Site Placement

It seems funny to write about this now, since I am already at my permanent site, but I will try to separate my knowledge of my permanent site from what I was expecting and learning about it at the time.

 I was so excited the days leading up to our permanent site announcements. I researched all of the regions, thought about hypothetical placements, and daydreamed about how my life would be for the next two years. I came to the conclusion that either Kakheti or Guria would be the place for me! Guria primarily for it’s tropical climate and proximity to the Black Sea. Kakheti because it is known for it’s flourishing agriculture, the best wine in the country, and numerous historical and natural landmarks, and it happens to be one of the warmest regions (I can now attest to that) with mild winters and low humidity in the summers. (It may seem as though I have a bias since Kakheti is now my home, but it is, in fact, the best region.)

Site announcement day was a HUB day.  HUB days are when all of the volunteers, education and project development alike, head to our centralized meeting place in Khashuri and receive group training. I don’t really remember anything from trainings that day since none of us could take our attention away from our own excitement.

At mid-day the fun finally began. The PC Georgia staff came up with a great little activity for announcing permanent sites. They make a huge outline of the country, filling the school’s gym. They label the map by region, and label all the villages where volunteers will be serving. Every volunteer is passed an envelope with someone else’s site placement inside. We then took turns announcing to one another where we’d be placed, and also got to see where everyone was in relation to each other.

Holding someone's (I think it was Tiffany, who sadly went home to the States)  

Our training manager Tengo, and country director, Maura in the middle of Sakartvelo 

As we all now know, I received the village Gavazi in Kakheti’s region.

Some other volunteers in Kakheti

The next day we were off to a conference in which we would be introduced to our school or program’s director and discuss goals and expectations. I was met by my school’s deputy director, Lela. At first I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t meeting my director first, but I soon found out that communicating with him (Giorgi) is very difficult, so Lela, who has limited English, was a much easier transition.

We stayed one night at the conference in Bazaleti (the same town we were in for our orientation). After some more workshops the following day, we were off to our various sites.

We arrived early evening in Gavazi. I met my family (Mother: Naira, Father: Gocha, Sister: Sopo, and my host brother wasn’t there because he studies in Tbilisi, but his name is Vano), I met one of my counterparts who is also a relative (she is also named Sopo), I was fed and explained how I don’t eat meat, and then went to bed. 

The next morning I was abruptly awoken by the rooster who lives just outside my window (I’ve now grown relatively accustomed to him). This day I went to the school and observed a class with my other counterpart, Mzia, but school was pretty much out for summer… there were only three students in her class. I also met my director who appears to be very supportive and eager to work with me. Then I hung out with some of the teachers while they did end-of-the-year grading, followed by a mini supra in the teacher’s lounge with cake. Later I came across some kids playing soccer so I jumped in to join (despite being in my dress clothes and shoes from school). They were all shocked and amazed by the girl who could actually play a sport… I even scored a couple of goals! That night my family took me to Ilia’s Tba (Ilia’s lake) which has a nice little complex at the top of the mountain, with a paved walkway around the lake, plenty of seating, a couple of restaurants/cafes, a bike rental place, and a sports court. It’s a very popular summer hangout for the area.

 The chicken coop RIGHT outside my window. It gives off a lovely aroma midday. 

My beautiful school!

Way nicer than PHS

The next morning I went to the school again to get a mini tour. I learned we have a computer room with internet, a greenhouse, a gym, and even a mini museum that Lela put together of local and general Georgian culture and history. I was very impressed. I will also note here that my school is impressive in general. It’s nicer than my high school in the states, and better than any other school I’ve seen in Georgia. It’s very comforting to know that I won’t have to worry about infrastructural projects and that I can focus my time on education. 

View of the mountains from the school window

 Georgian history

 Georgian typewriter 

 Our greenhouse!

Later we went to the kindergarten end-of-the-year performance. All of the children who will be entering the first grade next school year performed for the teachers. It was absolutely precious. After the performance we had another teacher supra with cake!

 All dressed up. So cute!

 Intense little dresses

They start teaching the traditional dances at early ages

The next morning I woke up to gifts from my host mom. She had noticed my lack of house shoes (which was mainly due to lack of packing space) and so she bought me some fantastic bedazzled slippers to wear while in the house. It is absolutely prohibited to not wear shoes in a Georgian household. You must have a pair of shoes for inside, and a pair of shoes that wait at the door if you plan on going outside. I am still mastering the shoe switcheroo… I still forget sometimes.

My AWESOME bedazzled shoes

 My host mother, Naira

Host sister, Sopo

I left at 9am on a marshutka headed to Tbilisi. On the way we picked up my friend Brad, who lives about 30 minutes away in a neighboring town. We met up with his host sister in Tbilisi who helped us get around. Her second language is French (pretty rare for Georgians, who usually learn Russian, German, or English) and luckily Brad had studied so they were able to communicate pretty effectively. While in Tbilisi we met up with a couple of other volunteers located in Kakheti, grabbed lunch (delicious American-style pizza for me) and headed back home… our then home.