Life (as of now)

Well, I haven't updated in awhile because, well, there's not much to say. I see cows in the street everyday, my dog follows me to my outhouse, I struggle with the language, and I have a lot of free time. That's about it. I started observing classes last week. I have one week to go. I think I will be teaching 5-7th and 10-12th grade. I will be working with both of my school's English teachers. I will try to remember to take pictures of my school and put them up here. I have still not gotten use to taking pictures so other people can see what I see. My school has 3 floors but only 120 students. I am lucky in that regards. While I don't have a class over 14 students (and my 12th grade has 4), other volunteers have classes upwards of 30+. Eek! Most of the kids I will be teaching seem like they want to learn, so we will see how it goes. In other news: there isn't much. I am reading bunches. Here are the books I have read since I have been to my permanent site (starting around July 20 something):
All 3 in the Hunger Games Series
Jesus Land,
Future of Freedom
Brave New World
Young Stalin
Jarhead
 Getting Stoned with Savages
A Walk in the Woods
The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Cathedral (collection of short stories. Not my favorite)
Grapes of Wrath
Edit Add the following:
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (hilarious)
Naked (also funny and by David Sedaris)
The Caucuses: An Introduction (good overview of the region where I live)
A Witness To Genocide (about the war in Bosnia)
Them
Mao II (easy read but hard to understand the symbolism)
UPDATE 7-30-13
I've read a bit since then.
Middlesex (good, but long. Fiction)
Skinny Legs And All (funny and thought-provoking)
The Geography of Bliss
Auschwitz (very thorough)
Guests of the Ayatollah
An Underground Education
Broker Trader Lawyer Spy
Cheating in Schools (a bit self-righteous)
The European Dream
Sin, Sex, and Democracy
The Beach (also made into a movie)
Tomorrow Will Be Too Late (very thought-provoking)
Flight From The USSR (a story about young Georgians in 1980s USSR)
No Easy Day (about the killing of Bin Laden)
First in His Class (about Bill Clinton up to the 1992 Election)
Omnivore's Dilemma (about food production in the US. Makes you think twice about what you eat)
Prozac Nation (a very depressing but well-written memoir)
The Purity Myth
The Hours
White Teeth
The Truth About Sex (a bit too religious for me)
The Indispensable Zinn (writings from radical historian Howard Zinn)
The Lexus and the Olive Tree
Fahrenheit 451 (a classic)
Other People's Children

Culture

So I decided to write to you all about culture differences of Americans and Georgians (Any PCVs or Georgians reading this, let me know if something is inaccurate or you have something to add). Time: Meetings times in America mean the exact time. If the meeting begins at 11:00am, you better be there at 11:00am. In Georgia, time is flexible. Students aren't punished for being a minute or two late. When the bell rings in a Georgian school, that doesn't mean that the door closes and class begins. It means "Make your way to the classroom, the lesson is about to begin." The pace is slower here. I like it. Space: Americans have a personal bubble. We don't like people getting too close, especially those we don't know. Not so in Georgia. Even when meeting new people, it is customary to kiss one another (males and females) on the cheek. Sometimes just touching cheeks and making the kissing sound is acceptable. When you are at the ATM in America, no one will stand so close to you as to be able to see the screen. In America, it would be seen as a privacy violation. Not so in Georgia. People will stand directly behind and to the side of you, looking at your screen, waiting for you to finish your business. Georgians are trustworthy people so they don't think others are trying to steal their information. Privacy: Georgians do not feel that many things Americans view as private should be private. Though my host family does not do this, others have been known to just walk in Volunteers' rooms without knocking. Georgians will ask personal questions such as how much money you or your family makes (Sorry Mom, some lady in Bokhvauri knows your salary), if you're married (and why not), general questions about your family, and why don't you like a certain type of food, or if you like Georgia or its President (the latter question we avoid answering). These are routine questions I have just become used to. Dating: In traditional homes, the homes are multi-generational with the mother moving in with her in-laws. Typically it's a Grandpa, Grandma, the son, his wife, and their kids. Dating is nearly non-existent. If you are in a relationship with a man or woman, it is expected that you will then marry that person and if you are a woman, move in with your husband's family. There is not much time between first becoming "sweethearts" and marriage. Premarital relations are forbidden and the future husband and wife do not spend much time alone. Therefore, unmarried men and women should not be in the same room together alone. So, many men and women who are friends will also not stay the night at each others' houses. Gender Division of Labor: There is a strong gender division of labor in Georgia. Men are expected to do "traditionally masculine labor" and women do household work such as cooking, cleaning, and attending to the children. Because of current economic conditions, many women hold down jobs inside and outside the home. Unlike many Americans, Georgians live in their homes for generations. The houses have rooms added on to them. They own their homes outright, not having to worry about mortgages. This culture is very interesting and I learn more and more each day. Hopefully I can add to this post as time continues.

Time

It doesn't exist right now. I barely remember the day. Everything blurs together. My counterpart is out of town until the 15th. Summer camp isn't until the first part of September. School doesn't begin until September 17th, so my days consist a lot of reading, phone conversing, and Internetting. Some days seem to drag on, others seem to fly by. I am just now waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

Officially PCV

I am officially a Peace Corps Volunteer! I passed all necessary tests and jumped over all necessary hurdles. The farewell dinner was in a nice hotel. Thankfully they had a backup generator or when unaffected by the storm that ripped through Telavi (the town where all of the G12 group (the one I'm a part of) would gather for technical and general training. I believe Telavi just got their electricity and heat turned back on a day or two ago (Someone correct me if I'm wrong). The swearing-in ceremony was in Tbilisi. They told us we were going to stop for coffee at McDonalds beforehand. What they failed to tell us is we just had time for coffee. I guess they didn't know we would go crazy over getting our last taste of Americana before heading off to our permanent sites. (Thankfully I am an a litte over an hour away from a McDonalds if I ever get the urge). So many of us rushed to finish our food before boarding the bus. The ceremony was nice. Went on for a bit but it was nice seeing everyone one last time. I have been at my permanent site a little over a week now. I am only 30 minutes and $1.50USD bus ride from the beach. It's been fairly hot here but nothing compared to other parts of the country (and it sounds like back home too). The problem here is there is no A/C to turn on. I should probably get a fan but I'm too cheap and keep telling myself that I only have one more month left to go (I hope). I haven't done much here. I have met with my school director but not much is said because my Georgian is still limited and so is her English. I should be planning my summer camp by mid-August and conducting it in the first part of September. I officially start school on September 17th. I am really excited to actually start teaching, though I have to do 2 weeks of observation to fogire out which English teacher I will work with. I think I have it figured out because of the limited number of teachers but we shall see. Not much goes on here. I have to buy wireless Internet this week so I can become motivated to do more Peace Corps-related work (or at least that is my excuse). I went to the beach yesterday. Got a little burned but it was a lot of fun. Gotta go!

8 Days Remain!!!!

When I last blogged, my cluster and I had just completed our community project. Since then, not much has gone on. Oh! My cluster and I just finished our Summer Camp. It went fairly well. You always run into a few bumps in the road with these kind of things. I have gone through 95% of training (PST). The following are items I must complete by next Friday (the final day of PST): 1. Pass Education (Technical Training) test 2. Pass Medical and Safety & Security test 3. Take LPI (Language Exam) (Though passing is not necessary, it would be great. And if I don't pass now, I am required to get a tutor then pass it at a later date) 4. Fill out Self Assessement Blue Book 5. Show up to Swearing-In Ceremony I got this! Then it's off to the village I will call home for the next two years. I will have about a month and a half to integrate into my community by any means necessary, prepare for a summer camp, and just relax. I'm looking forward to the latter the most. I'll start school (and hopefully a newly-found career) around September 15th. And I'm already making plans to be in Istabul in January for Winter Break (and hopefully Europe with my sister next summer). It will be different going from an intense 11.5 weeks with many regulations but seeing many great people on a regular basis to being alone in a village with not a whole lot to do. But, this is what I signed up for. And I'm ready for it. Sincerely, Alex

Photos!

Well, they're not here. They're on facebook. Check them out. http://www.facebook.com/alex.frisbie.58

Week 7 finished!

Yesterday, my clustermates (those 5 other PCTs living in Ruispiri with me) and I completed a community project where we had kids from the village school paint inside of a trace that two of the trainees outlined for them. Photos are currently being transferred to my jump drive. I'll hopefully have some up by the end of the week. Besides training, the pace is slower here than in the States, so I have no motivation to put up pictures soon. All is well here. Four weeks to go. I'm getting used to things here. I'll let you know if that changes.

Surreality

I don't think a day has gone by where the thought hasn't popped in my head during language class or sitting across from my host mom at lunch that it is so strange that I am here. I am in a village most of the world (and probably most of Georgia) has never even heard of. You won't find the Google Maps van rolling by to take pictures of my house. I am also in a country that you rarely here about in the nightly news. I live with a family who doesn't speak my language or understand my culture but are some of the nicest people I have ever encountered. I eat their food, use their computer, and occupy part of their house. For some reason, they are okay with this. If it were not for joining the Peace Corps, I never would have met these people. I do not get nightly American news. I do not have to see countless campaign ads or worry about anything I had to worry about back home like a job or how I will pay my loans back. I have other worries like when I will be near a toilet with toilet paper while I am out and about or how well my language proficiency is coming along.

It is a different experience but I am enjoying it more and more everyday. It has its downfalls. And I might sing a different tune after PST is over with and I will be wherever without the other volunteers around to interact with. I am looking forward to the next stage nonetheless. I find out my site placement on Monday. I will let you know how it goes. Oh, and I will get you all pictures someday.

In one week....

All of us find out where our Permanent Sites will be. It could be a very positive or very negative day. I would like to believe I could accept anything they throw at me. Last week we had our Site Placement interviews. We were asked our strengths and weaknesses and our preferences for a site. I believe they take our considerations into account but they also must factor in our strengths, weaknesses, and preferences of the host family, school, and community.

I could be placed *close* to the capitol, out West near the beach, down south close(ish) to a border, in a large school, a small one, a large host family, a small host family, etc. Everything is up in the air. There is a University spot but I do not know the odds that I will get it. I don't know.

The day after we find out our sites (or the day after that), we are going to visit. That will be a very interesting day. I will keep you posted.

Untitled

I don't know what to call this one. I want to write to let you know that I am still alive. I just do not have much to say. I saw two dogs doing the deed while I was walking today. I walk (usually) every morning. I had earwax removed from a doctor in Tbilisi (the capital). The Peace Corps foot the bill plus put me up for a night in a hostel. That was Tuesday. Last weekend we all went to see how current volunteers are living. I went out West near the Black Sea. I went with another Trainee. The tourist city (Batumi) was nice. It would be nice to be placed out that way. The current volunteers seem to see each other often and go to a central location. I don't want to be isolated. It was nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that PST (training) will be over eventually then we can get on with why we really came here.

We had our placement interviews this week. That is where we tell the staff where we want to be placed. I believe they take our wants into account but the decision isn't ultimately up to us. The staff decides where our skills would be a best fit. We find out June 11th where we will spend the next two years. That will be a nerve-racking day.

We also have our mid-assessments in our technical and language training next week. I am not worried about the technical one. The language one is only there to see how we are doing at our near-halfway mark. I am still worried about it. Oh well. Can't do anything about it except practice and study.

Otherwise, all is well. Still have a student loan hanging over me but hopefully it should be taken care of by the end of next week.
We just completed week 4 of training. Only 7 more to go.
That's all for now.
Alex

When you've got pain in your belly, And you make some liquid smelly...

Yesterday was my first time calling the doctor. Don't worry. Nothing I have to be hospitalized for. Everything is better now. It just throws off my day having to sit around and do nothing. Some days I feel like the language is coming along then others are the complete opposite. The people I surround myself around make the days a Hell of a lot easier. 2 weeks down! Only 9 more (of PST) to go! If I ever remember to bring my camera, I'll upload pictures.
Classes are going well. It is interesting to work with teachers who learned English under a way different from how we are expected to teach this generation of kids. Many of the teachers have never met a native speaker so the kids definitely get a different perspective. I really enjoy teaching and am always looking forward to a new lesson. I do my first lesson planning with the other trainees (in Ruispiri) and an English teacher tonight. If I could write in this everyday, I could probably have more to say. But I don't.
Goodbye.

Alive

Just dropping a note to let you all know I am alive. I have been taking picture but I do not have time to post them now (sorry, Liz). All is well. My host family ran into unforeseen circumstances so I will be moving into a new one today. No worries, it happens. The language is slowly (and not always surely) coming along. My old host family is great and I expect the same will happen with my new one. PST is still really intense (as all of us PCTs[Peace Corps Trainees] will agree). I get overwhelmed from time to time but I'm surviving. Met a lot of great people (American and Georgian). The food is great. I live near mountains and surrounded by farm animals. Already had many awkward moments where nothing but hand signals and a few Georgian words were used to get my ideas across. Hopefully it won't have to stay like that.

I only get one day off so don't expect much from me unless it is on Sundays. And even then, everything is iffy. Only 10 more weeks to go before I become a REAL volunteer (hopefully).

Landed!!!

After a 2+ hour bus ride from Philadelphia to JFK, 10-hour flight to Istanbul, a 2-hour flight to Tbilisi, and countless hours in airports; I am now an hour or so outside the capitol, Tbilisi. We are staying in a former-Soviet compound...or so Tengo tells us. Don't worry. It's not as shady as it sounds. The living conditions will only go down from here.

The food is good. The people (staff and trainees[aka future volunteers]) are really nice. I had my first language session today. One word describes it all: intense. My training will consist of 5 4-hour sessions. I'm in way over my head.

I'll keep you all updated!

"See you in a couple of years"

I've said the phrase a few times already to some friends who I won't be able to see again before my departure. It hasn't sunk in just quite yet. Similar to when I studied in the Dominican Republic, it probably won't hit me until a day or two beforehand. Or I may not even feel it until I land in Philadelphia for a brief orientation.

I started to think about those who will be sad for my departure and how I should feel that sadness too. But I shouldn't because I'm not doing this against my will. This is an active decision that I will take full responsibility for. "It'll be an adventure," one friend told me. Yes, I will miss many of you, but I need this.

Some of you have asked me why I decided to do this. Not one reason drove me in the direction of the Peace Corps. A few did. Here are they below (in no particular order):

1. I Have Nothing Else Better To Do
         I am at an interesting crossroads in my life right now. I have put my college years behind but haven't quite stepped into full adulthood. So I figured that I have nothing else better to do. Why not go live a different and new life for awhile?

2. Advance My Career
         Once I complete 3 months of training and 2 full years of teaching, I will have the experience to either launch a career as an ESL teacher abroad or go back to the States, possibly after further certification and college courses.

3. I Can't Sit Still 
          My Dad once told me that he believes weekends my sister and I spent with him just riding around in the car nurtured my thirst for travel. Now when he calls, he asks "Where in the world are you?" Every time I returned from a vacation, I would figure out where the next place I would visit would be. So now I decided to go off the radar for a bit and hit up a part of the world I don't quite understand just yet (if I can even say with certainty that there is ANY part of the world I do "understand").

4. I Want To Help People
          I know that my presence in the Peace Corps will not change the world, but I believe I can do more good while in the Peace Corps (or do something similar) than I could sitting in a cubicle, typing away my days.

5. Doing Something Different (and not for the sake of being different)
         Too many people surrender to the 40-hour workweek in the cubicle, surrounded by others in the same prison system. They live in the suburbs, get married, and have kids. They do the same song and dance as everyone else. I can't see myself doing that. I need something different, something with a kick.

Maybe after 27 months, I'll be so burned out that the lifestyle I sneaked away from will be the same lifestyle I'll come crawling back for. Who knows? Only time will tell.

First Entry (Countdown: 30 days)

I created this blog. 30 days remain. I'll book my flight on Monday. Hopefully I'll have more interesting things to say in the weeks and months to come.