Georgian Maybe Everything

Even though I've been living with my Georgian family for a few days I realized that the stereotype of Georgians not planning anything is so very true. Take Sunday for example the whole day I was told we would be going to Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia. As we drove into the mountains I had a funny feeling that we were not going to the city. We ended up going to this village that used to be underwater! It was really beautiful and we went on this foot bridge right out of a video game. Basically, it should not have been walked on by humans if you wanted to live but all five of us managed to make it there and back so I guess it all worked out. 


Today, was my first day of school. I really enjoyed meeting all the kids, and the other english teachers. It seems like everyone is happy to have me, and wants me to help them with their english. I do however feel like I'm in a fish bowl. All the kids kept staring at me through out their lessons, and I could not put one word into the conversation in the teacher's lounge. I guess things will get easier once I find a teacher to give me Georgian lessons during my breaks. My school is over a 100 years old, and is definitely not in the best condition compared to many of the newer schools in my town. I kind of like that though. For a while I felt like I wasn't in a country that needed that much help, but being in this school makes me realize how far behind Georgia actually is. Everyday I get a history lesson on the Soviet Union and communist regime. Its crazy how much was left out in my history books, and how educated Georgians are on the subject. I've already started to brainstorm ideas of how I can help out the school. One of my first missions is going to try to get english books donations. I went into their "library" which was first off a small room, and found only 4 english books that weren't even really "books." They were workbooks! How can children enjoy reading english if all they know is in a workbook?


This whole experience so far as made me think back to my education, and learning French through out middle school and high school. I want my kids to enjoy their learning experience, and I hope I can drill into their heads that learning a second language will open so many doors. I wish someone had made me understand that earlier in life. 


So more on the home front...I'm starting to realize that I will never have my own space...like ever. So like I explained before my family has 3 homes (I said two earlier, but apparently they have 3). BUT we all have been living in this little apartment all week. My room is the dining room. I got home from work thinking maybe I would take a nap, and Eka my little brother is in the dining room aka my room for tutoring. Yay for no space..ever. Currently I'm in the "family room" wanting to go to bed, but my dad is playing the piano in the dining room. Its just a lot different than my American family where we all have our own space. Usually I'm in my room, my mom is in the family room, and my dad is in the basement. It definitely does not phase my Georgian family at all. Today was really nice though when I got home because I just had lunch with Grandma. She is adorable! We speak in charades, Georgian, Russian, and English.