Found a new park this morning. Decided to run towards the ridge and happened on a side entrance. There are trails winding up through trees and up hills. There are some of those Scavinadian workout sites but these old men were monopolizing them! One man had a pole he was using for stretching exercises. Later I saw him leave the park and hide the pole in the shrubbery. Probably quite safe there. As I was headed out of the park, in the direction I thought I should be going I found the front gate with a guard house. So I found another lane further down then got turned round and came back into the park. Decided to leave by the main entrance but after I climbed the stairs out I turned around and saw the statute. So I had to run back across the park and climb the stairs up to King Tamara (a real female king of Georgia). Her statue has to be 5-6 stories tall and there were 365 steps up to her (I counted them on the way down). Found a new underpass - goes right under a large fountain that is in the middle of a turn-around.
As I passed the Orthodox church on the way home I heard singing (yes I stopped and walk stately pass) and then realized it was the same service that had been going on a hour ago when I left. It is the end of one of their four fastings and the church was full with spillover out side. Never saw it so full, kind of like Easter. What was fun was the childern were outside planning (a fenced-in area) and teenagers were talking while priests were outside conducting the service. But when the bell rang, as it periodically did, they all stopped and crossed themselves before resuming their activities.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Museum of Cultural History
Visited the Museum of Cultural History today. It's in a hugh old stately building which they are renovating (as they are most buildings here). There are only two exhibits open at this time, other rooms were sealed so I'm not sure what they are working on.
Up two flights of stairs with no one in sight I found the display of the Russian occupation. One heart stopping display was the written appeal begging the United States for help which we did not render for whatever reasons. There was actual footage of the bombings, the looting by officials, the executions and the emigration over the mountains on foot and in snow. And these mountains are up! The Russians first killed the wealthy and the religous leaders. Then the not so wealthy peasants and the intellectuals.
The counter revolution was actually started by two fourteen old boys who were executed in their twenties. But before that the were able to stir up hope in the nation. These were basically 8th graders! As some of you know the final step, not in the display, was the War of the Roses. Turns out when the Russian came back to jack around the Georgians to keep them under control the school I'm teaching at was right between the two armies. And school went on, no days off for a war.
Three flights down was the archeology display. The first person I saw was the guard, sound asleep agains the wall. Then a guide showed up with her enterage. I was reading the pictures (sure can't read Georgian) of what not to do inside he room and was trying to decide if the one picture meant no talking or no spitting. Since the guide continued her speel inside the room and the two guards in there did nothing it must have meant no spitting. Since there was no such sign for the other display I guess you could spit on the Russians if you so desired.
The second display was of artifacts found in tombs dating back to 200 BC. Most were made out of gold with silver coming in second. They said that very fine flakes of gold floated on the rivers of Tbilisi. The gold flacks were mined by floating a shaggy goat skin on the water. The gold flakes would adher to the hairs and could be then harvested. May be that was where Jason's Golden Fleece originated?! The craftsmanship on the jewlery was exquisit. Some of the later peices were imported from Egypt.
The top floor was somber, the the basement was inspiring. One the walk home I found an art display of local artisits' works and the artist in attendance. Going to explore that more closely when I have my budget figured out.
Up two flights of stairs with no one in sight I found the display of the Russian occupation. One heart stopping display was the written appeal begging the United States for help which we did not render for whatever reasons. There was actual footage of the bombings, the looting by officials, the executions and the emigration over the mountains on foot and in snow. And these mountains are up! The Russians first killed the wealthy and the religous leaders. Then the not so wealthy peasants and the intellectuals.
The counter revolution was actually started by two fourteen old boys who were executed in their twenties. But before that the were able to stir up hope in the nation. These were basically 8th graders! As some of you know the final step, not in the display, was the War of the Roses. Turns out when the Russian came back to jack around the Georgians to keep them under control the school I'm teaching at was right between the two armies. And school went on, no days off for a war.
Three flights down was the archeology display. The first person I saw was the guard, sound asleep agains the wall. Then a guide showed up with her enterage. I was reading the pictures (sure can't read Georgian) of what not to do inside he room and was trying to decide if the one picture meant no talking or no spitting. Since the guide continued her speel inside the room and the two guards in there did nothing it must have meant no spitting. Since there was no such sign for the other display I guess you could spit on the Russians if you so desired.
The second display was of artifacts found in tombs dating back to 200 BC. Most were made out of gold with silver coming in second. They said that very fine flakes of gold floated on the rivers of Tbilisi. The gold flacks were mined by floating a shaggy goat skin on the water. The gold flakes would adher to the hairs and could be then harvested. May be that was where Jason's Golden Fleece originated?! The craftsmanship on the jewlery was exquisit. Some of the later peices were imported from Egypt.
The top floor was somber, the the basement was inspiring. One the walk home I found an art display of local artisits' works and the artist in attendance. Going to explore that more closely when I have my budget figured out.
Couple Baby Steps
Took a couple baby steps towards independence this weekend. Finally found the right slot to put the laundry detergent so clothes gets washed right away. The last batch smelled ok so will go with them. Hung clothes off the balcony without dropping them or leaning out too far; looks like a long way down. Real high point, found an ATM that gives out only small bills. These little Mom-n-Pop places can't handle the 100 and 50 gel bills. Took a taxi down town and was able to walk half way across town and find my way home. And talking about finding one's way home, went out with fellow teachers last night. Had one, note ONE, glass of local white wine and then had to walk home very carefully! Most drink the local beers, one even mixes hers with 7-up (that may be a Canadian thing).
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Interesting observations
Just some random "sightings"
Every morning as I head out to work I see pentioners "those collecting retirement" out cleaning the roads. This means they are out along the four lane highways sweeping the curb-sides with brooms. Every 20 feet or so they make a small pile which they will come back to and pick up. They will clean several miles of road using brooms made of reeds tied to the end of the bamboo-like handle. Some of them use the traditional very short handle so they do all this work stooped over. They are proported to be happy to have the job as their pension amounts to $60 a month. There are also those who sweep the sidewalks the same way so the main streets are very clean even thought the trees are constantly dropping their leaves and the peolpe their litter.
Out in the country side men wash their cars constantly. I watched one man use a pop bottle of water to clean all the little specks off. And they lovingly polish and polish.
There are dogs here (Caucasian shepards) that have been bred to fight the wolves who are very aggressive here. These dogs are hugh, tough and love to fight. They have become a problem in the city, though mainly to the cats. But I have heard a pack of them going nuts just down the street - so I don't run that way. Aren't I smart!
As for running, its a matter of dodging holes, ruts, broken cobblestones and people. Most don't seem to understand why anyone would want to move fast; but they are getting used to seeing me.
I'm living in an area of a lot of embassies. There are guards all around and I finally got a Turkish guard to return my greeting and a Chek guard to answer a question. Just hope I don't start some incident.
Every morning as I head out to work I see pentioners "those collecting retirement" out cleaning the roads. This means they are out along the four lane highways sweeping the curb-sides with brooms. Every 20 feet or so they make a small pile which they will come back to and pick up. They will clean several miles of road using brooms made of reeds tied to the end of the bamboo-like handle. Some of them use the traditional very short handle so they do all this work stooped over. They are proported to be happy to have the job as their pension amounts to $60 a month. There are also those who sweep the sidewalks the same way so the main streets are very clean even thought the trees are constantly dropping their leaves and the peolpe their litter.
Out in the country side men wash their cars constantly. I watched one man use a pop bottle of water to clean all the little specks off. And they lovingly polish and polish.
There are dogs here (Caucasian shepards) that have been bred to fight the wolves who are very aggressive here. These dogs are hugh, tough and love to fight. They have become a problem in the city, though mainly to the cats. But I have heard a pack of them going nuts just down the street - so I don't run that way. Aren't I smart!
As for running, its a matter of dodging holes, ruts, broken cobblestones and people. Most don't seem to understand why anyone would want to move fast; but they are getting used to seeing me.
I'm living in an area of a lot of embassies. There are guards all around and I finally got a Turkish guard to return my greeting and a Chek guard to answer a question. Just hope I don't start some incident.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
washing clothes
I know, I was going to write about drivers but then last night I took a chance and turned on the clothes washer. The school has a similar washer so one of the janitors panomined how to use it for me. Tried the whites first - they can handle the mistakes better. I opened the slot for the detergent and it was crusted black. So I had to scrape that off first. Then in goes the undies and out comes half of them. It's what one would call a minimum capacity machine. Turned it on and locked the door and waited. The water came in, the machine rocked some then sat and thought about what it had done. Decided it could rock some more - but just a little. This continued for 20 mminutes and finally water cycled so the detergent came in. Then again rock-n-think and rock-n-think for another 20 min. Finally spun, rinsed and then really spun. First one way and then the other. The second load I worried about and watched too closely; it was my good clothes. When the soap didn't go in when I thought it should I started to push buttons and turn knobs. Really messed things up and when I finally ignored the machine it washed my clothes but the whole process took about 1 1/2 hours. So at 10pm I hung clothes out on the balcony and went to bed. When I got home tonight everything was dry and fairly wrinkle free. So I'll probably wash again next week. So until thing 'sweat smellin' dreams'.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Food in Tbilisi
The fruit here is what I remember from the farm. Still don't care for the carrots and haven't seen green beans (thank you very much) but the Kiwi is great. Peaches are definitely not cing-free but accessible with a knife. They are delicous. Cereal is expensive but I love the Musilex so I don't care. The school cooks are phenominal and I plan to get all my basic needs met at noon. They cook/bake everything from scratch and also have snack breaks for the entire school. I think they call them studyhalls with food. Yes they take their food seriously here.
The last night of meetings we had a typical georgian supra. Started at 5:30 with bread and wine (also bottles of water and fizzy fruit drinks for those of us who can't keep up). Then they served us these small icecream-cone shaped cheese made of a thin slice of cheese rolled as a cone and filled with a creamy cottage cheese with mint filling. Also an eggplant like veg rolled around a walnut spread, trout fried with their heads on, and slabs of a soft, mild white cheese. Next course was pockets of bread filled with cheese and a wonderful green sauce made from berries found only in Georgia. Next course: mushroom grilled in their own sauce and something else I don't remember. Finally fantastic grilled chicken and b-b-q pork served in small peices. Somewhere in there two cow horns showed up for drinking the wine (one in my hand)! I tried it but by the time I got to the wine I was tilled almost horizontally so probably won't try that again. Their were many toasts through out the meal, towards the end I was toasting with an empty glass!
Some finished with vodka when the live music started. One player of the combo also serves as our band director at school. He can not speak a word of English but communicates some how so that the band is very good according to the heads of the school. Then a trio took stage who sang ballads. Couldn't understand a word but the Georgians around us were crying so it must have been sad. Reminded me alot of music I've heard in Mexico.
Next post will be on my experiences so far with drivers.
The last night of meetings we had a typical georgian supra. Started at 5:30 with bread and wine (also bottles of water and fizzy fruit drinks for those of us who can't keep up). Then they served us these small icecream-cone shaped cheese made of a thin slice of cheese rolled as a cone and filled with a creamy cottage cheese with mint filling. Also an eggplant like veg rolled around a walnut spread, trout fried with their heads on, and slabs of a soft, mild white cheese. Next course was pockets of bread filled with cheese and a wonderful green sauce made from berries found only in Georgia. Next course: mushroom grilled in their own sauce and something else I don't remember. Finally fantastic grilled chicken and b-b-q pork served in small peices. Somewhere in there two cow horns showed up for drinking the wine (one in my hand)! I tried it but by the time I got to the wine I was tilled almost horizontally so probably won't try that again. Their were many toasts through out the meal, towards the end I was toasting with an empty glass!
Some finished with vodka when the live music started. One player of the combo also serves as our band director at school. He can not speak a word of English but communicates some how so that the band is very good according to the heads of the school. Then a trio took stage who sang ballads. Couldn't understand a word but the Georgians around us were crying so it must have been sad. Reminded me alot of music I've heard in Mexico.
Next post will be on my experiences so far with drivers.
Friday, August 19, 2011
I'm Back
I finally got internet. Things just take longer when communicating in a foreign language and when one is tec-challenged it just takes even longer. Everything comes up in Georgian and I have to find the UK icon to function.
To continue the saga: I arrived in Omaha with 4 bags to check, one roll-on and a carry-on weighing more then the big bags. As I put each bag on the scale if it was under 50lbs I stuffed in books until it hit 50! English language books will be at a premium in Georgia and I'm not taking a chance until I can get the Nook up and going. Jim waited patiently as I unpacked and repacked to hit the 50lb bulls-eye. Sent some clothes home but no books. Then through the security check. My roll-on went through the scanner, then back and through again, and again and again. Finally it passed but they asked me what was in there that had all those wires. I couldn't think what they were refering to until I remembered the sewing machine was in there.
The flight was long but uneventful. On the Chicago flight they offered to check my roll-on but I was afraid to put the sewing machine in the hold. By the time I manuvered the London airport (try using the facilities with two very heavy and clumsy bags!) when they offered to check the roller I agreed. The gentleman filled out the forms but when I mentioned there was drugs in the bag he tore the forms up. They could not be responsible. So once again I unpacked and repacked and finally got it checked. Got to Heathrow and the stalls were so large you could have taken an elephant in with you. But it was still nice not to have the extra bag.
Arrived in Tbilisi and only had to go through passport; no work Visa needed here - they really like Americans. I collected my luggage (filled that cart) and met the three gentlemen from QSI who took me to a grocery store and then to the apartment. The apartment is behind the Turkish embassy with all their guards and there is a security booth across the street. In fact I can't go a block without running into a policeman. I feel very safe.
The apartment is hugh from my expectations. There is a grand piano in the living room. There are two bedrooms, one with a bed so big that if I coud find sheets to fit I could sleep on 1/3 of it every week and not do laundry more then every three weeks. There are two bathrooms, one with a washing machine with too many buttons I know nothing about, a kitchen with a dishwaher that is alien to me and a convection oven I'm not going near. But no where is there a drier. I'm to hang my laundry on ropes off the balcony - I'll find a different way to dry my unmentionables thank you very much. I haven't seen anyone else's up there. The foors are wood and the walls textured stucco. Rooms are painted peach and yellow and orange and one bathroom is painted silver. There isn't a 90 degree corner in the place. It's lovely. The only problem there is a decrepted boxspring and mattress in the livingroom! It must go!
The front door is steel with 4 dead bolts. The first time I left I couldn't get back in. I'd turn the key one way and nothing unlocked so I turned the key the other way; still locked. Finally I got frustrated and just turned the key as many times as I could. The door unlocked. You have to turn the key to unlock as many times as you turned it to lock - up to 4 times. Each turn makes the bolts longer.
Just got back from a Georgian meal and need to sleep it off. Next blog will deal with the wonderful food here.
To continue the saga: I arrived in Omaha with 4 bags to check, one roll-on and a carry-on weighing more then the big bags. As I put each bag on the scale if it was under 50lbs I stuffed in books until it hit 50! English language books will be at a premium in Georgia and I'm not taking a chance until I can get the Nook up and going. Jim waited patiently as I unpacked and repacked to hit the 50lb bulls-eye. Sent some clothes home but no books. Then through the security check. My roll-on went through the scanner, then back and through again, and again and again. Finally it passed but they asked me what was in there that had all those wires. I couldn't think what they were refering to until I remembered the sewing machine was in there.
The flight was long but uneventful. On the Chicago flight they offered to check my roll-on but I was afraid to put the sewing machine in the hold. By the time I manuvered the London airport (try using the facilities with two very heavy and clumsy bags!) when they offered to check the roller I agreed. The gentleman filled out the forms but when I mentioned there was drugs in the bag he tore the forms up. They could not be responsible. So once again I unpacked and repacked and finally got it checked. Got to Heathrow and the stalls were so large you could have taken an elephant in with you. But it was still nice not to have the extra bag.
Arrived in Tbilisi and only had to go through passport; no work Visa needed here - they really like Americans. I collected my luggage (filled that cart) and met the three gentlemen from QSI who took me to a grocery store and then to the apartment. The apartment is behind the Turkish embassy with all their guards and there is a security booth across the street. In fact I can't go a block without running into a policeman. I feel very safe.
The apartment is hugh from my expectations. There is a grand piano in the living room. There are two bedrooms, one with a bed so big that if I coud find sheets to fit I could sleep on 1/3 of it every week and not do laundry more then every three weeks. There are two bathrooms, one with a washing machine with too many buttons I know nothing about, a kitchen with a dishwaher that is alien to me and a convection oven I'm not going near. But no where is there a drier. I'm to hang my laundry on ropes off the balcony - I'll find a different way to dry my unmentionables thank you very much. I haven't seen anyone else's up there. The foors are wood and the walls textured stucco. Rooms are painted peach and yellow and orange and one bathroom is painted silver. There isn't a 90 degree corner in the place. It's lovely. The only problem there is a decrepted boxspring and mattress in the livingroom! It must go!
The front door is steel with 4 dead bolts. The first time I left I couldn't get back in. I'd turn the key one way and nothing unlocked so I turned the key the other way; still locked. Finally I got frustrated and just turned the key as many times as I could. The door unlocked. You have to turn the key to unlock as many times as you turned it to lock - up to 4 times. Each turn makes the bolts longer.
Just got back from a Georgian meal and need to sleep it off. Next blog will deal with the wonderful food here.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
getting set
Only three days to go. Took forever to find my insurance form - it was on a defunct e-mail account. Got a year's worth of medicine and the co-pay was over $900 - and I'm healthy! Recieved an e-mail on how to enter the country of Georgia and what my appartment is suppose to be like. It's new and spacious in terms of Europe. We will see; I really expected something the size of my kitchen. Totally forgot about needing an eye check-up. It's great being in a small community - they squeezed me in and then gave enough samples to get through the first couple months and a perscription for the rest. Set up all sorts of POAs and ATM accts. Also found out we could add international calling to our home phone for $6/mon for 30 min with rollover. Along with Skype this should keep us in good communications.
Packed my suitcases to exactly 50lb each. Have weighted them every which way. Thought it was $100 per extra suitcase - turns out it's $200 so I started throwing and Goodwill lucks out. Everything I need for a year (and then some) in four suitcases.
Packed my suitcases to exactly 50lb each. Have weighted them every which way. Thought it was $100 per extra suitcase - turns out it's $200 so I started throwing and Goodwill lucks out. Everything I need for a year (and then some) in four suitcases.
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