Hitch Hiking From Batumi to Tbilisi

Friday 30 Sept
 I decided to do something I haven't done here yet, something I don't generally do, and hitch hike! I asked a friend for pointers as she does this a lot. She told me where to go and what to do etc. It was pouring outside. Great weather to hitch hike! NOT!
 I kept going back to bed, the weather was so discouraging!
 I decided 11 o clock sounded like a good hour to hike. I cleaned my room and got ready to leave. My host dad asked where I was going in that weather. He knows I'm not fully recovered from my flu. I lied and told him I was meeting a friend at the train station. He said, 'you know the train doesn't leave until 11 tonight, right?' I was like, yeah, I do, maybe we'll take a marshrutka. He said,'but the marshrutka station is right here!' Well, I don't know, but I've to meet my friend and we'll figure it out from there. He offered to take me to the station. Great!
 The station is quite far! I wasn't aware! It's right next to the Opera house where we watched a performance with the President.
 He dropped me off (my host dad, not the president lol). I waited for him to disappear, bought something to eat and used the bathroom because you never know when you'll get a chance to use it while hitch hiking.
 I found a spot and did my thing. The hitch hiking gesture here is different from back home. Either way, it was pouring rain. I got a lift in less than 2minutes. He dropped me off 10minutes later. I'd to hike again. I got another lift in about 2minutes again. It was two guys that said they were going to Kobuleti. They dropped me off about 2minutes later after asking me everything under the sun about myself. They did not drop me off in Kobuleti where they said they were going. Which was on my way. Then another lift to the real Kobuleti! In a cab! An actual cab offered me a lift! How nice are these people? We talked a bit. One of them new about 10 English words. I know a few Georgian:).
 In Kobuleti, I hoped that my friend, Michelle wouldn't catch me hitch hiking in the middle of her town. Nobody knew I was hiking besides my friend from Batumi. Michelle moved to the main road in Kobuleti, and I know her family owns a restaurant. Which is where they live. I made it a point to pass all the restaurants and then stand and do my thing. I got a lift in about 5 minutes. This time to Kutaisi.
 The guy told me he's half Georgian, half Italian. He taught me a few Italian words with a very weird pronunciation. Then he asked me the usual Georgian, personal questions like whether or not I'm married and y I'm not married.  As he was talking, his hand kept landing on my knew, it doesn't matter how far from him, I moved my leg. A bit further up, then he'd just rest it on my thigh and keep talking about God knows what. I moved the hand umpteen times. As time went on, he said 'hotel!'. He didn't speak any English. He asked if I wanted to go to the hotel with him. I asked, when? He said that day. And I asked him what about where I'm going? He told me he'd give me a lift all the way to Gori if I went to the hotel with him. I politely declined.
 Then he said something that I think meant that he and I should hook up. I told him I didn't understand. Frankly, I didn't want to understand. He'd talk about other things (still not sure what) and then go back to the same hotel subject.
 We picked up another lady on the way. As soon as she got in, I heard the driver tell her everything he knew about me. Then she asked her how much I earn per month. Don't freak out, it's a normal question here, one of the first things you get asked along with how you are, what your name is, your age and y you're not married etc. I told them I'm a volunteer and don't get paid. The driver thought I didn't understand. He said 'stipend' (which of course impressed me). I said yeah, I understand (in Georgian) and I told him in Georgian that I got nothing. He was convinced I didn't understand, the woman said 'salary!'Georgia  President, Micha. I said 'ara pheri' which means, nothing. They gave up and continued to talk to each other. Whew!
 After we dropped the lady off, the hand started again! Then he asked me to visit him at his house. I told him, I was sorry, I already had plans for the weekend. He giggled like a little girl. Silence. Then 'hotel'. Then he hummed hotel California. I sang along. We both sang out loud like fools. And we didn't even know all the words. I knew some, he practically sang it in Genglish (Georgian/English).
 He, out of the blue, said 'sex?'. I was like 'huh?'. 'Sex, sex English kho?' (Sex is an English word, right?). Ver gavige!  (I don't understand). Sex! Sex! Sex! I kept saying I didn't understand. Just for the fun of it.
 I did consider getting out of the car, but I didn't feel threatened yet, he was just being annoying. He wasn't brave enough to do anything, I reckoned. He dropped me off in Kutaisi, two hours later. 2hours! Of harassment!
 I went to the bathroom and then back to the hiking spot. This time, my clothes had dried off from two hours in a warm, dry car. It was pouring in Kutaisi as well. People were more rude in Kutaisi! They would slow down, pretend to want to stop, get me running towards the car and speed off. That happened a few times. Some would slow down and say something. I assumed it was 'where the heck are you going?' Then, boom! A car stopped and while I was running towards it, a truck honked (hooted) and I signalled for it to stop. I told the private car driver, I was going to Gori, he said No! I then proceeded to the truck. I had options! :)
 That thing was massive! There was huge space between us. Which I was super grateful for. No more touching of the thigh. Hooray! He was a nice man. He told me about himself, his family, job, etc. And that they'll be hosting an English teacher in a week's time. I gave him my number and told him to get the teacher to call me.
 He wasn't creepy at all! He even told his wife, over the phone that he was with me. He gave me his cellphone and ear phones to listen to music. He had a lot of Eminem in there! He also gave me a packet of Russian sweets (candy).
 He dropped me off in Gori, 4.5hrs later!
 Yesssss! I did it!

Ramblings about Georgian Teachers and host family

On Monday 26th Sept,
  I still felt sick. Y had told me not to go to school if I didn't feel so good. Also, because I work with children, I wouldn't have wanted to spread what I had. I stayed in. Which made it a 4day weekend. I watched a whole lot of millionaire matchmaker and Celebrity rehab. I literally, stayed in bed the whole day. My whole body was sore, and I was coughing and sneezing and doing all sorts of gross stuff. I texted one of my co-teachers, S. The one I got the flu from and asked her which meds she bought from the chemist because she came to work feeling so much better the next day. No response.
 At work, on Tuesday, 27th Sept
 S saw me and was 'so excited'. Hey! How are you? Blah. It's hard for me to pretend like I don't want to know why she didn't return my text. But I tried. For a bit. Then when I went to my first class with her around midday, I asked if she got my text. Without hesitation, she told me she had but it was too late. I don't know what she was talking about because I sent her the text around 8am. She told me that her battery had died and she only could read the text when she got home. Which is strange because at 8am, she should've still been home. She doesn't live far from work and school starts at 9. Oh and she didn't have airtime to text back.
 Here's the thing, I told Y that I cought the flu from S. And them being Georgian, have to share everything. I bet you Y told S that piece of information. Which was neither a secret nor a lie. However, I'm not sure about the context in which she told her. I mean, a flu is a flu is a flu. Someone has it, and you work closely with them, you're likely to catch it. That's it! If they want to take it personally, they can go fly a kite as far as I'm concerned.
 I had a 3day week, whereby my first day was Tuesday, I had a 9 o clock, when I got to work, I couldn't find my co-teacher, Y. I called and texted her to no avail. I asked around, none of the other teachers seemed to know where she was. I decided to go to the ATM. Someone told me it was just up the road. They walked me there.   A nice lady, who speaks some English. We walked for ten minutes. Which is not just up the road to me but to each his own. When were got there, it was 9:20 and the bank was still closed. Good thing, I just needed the ATM. There was none in sight. I asked the lady to ask the people in the bank if they have an ATM. She came back saying the back is closed and that we had to wait another ten minutes for when it's open to ask if there's an ATM. Preposterous! I thanked her for walking me there and told her I'd go to the other bank, which was much much further now that I was on the other end of town. I took my time too because my next class was also with Y and I didn't  know where she was. from the second back, which is close to where I live, I felt like I was doing double work walking all the way back to school. I was about ten minutes late for my second class. Y greeted me with a concerned smile. She asked how I was feeling. I wanted to know if she didn't get my text and call. She was like, 'oh you called?' Uhm, no, I called myself, and I want to know if it reflected on your phone!
 She said she never heard the phone. Fair enough, she's not as suspicious as S, so I let it go. She told me her schedule had changed and we no longer have the first class on Tuesdays. She had forgotten to tell me and was sorry. Don't be sorry, just don't do it again! Even though I wanted to, I didn't say that! She assured me that that was the only change to our schedule together.
 Wednesday 28 Sept,
 I had a few classes with S who was in a super good mood. Then a break, in the afternoon, I walked around looking for Y's class, couldn't find her. I called S, no answer, I texted her to see if she knew where Y was, no answer (again!) She finally showed up late. I've a weird feeling, things are going to be interesting between S and I.
 Thursday, 29th Sept
 I only had two classes, one at 2:45 and one at 4:30. I stayed in bed, watching the rest of Millionaire Matchmaker and Sex Rehab with Dr Drew. (That's the name of the show, I didn't watch the shows with a Dr!). I got a call from my third co-teacher, I, whom I kind of like. I'm not sure why, but there's a certain innocence about her. She told me her schedule had changed and we'd no longer have the 4:30 on Thursday, which meant I only had on class that day. Which I intend to shift and have 4 day weekends.
 After school, I went for a walk around town, and back home. I hadn't seen my host mom in 2days or so. Which was long for someone who used to budge in and out of my room as as she pleased. She hadn't done that in 2days. And (touch wood), lately, she doesn't even budge anymore. She knocks. And waits for a response. Touch wood again!
 I paid for rent and she just took the money and walked away. No acknowledgment, no eye contact, no thanks, nothing. Later on, when I went to drink some water in the kitchen, she gave me a huge (fake) hug. Awkward!
 I got a call from head office inviting me to an excursion which would take place Saturday morning. I totally accepted!
 Friday, 30 Sept
 I stayed in the entire day, watching The Bachelorette, Ashley's Season 7. I still can't believe that dude Bentley! I thought he was being funny and sarcastic! How rude and disrespectful! It's a very interesting season, I couldn't get myself to watch Ali's season because I saw her with her guy on Brad's season.  Not only that, I saw the first episode and it was obvious she liked that guy, so knowing that and the fact that she did pick him in the end defeated the point of watching. I just watched the men tell all for the bloopers, that's it!
 I must have watched, gees! I don't know! So many hours of that show on Friday, I really need to get out of the house more. I'm in Batumi for goodness sake! My favourite city in Georgia!

Weekend in my co-teacher's village

Saturday, 24th Sept
 One of my co-teachers invited me to the village the very first time we met. She was so excited to show me her in-law's place. She said it's so relaxing! What with the mountains and the river. All of Georgia is like that. But all Georgians will tell you the same. As if their village/town is different.
 She and her hubby picked me up at 11.  It was nice and cool outside. I had my overnight back with me as she had told me they'd bring me back Sunday. They bought dinner on our way. Y, my co-teacher said to excuse the fish smell, they bought me fish on the way to picking me up. AWKWARD! Don't you just love it when people invite you over, pick you up, then proceed to buy you things, dinner, breakfast stuff, one soft toilet roll, that you know is meant for you. Then fill up their gas (petrol) tank.  All in. Your presence! It's like, see, how much we're spending for you! This is all for you! You're really special to us :D.
 SUPER AWKWARD!
 The village is 40mins outside the city (Batumi). On our way, Y asked if I brought my camera. Weird question, but ok! Then we stopped at their 'pool'. It's a huge fish pond. With edible fish that they sell. I don't know the name of that fish. It's very prevalent here. It's not hake, but it sort of looks like it. Maybe it is, I don't know! They're building a restaurant next to the pond, overlooking the river. It'll have a beautiful view when it's finished. She told me to get the camera, she'd take pictures of me near the pond and I could take pictures of the scenery as well. That made me not want to take pictures of anything. Just the fact that someone is telling me what to like and what not to like! I took one or two photos and I was done.
 We drove to the house. It's just up the road from the pond. Nobody speaks English in the house, just Y. They told me I am beautiful. Wanted to know if I'm from America. And asked if I liked their village. Just as I got out of the car. The only thing I saw in the village, was the pond! I told them I liked what I'd seen up to that point.
 I mean, really now! Y took me on a tour of the property. They have fruit and vegetable, cows and chickens. It's ok. I saw regular size pumpkins. They asked me if we have 'such big pumpkins' in my country. Of course we do!
 'Do you have mandarins in your country?' Err yep! 'Oranges?' Yeah!
 Ok!
 Then she found a spot with a good view and made a huge sigh of relief and said 'wow! This is beautiful'. They're so desperate to have us like everything and to control us that they even speak for us! What she said is what she wanted me to say. But because she wanted me to say it so badly, I was resistant and just wouldn't get myself to say it for the sake of pleasing her.
 She asked me if we have such beautiful villages in Africa. I told her we have villages, farms, townships, suburbs and city centres. We have it all. I'm sorry Y. You had to have brought me something different to get me excited and different questions. These standard Georgian questions don't do it for me. At all. I'm over them.
 We went back to the house, we sat on the verandah, they brought me a box of chocolates. Darck chocolate. I don't like it, but I did have a few pieces. Then cookies, then fresh grapes. The grapes are really tiny here! They asked me if we have grapes in Africa. I told them we make wine in South Africa! And I went on to brag about out delicious huge seedless grapes. Just because!
  Because I've the flu, they brought me fresh lemon and hot water. The lemon was delicious! I know! I know! It's lemon! But believe me! I love lemons, so I would know.
 After that, they all asked me if I felt better. As soon as I swallowed the last sip of lemon water. I didn't know what to say! they then asked me that at approximately five minute intervals until I left the next day. Y suggested I go rest. This was around 4. There was nothing else to do, but sit amongst her in-laws while they discuss me in Georgian. I told her I'd stick around until everyone went to bed. She insisted I go rest. I asked if she wanted to take a nap, she's pregnant and she's Georgian, which means when she insists you do something, it's not necessarily for your own good,  you have to figure it out. She admitted that it was her nap time. I went to bed and was on Facebook for a few hours. My room was between two bedrooms and the lounge. They have to go via my room to the lounge. So they passed over and over and over again. And whenever they did, they asked if I was ok 'now'.
 Around 7, Y asked if I wanted some medication, I was game! They brought me something in a small containet that could've been anything. I chugged it. It tasted like a tablet that had been dissolved in water. This was while we were waiting for the cows to come home (literally) for them to make me milk and honey.
 They boiled me milk, added honey, and gave me that to drink in a coffee mug. I can't stand warm milk! I drank it, it wasn't so bad. I soon felt sleepy and I was gone! Lala land!
 I was up from 1am to 5am. Insomnia. I'm sure they were weirded out when they walked past my room with me sitting on the bed busy on the phone. When Y walked past, she did ask me how I was every time she passed there. Which was a lot because she's pregnant. I fell asleep again after 5am and at 8 Y brought me honey milk. This time it was sweeter than the night before and there was still lots of honey at the bottom. Which I found out the hard way. At least, I think it was honey. I chugged the milk down, and swallowed what felt like ugh! I don't know, phlegm? Bleh:( just thinking about it makes me want to puke! Y came to take the cup and asked how the milk was, if it wasn't too sweet this time. I felt like I was going to puke and looked it. But I still said no it was ok. Tired of complaining because they never do anything right and always want feedback, so if I'm going to be honest all the time, they will feel like I'm a unappreciative you-know-what. I ran to the bathroom with the hope that it would all come back up, automatically. It didn't. Not really.
 Tail in between legs, I went back to bed.
 It was pouring outside. Since I got there the day before. Everyone was hanging out in the lounge, speaking Georgian. It was either I go join them and be the topic of discussion, while everybody battles to make eye contact with me as they're talking about me right under my nose. Or I stay in bed peacefully. So of course, I did the right thing and went to the lounge to mingle. They started talking about me, the eyes started facing random places like the floor or their laps. I heard what they were saying. So I got over it, got up and went back to bed. I felt the stares and couldn't be bothered.
 About two hours later, I'd fallen asleep, Y WOKE ME UP and told me to 'dinner' was ready. So I got up and went to join them for BREAKFAST. They talked about me, and everyone was looking away from me, but whenever my plate got empty, there was a contest as too who would pass me something random that I handnt eaten yet. I don't like that because I'm clearly not blind, and am old enough to decide what I want to eat when. So I don't like it when they make decisions for me. They decide for you what you have to do at home,like If I want to watch a movie, they will budge into my room and give me a rock and roll dvd of someone I'd never heard of and tell me to check it out. That guy's very good, then 6 more dvd's by other rock star of the same calibre. Because I'd planned the whole day, that when I get home I'm going to watch whatever, I stick to my plans and put the dvd's aside for when I'll feel like watching them. Then they'll come in later to hear if I liked them. And bring me some more. The next day, we'll talk about music and I'll mention that I loke Elvis Presley and have all his music. ALL OF IT! I'll say that while watching something on my computer. Then they'll lend me Elvis Presley's CD's and stand there with huge smiles on their faces waiting for me to stop whatever I'm doing and play the cd's. Uhm, didn't I just tell you I have all his music? Can you not see that I'm busy doing something else? What the heck are you doing in my room? Have I ever been to your room? Aren't you a 50 year old man? Why are you acting like a spoilt kid half the time?
 After breakfast, I wanted to go shower, and was told not to because I've the flu. Just another decision made for me. I didn't, but was going to be returning to my 'home' that day and just showered there. Where I do what I want no matter what they try to make me do because I refuse to pay someone to make me uncomfortable in 'my' home. Y told me to get ready, we'd leave in 10. I made my bed and changed, sat in the living room with them. They talked about all sorts of things under the sun. She asked if I wasn't cold and offered me her scarf, it stank like nothing on earth. It's dark brown, so you can't tell if it's dirty, I've a feeling it's never been washed. I took it off and wrapped my night dress around my neck. They asked why I didn't keep the scarf on, I told them the night dress was warmer. Y's mom in law had a cool, comfy dress on the day before (and the next day). I complimented her on it and she said she'd give it to me the next day. Later on on Saturday, when I saw her, I told her how excited I was to be going to get a new dress. She smiled, and told Y what I just said. They always tell someone else what you said. Sometimes as you're saying it, as a result they end up discussing it with each other and get carried away, while you're standing there waiting for an answer. It can be anything! You can talk to a man, about something random, and have a full on conversation with them, the first person who walks through the door will be told what you just talked about. I don't care if it's a stranger, a hitch hiker that he just picked up on the side of the road! Anyway, the smile on Y's mom-in-laws face after my little remark about the dress gave me a feeling I wasn't getting the dress. I didn't!
 10mins became 1hr. while sitting there aimlessly, bored out of my mind, Y asked me why I was angry. That made me angry! I asked her what made her think I was angry. She said because I wasn't talking. I asked her what I was supposed to talk about and to whom. She said to them, oh her, she would translate. I asked her why she wasn't talking to me if she wanted to talk to me. She translated everything to the gang. She called her husband, he was waiting for us at the pond, we left.
 When I got home, I sent Y a courtesy sms (text) thanking her and her family for having me. She sid but you were in bed the whole time. Even though, she forced me to go to bed half the time. I couldn't respond to that.
 I spent the rest of the day watching Millionaire Matchmaker.

A night out in Batumi

 I had a long day at school. Which 2 hour breaks inbetween and ended up leaving after 5pm, since I started at 9am. I went straight home.
 Host mom had her private lesson in the evening, and asked me to teach her English at 8. 8PM! 20:00! I hesitantly agreed. And went to bed.
 At 8pm, I went to the kitchen to teach my host mom English and she was busy baking bread. She said to give her ten minutes. I suggested we do the lesson the next day.
 She wasn't around Thursday morning, and I had the morning off, I only started work at 2pm. After work, Lo, my friend from the UK, who's also based in Batumi and I went for a walk. When we needed the bathroom, she suggested we go to the Intourist hotel. So we did of course! And met an Israeli old man at the shoe shiner or whatever that shoe shinning thing is called. It was my first time seeing that thing so yeah:).
 Lo almost bought a ring, but the lady wouldn't lower the price. And when we saw the exact same ring priced a third of the price she charged the rest, she said it was a mistake and refused to let her have it for the price she saw. On our way to the beach, we saw a cool stall with nice affordable stuff. So Lo bought herself a nice right there. We met an Iranian couple. Very nice guy! He gave Lo his number and said to call him when she's there and he'll be her tour guide. Now I want to go to Iran:).
 We parted ways, Lo and I bought a cob of Maize from a street stall. It was weird. Too soft for me. But I have had much yummier ones here. We sat not too far from the beach and talked about life in Georgia. Especially being black here. We were interepted a few times by people asking to take photos with us to post on the net. Lo doesn't like to have her photo taken. I don't mind. I prefer that to someone staring at me for hours. I'm not sure why they'd want to post our pictures online. There are so many pictures of black people online!
 My host mom called me around 9 to check up on me. We went home not too long thereafter. I got home after 10pm. It was a nice day!
 When I got home, host mom wasn't home. she later got back, let herself into my room, turned the light on and tried to talk to me while I was on the phone. I had to ask her to switch the light off. She did and left. Then I overheard her talking about teaching and English. I suppose she was complaining because I didn't teach her English as promised. I promised to teach her before I went to school. She wasn't home then!
 Since then, when she wants to come to my room, because I never have the light on, I use the PC light, as that's always on, she turns the light in the passage on, just outside my door. It's so bright! It's blinding! Blight lights give me headaches. That's a good sized chandelier and bright as hell! So she turns that on, and then walks into my room, no knocking, NOTHING! When she's done talking to me, she turns that light off.
 I'm going to ask them to put a lock with a key on my door. She might get offended, because that means, I want to keep her out of my room as she's the only other person that comes to my room. But it is what it is. According to the contract, we should have lockable doors with keys.
 Friday, 23 Sept
 I had Friday off. According to my schedule, Fridays should be off, but you never know. I take everything one day at a time. So last Friday, I was free. I stayed home the whole day, sick as a dog! I watched Gigolos, So You Think You Can Dance and Millionaire Matchmaker. Fun times!
 I only left the house once, to buy Lunch, banana and yoghurt. A small tub of yoghurt is 1Lari (R4). Parmalat size! That's way more expensive than home! A banana is also the same price. Which is a lot. In South Africa, you can get a kg of bananas for that much!
 I snuck my food in and ate quietly, or else, I'd have offended people. They take it personally when you don't eat their food. I needed a break from bread and this, bread and that, bread bread BREAD! Oh and hair all over the place, on the table top, in the food, in your mouth, between your teeth. Ok maybe, I exaggerate, but I'm lucky to not find hair in the food when I don't.

Batumi Public School #7

School year started on 15th September. I'm still not sure why. It's really weird for me because in South Africa, school year begins with the beginning of the year. In January. I want to know what everybody did the whole year until September, in the beginning of time, that made them only start School towards the end of the year. I got a call from my reginal rep telling me not to set foot on the school premises before I've attended the introduction meeting. I asked her where the meeting was going to be held. She said, listen to this: she told me to go to the school, meet my co-teachers and then catch a lift with them to the meeting. This is of course, withought actually setting foot on the school premises. I told her I'd love to do that, it's must better than trying to find the meeting place, if only I knew where the school itself was. She laughed, bade be good bye and hung up. She called me again, closer to the day of the meeting, I reiterated that I didn't know where the school was. She laughed and hung up. I guess this was an inside joke she shared with herself. Sending me to a school I didn't know to meet people I didn't know, that spoke a language I don't speak, to take me to a meeting place I didn't know. All in a day's work. I found the school, its about 15 - 20 mins (walk) from my home. None of the teachers I met, including the principal spoke English. I sat in the principal's office, she gave me a huge bouquet of flowers that I'm convinced was given to her. I know because of how they looked at each other when she gave it to me. And everyone had a huge bouquet of flowers each. It's some kind of a tradition, first day of school celebration. I met their care taker. A very pleasant man, who speaks English. She asked me if I know some American English teacher I don't know. And told me that guy's his friend. He's been hear for a while now and is married to a Georgian woman. We had our Batumi introductory meeting at the Dept of Edu something something. We all went there in one car. When we arrive, we got out of the car. Someone told me to go back and get my flowers and parade with them. I didn't feel comfortable with this at all. Its very Georgian to show off to the world that they have a foreigner and are very nice to IT! There were limited seats in the meeting room and my flowers needed their own seats. I wished my flowers dead there for a moment. Until another lady walked in with a much much smaller bouquet! Yay! There were 4 other foreign teachers, their co-teachers and school directors (principals). The meeting lasted 2 hours. It felt more like 48, so boring and unnecessary like all meeting and training sessions I've attended here. My co-teachers rushed home after the meeting. I only managed to exchange number with one other teacher, Monica. She moved here a day prior. I know that for sure because, I got a call at 6am from the Regional rep asking me which vagon I was on (wagon aka train carriage). I of course told her I was in bed, sleeping at my new home. Wrong number. Beep! ed on 15th September. I'm still not sure why. It's really weird for me because in South Africa, school year begins with the beginning of the year. In January. I want to know what everybody did the whole year until September, in the beginning of time, that made them only start School towards the end of the year. I got a call from my reginal rep telling me not to set foot on the school premises before I've attended the introduction meeting. I asked her where the meeting was going to be held. She said, listen to this: she told me to go to the school, meet my co-teachers and then catch a lift with them to the meeting. This is of course, withought actually setting foot on the school premises. I told her I'd love to do that, it's must better than trying to find the meeting place, if only I knew where the school itself was. She laughed, bade be good bye and hung up. She called me again, closer to the day of the meeting, I reiterated that I didn't know where the school was. She laughed and hung up. I guess this was an inside joke she shared with herself. Sending me to a school I didn't know to meet people I didn't know, that spoke a language I don't speak, to take me to a meeting place I didn't know. All in a day's work. I found the school, its about 15 - 20 mins (walk) from my home. None of the teachers I met, including the principal spoke English. I sat in the principal's office, she gave me a huge bouquet of flowers that I'm convinced was given to her. I know because of how they looked at each other when she gave it to me. And everyone had a huge bouquet of flowers each. It's some kind of a tradition, first day of school celebration. I met their care taker. A very pleasant man, who speaks English. She asked me if I know some American English teacher I don't know. And told me that guy's his friend. He's been hear for a while now and is married to a Georgian woman. We had our Batumi introductory meeting at the Dept of Edu something something. We all went there in one car. When we arrive, we got out of the car. Someone told me to go back and get my flowers and parade with them. I didn't feel comfortable with this at all. Its very Georgian to show off to the world that they have a foreigner and are very nice to IT! There were limited seats in the meeting room and my flowers needed their own seats. I wished my flowers dead there for a moment. Until another lady walked in with a much much smaller bouquet! Yay! There were 4 other foreign teachers, their co-teachers and school directors (principals). The meeting lasted 2 hours. It felt more like 48, so boring and unnecessary like all meeting and training sessions I've attended here. My co-teachers rushed home after the meeting. I only managed to exchange number with one other teacher, Monica. She moved here a day prior. I know that for sure because, I got a call at 6am from the Regional rep asking me which vagon I was on (wagon aka train carriage). I of course told her I was in bed, sleeping at my new home. Wrong number. Beep!

Dinner with the President.

Sunday, 18th September 2011 Saturday afternoon, I got an email from head office inviting us to watch a show Keto and Kote (Georgian Romeo and Juliet) at the Opera House with the President of Georgia. I was in! Apparently teachers from other regions had transportation and accommodations/meals paid for. Michelle and I were slightly jealous. I thought, we'll just crash their hotels after the show. My host dad dropped me off at the Intourist Hotel where the other teachers would be staying. I went to meet up with Lo, another teacher based in Batumi. I saw a few of the co ordinators, some I'd never met, one was one of the first people I met in Georgia. About 15minutes later Lo arrived. We lingered around the hotel, she tried to get a room, unsuccessfully. We all were taken to the Opera House in 2 big buses. The Opera house is amazing! It's so beautiful with lots of water fountains in and out of the building. There were a lot of teachers there. I met two South Africans, a guy from Cape Town and one from Durban. I also got to hang out with Monica, another Batumi teacher. I saw Latoya, a nice chick I met my first weekend in Batumi. It was nice to see her. She has a very good vibe about her. I can't wait to actually get to spend time with her. I saw a few of my group members, I had called Harriet and Amy during the day to find out what everyone's wearing. They neither took my calls nor returned them. Amy's excuse was that she heard I've moved to Batumi and thought I'd be at the Opera, therefore we'd talk there. So basically, she ignored my call because she wasn't going to talk to me on the phone and, later in person. Fair enough. For each his own! I didn't bother to ask Harriet why she didn't take my calls. Michelle called her while we were at the Opera house, she didn't take her call either. I sat next to a nice older lady, who's also a teacher and is based not to far from Batumi, unfortunately, we didn't get to exchange numbers. On my right was Monica and next to her was Michelle who felt so bad that we didn't get seats next to our group members. Before the show, I saw Josh, my old friend from Kutaisi. He was talking to Amy, who saw me and waved. I pointed at Josh, signalling for her to tell him I wanted to sign. I thought that was a universal gesture, I guess not where she's from as she looked at me very perplexed. I kept pointing at Josh like a fool, and not once did she think to tell him to say hi to me. Knowing that I know him and he and I used to be friends once. Sometime while we were all seated waiting for the president, Josh did see me and waved at me. The president came in about 30minutes late. He walked straight to his seat with a few not scary looking men. I later heard that one was the Prince of Moroco, I guess the rest were body guards? The show was nice. It lasted 2hours. It was in Georgian and there were English 'subtitles' on a a screen atop the stage. After the show, I found out, I'm the only one that actually ejoyed the performance. That made me laugh out loud. Partly because of how people kept applauding during the performance, that made me think they were enjoying it. I guess that's another not so universal gesture. No word from the President. Not even a wave, or a pause on stage for us to take photos. NOTHING! Lo and I got on one of the buses. We wanted to be dropped off either at our homes or at the hotels and we'd figure our way home from there. We got kicked out of the bus. Because we weren't on that bus before blah blah blah. She then found a bus with her friends and called me to go join them. I was over running around begging for a lift for a company I worked for that actually took me there in a bus. I told my regional I needed to get home and asked her who's responsible for that. You'd think that since people from 8 hours away or so, got free transportation, food and nice hotel accommodation, they wouldn't mind giving us lifts in the buses for a 5km ride! They did! I got a lift with Beth's connections. She's also a teacher in the Batumi area. Lo called and said to join them at the hotel. I had to pass, it was midnight and I didn't have any friends there. I had had enough awkwardness for one day. I talked to Michelle for a bit. She was half asleep, I let her go and went to sleep myself. She apparently ended up working on the computer for 3 or 4 more hours thereafter. Go figure! 2011 Saturday afternoon, I got an email from head office inviting us to watch a show Keto and Kote (Georgian Romeo and Juliet) at the Opera House with the President of Georgia. I was in! Apparently teachers from other regions had transportation and accommodations/meals paid for. Michelle and I were slightly jealous. I thought, we'll just crash their hotels after the show. My host dad dropped me off at the Intourist Hotel where the other teachers would be staying. I went to meet up with Lo, another teacher based in Batumi. I saw a few of the co ordinators, some I'd never met, one was one of the first people I met in Georgia. About 15minutes later Lo arrived. We lingered around the hotel, she tried to get a room, unsuccessfully. We all were taken to the Opera House in 2 big buses. The Opera house is amazing! It's so beautiful with lots of water fountains in and out of the building. There were a lot of teachers there. I met two South Africans, a guy from Cape Town and one from Durban. I also got to hang out with Monica, another Batumi teacher. I saw Latoya, a nice chick I met my first weekend in Batumi. It was nice to see her. She has a very good vibe about her. I can't wait to actually get to spend time with her. I saw a few of my group members, I had called Harriet and Amy during the day to find out what everyone's wearing. They neither took my calls nor returned them. Amy's excuse was that she heard I've moved to Batumi and thought I'd be at the Opera, therefore we'd talk there. So basically, she ignored my call because she wasn't going to talk to me on the phone and, later in person. Fair enough. For each his own! I didn't bother to ask Harriet why she didn't take my calls. Michelle called her while we were at the Opera house, she didn't take her call either. I sat next to a nice older lady, who's also a teacher and is based not to far from Batumi, unfortunately, we didn't get to exchange numbers. On my right was Monica and next to her was Michelle who felt so bad that we didn't get seats next to our group members. Before the show, I saw Josh, my old friend from Kutaisi. He was talking to Amy, who saw me and waved. I pointed at Josh, signalling for her to tell him I wanted to sign. I thought that was a universal gesture, I guess not where she's from as she looked at me very perplexed. I kept pointing at Josh like a fool, and not once did she think to tell him to say hi to me. Knowing that I know him and he and I used to be friends once. Sometime while we were all seated waiting for the president, Josh did see me and waved at me. The president came in about 30minutes late. He walked straight to his seat with a few not scary looking men. I later heard that one was the Prince of Moroco, I guess the rest were body guards? The show was nice. It lasted 2hours. It was in Georgian and there were English 'subtitles' on a a screen atop the stage. After the show, I found out, I'm the only one that actually ejoyed the performance. That made me laugh out loud. Partly because of how people kept applauding during the performance, that made me think they were enjoying it. I guess that's another not so universal gesture. No word from the President. Not even a wave, or a pause on stage for us to take photos. NOTHING! Lo and I got on one of the buses. We wanted to be dropped off either at our homes or at the hotels and we'd figure our way home from there. We got kicked out of the bus. Because we weren't on that bus before blah blah blah. She then found a bus with her friends and called me to go join them. I was over running around begging for a lift for a company I worked for that actually took me there in a bus. I told my regional I needed to get home and asked her who's responsible for that. You'd think that since people from 8 hours away or so, got free transportation, food and nice hotel accommodation, they wouldn't mind giving us lifts in the buses for a 5km ride! They did! I got a lift with Beth's connections. She's also a teacher in the Batumi area. Lo called and said to join them at the hotel. I had to pass, it was midnight and I didn't have any friends there. I had had enough awkwardness for one day. I talked to Michelle for a bit. She was half asleep, I let her go and went to sleep myself. She apparently ended up working on the computer for 3 or 4 more hours thereafter. Go figure!