Weekend in Kutaisi

By the end of the first week, I was so ready to get the heck out of my town, I asked my students to come in early for me to finish on time and catch a marshrutka (taxi/mini bus) out of town. They did! My assistant released me just before 1pm as the taxi was due to leave at 1. It left at 1:30. GMT (Georgian Maybe Time, maybe it will leave on time, maybe it won't!).

Here's the thing, whenever I leave the house, it's as if I'm making celebrity appearances. People stare and gawk all the time! By this time, I hadn't been anywhere or walked anywhere by myself. I always had a friend or somebody with me.
My assistant and I arrived at the rank, which is across the road from my work, she introduced me to everybody. Lot's of 'gamarjobats' (hello). They showed us to my marshrutka, filthy as hell! I found a seat and occupied it. An older woman, came and squeezed right next to me, even though there were tons of other vacant seats. She talked to her friends about me and they all started playing with my hair. I took my phone out and completely ignored them. We left for Kutaisi.
I suffer from motion (car) sickness but I never throw up, thankfully! Here, the thought of being on the road makes me sick! Literally! 3hrs later, I arrived in Kutaisi, called Josh, who met up with me at Mc Donald's. I had coke Zero! It was more expensive than in South Africa and tasted weird. I couldn't finish the can, I threw it away.
We took a 30 Lari (R1.20) city bus and got off at the centre of town. That's when the walking began! We went to our home stay (kinda like a guest house) which was up a steep hill. It was scorching hot! I left my stuff there and we walked the city. Josh took me to some cool places! We had a great time!
I'd only ever talked to him on Facebook and over the phone but that was enough for us, we don't have the luxury of time to get to know people really slowly here before you do anything with them. That's not a below the belt statement, GET YOUR MIND OUT THE GUTTER!

I loved everything I saw, Josh's a great 'tour guide' and a cool guy all in all. Very easy going. We saw an old soviet era theatre, 'creepy!', his school, some of his students, and just about everything in the city centre, it's a small town, so. They've a nice park with cool lighting at night.
Around 9pm. We went to a cool, artistic, french style, restaurant with live music for dinner. I had pork, he had pizza. I enjoyed my meal. It was 10 Lari (R40). My friends contacted me. They were finally in town!
We met up with them at another restaurant/bar which we will call the Fish bar. Really nice as well! There were 4 guys and myself. 2 of them frm Kutaisi, 2 frm just outside town, and myself. Drinking!
Crazy, funny, awkward conversation, 'hello! There's a girl here!'
Harriet left Akhaltsikhe (my town) at 6 and should have arrived at 10 or so. He marshrutka broke down. Then she was stuck in traffic! Endless problems. I felt badly for her. The placed closed at 12 midnight. Our curfew at the homestay was 1am. We walked home, up the steep hill, out of breath, and whew! We arrived! Harriet called not too long thereafter, Josh and I took a cab {5Lari (R20)} to Mc donald's where she was waiting for us.
Back to the house, she and I shared a room. Or atleast were supposed to, until we didn't and I ended up, due to unforeseen circumstances, sleeping in the guy's room and Matt ended up sleeping in the room that was meant to be mine. I loved the guy's room bed more, for the record.

The next day, saturday, 25th June.
More walking! We went to some restaurant for breakfast. I had a pork kebab, some had khachapuri, the cheese bread, and some salads. Salad here comprises peeled cucumber and tomato, chopped in huge pieces with lots of salt!
Just after branch, Michelle and Caleb arrived (from batumi) we met them and walked around the city, we went to the mall! My first mall experience in Georgia! There aren't that many here! Mall was ok, the guys seemed bored by the idea of going to the mall, you know how they can be! Then we went to a bazaar, it's a market with just about anything you can think of. From fruit, vege, meat, like the whole cow, or whatever you may want really, laptops, the works!
Then we went to a church up the hill, not to far from where we were staying. Fergus, our resident Brit, who is based in kutaisi, gave us a lift from his host brother's car. There were 7 or 8 of us in the car, which I nothing really cos I believe when Taylor, one of our group members went to a wedding, there were like 12 or 16 of them in a private car. Go figure!

The church was nice, it's a 4th century church that's being renovated whose name has slipped my mind.
From there, we walked back to the home stay while some drove to Gelati, another church, monastery, probably even castle combination. I believe it's beautiful.
Clint arrived frm Akhalkalaki.
We went to the theme park, hung out a bit, had some snacks. I drank about. Litre of water. I must have drank 10 litres of water or more during my stay there, it was sooo hot. We rode a Gondola or whatever, to the centre of town. Dunno what that thing's called but it's in my FaceBook pics. Let me know what it is! 50Tetri (R2). I was hoping it would be scary and exciting. It was okay, 6 or so people in, flying over the river, under lock and key. Very safe.

Dinner at 'the Wood bar'!

We had khinkali (the meat dumplings), hot chips (french fries), pork (or something) kebab, 'salad' lots of food! Most of it went to waste. We then met up with the rest of the gang. Those that had gone to Gelati. While at this restaurant, I went to the ladies. On my way back, one of the restaurant staff, was waiting for me at the counter, with his camera aimed straight at the bathroom door. As soon as I walked out, he took a shot of me! How rude! Couldn't he ask?
We went to a free street concert. Rock concert! Fun times! Michelle and I were such groupies! We went to the front and met the performers, they gave me their myspace page (as you do to a groupie, I guess). We took tons of pics.

Later on, we walked to some restaurant where we hung out and drank until I was half asleep.
Matt, Harriet and I walked home. Nigel came in just after us. It was 1am. I believe Michelle and Caleb arrived about 30mins thereafter. Josh left us in the afternoon to freshen up and eat. He wasn't feeling too good. That was the last we saw him.
Sunday, 26th
Josh felt worse than the previous day. He couldn't join us. I missed him! We took the bus to Mc donald's, had breakfast there. Harriet and I had to leave because the last marshrutka to our town leaves at 1:40. Yup, taxis have time tables here! Kind of organised for GE. My seat was much more comfy than the one to Kutaisi! I slept most of the trip. I always have to close my eyes to reduce motion sickness.
I got so sun burnt! Nothing to blog about! We arrived 4 hrs later! My assistant met us at the rank and got us a lift to our respective homes.

Hello My Teacher!

We teach Georgian police officers English. Initially, I was told I'd have a class every other day for an hour and a half, 11:00 - 12:30. I wasn't to happy with that as it meant so much free time.
I caught a lift with my host brother to the police station an hour earlier in order to prep a bit.
I saw the boss whom I'd been introduced to before, he doesn't speak English, but is a very nice guy. I was introduced to my assistant and interpreter who hardly speaks english. The boss, she and I had a small meeting. The boss soon picked up that she won't be very useful, he wrote me on google translate and asked if I wanted her replaced. I said I'd like to give her a chance first then decide. Long story short, she's been replaced as from beginning of this work. She's still my friend though cos she's genuinely nice.
I had 2 classes on Monday. They went very well. My students are all cool and eager to learn, which is always a plus. We have a curriculum and books and notes and stuff to equip and guide us as teachers. I use all of those.
Most of the week, I finished at 7:30, my last class was at 6pm and I'd have a break of 3 or 4hourse during the day. So not cool. The 6pm group has since requested to be moved to my long break gaps and I was glad to agree. I now don't work later than 5pm.
Contrary to what I'd been told, I've 4 groups of about 23/25 students each, 2 - 3 classes per day, every single day. I'm happy about that because my time is occupied. I've got one class on Friday at 3:30. Which sucks because I can't go anywhere until then. I talked to my students last week and they came in at 11 for their test which is all we do on thursday and Friday. I then had the rest of the day and the weekend for myself.
This Friday, today, obviously, I had no classes at all. I actually had to beg for my one group to come and write their test today, in order for them not to be left behind next week when the other groups start the next module. My request was accepted and we wrote a test this morning at 11. I was free as a dove by 12:30 again.
The first module and test went very well, the marks were very good, B's and A's. See, here's the thing, my students are friends and therefore, they help each other during tests. That's normal here. And you dare not come between friends!

Easy like Sunday morning. Except, it's not!

Saturday, 18th June
I slept around midning on Friday, and was up around 6 on Saturday. I hung out in bed and chatted on FB, Twitter, BBM and email.
I showered around 8 and breakfast was served around 9. My (host) mom came over with the little one. They took him home with them Friday night. We all hung around the dinning room. Some of us ate, some didn't. I ran out of airtime. Our service provider deducts 0.16 Tetri (64cents) per day frm our phones just cos they can. So one needs to always have airtime. If not, you'll have a negative balance and won't be able to make calls. Even to free numbers and you won't be able to use the internet even though it's got nothing to do with nothing cos you've already paid for that separately.
It's for the latter reason that I had tp rush to get airtime. We took a walk. The stares! People were gawking at me all over the show. We then went to the marked to see the place and I wanted to buy apples and oranges, mt favourite fruit! They were more expensive than I'd read somewhere! I heard they're GEL 2 per kilo (R8 or a lil more than a $1). They were GEL 3.5 and 2.5 per kilo! I bought two each, to taste. I'll go back if I like them. Mom bought strawberries and sunflower seeds. They shared those with me. I didn't know what they were and how you're supposed to eat them. They're an utter waste of my time! the thing inside is way too small for me to spend all that time and energy opening the thingy.
I had one of 6. But that was it! I don't even like shelled nuts or pea nuts cos I'm lazy! I don't like to sweat for food.
We bought ice cream cones for 30Tetri (R1.20) and off we went. More stares and we were home! Very hot outside!
O talked to a few people from my group as usual, went on youtube, checked out some Rihanna and Nicky Minaj songs, facebook, email, dinner, talked to Michelle for 4hours and slept!

Caves, CNN, Supra and Happy Endings

Friday, 17th June cont...
We were told to dress casually.
I had track pants on and training shoes (snickers).
We sped through to some guest house, saw some normal looking people or atleast non-Georgian looking people. Who probably were Georgian. Someone whispered to us 'CNN'. There were cameras. And Chefs. I immediately thought my sis would've loved whatever is going to take place here cos she's all about food. Then I wanted to cry again. We were told to take a seat and that we'd leave in a minute. the nice looking cameraman did his thing (I've a thing for cameramen). He must have caught a 2second snippet of us chatting to each other. In exactly 60seconds, we left for Vardzia.
OMG! First of all my entire region is surrounded by a huge river! Then there are mountains all over the place. It's summer now and rains a bit so it's green everywhere! we parked the car and hiked up the mountain to some 12th century caves. You can google the history of these caves. It's amazing! We got up there, one of our police people needed to tell us about the place so he yelled and asked if anyone speaks English. The person that did, came forward! She spent the entire tour with us, translating for us out of the goodness of her heart. Which reminds me, I've to add her to facebook. She's a gorgeours girl frm Ukraine. They speak Russian there and so does our guy. We took some pictured. There's also a monastery up there where we were not allowed into and a small church, where we went in, lit 2candles each and left. we drank water from a well, I believe, the most divine water you can think of! And it was freezing cold, which helped cos it was scorching hot outside. You have to make a wish when drinking the water and it will come true (not the water, the wish!). Done!
We went back down, got in the car,btw one of the guys that went with us was kind of nice looking. So my type! I didn't like his voice though. It's like he doesn't know that he's nice pff. 100metres down the hill, we parked the car to a bunch of police barbecuing (braaing) for us! It was a nice surprise! There was a huge table set, the works! The braaid a goat for us! The entire thing, with its head still on, eyes, the works! It looked scary, I apologised to it inside before I had some. We had a supra (georgian feast). Lots of alcohol, tons of toasts and good food. The men were serving us. There was a huge cake as well that I didn't see anyone eating. I wonder what happens to the left overs at these supras!
There was a journalist frm CNN at the table who was our interpreter. Her name was Nino. So far, all the Ninos I met speak English.
We left about 4hours later. I was tired and sleepy and full.
We drunken drove to one of the guy's house and met his family. Then they dropped me off. Apparently they took Harriet somewhere and introduced her to some people before dropping her off.
When I got home my family offered me food. I declined. I saw the new computer with internet, got a call frm the mother asking if the internet works and if I like the computer. I was verklempt. I talked to a few people, and to Michelle, one of our group members for 2hrs and slept. A fabulous ending to a day that started very sadly.

Yesterday, I Cried

My family is super nice! I love them!
My mother speaks English (Self taught!). She has 2 sons, one's 25 and married. They have a 5yr old son. (The son and his wife, not with his own mother!). I live with the son, wife and 5yr old. The mother has another son, 20 year old guy, they stay in a village 10minutes away frm the city. The mother also lives with her husband, of course. I've been invited to go see the village house when I'm free. I'm up for it!

I called everyone from my group to see if they got home safely and how they liked their families, if anyone speaks any English, the works. Whoever I couldn't get hold of, I sent a text to. I felt better afterwards. I also called my sister, Pru and she talked to my host mother for like a minute.

I couldn't have dinner with them my first night here because I was so full from the restaurant food. I did teach them for about an hour, and hour and a half of course. Important (to me) stuff like 'Dinner time!, breakfast, and lunch time! Hello how are you? I'm fine, etc).

I came to my room around 10 pm. Mainly to spend some time alone before bedtime. This whole time I'm trying not to cry. Sooooo emotional!
My house is nice and big. The rooms are huge! They gave me the master bedroom and have moved to the guest bedroom/dining room. We share closet space. I've a tv in my room that I don't use cos everything's in Georgian. They're in the process of installing cable (dstv) for me to be able to watch some English shows. There's another dining room, that we now use only as a computer room. Computer was bought and internet activated the next day! Which was a nice surprise! I had accidentally activated blackberry service on my phone on Thursday. Call it communication breakdown, I'm glad I did because I was able to be in touch with the world Friday morning before they got internet.

Friday 17 June
I went to bed around 11 last night and was up around 5/6. I discovered that my internet was working on my blackberry, good times! I started chatting on facebook and twitter and later on email. It took me a minute to figure out how to set the email up.
I got a text frm one of the guys that I left messages for last night. For some reason, that made me sad. I sobbed like I just lost my husband to unnatural causes of death!
I hoped nobody will want to come in for some reason or other. Well. . . My sister kept coming. I hid the fact that I was crying until I couldn't anymore. She came in, looked at me, saw that I looked like... Well, like I did, came and sat next to me and asked what was wrong. I think. I took a dictionary pointed at myself, at miss, back to myself and family. Quite frankly, I don't know why I cried! I was happy to be with these nice people, was in touch with my family and didn't really miss them like that cos you've always been far away from the family anyway, things were great! But I just wanted and needed to cry!
Call it Bloody Culture Shock aka the unexplainable! What? That's a word! Autocorrect did not underline that! Interesting!
I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed and hoped that nobody calls me and hears me sounding like I would if they had. I did lose my voice to the flu though, so I already don't sound like myself.
I got a call from the police people. They told me CNN had a do and wanted to invite me. Someone would be here in ten to 15mins to pick me up. It was 11 or 12 midday, I was in my nightie, crying like a baby and had no plans for the day, but to cry until I couldn't anymore.
I had to get over myself and rush. My sister was in my room, tearing up, it would have been a disaster if I hadn't got that call. Got to the bathroom, caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and cried all over again! I heard the hooter (honking?). It was the police! They were on time. So far, I haven't experienced GMT (Georgian Maybe Time). Everyone's been pretty on time! I got ready, jumped in the car. Had my glasses on to cover up the eyes. We picked Harriet up and off we went!

Akhaltsikhe - New Castle

Thursday, 16th
Hard to believe training is over and we're about to part with the new friends we just just made! Sad day!
I've spent more time with some than others and was looking forward to getting to know everybody better. I feel like we've all been robbed!
We finished packing, some waited for their host families to pick them up at the lounge. I was in my room, chatting with my sister, on Facebook and on Twitter. I was nervous I might not have the internet at my new home, in which case, I felt, I needed to talk to my loved ones one last time.
I was nervous! Mostly sad. I couldn't make eye contact with anyone, I just wanted to cry. I took a picture of everyone standing waiting for their names to be called. Unfortunately I can't post it here, so don't look out for that one! I know! I know! There's always a story about my pictures. Sorry. At 1pm, our names were called out and we were united with our families or family representatives. I left in the same car as my room mate Harriet from New Zealand, we will be based in the same area. Clint won't be far from us, so he was in a car that followed us all the way to Akhaltsikhe (pronounced in Xhosa like so Arhaltsirhe). The drive was a whole another blog post! So brace yourself!
3hrs later, we arrived! Motion sickness and all. Oh and I had to use the bathroom on the way, so I went to a hole on. The ground, stinky! Stinky! And gross omg! I don't wish that loo on my worst enemy!
We went to the regional police station and were introduced to the bosses. Nice offices! Nice people! Clint left with some cops for his hotel, his family was not back from somewhere yet, so he was to stay at a hotel by his lonesome until the weekend. That didn't make sense to any of us. Why couldn't he stick around here and hang out with us until his family arrived seeing as we won't be working until Monday?
Harriet and I were taken to the Police station, nice building! Brand new, made of green glass! Clearly those police officers should know better than to throw stones cos people who stay in glass houses... You know the idiom! There, we were introduced and offered coffee again. It's nice how the TV's are on or dvd's and stuff at the offices here. Well, it's interesting that they have big LCD plasma's in their offices to begin with. The perks of having a low crime rate! Touch wood!
We then were asked if we were hungry, to which we said, 'YESSSSSS'. They took us, in 2cars! Just Harriet and I! To a restaurant down the road. It was very nice! We went to a special room where the table was set with some fine china. I was getting more and more emotional by the second. Everything made me want to ball my eyes out, EVERYTHING! I've got the pics for all this, let's see if at some stage, I'll be able to post them here.
I ordered Khinkali. The dumpling with a surprise mince ball inside! I've had Chinese ones before, those are smaller, these are a bit bigger and they add pepper over them at the table. Which makes them look nicer.
The food will be a whole another post as well.
We left about an hour later. I was dropped off, met my family, which was waiting outside the house for me with a few neighbours. We went upstairs, they showed me my room, I wanted to lock myself up and cry my lungs out, they wouldn't leave me alone. I had to be nice and polite.

Tbilisi by night

Training started every morning at 9 and our day would be packed until 9pm. Which was super hectic!
Saturday, 11 June
After training, we went on a walk to see the city. It started off as if we were just going to check out the neighborhood. An hour and tons of pictures later, we decided to walk back! Yup! And my group can walk fast, my gosh! It was more like a power walk than anything else. Oh and sight seeing.
I loved ever bit of it! Tbilisi is beautiful by night. I can't say anything about daytime beause I haven't been anywhere during the day.
We saw the president's palace. It's nice, like all pres' residences, it's a huge white house! We walked along this massive river on our way and finally made it home! We walked for a little over 2hours FAST! And managed to sight see :D.
I didn't even go to the bedroom, I headed straight to the bathroom, showered, jumped into bed and died! Pics will be on FB and if possible here as well. I'll inform you when I post them, where you can view them.

Monday 13th June
The 3 volunteers that hadn't had their medical check, me included were taken to the doctor's during lunch. We urinated in a cup, walked down the hallway back to reception, urine in tow, and had our blood samples drawn. Left there, driver and Tatia, gave us a bit of a tour of Tbilisi. Back to hotel, lunch, class.
we got our medical aid (or insurance) cards and bank cards.
Tuesday, 14th
We signed our official contracts.
Later on, we decided to take a marshrutka (shared taxi) somewhere to eat. It cost 50 Tetri (R2 or $0.30). We went up to the fortress. The hike took 45 mins! I went up a very high, dangerous looking, narrow flight of stairs, that didn't even have a rail on the side to hold on to. And hiked the whole thing until the tip. I'm so proud of myself. It's official! Fear of heights is no longer a fear for me! I conquered my fear! Yessssssss!
We walked back down, after posing for numerous pictures and found a small fast food restaurant where most of the guys had magarita pizzas, shwarma's, and I had a pork meal. I didn't feel like bread. So I had chips (fries), and pork. Absolutely divine and hot! We had a hot meal for the first time in Georgia! No more room temperature crap!
We walked home, it's about an hour's walk. We enjoyed it though. We passed the same route we did two nights before but this time found a powerpoint slide show thingy going on near the president's palace. It's like water sprinkling out from the ground, way up, in like a cirle. If you look at the sprinkles you see a slide show of amazing pictures of Georgia! I've never seen anything like it! We need something like that in South Africa! I reckon let's do it like in Soweto! The least expected place! That was awesome in the true sense and I'll never forget it! Everyone needs to see that even if it's once in their life.
Got home dog tired, went straight to shower. Missed my sis' calls. Felt horrible about that. She sent me an sms (text) and an email telling me not to worry her hubby just wanted to surprise me. So I stopped worrying :).
I updated my blog, atleast I tried, when I tried to post it, Opera Mini froze! I left it like that the whole night for it to defrost itself. Slept after 1am. Got up, still frozen, I had to take the battery out. Lost all the info I spent almost 30 mins jotting down. Great!
Wednesday 15th
Last day of training whoot!
Nice day all round. I didn't have to take pain killers today! I've been suffering from headaches since I got here, so yeah. I've got the flu, but I'll live. Stomach ache gone as well.
We had people from the police academy come talk to us about our summer job of teaching the police English. It'll be 18 hrs per week, for 3mnths. Hopefully I'll be able to occupy myself what with all the free time I'll have. We were placed in our areas. I'll be in Akhaltsikhe. Apparently it's a small town South of georgia, 30km frm the boarder of Turkey. Good times! I'm really excited about that! It won't take me long to get to Turkey. Whoot!
My room mate will be staying in a village like 12km from my place. And Clint, another teacher will be 30km away from me. Mine's apparenty a Jewish area, where people mainly speak Armenian.
We start work on Monday, the 20th. Which means, freedom this weekend with new family!
I wonder what we're all do? I wonder if anyvody speaks English. Omg, what? I actually wrote that with a British/New zealand accent. Can you tell? Smh!
We went out last night. All of us, a small group left earlier to go to the bookstore, another one took a marshrutka, we walked! Yup! I was in the group that walked, can you see a change in me and my attitude already? I know! I know! Thank you!
We met up with the rest of the guys, found a cafe, bought some drinks and drank on the side of the road. Yeah, you can do that here and not get into trouble at all! We hung out outsied for more than an hour just bonding. The gypsies (bos slaapers) came and caused some havoc! They grapped a huge chunk of one of our guy's shwarma! Then he pulled his hand away, and another gypsy grabbed the rest of the thing frm behind him. I've got pics to prove it, but won't share them cos he was not impressed with me taking that money pic of him. I still think it was hilarious. Especially cos it happened to him!
We took pictures, got drunk, went to a bar, called something like Budapest or Budebar, dunno! they closed at 2, and that's when we left, took a cab for GEL 5, (R20 or $3). Got home, hung out for another hour or so and most of us went to sleep. Not before I went to Michelle and Amy's room and we talked about, you know, girl's stuff.
I slept before 5 am and got up after 7. Gotta go shower, it's just before 9 and they serve breakfast until 9:30.

Welcome to Tbilisi, the city that loves you!

Friday, 10 June
I arrived in Tbilisi, smallest airport I've ever come across. A little interrogation from the passport control, supervisor was called cos OMG! THERE'S AN AFRICAN IN GEORGIA! Supervisor was like, so? Then I was let through. I couldn't find my luggage. I looked all over the show. Eventually found it with a huge red sticker on. There was aready a police guy standing by to ask me if I had anything I needed to declare. I was like, 'like what?'. He said 'anything you think we need to know about?'. I'm like ' well, here's my laptop, camera and...'. He said, 'no, here in your suitcase! What's in there?'. I said 'my clothes!'. He said, "ok,". And removed the sticker.
In my head, I'm like, why not just search the bag, and leave me alone dude! Gees! Anyway TLG was waiting for me at the entrance with 2other teachers who arrived in the same flight as myself. We all had a 7hr layover in Istanbul. But didn't see each other the whole time or something.

We were then whisked off to Bazaleti hotel in town. Had a shower and a meeting in like an hour and a half of arrival. Yup, they waste no time here! We got our work cellphones, and talked basic stuff. Got introduced to each other. We are one of the smallest if not the smallest group. 15 people. 4girls. This is the only group of people I've ever seen where there are more guys than girls. Ever!
Dinner at 8. We hung out after that. I went to bed around 11pm. My feet were sooooo swollen!
Saturday, 11 June.

Training started at 9, breakfast is every morning at 8. I have muesli and yoghurt every morning. They also serve dinner and lunch stuff every meal, like, they have pasta at breakfast, so yeah, it's different!
The food is like interestingly prepared. The potatoes are never cooked, just half way, and there's very little salt in the food. I noticed when I was in turkey that the salt was very weak, like almost salt-free. You can't add enough salt in the food cos it itself is so weak. You'd need to salt the salt first.
Other than that the food is not so bad. I'm looking forward to home cooked meals though. I think that's where the nice-ness will be.

So long SA, I'll miss you terribly!

A lot has happened since I last posted. To sum it up:

Monday, 6 June
While back home, I Uitenhage, I finally found someone to do my hair, we started Monday afternoon, four hours later, I got an email that my ticket's been booked for Thursday the 9th of June. I'd been previously been told to avail myself from the 10th onwards, which is why I was still in the Eastern Cape and not the Western Cape where I'd be flying out from.
The pressure was on! We did my hair at my aunt's until midnight. Fortunately the chick that did my hair's boyfriend didn't pick her up after she called him and ran out of airtime. So we were able to work until that hour. My sis and I helped a bit with the hair as well.

Tuesday, 7th June
We were up at 6am, and were back at work! I got a bus booking with Greyhound for 10pm in PE. Tha meant I'd have to leave latest, by 9pm for the bus. 8hands later (my hairstylist got her 2partners to come help) we finished doing my hair at 8pm. Not finished finished, I still had to finish twisting at at a later stage, I asked them to just plant the extension on, for the last bit.
Thulani, (an angel that used to date my niece and a friend of my bro's ) picked me up at the terminus, dropped me at mine, let me stuff my stuff in my bag, while he dashed to my bro's to pick my laptop up. We left Uitenhage at 8:23pm and arrived at the bus station at 9pm. Perfect timing!
The bus ride is a story for a whole another day!

Wednesday, 8th June
My bro-in-law picked me up, dropped me at my sis' and left for work, I dozed off on the couch for 2hrs, my bro came over to c me (needless I've got lots of bro's and sis'). We hung out until after 8pm, when the rest of the fam, ie my bro-in-law and sis were back. Sis cooked yummilicious pasta with viennas and chicken and I Lord knows what else, just thinking about it makes my mouth water! My sis, Pru and I hung out in my room for a bit, then she went to bed. We both had to be up early the next day.

Thursday 9th June
I finished packing, unpacked and left a few things behind, went and got $ at the mall, what a hassle it was! Internet cafe etc, left for the airport. The bro-in-law dropped me off, and rushed for work, it was already 1pm shame.
I had to call Georgia and ask them to book me a return ticket, urgently because this was a problem at the airport. They didn't want to allow me to leave the country on a one way ticket. Which is a good thing cos now I know I'll be coming back and that I'm not going to be kidnapped and sold to Europe for 50cents, thanks SA!
Got my ticket a few mins later, checked everything in, went and waited to board. Called the fam, to say bye, chocked half to death cos it was so hard. Dang, I remember everything everyone said cos in that moment, it's like watching your life pass you by. It's weird cos I always work away frm home, In a whole another province, but that's nothing compared to this!
I sat next to a nice guy called Angus frm CT, sweet man, he's going for a hike in Eastern Eurpoe somewhere.
I was the only black person in the flight to Joburg, Turkey and Tbilisi! I'm saying this because man did I get stared at on the way!

Welkom by Uitenhage

I arrived in Uitenhage at 9:00 am, called a cab, paid R20 (5GEL / $3) for a 1km ride. Mom was on her way out. Uncle was fast asleep. I chatted a bit with my mom, she gave me a jersey, a polo neck and a nice and warm Jacket. Of course, my bags are already packed for the final destination and I don't have space. Guess I'll have to re-pack. Cos I like what I got:) and I haven't packed enough warm clothes. Can you pack enough anything anyway? Smh!
I freshened up, stole mom's handbag, called my friends and hit the road, just after I munched on some fat cakes mom bought. I needed to walk!
I strolled to the taxi rank, went to Gunguluza to see an old friend from college. I met her 4kids, hung out at hers while she updated me on her life. My friend frm previous work, came by, we all chatted, another chick, popped in about 2hrs later, it was time for me to leave. It had begun getting dark. Friend #2 and I took jikeleza (local taxi much cheaper than cab) to the Spar, and another one to her aunt's to drop her baby!
By the time we got to taxi to town, it was like night time out! At around 6pm. I called a friend and asked him to pick me up in town. He did, got to mine, moms not back yet, uncle fast asleep, I asked him to drop me at my bro's. I got there after 6/before 7pm. THEY WERE FAST ASLEEP!
They let me in, we all sat and talked until around 11. That's when I went to bed. Apparently mom got home at 8:30pm.
This morning, Sunday, 5 June, I got up, had breakfas, left over chicken and bread, and hit the road.
Got home at 9:30am. I left my bro's at 8:23! Mom was busy off-loading the bakkie. She needed to use it to go to church. Apparently Joyous Celebration is in town! Church servise started at 9, she's still here at 9:30. She said it finishes at 11, she left at 10:50.
I fed my uncle, took an hour long bath. Now I'm nice and sleepy.
I've to meet a friend and my aunt's expecting me at 12. It's now 12:42 and my eyes are half closed.