Blogs from Tbilisi District, Georgia, Asia - page 11

I’m fully aware that have my interview the morning after the wedding, but that I’m even more aware that I’m not going to make it through the evening without drinking so I spend most of the day preparing answers for any questions I think might arise. Eka and Gala disappear into Zugdidi and when they return Eka’s had her hair and nails done and she looks great. Eka’s mother finally arrives from Abhazia and it’s really sweet to see how excited everyone is to see her, especially the kids. I was expecting a cute, wizened old Georgian woman but she turns out to be a rather stylish middle aged lady. Is it wrong that I’m slightly disappointed? Manana (spelling?) brought with her, amongst many foodstuffs, Levani’s diploma which he shows to me proudly. He’s clearly thrilled ... read more

Monday was a good day. I wake up to ‘Happy Halloween!’ from Eka and the kids. We get to school and I’m sitting in the teachers’ room when Eka comes in and tells me to come to the library where there’s a little surprise party waiting for me! There are balloons and jack o’lanterns that the kids have made (one even has blonde hair). Those that couldn’t get hold of pumpkins have made them out of limes and they’re so cute. There’s also a big basket of fruit and sweets they’ve put together for me. I’m so touched I nearly cry. The teachers take a few photos of me with the display and then it’s off to class. After lessons I’m called into the Director’s office where I’m presented with a ring the teachers have bought ... read more

On Monday morning I need to find a CD player. This is imperative. I’ve been saying for the last two weeks that I’m going to buy one for the school so I feel like I actually can’t go home without one in my possession. So, the hunt begins. I go into all the stationary shops in Zugdidi. I find any number of MP3 players and speakers, but no CD player. In the end I hit on an idea and go to the regional centre to ask our regional rep for some advice. She points me in the direction of some electrical shops at the end of the street. They tell me to go to the bazaar. At the bazaar they tell me to try the shops. I give up and go back to the regional centre. ... read more

It’s been a fairly quiet week all round, with little interaction with the ‘outside’ world. I have no classes on Monday but I ask Eka if I can go into school anyway – I want to spend a good few hours on the internet. Eka and Maia have been told they need to write a syllabus, but they’ve been given absolutely no guidance as to how to write it or what to include so I want to do some research. I’m also planning on trawling the internet, shamelessly stealing ideas for games to play with Gio and Mari to help them with their English. Eka, like myself, has no lessons on Monday but Maia has to go into school to drop off her little girls so Eka says she will meet me there. I arrive at ... read more

Monday was, technically, my first day at school. Neither myself nor Eka has any lessons on a Monday but we go in anyway to have a look around, meet the director and say ‘hello’ to the other teachers. I wake up early and we have breakfast before setting off. Since I didn’t do too much today now might be a good time to talk about the food in my house. It’s beautiful. Firstly Eka is a fantastic cook, and secondly we eat so many fresh ingredients, either from the animals or from the land. A typical breakfast for me will include a mug of hot milk that’s come from our own cow and a cup of Georgian tea with a slice of lime from the lime trees in the garden. We’ll have bread and cheese which ... read more