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.