Soon it will be nothing but memories...

My final day in Georgia as a TLG Volunteer has arrived.  I know I'm not technically a volunteer anymore because my contract ended 7 days ago.  That's beside the point.  I'm also saying that it's my final day as a volunteer because maybe I'll come back here again.

It's been a wild 6 months.  Looking back on my time here, I've done so many things!  That's the beautiful part of being abroad and traveling, you're feet don't want to sit still for too long.

I

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got classroom experience under my belt.  I think I'm a pretty good teacher.  That's what everyone has been telling me, so it must be true.

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attempted to learn some Georgian.  Never mastered the alphabet, but that's not important.

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been apart of/help build a community in Batumi.  I've met so many amazing people, Georgians and foreigners, and I hope to keep in touch with as many of them as I can!

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traveled throughout Georgia and managed to get to Armenia and Turkey.  Adding 3 more countries to my travel list :)

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co-directed/produced (whatever) a play with 20 crazy Georgian teenagers.  And we pulled it off!  Those kids were a blast to work with.  They are all going to go far in life.  I've got a good feeling about them.

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grew surprisingly close with my host family, the Yacheishvilis! I am so grateful to them for welcoming me into their home for all that time.  They made me feel more at home than I would have imagined.  

I miss my duck coffee cup :(

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survived the Georgian winter! Enough said.

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experienced the amazingness of the Marshutka.  I'm still alive!

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And so much more.  But I forgot.  Must not have been that important!

A few days ago, someone asked me, "What was your favorite day here?"  I think I sat there for about 5 minutes just thinking.  Trying to string all my favorite moments together and pick the big favorite.  Simply impossible.  I've had so many great moments here, I can't pick a favorite day.

MEMORY TIME (these are in no particular order)

• During orientation, we sat in the Ballroom waiting for Tamara to read off our placements.  I was the only one in my group to get placed within the city of Batumi! Woot woot.

• The first time I walked around Batumi at night and got to see the city completely lit up!

For example: This!

• The first time I taught the 4th grade by myself.  The plan was to follow the book but then we just played "Simon Says." Watching them run around the room was hilarious!

• Exploring the fantastic Disney Statue Park with Kas on my birthday! 

And then going to my birthday supra before jetting off to Armenia that night! Great 24th b'day.

• Helping Chuck rescue 2 kittens from the cruel Georgian cat world.  They're not really fans of cats. 

Meet Oslo Giorgi!

And the kitten that doesn't have a set name yet.  I call her Charlie.

• Taking the cast of Murtazi and Juliet up to the Mtirala National Park.  Hiking for hours, pretty much uphill I might add, for hours to a gorgeous waterfall.  Then a picnic... then a squirt gun fight.  I took the pictures.

• Pretty much ANY of the numerous shindigs that occurred at Chuck's apartment.  That was where I went for a little home away from home.  Thanks Chuck! I'm going to miss that more than I can put into words.

We DO have fun!

• I feel like I need to mention the nightlife of Batumi.  In a way, it reminded me so much of River Falls.  I loved that.  There were those few bars in town.  That's probably not true.  But there were only 3  that everyone seemed to stick to; Vinyl, Iredelis, and Metro.  That's just how we roll in Batumi. 

• Easter Break was pretty awesome.  That's a lot of moments to talk about though.  Trabzon, Gori, Borjomi, Vardzia... Too much amazingness for one little bullet point.

• One night I was hanging out with Chuck, James, and Raisa.  We were having our last hangout session just the four of us.  After a spectacular dinner (made by Chef Chuck), we headed out to the Boulevard and then to the beach to launch Chinese lanterns.  It was straight out of "Tangled."

• The TLG Volunteer Certification Ceremony of 2012.  Basically, all the TLGers who finished their contracts in June went to this ceremony. We pretty much went to a graduation.  It was a great way to finish up everything and say good-bye to people. Oh yeah, and I was chosen to give a speech.  No big deal.  I was the chosen TLG volunteer to represent the Adjara region.  Yes, I was nervous and yes, I stumbled.  I am so glad that I did it though! :)  It pays to have a great experience.

• The night of the Murtazi and Juliet production was one of the most stressful times and one of the greatest.  It was a great production and of course there were a few hiccups but nothing major.  The kids did a phenomenal job is that heatbox of an auditorium.  Their hearts were all a flutter and I remember a few stomachs flipping up and down.  After the performance, some of the kids practically kidnapped Chuck, James, and I.  They shoved us onto a crowded Marshutka and refused to tell us where they were taking us.  Sandro, however, kept repeating "Mtirala!"  I would not have lasted that long.  Instead of Mtirala, they took us the Riviera Restaurant for a special dinner.  There was dancing later.  That was a really fun night.  Especially when James put on the horse costume! Great fun.

That is only a few of my favorite moments.  I've been here 6 months, if that was it... To get right down to the point.  I love traveling and it's unpredictability.  You can try and make an itinerary, but there are some things you can't factor in.  The element of surprise that will take your breath away.

In 5 hours, I head to the airport and begin my journey back to the US.  I'm sad to leave. I'll probably cry when I get on the plane. I'm excited too. I'm ready to start my life back home and find my next big journey.

Until next time. Adventure is out there.

An Hour with Hilary!

Monday evening, around 10pm, I was at dinner with some friends enjoying a late night meal. A wonderful falafel plate at the Lebanese Restaurant.  We’re finishing up and waiting for the check when I receive a call from an unknown number.  Generally I don’t answer those but it was a “577” number which means that it was from someone in TLG.  I answered the phone and I hear, “Hello Kristine, this is …… from TLG.  Do you …… “ I could hardly hear a thing.  My phone is awful!  Urgh.  I could just throw it at a wall soon.  Well, I lost reception completely and the call dropped.  I run outside quickly to try and get to a quiet place and wait for them to call back.  When I answer I find out that Hilary Clinton is going to be in Batumi tomorrow.  First thought: “Cool!”  Then I find out that there is an event in the Piazza in her honor.  Second thought: “Awesome! Maybe she’s making a speech and they’re telling me to go and watch.”  THEN they tell me that this is a private event for her.  Third thought: “Bummer. Why are you calling then?” Even though it is a private event, a few TLG volunteers were invited to attend the event because she wants to meet us.  Fourth thought: “I WAS CHOSEN?!”  Sweet, I get to meet Hilary Clinton! Final thought: “Wait, what do I wear?”  When I asked the TLG representative, her response was “I think casual will work.” Seriously? I should dress casually when meeting the US Secretary of State?  I’ll figure that out on my own.  I might have been a little over the top when thanking her on the phone for choosing me, but it’s an amazing opportunity! Who would have thought that I would be meeting Hilary Clinton as a TLG volunteer in Georgia?! I sure didn’t.

Tuesday. 

I receive the details from my TLG rep, Indira. I must meet her and the other volunteers in the park at 5:30. Don’t be late! Dress semi-formal as the minimum (So casual is not gonna fly).  I leave play practice at 4 and rush home to get ready.  I even took a Marshutka home so I could have more time.  I hardly ever take Marshutkas in the city.  That’s how pressed for time I was.  On the Marshutka, I begin making a checklist of what I need to do when I get home.  Turn on the water heater so I can shower; pull out my fancy, blue dress; find some accessories; do my hair… You know, all the girlie things. 

I get home and I find out that there is no water at home.  Noooooooo!!  But then my host sister comes to the rescue with the back up water and the teakettle.  What we end up doing is heating up some water in the teakettle and she pours the water over my head as I bend over the shower to least wash my hair.  Thanks Mari! :)  I finish getting ready and fly out the door by 5!  Flag down another Marshutka and head off to the meeting point.

We met at 5:30 in the park and found some benches in the shade.  6 o’clock comes around and no call. Then it’s 6:30.  Then it’s 7 o’clock.  At this point, several of us had resigned with the possibility of the event getting cancelled.  I was one of those people.  I admit it!  You would be one too.  Well, surprise surprise. At 7:45, we finally got the “go ahead” to head to the Piazza.

As we walked through town, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the streets were blocked off and how there seemed to be two police officers at each street corner.  A little extreme?  Possibly.  In the Piazza, there are two main restaurants.  La Brioche, one of the more pricey cafes in Batumi, and The Quiet Woman, one of the more pricey bars in Batumi.  Of course! We’ll take Hilary there!  I’m surprised there wasn’t a red carpet waiting for her.

Anyway, we were given the back row of tables (naturally), but it was still fabulous because La Brioche is amazing.  At each table, there was a plate of fruit and a plate of desserts waiting for us.  As we sat down, a man came around and told us, “Don’t eat anything until Hilary Clinton arrives. Oh, and no pictures.”  Great. No pictures and no food.  Good thing we had all those snacks while waiting in the park.  At least we were given some wine while we waited.  Some of the best wine I’ve ever had.  Well done, La Brioche.  At one point, it began to drizzle.  A canopy did not cover Hilary’s table.  It was rather amusing watching 15 waiters and the management staff move everything around for 5 minutes of drizzling.  When that stopped, they moved everything back to its original place.  Logic was not on their side.  Moving the canopy could have been easier, but I guess their way was more fun.

At 9:20, Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia, arrives with his wife and runs around to make sure that everything was perfect. There was a little tension, but they were speaking Georgian so I couldn’t really understand the problem.  15 minutes later, Hilary finally arrives!  She walked into the Piazza with a news camera giving her a spotlight and flanked by her group of bodyguards.  Mikheil was telling her about the Piazza and then gestured in our direction and said “Those are the Americans over there.” We all received a wave and then she went to her table.  So that was what they meant by “meet Hilary Clinton”? Okay, at least we all got food and wine. :)

Before sitting down a woman sang the US National Anthem.  Of course.  It’s been awhile since I’ve heard that.  Honestly, she was much better than some of the versions that I’ve heard back home.  We all sit down and begin eating.  It was hard not to attack the food that we had been staring at for so long.  Sarah went straight for the desserts and I dived into the fruit plate.  I had my first watermelon of the summer and it was great!  While we were devouring our food a bunch of traditional Georgian dancers come running into the Piazza.  That is what I wish I could have taken a picture/video of.  Oh Hilary.  Anyway, the dancers performed twice, there were singers as well. 

After the performances ended, Hilary stood up and I assumed that she was making her exit.  However, she was introduced to the US Ambassador at the table behind her and then Mikheil led her over to all the TLGs! :) Happy dance!  She met the girls at the first table and then spoke to Sarah.  Before she came to speak to me, Mikheil stopped her and told the story about how he thought of the TLG program.  Basically, his wife’s brother has been traveling all over the world for many years and he’s mainly been speaking English because it’s rare to meet anyone outside Georgia who knows Georgian.  Anyway, the brother’s English is so fantastic because he’s been talking with native English speakers.  Therefore Mikheil started the TLG program to bring native English speakers to Georgia so that all Georgians would know it from the native perspective.  Then Hilary came and introduced herself to me. She asked me three questions, “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” and “How long have you been in Georgia?”  Three questions was enough for me.  Anything else and I wouldn’t have known what to say.  I’m just glad I didn’t stumble over my words.

After meeting the rest of the TLGs, she floated through the rest of the tables, met a few more people, and then called it a night.  Once she left the Piazza, then everyone began wrapping things up.  We were pretty much being pushed out by the La Brioche staff.  I lingered enough to finish up my glass of wine and grab the last pieces of fruit.  You have to snag that while you can! It’s not very often that I get fruit in this country.

That was my big moment with Hilary Clinton.  Exciting stuff, right?

Here's a video of the news clip with Hilary!

http://www.myvideo.ge/?act=dvr&chan=rustavi2&seekTime=06-06-2012+12%3A06

Until next time.  Adventure is out there!

Doctor! Doctor!

Welcome to June everyone! We're having a great start to the month so far! :) The first day was a great big field trip to the Mtirala National Park.  But that's another story for another time.  I want to tell you all about my first doctor visit in a foreign country. Yesterday's drama.

Now that I think about it, I this was my second doctor visit in Georgia.  The first was during the week of TLG Orientation when I had to do a medical check.  That doesn't exactly count because I wasn't sick at the time.  So this is my first doctor visit because I was sick.  I thought it was just a typical cold.  Sore throat.  Congestion.  No cough yet, but I'm sure it's on the way.  Normally, when I get sick, I ride it out.  No doctor.  No meds.  Just some good, old fashion Vitamin C.  Not this time!

So, here's the story.  After the final ELCE training session on Saturday (woot woot), I went to the Radisson Hotel with a friend to enjoy a celebratory beverage... or two. Nbd. How can you say no to this view of Batumi??

Before heading to the Radisson, I self-diagnosing myself with Strep.  Totally google imaged "strep throat."  Let me tell you! That is not pretty.  Eek!  Anywho! While at the Radisson, I popped into the ladies room took a look at the back of my throat.... It looked remarkably similar to the images I googled.  And I thought, "Great! The first time I get Strep, I'm in a developing country with sketchy hospitals and doctor offices (from what I hear)."  

Next step: Find doctor at 8pm on a Saturday and confirm self diagnosis.

Usually when you visit the doctor, it's in their office, correct? Well not this time!  I got the royal treatment :)  Instead of calling my insurance company and waiting until Monday to get checked out.  I went directly to the source.  Contacted a friend that lives close by because her husband is a doctor.  Luckily, she was at home and they live in the area.  We took a quick jaunt down the road and up to their beautiful apartment.  Immediately, I was seated on the couch and then a thermometer was placed under my arm.  Temp was a little high I guess, but nothing too serious.  We discussed my symptoms, took my blood pressure, yadha yadha, yadha.  

You'll all be happy to hear, it's NOT Strep.  However!  Doctor says, I have Tonsilitis! Awesome.  NOT. 

Well, I got some medication.  I'm on 2 day of that and swelling has gone down.  Sweet! Anti-biotics to the rescue!  I am so glad that I knew someone who was available on such short notice.  I really do think that Georgians have such amazingly huge hearts and they just want to help you in any way that they can.  It takes a remarkable heart to see someone in your home on your time off.  Simply wonderful people.  Thanks to them, I am well on my way to recovery! :):)

Until next time. Adventure is out there!