Kobuleti!

My new home is Kobuleti Village, 10 kilometers from Kobuleti, located on the Black Sea.  When I learned about my placement toward the end of our 5-day training in Tbilisi, I had a few things that I was excited to see. 

Kobuleti Village is

-         accessible to a larger city or town – check

-         located close to the Black Sea – check

-         near a major road

-         near a train station

In other words, I was excited to see that, in addition to the Village experience, I should have the opportunity to travel while I’m here.  I’m not sure that I’ll be able to tour all four hopeful countries (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and (eastern) Turkey) in depth, but being within 40 miles of the Turkish boarder and on a major train line (with night trains to Tbilisi) certainly does help.  (Also, did I mention that Batumi, 30-45 minutes down the road has flight to Istanbul for something like $60 one way?) 

I will write about my host family and home at another time, but my first few days have been somewhat eventful.  While the first day here I spent the day lounging on the balcony looking at the lush surroundings (and also planted some beans with my host father and a picked a few lemons from his lemon trees), in the past few days I’ve been to Batumi twice (one for a meeting with the director of my school and others) and once to socialize with someone and basically get the lay of the land in Batumi (Bixi bikes in Batumi!). On Friday, while meeting the other teachers at my school, I was asked to be a judge in a local language competition – which I did the following day (aka Saturday).  At that competition, I met several people in Georgia with my organization plus Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps Response Volunteers.  I’ve been in the town of Kobuleti, put my hands in the Black Sea, and have watched the news (in Georgian and in Russian) and Georgian “Dancing With the Stars” with my host family.  I’ve determined that, in addition to learning some Georgian, I need to improve my Russian.  All in all, a fairly successful bunch of days. 

In the coming days, I’ve got a few goals: 

-         figure out my schedule at school and set up meetings with my co-teacher

-         acquire a USB modem so that I can use internet at my host family’s house (their internet is currently broken)

-         acquire a Russian text book and start relearning Russian

-         come up with a plan for learning Georgian

-         contact a bunch of people I’ve met recently about potential projects

-         purchase doggie biscuits (so that I can make friends with the neighbors guard dog who seems pretty determined to bite me when I got too close to his driveway after dark last night)

"Making Good"

I have never been a blogger.  In fact, I don’t read blogs.  But given that I feel “a picture is worth a thousand words” and there was also quite a bit of interest in my move to Georgia, I thought I’d look into blogging in order to share photos and impressions.  

When I started considering a blog the name “Making Good” immediately came to mind.  More specifically, the phrase “Making good on a threat” popped into my head.  For several years now I have been joking that “one day I am going to pack up my things, put them in my parents’ basement, and fly off somewhere”.  Just before Christmas 2011 I was pretty sure I was going to do it.  When I bought that large package of dental floss at BJs two days after Christmas, I knew I had made my decision.  This winter I enrolled in a TEFL certification course, submitted an application, and made a bunch of medical appointments.  Several months later, guess where all my stuff is currently.  Yup - my parents’ basement.  So, I’m making good on that threat.  

But “Making Good” has other connotations.  Like making good of a bad situation.  Namely using where I was in 2011 to get me here.  

Or simply going out there and working to make some good in the world.  

After many years in Boston, it was time to get overseas again.  Flying into Tbilisi, looking down on snow capped mountains and green forests, I was reminded of how much I enjoy going to new places.  Upon seeing Tbilisi for the first time, my thought was “Why didn’t I do this years ago!?!”  

So, here I sit.  In Tbilisi, in a country that most Americans know nothing about, a place that was inaccessible until two decades ago, listening to music coming in the open window from a restaurant that reminds me of one on the hills of Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria (where I studied in 1997).  Today I used my Russian to communicate with taxi drivers and shopkeepers, bought baked goods and pears and the largest fruit roll up in the world (apricot), saw kids (possibly Roma - aka Gypsy) begging, and was reminded that it’s time for making good.  

Georgia FAQs

Where are you?  
I’m currently in the Republic of Georgia - which borders the Black Sea, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia.  

Wait...  not the state of Georgia?  Isn’t Georgia part of Russia?  
No.  While Georgia was part of the USSR, Georgia is its own country.  

What are you doing in Georgia?  
I’m here with the Georgian government’s program to increase the level of English language in Georgia.  

Why Georgia?  
I’ve been interested in traveling to Georgia since my time teaching in Russia.  I figured I’d get a better view of the country if I was around for more than a few weeks.  ;)  So, inspired by a friend who did the program last year, I decided to sign up.  I started the application process in January and left Boston on the 17th of April.  

For how long?  
I’m here from mid-April until December.  Eight months feels both long and short.  I was in Russia for 24 months, so my time in Georgia will be 1/3 that period of time.  Also, I have an interest in traveling throughout Georgia as well as visiting Armenia, Azerbaijan and Eastern Turkey, so I have lots I want to see in the coming months. 

What’s are you doing there?  
I will be teaching English to elementary school kids in a location to be determined in the coming days.  I will be working with local English language teachers.  I enjoyed the two years I spent teaching in Saratov, Russia and thought it would be a fun way to get overseas again. 


Are you there alone?  
No, there are 15 people in my groups.  And a new groups comes over every two weeks.  

What language do they speak in Georgia?  
Georgian is the language spoken here.  Many people speak some Russian and there are also Armenian and Azerbaijani communities.  I've found Russian to be helpful when speaking to people (especially those over 40) in the capital of Tbilisi.  I will see how useful Russian is elsewhere.  Interestingly, signage is often not in Russian (clearly the old signs have been removed over the past 20 years).  

What does it look like?  
The capital reminds me a bit of Bulgaria and also Russia.  Photos will be posted.  So far it has been warm, sunny, and the people are friendly.