when it finally snows.

While I was at school the phone my program gave to me decided to die. I did everything I could to make it come back on but I think it really is dead. I must go get a new one. But in the meantime I’m using my American phone. I unlocked it so it can work on any carrier now. Let’s just hope this one keeps working until I can make my way to the Nokia service center.

Finally on Saturday the weather cleared up. We still have overnight freezes but the sun was out and it was at least 60 outside. Because of the nice weather we did what I would call spring-cleaning. Sheets were washed, floors were swept and mopped and everything was just generally clean. It makes for a nice house. We went to see our neighbors and while we were there I got to eat pecans! I was so excited. Then we went to the store to pick up my mail. We weren’t at home when it was delivered so it was delivered to the store. I received three birthday cards. They were in Georgia on time but village mail delivery doesn’t happen that often so I got them a few days late. But no worries and thank you Aunt Kathryn, Gramma and Papa and Alyssa for the birthday wishes.

Sunday was more of the same. I didn’t do much. I enjoyed the weather. I bummed around the house and I did some exercises. The best part of my night was talking to people back home. I called gramma and Aunt Kathryn and family and I called my friend Charlsye. I tried calling my parents but they didn’t answer any of their phones. Silly parents. It was nice getting to talk to everyone else though. I’m going to have so much to talk about when I get home. Even though I write this blog I feel like I’m leaving things out. Ugh. Problem.

Monday I went to school and then after school I went to go visit the English teacher at Guliani’s School. Guliani is the next village over from Chochkhati. It’s probably a good 5k from my house. I was visiting to meet his new wife and look at some of their wedding pictures. I was supposed to go to their wedding but I never got the details on how I should get there or whom I would stay with. The wedding was in Batumi. I felt bad about not being able to go to the wedding but last night I stayed at their house. I ate dinner with them and hung out with them. It was mostly nice but what was not nice was the outhouse. It is cold and dark outside at night. Flashlights for light and old books for toilet paper. I have never felt more grateful for a real toilet and toilet paper in my life than when I got home on Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday morning I left directly for Lanchkhuti. There was a package waiting for me at the post office and I had to go pick it up. It takes almost an hour to get there. I wandered around Lanchkuti for a while. I found a bench in the park where I could use free wi-fi and kill some time. Then I went to the post office and got my package. I then went back home. I was back home by noon. My mom sent me granola bars, Swiss Miss, Little Debbie brownies and some leftover Halloween candy. I’m definielty having some hot cocoa tonight.

At the request of my host mother I am posting pictures of my house and school. She pointed out that I have pictures of all the places I visit but not the placesI am at most of the time. So here you have it.