Several of us teachers went to the Turish baths last night. One of the old-timers (anyone here more than 2 years) convinced us new-timers to try it. When he said bathing suits I was in. It was fun. Went to Old Town, where Tbilisis started. There are six different baths run by different entities. Each bath has several rooms you can rent. The one we went to used to be a mosque. Beautiful mosaics outside and very clean inside. The sulfur smell is rather overwhelming to start but the water was a welcoming hot and the cold plunge pool was cold enough to cool the beers. Two of the ladies had scrubs and couldn't believe the dead skin that peeled off. I may have to try that if I go the next time. As we came out the hills above us were lit and we could see the ruins of the old castle and church high above us. The air was warm and friendly.
Went out to eat afterwards, of course, and tried a number of Georgian foods. Not real excited about any of it, though the others thought the food delicous. I liked the spinach spread and the grits with cheese best; but definitely not the gravey for the grits. The company was great and the live music enjoyable so definitely a fun night.
Just received my first engraved invite to an embassy function, a b-b-q. Now that sounds like good eating.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
grocery stores
Just came back from trying to find lemon jello for a science lab. Couldn't find any jello anywhere. Come to think of it there has been no jello dishes at any of our potluck dinners. Need to change that for next year.
Also noticed in our "big" grocery store there are two aisles of cooking oil, 6 of liquor and 4 for everything else. Priorities! A one-cup jar of peanut butter is 6 gel (about $4 American) and tuna is a find. If you find a foreign brand of something you want get it because it is quite possible you will never see it again. There is Coke Zero but that is the only diet pop available. It is good with fresh lime squeezed in. Bread is cheap; I found a flat loaf probably a foot diameter and 2inch high for .80 gel (50 cents) and it was tastey. Grapefruit is 6 gel ($4) each! But the streets are full of apple, plum and pear vendors. I usually shop the streets.
Also noticed in our "big" grocery store there are two aisles of cooking oil, 6 of liquor and 4 for everything else. Priorities! A one-cup jar of peanut butter is 6 gel (about $4 American) and tuna is a find. If you find a foreign brand of something you want get it because it is quite possible you will never see it again. There is Coke Zero but that is the only diet pop available. It is good with fresh lime squeezed in. Bread is cheap; I found a flat loaf probably a foot diameter and 2inch high for .80 gel (50 cents) and it was tastey. Grapefruit is 6 gel ($4) each! But the streets are full of apple, plum and pear vendors. I usually shop the streets.
School
Several have asked about the school I teach in. It is an American School which means it is modeled after those in the states. This allows students to move more freely between foreign and domestic schools. Some students are here for two years, some for three. Rarely do they stay any longer. Some parents are with the US embassy, World Bank, USAid and American businesses starting up here. One is an international laywer.
Twenty-six nations are represented in the student body and after school many different languages are being spoken. Today one student told me he speaks 5 different languages fluently - and listed them. He has lived in numerous countries and has picked up their languages. I'm living here and can now say good morning (gila mashvidobisa) I don't greet anyone in the afternoon! They start the 4-yr-olds with Russian; and they pick it up quickly. Students have the choice of Russian, German, or French. We also teach numerous Advance Placement classes with some students graduating with five AP courses.
My largest class is 13 students and the smallest is 4. Several elementary classes have over 15 students but any more and they get another teacher. The school is run by an organization headquartered in the US.
When we arrive in the morning the gate must be opened and the under carriage of the car checked for bombs. There are guards on duty 24/7 but the building is never locked nor are classroom doors closed.
The school pays the locals relatively well which resultts in our having an MD on staff full time, and highly educated elementary class room aids. One Para is an MD who also has her CPA; another is an archeologist and one I just got to know has her MS is something I don't remember what.
Labs are well set up, lab materials sent in each year; but I can not find yellow jello for my cell lab! I'll order it for next year.
Twenty-six nations are represented in the student body and after school many different languages are being spoken. Today one student told me he speaks 5 different languages fluently - and listed them. He has lived in numerous countries and has picked up their languages. I'm living here and can now say good morning (gila mashvidobisa) I don't greet anyone in the afternoon! They start the 4-yr-olds with Russian; and they pick it up quickly. Students have the choice of Russian, German, or French. We also teach numerous Advance Placement classes with some students graduating with five AP courses.
My largest class is 13 students and the smallest is 4. Several elementary classes have over 15 students but any more and they get another teacher. The school is run by an organization headquartered in the US.
When we arrive in the morning the gate must be opened and the under carriage of the car checked for bombs. There are guards on duty 24/7 but the building is never locked nor are classroom doors closed.
The school pays the locals relatively well which resultts in our having an MD on staff full time, and highly educated elementary class room aids. One Para is an MD who also has her CPA; another is an archeologist and one I just got to know has her MS is something I don't remember what.
Labs are well set up, lab materials sent in each year; but I can not find yellow jello for my cell lab! I'll order it for next year.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Dicotomy of Tastes
I went jewlery looking and re-found the necklace I've been coveting. It still looked goreous, so I priced it and decided I'd better work a while longer. Like another year! Then I decided the soft serve ice cream also looked good and since I could afford that I bought some. Never before have I had the urge to chew my ice cream!
cemetery
Found a cemetery this morning. Always woundered why there was this large flower market on the corner of a side street off Chevchevousi street. Figured there had to be a wealthy community back there, so I decided to find out. When running you can go most anywhere and they just shake their head in amusement. As I followed the road past the flowers I saw strange looking blocks of cement on the hillside in the distance. Thought it was either ruins or a cemetery; but I couldn't find a road up. So I just headed in the general direction; through an active construction site, back and forth up a switchback that didn't appear traveled on, and over a rubble heap. As I looked up (yes everything seemed up on this trip) I saw an elderly lady walking between the blocks. Eurika! It was a cemetery and there definately was another way in. By the time I got to what I thought would be the first masoleums I had a fantastic view of the city below.
The cement blocks were actually open on top and held small gardens on top of graves. Since the hills are limestone I am presuming the burial is above the rock and the grave built up over the casket. In the gardens there were perpetual lights, dying bouquets of flowers, pictures of loved ones (none seemed to have died of old age), roses-marigolds-fig trees-olive trees- moss roses-yarrow and other flowers growing that I do not know. Crosses of all discriptions were placed inside the squares. The most common, and most unique, is a cross that looks like two branches wrapped in place with a cord; but the arms bend downward so the cross takes on the appearance of an arrow shooting towards Heaven.
As I came around a bend in the road the church bells started to toll. One would think to start services but I think to tell the people to start coming as people started climbing the road with their scarves and hats in hand, but not in any big hurry. As I looked around I saw the graves stretching for a mile in front of me and and far up over me. I will explore up there the next time as I found an easier entrance to the place and no one chased me out. I will have to pack water and food for that hike.
The cement blocks were actually open on top and held small gardens on top of graves. Since the hills are limestone I am presuming the burial is above the rock and the grave built up over the casket. In the gardens there were perpetual lights, dying bouquets of flowers, pictures of loved ones (none seemed to have died of old age), roses-marigolds-fig trees-olive trees- moss roses-yarrow and other flowers growing that I do not know. Crosses of all discriptions were placed inside the squares. The most common, and most unique, is a cross that looks like two branches wrapped in place with a cord; but the arms bend downward so the cross takes on the appearance of an arrow shooting towards Heaven.
As I came around a bend in the road the church bells started to toll. One would think to start services but I think to tell the people to start coming as people started climbing the road with their scarves and hats in hand, but not in any big hurry. As I looked around I saw the graves stretching for a mile in front of me and and far up over me. I will explore up there the next time as I found an easier entrance to the place and no one chased me out. I will have to pack water and food for that hike.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Bazzar
Walked to the bazzar today. Summer people are back from their vacations and the sidewalks and roads are crowed. They still drive too fast and walk too slow. I had the directions to the bazzar, in my apartment, and I was out on the street. Figured I remembered them so took off. Was to walk to the Rezadance Hotel first. Wended my way along the road until I figured I should have been there. So I stopped in a pharmacy to see if they knew were the hotel was. Never heard of it. Shoot. Decided I'd try just a little further and there it was in all its 30 story wonder with these 20 foot letters on top - one block from the pharmacy! Next was to follow the cobble stone road as in wound around down to the river. Which I did but I started out on the wrong side of the road - no room for pedestrians. As no sidewalk was appearing on my side I tried to cross over. That was a challenge I almost lost - I'm getting very fleet-of-foot. Past the first bridal shop I've seen. Every dress was size 0 (as are the maternity dresses near my street) and two of the manniquins had to be 8 feet tall! Love to see that bride! The bride's maid dresses could never be worn again by any stretch of the immagination. One was empire waisted with bright royal purple skirts, Christmas red bodices and a holly green sash tied around and across the chest! The other had the same color scheme.
Crossed the Lion Bridge (these stylistic lions guard the ends hence the name) and continued to the first busy street. I came to this beautiful little park filled with golden flowers and a quaint clock tower. Was I given this as a guide? No. In a very American way I was told to turn left at the McDonald! Yes, they are here. Turned left and came upon the neatest street. They are tearing the entire street up so there was no traffic; no incessant horns and people walking down the middle of what was left of the street. Everything was being done by hand. They were laying the cobble sidewalks; carefully cleaning off each block with a hand pick, laying and the pounding them in place. A man was wetting down the sand ahead of the layers but using a hose half the size of a garden hose. Other men were up on scaffolings, hand-repairing the fescos on the faces of the buildings. They were adding wrought iron balconies and what appeared to be lazer cut ornate wooden balconies with matching overhangs. Another building was coming down as they slowly jack-hammered out each brick. All the buildings were getting fresh coats of pink, blue of orange plaster. Not sure how they plan to lay the center paving.
Continued my journey until I thought again that I was lost. (Always carry a card with Turkish Embassy written in Georgian so if I do get lost and can just catch a cab and go home.) Asked a pair of embassy guards, they're everywhere, if any spoke English. None did so decided to go just a little further and behold there was the soccor stadium where I was to turn. Few more blocks and I found the bazzar. Found the adaptored plugs I had been looking for and the exercise mat I wanted. Also bought soap and toilet bowl cleaner forgetting I had to carry it all home (and that stuff got heavy). Then wandered through the maze of booths. When I finally decided it was time to leave I coudn't find my way out! Every corner I turned held new booths I had never seen. These booths are just tiny areas crammed with stuff; with amazing justiposition. The one I liked the most was the man selling toothpaste and cigerettes. Climbed some old wooden steps and found some light at the end of the tunnel. Somehow I had ended up underground and now was up higher on the hill but with no idea as to where. Found the meat market and NO I did not buy anything there. The fish were laying in boxes on top of the counters, heads and tails happily attached but no ice around. The naked chickens still had their feet which were stuck straight up into the air.
I wandered and climbed until I finally saw the stadium in the distance, so I could then walk home. In all I had walked for 6 hours so I took a nap!
Crossed the Lion Bridge (these stylistic lions guard the ends hence the name) and continued to the first busy street. I came to this beautiful little park filled with golden flowers and a quaint clock tower. Was I given this as a guide? No. In a very American way I was told to turn left at the McDonald! Yes, they are here. Turned left and came upon the neatest street. They are tearing the entire street up so there was no traffic; no incessant horns and people walking down the middle of what was left of the street. Everything was being done by hand. They were laying the cobble sidewalks; carefully cleaning off each block with a hand pick, laying and the pounding them in place. A man was wetting down the sand ahead of the layers but using a hose half the size of a garden hose. Other men were up on scaffolings, hand-repairing the fescos on the faces of the buildings. They were adding wrought iron balconies and what appeared to be lazer cut ornate wooden balconies with matching overhangs. Another building was coming down as they slowly jack-hammered out each brick. All the buildings were getting fresh coats of pink, blue of orange plaster. Not sure how they plan to lay the center paving.
Continued my journey until I thought again that I was lost. (Always carry a card with Turkish Embassy written in Georgian so if I do get lost and can just catch a cab and go home.) Asked a pair of embassy guards, they're everywhere, if any spoke English. None did so decided to go just a little further and behold there was the soccor stadium where I was to turn. Few more blocks and I found the bazzar. Found the adaptored plugs I had been looking for and the exercise mat I wanted. Also bought soap and toilet bowl cleaner forgetting I had to carry it all home (and that stuff got heavy). Then wandered through the maze of booths. When I finally decided it was time to leave I coudn't find my way out! Every corner I turned held new booths I had never seen. These booths are just tiny areas crammed with stuff; with amazing justiposition. The one I liked the most was the man selling toothpaste and cigerettes. Climbed some old wooden steps and found some light at the end of the tunnel. Somehow I had ended up underground and now was up higher on the hill but with no idea as to where. Found the meat market and NO I did not buy anything there. The fish were laying in boxes on top of the counters, heads and tails happily attached but no ice around. The naked chickens still had their feet which were stuck straight up into the air.
I wandered and climbed until I finally saw the stadium in the distance, so I could then walk home. In all I had walked for 6 hours so I took a nap!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Lockdowns
This year we are doing three different drills. The standard fire drill, an earthquake drill and the lockdown-on-steriod drill. When we go into lock-down everyone goes to the gym which is underground and they lock these big, thick steel doors behind you. The gym area has access to cameras stationed all over the area (not just the school) and other high-tech communication systems. If it is a real emergency the embassy people join us.. Not sure what the protocol is if one is running out of room!
When the war broke out here 4 years ago all the citizens were told to go to the schools because that was the safest place. There were hoards of people coming out of the hills trying to get into the school. If something were to happen again the same would probably be repeated. So now the school is surrounded by two layers of fencing and 24 hour guards. But one still feels perfectly at peace there - probably more so then in some of the state-side intercity schools.
When the war broke out here 4 years ago all the citizens were told to go to the schools because that was the safest place. There were hoards of people coming out of the hills trying to get into the school. If something were to happen again the same would probably be repeated. So now the school is surrounded by two layers of fencing and 24 hour guards. But one still feels perfectly at peace there - probably more so then in some of the state-side intercity schools.
Monday, September 5, 2011
windows
Went to open my classroom windows and they tilled down. I knew they opened outwards the day before. Am I losing it? Checked with teacher across the hall. NO, turn 90 degrees and they open like a door; turn 180 degrees and they tilt inward. Awesome. Went home and tried it. Worked there also! Now I have a wonderful breeze coming through.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Running
I've been running in the neighborhood since I came. Found a strange little park to run in but the paths were primarily rounded cobble stones. I then tried back streets but they were full of outside cafes and I think I might have been the entertainment. With a little more exploring I found a major park with running paths. Running there I joined the ranks of old men and young boys being trained by the old men. Until one day I heard a whistle and as I came around a corner I was met with a hoard of hugh bodies. It must have been a rugby team working out! I just smiled and kept going.
I hadn't realized how unique I must have been until one student came up to me and asked if I ran. She said she thought she saw me running by the park (out of a city of over 1 million). Then the next morning some man came up to me and asked if I ran. Actually he said something in Georgian and made the motion of arms pumping. I nodded yes and we held a 'conversation' of jestures and incomprehesive words. I think he was trying to invite me to coffee but I was headed to work. Then this morning I was greeted again, this time by a little puppy. I think he wanted to talk also - or maybe just bite my leg. I was rescued by a little girl (brave girl).
Spent the rest of the day taking pictures around the area. I must force myself to figure out the uploading process and get some on the net. The sun is going down and its perfect for a few more I want to take.
I hadn't realized how unique I must have been until one student came up to me and asked if I ran. She said she thought she saw me running by the park (out of a city of over 1 million). Then the next morning some man came up to me and asked if I ran. Actually he said something in Georgian and made the motion of arms pumping. I nodded yes and we held a 'conversation' of jestures and incomprehesive words. I think he was trying to invite me to coffee but I was headed to work. Then this morning I was greeted again, this time by a little puppy. I think he wanted to talk also - or maybe just bite my leg. I was rescued by a little girl (brave girl).
Spent the rest of the day taking pictures around the area. I must force myself to figure out the uploading process and get some on the net. The sun is going down and its perfect for a few more I want to take.
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