First few weeks and Christmas

I have finished my first few weeks school, and am now on Christmas break. School has been interesting to say the least. The school itself is very run down, with very few materials and resources for the students and teachers. My co English teacher doesn't even have many of the teacher editions of the books that the students use. I think this is because she would have to buy them at her own expense, and teachers don't make much money here. I've been looking for these books but I cant seem to find them anywhere/ I don't really know where to look.

Apart from a lack of resources, the teaching methods are geared towards reading and writing (and often times the books teach this wrong). The students are very good at reading a text, translating it, and memorizing it...but when you ask them a simple question about the text they can't give you an answer. In fact, I think I only have three students that can have a very simple conversation with me. So, this is what I am here for. To help students have conversational English skills.

I am finding this difficult for a few reasons. First, although the ministry of education is on board with the speaking and listening aspects of learning English, this hasn't been transferred to all of the teachers. My teacher is still very focused on the read, translate, and retell exactly what you just read. This is how the class is run, and there is no room for practicing conversation. I have felt useless in classes while this is going on, because I can tell that the kids are getting nothing out of it, and when I try to step in and change things, I haven't had full support from my co-teacher. This is somewhat understandable, as she had the curriculum that she is supposed to stick to, but the way things have gone so far I have been of no use. And unless they want to use my speaking ability, it seems like a waste of time for me to be in school. It is very disheartening to feel so useless in this situation.

Starting next semester, I will do everything I can to get my teacher on board with some speaking and listening activities. I am hoping that she will agree to this so we can compliment eachother on all aspects of learning English.

The other hard thing I have dealt with is being lonely. This is something that comes off and on randomly. Its been a lot harder than I thought it would be to to have no other English speakers around. I think that an English speaking companion would make the experience far more fulfilling. On the weekends I have gotten together with other volunteers and it has been so refreshing.

Apart from these two negative issues that I have been dealing with, Georgia is great! People are very nice and hospitable. They are reserved at first but very friendly once you get to know them a little. I have been invited into a few peoples homes for dinner while out walking around the village. Georgians love to have guests and a reason to pull out some homemade wine, which is fine by me!

The country side is beautiful, and the weather has been very nice. I am really missing the snow back in Washington, but its not been a bad thing having 65 degree sunny days.

Today is Christmas, but you can even tell. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, so the holiday is still two weeks away. I met up with some of the other volunteers in Tbilisi for the weekend. We went out last night and discussed our frustrations with teaching in Georgia. Today, we walked around town looking for food, and right now I'm back at the hostel we're staying at blogging and napping.

I hope that everyone reading this has a merry Christmas and happy new year!

Keep sending good vibes my way, I need them.

Siktavra

I met my host family last Sunday. They live in the village of Siktavra, which is outside of Terjola, about 20 kilometers from Kutaisi. My host family is very welcoming and nice. I live with the father, Ramazi, mother, Ia, sister, Mari, son, Giorgi, and the grandmother. My host-grandma is a hunchback! And they don't smoke which is great cause I'm a bit allergic to the smoke. I have my own room that is on the first floor of the house next to the living room. The bed is very comfortable and I have a desk, chair, coat hanger, and small dresser. The house is located on a small farm. We have a pig, cows, chickens, turkeys, corn, squash, and tons of citrus trees.

There is electricity in our house but it went out the first morning after a rain storm. Since then it has worked just fine. My family has a television with a few English channels. There are also tons of TV shows that are dubbed over in Georgian. I watched Glee this morning. They didn't dub over the songs. It was great.

We have running water but everything is heated with a wood stove, so we don't have hot running water. I still haven't taken a shower.

Georgians have huge hands. Many of the kids in my 6th grade class have bigger hands than me. My host grandma's hands are about twice as big as mine. It's kinda crazy.

I walked around after school the last few days and got a feel for where I live. I can get to the main road into the city, to school, and back home.

There is much more to say but I am out of time with internet. Hopefully I am able to get back on soon!

Training...and a vampire

I don't have much to report because I have more or less stayed in an American bubble for the last week, and am still anticipating real Georgian experiences.

The last week I have been in the Sheraton Hotel in Tbilisi. Our schedule has included breakfast at 8, four hours of Georgian class starting at 9, and then cultural/educational system training for the rest of the day after that. We would usually end the day between 8:30 and 9. Night time activities included going and walking around the city, or simply going to bed right away because we were all exhausted.

I still haven't really met and Georgian or had any Georgian food because we have been in the hotel so much. The other night, some teachers who have been here since September came and did a Q and A session with us. One of them had very pale skin, and intense glare and personality, a long black coat, a shirt with the top few buttons undone, and a silver necklace underneath. To put it simply, he looked just like one of the vampires from Twilight. It was actually quite hilarious because everyone thought this before anyone said it out loud. Once is was said out loud, we couldn't stop making jokes and I think he was a bit confused about what was going on.

I found out that I will be going to Terjola in Western Georgia. My family should be here to pick me up any minute.

I will update again and upload some pictures when I am settled.

Smoking on Airplanes

Remember how you aren't supposed to smoke on airplanes? Yep, I do too! But apparently one of the guys on the flight from Amsterdam to Tbilisi didn't. We were delayed for about an hour from low fog. As we were sitting on the plane at the gate, I looked up and noticed smoke rising in one of the front row seats. None of the flight attendants cared, which made me laugh. Oh Georgian Airlines, you've done it again...

Overall, it was a long but painless day of traveling. I started at 8 from Seattle, and after the small glitch of my name being spelled Clonunger instead of Cloninger, I was through security. I met up with Kristan, who was also headed to Georgia to teach as well. We talked for a while, and I was able to assure her that I don't normally dress the way I did in my facebook profile picture.

In DC, we met up with two other people in the program. From there we were on to Amsterdam, where we met more people, and finally we made it to Tbilisi.

Customs was quick...I didn't even have to say a word. We all got our bags and jumped on a bus to the Sheraton Hotel. I'm not sure I've ever been in this nice of a hotel...but I'm not complaining. Today we have had language and cultural training all day. It's all been good fun.

There you have it. I'm off to dinner.

Blogging...

This is my first blog...so bear with me. I will try and update regularly but only time will tell how that goes.

As most of you know, it will be an account my time in Georgia.
And for those of you who are confused about the name Birdie Birdinger in the title, its a simple story. While watching the Masters last April, I decided I needed a golfing alias. Birdie Birdinger seemed appropriate.

Also, I didn't use anyone's suggested name because blog names can only be so long. So I'm sorry.

:)