Playing Catch-up

**I am so behind on my blog and I apologize!!! Today (June 16^th) I am catching up on everything and making the posts all nice and detailed with pictures! So keep your eyes out for all the new posts! Aaaaaaand I’ll start off the post with some old pics associated with older posts J**

The rugby game I went to with the expectation of watching a professional, only to find out it was a middle school team. The American PCVs were probably the largest cheering squad though…

Sweet views from our Borjomi hike:

Just showing some good ol’ school spirit:

Easter Celebrations:

My host sister Lela cutting one of her confectionary masterpieces (she likes to bake cakes… A lot):

Host cousin, Anano

Host cousin, Teona and I

Lela and Teona

Easter Supra Spread:

Host dog, Mura wanting in on the action:

May 19^th:

The Georgians are incredibly proud of and thankful for their land. According to Georgian folklore, when God was distributing land to all the different groups of people in the world the Georgians were too busy feasting and drinking to claim their spot. God went to see why they hadn’t come to claim land and scold them for their disinterest, but he had such a good time at their supra that he decided to give them the beautiful piece of land he had saved for himself, the Caucauses. Hence the Georgians believe they live in Heaven on Earth. From the little bit I’ve seen, they have a pretty good point. It’s incredibly beautiful here in Kvishkheti, and I’m sure I have so much more beauty to experience in the rest of Georgia.

It’s easy to ignore the beauty of the land when I live here day-to-day, but there are moments when I stop and actually open my eyes and then can’t believe I forgot for even a little bit how lucky I am to be surrounded by so much beauty. Looking out my windows now I can see mountains in the distance, grape fields on the hill below, giant roses, bright flowers, and fruit trees in my yard.

 View from my porch: 

Grapes in our yard: 

The biggest rose I've ever seen... also one of the prettiest colors: 

More beautiful flowers: 

A bunch of fresh bali (cherries)!

My family's grape orchard: 

In the upcoming week we have interviews for our permanent site placements. I had been thinking that one of the main things I’d ask for is a warm climate, but now I realize that that would mean giving up the mountains, and I’m not willing to do that now. It may be harder to run here, and treks uphill are a daily struggle, but I can’t imagine turning my back on these amazing views. It’s worth it. Plus I get a little extra (much needed) cardio.

We just finished our first week of practicum, which is where we co-teach with English teachers at our local school. Overall, it was a really great experience and has calmed me nerves about teaching for the first time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard, and in my first week I already figured out the hard way that some things just won’t work, but now I at least have a better idea of what to expect. I’ll probably write more about this later since the kids deserve a more detailed depiction.

I’ve decided to tweak my blog’s title. “Kargi gogo” is most literally translated as “good girl.” Here in Georgia it means just that… and a whole lot more. While there is a strong sense of a male-dominant society, the women here are greatly respected and revered. Day in and day out, the women work to please everyone else with little to no overt appreciation. They are often the first ones awake, and the last to go to sleep. From an outsider’s perspective, it may even come off as demeaning, but this way of life has been customary in Georgia for many years and has become a part of their culture. The women take pride in the work they do and are honored to make people feel welcomed whether they are family, friends, or guests (especially if they’re guests in fact). Also, their work doesn’t go unnoticed. It is evident that the men ultimately respect their women more than anything or anyone else in their lives. In Georgian dance (a huge part of life here) the men do not touch the women out of respect; in fact many of the dances are either about sacred love, or fighting for a woman’s love. In daily life men do not touch women they do not know, which is rooted in respecting a woman’s purity. At supras the men toast to the women in their lives (ALWAYS) to pay their respects.

As an American guest, I immediately (and undeservedly) earn the title of “kargi gogo.” I meet people with a smile and the title of American and I automatically receive the honorable label, but one of my goals for while I am here is to actually earn it. It is also worth noting that on the opposite spectrum, us American volunteers (notably the ladies) are being closely watched for any missteps or bad behavior in our community, so we always have to be sure to put our best foot forward (AKA no flirting/romance –or at least before marriage haha, revealing clothing, or excessive drinking). Thus, I shall henceforth take on the mission of being a Kargi Gogo!

In the Peace Corps’ mission statement they aim for volunteers to engage in a cultural exchange and promote mutual understanding of the US and of our country of service. It is often overlooked by the obvious mission of the transfer of knowledge and resources to create an enhanced and sustainable way of life, but is still very important. I hope very much that because of me and the volunteers I work with, the people of Georgia and other countries will have a deeper-rooted respect for the US and it’s people. Already I can tell how excited people are to meet an American who can stumble their way through a beginner’s level conversation and write in Georgian. People like to know you care, and I want the people I live with to know that I do.

P.S.

If you’re not a kargi gogo, then you’re a tsudi gogo…

P.P.S.

Have I mentioned that Georgian for “boy” is “bitchi?” Yeaaaaaahh, we have a good time with that. To all the bitchebi (and gogoebi) back in the States, hope you aren’t being tsudi!