Reverse Culture Shock Is The Only Explanation

I’ve been meaning to write a new blog entry for a while. To be honest, I haven’t really been writing in my personal journal much since I’ve been home either. It’s been a mix of emotions and feelings trying to readjust, and it isn’t nearly the same feeling as I thought I might have. I am sitting in a coffee shop in downtown Princeton (Small World Coffee to those who are interested), and I’m looking around at what I notice being the most different. First, people are MUCH quieter, and the music is played at a level that allows casual conversation (the two girls next to me are discussing breaking up with one of the girls’ fiancés). Second, nobody is drinking alcohol. Third, none are speaking Georgian or Russian.

When I walk around I notice a difference, too. In Georgia, when you walk down the street a person going the opposite direction USUALLY makes little attempt at avoiding ramming into you. I’m not sure why this is, but in the USA people are a bit nicer out on the streets. In the home it is a different story. I haven’t been to many people’s places since being home, but nobody beats Georgian hospitality. I have yet to find a person or family who will just drop everything to take care of a guest. I guess it has left me occasionally awkward in the presence of others, because I’m just expecting for a supra and a ton of wine/chacha. It is also refreshing, because all those social demands in Georgia between host and guest left both parties extremely exhausted. Most differences I write about are superficial, but don’t get me wrong, there are some major readjustments being back.

I guess the biggest thing I’ve noticed since coming home is very few people care. As a teacher, I figured employers would be interested in hearing about my experiences. They aren’t. I’m asked more questions about my student teaching than Peace Corps. Don’t get me wrong, many people; especially my close friends will listen to every detail. Vasav was the one who motivated me to write today because he wanted to hear about my experience and life being home (and yes, I will see you around Thanksgiving). Last week I was at the beach with Megan, and I spent most of the day talking to her about Georgia, and how awkward I feel to be back half the time; she listened intently, and when I apologized for talking so much about it, her response was “you were gone for two years, and it was a big part of your life, I want to hear about it”. Yep, that’s why after 10+ years I am still friends with these people. However, most people I meet or become acquainted to want a brief five-minute description in which they nod and smile at the appropriate times and then tune me out after a minute. Meanwhile, I listen to every minute detail of their office job, and the big presentation they have to give on the slumping sales. BORING!!!!! Nonetheless, I will listen to them, ask questions, and try to genuinely show interest expecting to talk about Georgia at some point, but then realize they don’t understand, nor care about Peace Corps, or Georgia.

Georgians are fascinated by America and my life in America. I can talk to someone for hours about America. Most Americans don’t give a crap about Georgia, and generally don’t care what happens there, or what my experiences and hardships were. Or, they look at me weirdly when I make a cultural mishap, or ask a Georgian type question (i.e. When are you getting married?)

The work that I did in Georgia often seems to pale in comparison to what Americans take for granted. It’s weird to feel proud in Georgia, and have people thank me in the street for something that Americans don’t give a s*** about. I expected this from all the reading I had done the past few months, and I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t as much as I thought. This all just kind of fits in with the whole job thing, I guess.

Jobs. Some Volunteers came back and got them immediately. Some not. I’m in the NOT category. I seriously thought Peace Corps would be big for a social studies teacher. But, here I am, one week until school and I’m unemployed. First off, I just barely missed the cut off for most of the interviews and in-class lesson demonstrations. I arrived in July, and because school was over I couldn’t show administrators my teaching abilities. I had a bunch of calls for interviews when I was still in Georgia, but they wouldn’t do Skype, and by the time I came home the positions were already filled. There have only been a few positions that have opened up since, and I’m generally stuck now. I’d go into something else, but I’m not exactly qualified to do anything else except teach. Not just that, but the jobs I have looked into require more years of experience that I don’t have. It sucks, because I know in some of these positions I am over-qualified for them in every way except for on paper. To anybody in college reading this, your GPA actually DOES count after graduation; so don’t spend hours playing Halo and miss that Biology Lab every week (but it is acceptable to ditch that “dance” class, or at least sneak in a little jungle juice).

There is one more thing about teaching that I’m trying to grapple with. There was a distinct difference between the way I teach, and what my professors taught me in my teaching college. I had one class when I was getting my Masters’ where the professor yelled at me and called me a “fascist” because I disagreed with her about tracking. I have never quite figured out what to say in interviews when the supervisor/principal asks me how I’d conduct my class or handle classroom management. Do I tell them the general BS I learned in my Masters’? Or do I tell them what I’ve gotten to work (which is usually not what I learned in the teacher’s college)? I had my eyes opened at my last interview when the supervisor basically said “that s*** doesn’t work, and the kids in this school will eat you alive” when I talked about setting up rules with the kids and creating a democratic classroom. Personally, I couldn’t agree more. I want my classroom a benevolent dictatorship. Students will know my personal pedagogy, and I’ll always treat them with respect, but there will be boundaries and expectations that they will just HAVE to follow. In Georgia, I certainly didn’t use the “democratic classroom”, and if I did my 12^th graders would go “this guy is a wimp”. So, maybe I’ve been going into my interviews in the wrong way. Maybe I need to be myself, and say what I really think, and not parrot back the pseudoscience of professors who have spent no real time in an actual classroom.

Maybe I’ll just go back to get a masters’ or doctorate in a subject that actually means something and is based on real science and research.

I’ll keep looking, but heading back abroad is starting to look more and more appealing.

me menatrebi saqartvelo da chemi megobrebi saqartveloshi. 

The End (Part 2)

Well, I’m back home in the USA. More than two years after going to Philadelphia, and signing the form that solidified my two-year commitment in Peace Corps, I am back in New Jersey. It’s a little weird being back. I’m still applying for teaching jobs, and I guess we’ll see what comes out of that. I’m split over everything. On one hand, I’m happy to be home, to see my family and friends. On the other hand, I miss my life in Keda, too. Sure, I was pretty bored sometimes, but to be honest, I felt like every day was a mini-adventure. The biggest adventure I had today was driving to the Verizon store to decide on a new phone plan.

I keep being asked by well-intentioned, but completely oblivious people, “Well, what was it like over there?” I actually find myself not even saying much of anything unless there is a topic that reminds me of Georgia. But asking me “What’s it like?” Ehh… Do you have five-hours to explain to you the hours I spent in a sleeping bag to stay warm in winter? How about trying to teach English in a local public school? No, I didn’t learn Russian. Yes, Georgian is an actual language.

I can blame anyone. Just because I left for two years doesn’t mean everyone else was just sitting around waiting for me to return. People went out into the world, got jobs, got engaged/married, had kids, and had more kids. A group of us in Peace Corps would count down our service by calculating gestation periods. A somewhat strange, but nonetheless unique way of counting down 27-months. But, to most people if I said that in a conversation, I’d get a stare and a head turn like, “What are you talking about?” That’s the main issue; people just don’t understand.

I ran into an old friend’s father around town today and luckily he wouldn’t stop talking about his son. I was seriously wanting to say, “Alright, cool, got a job doing *****. I’ve been living in GEORGIA and you won’t even give me 5-minutes to talk about my job.” To most people when I say that I taught English I feel like they lump me into some group of 2^nd rate volunteers. As if I wasn’t really doing any work. Nope, I was just teaching. Again, all of us Volunteers knew this was a common occurrence, and I was ready for it.

No big deal. I just wish I could talk about poop with more people than my 6-year old niece and 2-year old nephew.

The End (Part 1)

Vasav was quite right. Just because I’m no longer a Volunteer does not mean I can stop writing in my blog. Oh, wait, that’s right, I haven’t written in my blog to TELL the blog-world that I finished my service on 19 June. Well, blog-world, I am officially a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV). A person can also call me a “newly unemployed person”. My apologies for not writing sooner. The month of June was pretty crazy for me. I had trainings to lead, guests coming, parents coming, saying goodbyes, packing, saying more goodbyes, and now I am a tourist in the country I’ve considered home for two-years. My parents and I have just finished the second day of a two-week tour of Georgia. After Georgia I will be in Turkey for a week. I will be back on U.S. soil on 4 July. Yes, that’s right, Independence Day.

I told people I’d write a more thought out and honest opinion of Peace Corps and working in Georgia. Here’s the long and the short of it. I loved it. It wasn’t easy, and I was certainly frustrated or angry sometimes, but I really enjoyed my two-years here. I think Peace Corps has done some wonderful and amazing things in Georgia, and I am really fond of the Peace Corps Staff in Georgia who were always helpful. There are few employers that I could go to with a problem that would work with me to solve the problem at hand, but still leave the problem IN my hand. Life is both simple and complicated in Peace Corps, and I disliked all the rules governing my whereabouts and not being able to take the night train by myself. Those aren’t big issues, and it’s all for safety reasons anyway, but we are all adults, right?

As for living in my town. It was hard at first. I felt uneasy at the beginning, but that’s normal with any new major change or stress. I adapted, and I felt like I was able to manage most situations in a constructive manner. I could have done some things differently, but I feel confident that I did the best I could with the information that I had at the time. I learned some things, and I’m proud of the things I accomplished. It’s impossible for me to mention the things I accomplished without referring to some of the HCNs (Host Country Nationals) who really put in their time and effort to help me. I won’t mention them by name, but I really could not have done it without all their guidance and help. We did some great work, and development here, but I also made some great lifelong friends. It was hard to say goodbye. Each supra we had the last week was more emotional than the last, and I found my Georgian to be too poor to really fully express my admiration for the people I’ve lived with and worked with in my town.

I’ll start by answering some questions I commonly get:

Q: Do you like Georgia?

A: Read above. I love Georgia. I think Georgia has a lot of amazing and wonderful people. I also think Georgia (as does every country) has a lot of issues that it needs to work out.

Q: What issues are those?

A: There are a bunch, but I think unemployment is the most pertinent and important right now. After that, I’d say gender issues.

Q: Do you like Georgian food?

A: I like when it’s made for real during supras or holidays. The day-to-day potatoes, eggs, and bread makes me go crazy. My host mother was always great about varying my diet so that was nice.

Q: Would you do Peace Corps again?

A: If I was 23 again I’d probably still go. I think I would have been a better Volunteer if I had waited a bit longer and gained some real experience first. Peace Corps Volunteers range in all ages, but I found the older Volunteers to be doing the larger projects. Age has a big place in Georgia, and I was still considered a “bitchi” (don’t pronounce it like the bad word, the “I” makes an “ee” sound) or “boy”, and therefore not taken as seriously as a 40-year old married man. It is still what you make of it yourself, and I did great things, but again, I think if I was a little older people would look at me differently. I doubt I’d do Peace Corps again right now, because unfortunately we just don’t make enough money, and it’s probably time for me to grow up. I’d definitely do it later in life with a willing spouse.

Q: Would you recommend Peace Corps to a friend?

A: Depends on the friend. Most of the Volunteers I know are great people. I am lucky I could spend the past two-years moaning, whining, but ultimately learning, working, and sharing ideas with them. Peace Corps Volunteers should have a particular set of skills, and some people just don’t have them. I’d tell my friends who have great skills that wish to share those skills with developing nations to definitely do it, because it’s an experience you won’t forget.

Mistakes

I’ve talked a lot about the things I’ve done and the projects I’ve completed. I take great pride in these accomplishments, and wish I could do more in Keda. Right now I want to talk a bit about my failures here the past two years. It’s a good practice to look back on an experience and see what went well and what went poorly. I’m not necessarily depressed or have deep regrets about any of these, but they are things I should reflect on for the future.

First up is my Georgian language ability. From the beginning of PST I slacked off on my language acquisition. I figured “Hey, two years is a long time, and I am in class four hours a day, six days a week, I need to relax and not study too hard.” Ugh… I wish in PST I spent more time studying the vocabulary and really trying to take in the language. It was hard because it really was the first language I ever had to learn, and there was a lot of terminology and grammar that I didn’t understand. I am not horrible at Georgian, but I could have done better. I remember before I left I thought I’d spend the first year learning Georgian, and the second year learning Russian (I’ve always wanted to learn and speak Russian). I set that goal for myself, and I didn’t achieve it well. I can read in Russian, and having a Russian speaking girlfriend certainly helps, but I failed in learning being fluent in Georgian, and hardly know Russian. I keep this in mind, because I need to continue studying Russian, and I know that it just takes WORK. No way around it, I just need to work at it.

My second perceived failure would be in the schools. To anybody who isn’t a teacher I want to tell you: TEACHING IS HARD. It’s easy if all you want to do is babysit all day long, but daily lesson planning, planning activities, classroom management, and dealing with a wide range of knowledge and abilities is difficult. Then throw in my less than superb language abilities and all you find is a frustrated Tom being laughed at by a classroom of students for saying “kvertskhebi” (eggs). In Georgian the ‘ebi’ signifies possessive case, but when used with the word for egg, “kvertski” it means testicles. Live and learn. These language issues and frustrations with large class sizes was a breeding ground for my discontent. I came in the first year with a good attitude, but there were multiple issues in and out of my control that resulted in me pulling away from the school and really letting many of my students down. ]I did my best, but I still have a lot to learn about teaching.

I’d say my third failure—well not really a failure more a regret—was not getting out more. I met a lot of people and did a lot in my first few months at site. My host sister and I would go to the park and we’d just go around Keda having fun. It was a good summer. The first winter forced everyone to stay indoors, but I didn’t come back out of my shell the next spring. I don’t know why, but I didn’t spend as much time hanging out in the center of town or going to other people’s houses. I think some was culture shock hitting me, and feeling frustrated being asked the same frustrating questions. Some of it was people asking me why I didn’t speak Georgian better, and me feeling guilty and therefore not willing to say anything else. Then maybe it was that whenever I did go to someone else’s home I would be expected to drink copious amounts of wine and/or tchatcha. You might think, “Dude, that’s awesome.” No, it isn’t. Seriously, parts of me just want to go back to the USA and never touch a drink again. I never had a bad experience, and I never got sick, but I have never been a huge drinker, and I disliked being judged for not drinking enough (ironically if you drink too much it’s looked down on and they gossip about it). Still, I wish I had gone out more and just hung out with people in town.

So, there you have it. These failures don’t define my PC service, and I’m not upset or depressed by them. I’m just reflecting on the experience, and trying to find ways to grow and learn from it. I’m sure there are other mistakes I’ve made, and other things I could have and should have done differently, this is it for now. 

Memorial Day

I just finished reading my sister-in-law’s post. I don’t mean to sound redundant, but I want to say something as well. There’s a simple quote that some people attribute to Winston Churchill, and some attribute to George Orwell:

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about World War II or Vietnam, our soldiers are still there willing to defend our lives—unfortunately they don’t always get a say in where they go.

I think nowadays it becomes difficult for people to separate our soldiers from the politics. I have my own opinions on the wars, but this is not a political post. Plus, I’m not supposed to make big political statements on the internet (remember I do work for the US Government). Memorial Day is not a time for politics. It is a time to honor the people who have sacrificed their lives for the rest of us. It is for the soldiers who fought bravely from the Revolution all the way to the War in Afghanistan.

Not all wars have been justified and/or legal. I don’t find America that different from most other nations past and present as far as its human rights is concerned. I know we have many black spots in our history, trust me; I’ve studied them a lot. It doesn’t matter. This is a day to remember the SOLDIERS and their FAMILIES. All soldiers sacrifice something, and some sacrifice everything. One might argue, “It’s their choice, and it’s their own fault”. You can say that, but then I say: “Yes, they CHOSE to sacrifice their time, their family, and sometimes their lives for their country.” I think that makes the individual soldier honorable. We should honor their families as well.

Memorial Day may have originally been reserved for soldiers, but we can remember and memorialize others who have given their lives in service to our country. We can memorialize the men and women who worked in the underground railroad, the women who marched for their rights, and anyone else willing to step up to make our country a better place. That is what makes a country great—the ability to improve and try to become better than it was the day before. It takes the entire nation to do that, and our soldiers are willing to do their part. I guess my question to anyone reading this post (which is very few) is: What have YOU done to make America a better place? While you think about it for a second I will, too. I certainly haven't done enough, in my opinion.

 I despise the people who just complain about the problems, but don’t offer solutions or don’t participate in the process to make it better. Memorial Day is a day to remember the people who did everything they could for their country, and were willing to sacrifice everything for it—not just soldiers.

Nonetheless, thank you to the men and women of our Armed Forces—and of course, Dean.

Q, Vas, Timmy—you guys as well. 

Newspapers

I got interviewed by some newspapers this past week. One was an opposition newspaper located in Batumi that I think is famous amongst PCVs for writing the article “Where to Find Prostitutes 5 Lari and Up”. The other newspaper, which actually had to reschedule is the newspaper for Keda. Apparently the fitness center has made a pretty big splash in many areas. I heard that directors from other regions in Adjara came to see how we did it and what we had. The newspapers have been waiting, and now suddenly appear. Peace Corps told me it’s a matter of time before the news stations come out as well. Hopefully I’ll be on a plane back to the USA before that happen—I don’t like cameras—or reporters.

Still, it was nice telling my story and having the journalist look at me, tilt her head and go “How old are you?” “I’m 25.” “And you planned all THIS?” I’ve been approached several times on the street with people saying, “Tom, thank you for the fitness center, it’s wonderful.” A lot of men tell me this, but from what I hear men hardly use the center. Women are in there all the time, though. I’m just very pleased with the way it all turned out. My school life may not be something I enjoy talking about, and I don’t make a great English teacher, but this development stuff I really enjoy doing.

With TLG volunteers pouring into schools I think Peace Corps may want to think about changing its mission here. Whenever I’m asked about the new Volunteers coming to the Keda region I just say “I don’t know.” Honestly, I have no idea. I just think that Peace Corps teachers have done excellent work here, but maybe let the Georgian government work out their own schools and let Peace Corps focus on what we do best: clubs, sports, development, camps, and gender projects. I just hope whoever the new Volunteer in Keda is will utilize the fitness center as a resource to do healthy lifestyle trainings and fitness classes; which I unfortunately ran out of time and money to do.

Good luck G-12s.

Less than one month!!

Jobs

I decided with just a few weeks remaining in Peace Corps I will update a bit more often. After I COS I’ll probably start a new blog (or not) depending on my (un)employment situation. Perhaps I could call it “The Unemployed Lyon” or “Employ the Lyon”. Eh, no matter, yet. I’ll figure out my life goal at some point. I’ll really miss my current blog title. For such a cool name I should have been a lot more active in my blog writing.

I promised I’d write a bit about my current job search for after Peace Corps. I am looking throughout the internet, and my Mom is in the USA scouring through newspapers and the internet trying to find jobs for me as a social studies teacher. That’s what I’m certified as by the amazingly awesome State of New Jersey [Shore]. The lists for teachers is considerably larger than it was the year I left for Peace Corps, or the year before that when I got my Masters. I would think that now with my awesome Peace Corps experience it’d be a lot easier trying to find jobs. I mean both my best friends know what they’re doing. Unfortunately, after turning in half-dozen online applications and even more paper applications I am still jobless. Maybe it’s the fact I’m not in the USA, and they cannot interview me? Maybe I’ve been away for too long? Maybe it’s my college transcript that has that big ol’ 2.8 written there (yeah, I didn’t study nearly hard enough).

I guess now I’m worried about what I’ll do next. If I don’t get a job then I’ll be living at home and helping my sister-in-law take care of her five children. Maybe I’ll start expanding the garden my brother made years ago. This last one is something that really interests me now. Here in Georgia I sometimes go with my host family to the village to do work—actually, they do the work and just want me to sit there. I don’t blame them too much, this is their livelihood and they wouldn’t want some idiot American destroying their crops. Still, these aren’t huge sprawling farms, but just large enough to look awesome. I wonder what my Mom and Dad would have to say to this. I mean, my Mom loves gardening, but she may not have a small farm in mind for our backyard. It would be a lonely option, because Plainsboro is not well suited for a fun social life.

Then of course I could get back and look for jobs outside the teaching profession. I could go to Washington, D.C. and maybe work for the Government. I have one-year non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs. I don’t know what that will get me, but hopefully something. I always loved Washington and would totally live there again if I could. Plus, many of my friends are still in the area, so I already have a social base.

My final idea is a bit ruined now, but I’ve thought of reinventing it differently. I had been thinking of moving to Ukraine and trying to find a job there. I don’t enjoy teaching English, but if I found a high enough paying job I’d consider it. Unfortunately, I don’t see Kyiv as an option anymore for different reasons. I have been thinking about Tbilisi, though. A G-9 works in Tbilisi now, and I think he enjoys it. Then there are different NGOs and alike that I could get into. There are opportunities here, and most positions could give me a comfortable living wage for Tbilisi. One former PCV was telling me of a 2,500 GEL/month position. I like Tbilisi a lot, and I’d be interested in MAYBE spending another 2-3 years here.

Or I could move to Rhode Island/Connecticut with my newly engaged best friend and be a bus boy at a bar.

Nonetheless, America is my first choice. Don’t leave me high and dry here Uncle Sam. I’ve served you faithfully now for two years. Time to return the favor.

Why?

Before I left the USA Peace Corps wanted a full medical checkup. So, I was going back and forth to the doctor’s office. It’s interesting that despite all my albinism, nystagmus, extra wisdom teeth, and ADHD my medical clearance only took a few weeks. Definitely NOT the norm for most Volunteers—it takes up to a year in many cases. Then again, I told them in my interview to put me on a plane and just let me go now.  I digress. In one of my doctor’s appointments the nurse who was about to give me a half-dozen shots asks me what this was all about. This was the conversation:

Nurse: “So, why do you need all these tests and shots?”

Tom: “Well, I’m applying to the Peace Corps.”

Nurse: Strange look and a raised eyebrow “You know they get sent to the middle of nowhere, right?”

Tom: “Yep, that’s what I want.”

Nurse: “Why?”

At this point I probably gave my awkward *shrug* that I do when I don’t want someone to talk to me anymore. I didn’t really think completely about the “Why?” I was content just knowing I was f’in leaving New Jersey and not facing another hard year of school interviews and being let down by a shitty job market (“shitty” is a Microsoft Word recognized word, by the way).

Here in Georgia I get asked this question a lot, too. “Why did you come here? We are poor and don’t have anything? Why would you leave a rich country like America and come to poor Georgia?” I mean or some variation of the question. I usually just say how great Georgia is, and how the people are so nice, and I just came to help. I usually just get a strange look and a shrug, then they get fed up with my poor language skills and switch back to the simple questions like: “Do you like to drink wine or tchatcha [jet fuel]?”

I haven’t focused enough on the “Why?” If you asked my older brother “Why?” he’d probably give you a spiel about protecting the things you love (maybe me?), protecting those who cannot protect themselves (me), and the strong defending the weak (me again). In a way, I joined Peace Corps with the same attitude, but after a few months in Georgia I realize I’m not protecting or serving anyone (quite literally the women try to do everything for me). I never thought too seriously about the three simple Peace Corps goals:

1) Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.

2) Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.

3) Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Well, hell, I look at these goals and I actually feel pretty good. The first goal I touched on the lightest, in my opinion. I didn’t do as much in school as I would have liked, but between FLEX, my fitness center, and numerous smaller projects I feel pretty good. Goal 2 I really let fly, maybe to an extreme amount. My host mother loves to brag that she has had over 12 Americans, 1 Pole, 2 Chinese, 1 Ukrainian, 1 Iranian, and numerous other nationalities come through her house. I’ve certainly tried to show my host family, and all of Keda the diversity of America, and our values and beliefs. All of Keda knows I do my own laundry, clean my own room, and am an independent person mostly. Goal three I’ve tried to demonstrate as well as possible in my blog and in personal conversations with friends and family. It’s harder, but it makes me really excited to be a teacher and talk to my students about my experiences in Peace Corps, and about Georgia itself. Heck, maybe I’ll have a supra in one of my classes—don’t worry we’ll replace the wine/tchatcha with water or apple juice. But, the traditions in Georgia are centuries old, and deserve their place in a World History class alongside European, Chinese, or American history.

So, why did I do it? I did it for me. I did it for people I didn’t know. They didn’t NEED me, or even WANT me, but they [mostly] appreciated my presence and caring. I had a discussion with a Georgian guy the other day who was talking about China becoming the next world’s superpower and overtaking America. He added the one caveat, though. “Americans are coming to Georgia to help Georgians with little or no benefit to themselves (he’s talking about TLG and Peace Corps). Other countries are coming to Georgia to only make money.” I had this exact discussion with my friends in Tbilisi last weekend. Peace Corps is a resource drain on the American economy. Not just in the federal budget, but also in the working man hours all 8,000 Volunteers worldwide could contribute. Peace Corps is truly a selfless organization (not perfect), and all of us here gave up parts of ourselves and our time for other people we didn’t know.

I think that’s what really makes America special. We aren’t a perfect country, but there are thousands of us who will willingly put ourselves out there for the common good. I just hope that nurse out there is reading this (she isn’t)

This post is a little difficult to follow, but thanks for reading.

Another Leaving Post

I have a month left in Peace Corps. ONE MONTH. It’s a surreal experience to think about where I came from and how I ended up here. I’ve thought about everything I’ve done in the two years I’ve been here. I am thinking about the G12 group that arrived last week; they are in the beginning of pre-service training (PST). I remember my first week of PST. I didn’t completely understand the rules and went to visit other trainees in a neighboring village without notifying my coordinator. I got caught and feared for my future in Peace Corps. I honestly thought they’d kick me out then. They didn’t. I signed some form and then went back to normal. I remember being terrified, though. Ever since then I’ve followed every Peace Corps protocol about informing them of my whereabouts. I swear I’m not a trouble maker!!!

Then of course I think about the things I thought were important in my life two years ago. I think about how I didn’t have anything to really be proud of. Sure, I had a Masters in Teaching, but no job. I really didn’t do well in my undergraduate studies, and I felt my life just passing me by. The two years in Georgia gave me a lot of perspective on my life and future. I’ve thought more about caring for other people and doing things that don’t give me any direct benefit. For example, my host mother came to me today and told me that she had an argument with another person who didn’t believe I designed the fitness center. At one point in my life I’d be offended and hurt; I would have needed the external recognition to know I did a good job. Not anymore. Now, I’ve received plenty of external recognition; from Peace Corps, other Volunteers, a Peace Corps newsletter, community members, family, and the local government. But, it doesn’t mean as much as the happiness and pride I feel from within. I know I did it, and I know it’s a great project. That one community member may not know I made the fitness center happen, but she still uses it, and that’s all that really matters.

Two Volunteers, a married couple, came to Keda yesterday to conduct a fitness training. The girl is one of our groups most accomplished Volunteers. She organized Volunteers in the past to do activities across the country. Plus, she is a very physically active person, and knows her stuff. I think 13-15 women showed up, and apparently it went “swimmingly”. My host mother went and really loved it, and this morning after the Volunteers left, a guest came over and asked if she could come back today. It was great having her come, because I would not have been able to lead a fitness and healthy lifestyles training with women. They wouldn’t ask me the important questions. They wouldn’t feel comfortable with my presence.

Back to me leaving…

The relationships I’ve formed in the past year have also meant a lot to me. I’ve made a lot of great friends here. I got a call from a friend who got Fulbright in Indonesia a few weeks ago. She called at 1AM and goes, “Tom, wake up! I’m going to Indonesia! You’re the first person I’m telling after my boyfriend, because we’re best friends.” Then my other friend is going to Russia on a State Department program. I mean, we’re all going places here. We’ve all accomplished so much, and we’ve trudged through the same frustrations together. We’ve experienced the same winters, and have all been through similar marshutka experiences (I have not been thrown-up on in a marshutka yet, knock on wood).

It’s not just the other PCVs I’ve made friendships with. There are plenty of Georgians that I will continue talking with and remember forever. From my host family, my counterparts, and my personal relationships, I will remember them; as they will remember me. I have a bit of a reputation in Keda now, and most won’t forget me anytime soon. I could come back to Keda in 5-years or 10-years and walk off the marshutka and people would stare at me just the same, but they will know who I am.

I’ve been writing a lot recently about my nearing departure. What I really need to think about now is trying to find a job when I get home. If any of you reading this has an open position for a CEAS secondary education social studies teacher please contact meJ.  I’d really appreciate it. I’ll write more on that later, though.

Two-Year Anniversary

I haven't written a post in a while. I really wanted to keep the one about my brother up as long as possible. It's actually the third most read post on my blog of all time. Nonetheless, I should not let Vasav down, and he's getting a bit antsy for an update on my life. I have a lot I can write about. Today is a special day. Today is April 26. Two years ago today I got in my Dad's Toyota Prius and drove with 100 pounds of luggage to Philadelphia to sign the forms to be a member of Peace Corps. Here I am two years later, a completely different person (good ways and bad) and more grown up.

I think that in 2 months I'll be leaving Georgia and I know I'll be back, but Georgia won't be the same.I've been here long enough to see (and participate in) some great changes.  Georgia is developing and the Georgia I saw from my plane in April 2010 won't be the same Georgia in 2014. In the USA things are still relatively the same. Will Georgia still be a place I love in 2014? Probably. I just hope getting 25 new Wendy's restaurants won't destroy the society (in the way fast food destroys most societies).

Then again, I was at a supra the other day when a former Parliament minister (PM) said to me, "Tom, I think Georgia should be America's 52nd (yes, many people think D.C. is a state) state". We had an interesting conversation and I basically said, "Why do you want that? Georgia is it's own country and culture." Honestly, I think he just wants it so he doesn't need a visa to travel to the USA (it would also provide protection from their large northern neighbor). An interesting supra conversation anyway.

Then of course I helped take this:

And turn it into this:

IT'S DONE!!! I had a great compliment just now, too. My friend in a nearby village just called and said one of his teachers was saying how awesome the fitness club was. "ra magaria" ("very cool/great/strong") was her wording for it. I'm really happy to know that not only is it nice, but PEOPLE ARE USING IT!!! The director of the sports school want to put up a plaque to thank me and Peace Corps for the assistance. I told him, "you really don't have to do that, but if you do thank the people who also helped, my friends, family, and strangers who donated what they could" (that was said through a translator, by the way).

So, thank you all for your support and help in the past two years. I cannot wait to see everyone back in the USA. 

A True Hero

He-ro noun

1. A person, typically a man, who is admired for courageous or noble qualities.

2. Dean Lyon, see picture below

Dean in Afghanistan: 2008

I have already dedicated a full post to my older brother, Dean. I've written a lot about him, and after reading my last post it was hard thinking what more to add. I focused before a lot on our relationship as brothers, and spent less time on just him. I'm not going to tell the whole story, because my sister-in-law has already told it. I think she can do a MUCH better job at this than I can, but I'm going to give it a shot. I'll just say, unfortunately, my brother is being deployed to Afghanistan--AGAIN. Leaving... soon.

I haven't seen my older brother since 2009. I won't see him again until 2013. I really don't think that's fair. Nevermind that, though, the fact remains that despite the hardships he and his family go through they are AMAZING. Seriously. He, his wife, and their 5 children. Each of them is their own hero in one way or another. Sometimes thinking about everything they go through I feel bad for whining and complaining about MY hardships.

I sit here and feel frustrated, because people aren't translating what I need on time, or writing a proposal, or teaching in a positive way, or because that smelly/drunk guy keeps talking to me on the marshutka, or because it's too cold in my room. You know what I remind myself in those times? My brother does everything that I do multiplied by 100, while other people are shooting at him, while missing his wife and children. Also, I get to take pictures of myself in a luxury hotel in a developing and now peaceful country. We really have it going pretty well in Georgia. It's a good country to be in. Plus, nobody is actively trying to kill me. My brother doesn't complain, and he does his duty, because that's the type of man he is.

And do you know what?

He may not like doing everything that's expected from him, but he does it, and he does it well. I've never met a more dedicated and loyal person in my life. Dean's accomplishments, which he doesn't publicize, because he doesn't need the advertisement, and he's just a humble person. Don't take humbleness for weakness, though. Dean is an Army RANGER. I know, because I was there. Oh, and Dean may not want to brag, but I'm more than happy to brag in his place. Now, when I say "My brother could beat you up!" I REALLY MEAN IT.

Rangers jumping out of helicopters.

Lyon men at Dean's Ranger graduation. By night we save the world in Call of Duty.

Then of course you have the other side of Dean. See on one side he's the fierce Army Ranger who can turn normal objects into weapons, and then, well, you have the Dean below who makes a good horse. A great family man, who even after long and stressful days at work can come home to be with his family.

Dean and bug.

Joining the Army is a courageous thing for anybody to do. People who join each have their own reasons to do so. Dean has never sought glory, he never needed to prove anything (to himself or other people), and he certainly had/has other options (did I mention he went to Cornell and was SUPPOSED to go to grad school?). Dean is selfless and believes in serving and helping others. He doesn't like war, but his family and country come first. In his selflessness he decided to enter a career with a lot of hardships, because he cares about all of us.

All soldiers should be honored and treated with respect, but in my opinion Dean is an actual hero. He's the best-of-the-best. He's not just a soldier-hero, he is a HERO. He didn't ask to be, he didn't want to be, but he is. He is his wife's hero. He is his children's hero. He is my hero. Whether you like it or not, whether you realize it or not, he is YOUR hero too. So, if you get a chance between buying the iPad 3 and waiting for the iPhone 5 to come out, keep in mind that Dean doesn't fight for you to have the iPad, he fights so you, and your children, have a future. I certainly won't forget it in nine-months he will be gone for.

Good luck, Dean. We all love you.

P.S. Playing Call of Duty when I was home was awesome!

A "Simple" Vacation

The past week as been amazing, if you exclude weather storms that causes planes not to land where they are supposed to, a flu bug that leaves me bed-ridden for five days, or your long-distance girlfriend leaving after a great trip. I just want you all to know that we stayed in places like this:

I lead a HARD Peace Corps life. Anyway, we spent her birthday here, which was AMAZING. Then we went to Tbilisi where I started running a fever, then took a train back to Batumi where I was still sick, and now Anastasiya's gone, I'm in Keda, and I'm STILL sick. Anastasiya had to run out and walk all over Batumi and get physically harassed by beggars (but saved by an old Georgian lady) to get me water and antibiotics while I ran a 104 degree fever. Joy. We went to Keda for a few days and played in the snow, and Tbilisi where I managed to walk around for 6 hours with a fever, pull weird hairs out of my beard, and have new girlfriend bought Soviet pins (sweeeettt).

Then of course there was the fun with her flying to Batumi. Basically the evil airlines (and weather) took a whole day and night away from us. To make a long story short, I woke up early on the 16th and saw her plane had a 70 minute delay. That's unfortunate, but not the end of the world. Then she gets to the airport and she spends the next 10 hours in the airport waiting for the plane to take off, because apparently the wheel is broken. It finally take off 12:30am Georgia Time, so I take a taxi to the airport to wait for her plane which should come in at 2:30am. I'm waiting, and then I find out their plane isn't going to land in Batumi because of snow, and is going straight to Tbilisi. I'M PISSED. Then I find out from Anastasiya that there's no representative from the airline to help them. Some people are getting buses and taxis to take out west. I tell her NOT to do that, because the snow and lateness would make it dangerous. I promptly go back to the apartment in Batumi, get online, find phone numbers for Airzena offices (and employees) and proceed to call every one of them--at 3:30am. I yelled at a guy in Georgian for the 10 minutes using the simple Georgian I knew and trying to Google Translate words I needed--I wished I had spent more time studying my Georgian). THEN, I wasn't able to get in touch with Anastasiya, because her phone was out of money. It's 5am at this point, my two host sisters, and their two roommates and trying to help, but employees stopped picking up their phones to my number.

I fell asleep about 5:30am.

I woke up to a text message from Anastasiya that said she was on a train and would be in Batumi by 1:30. Rejoice! So, she got to Batumi (with her own adventure story of even more epic proportions). They took a whole day away from us and ruined my original plans.

Oh, and then there was this whole thing of me getting sick on Thursday and running a fever every single day (and now) until the moment she left, which caused us not to take advantage of the great weather.

But you know what?

It was still an amazing visit and I'm so happy she came. Words cannot describe how happy I was/am. But, I won't be that bloggy-PDA person here, and instead keep all the happy memories comfortably in my own brain. Because, well, I hate sharing.

Nearing the End

Wow. It’s been an exhausting (but awesome) week. I’ve been working hard trying to figure out a lot of the stuff for my fitness center. Unfortunately, right now there are contracts and bank transfers involved that use vocabulary I am unsure of. I guess this is a good thing, because most decisions are going thru me, but not necessarily done BY me. We are really encouraged to be facilitators in our projects as PCVs, and as a facilitator we can direct things, but we shouldn’t be DOING everything. This project has been great for that. I had an idea, and now everyone in town is getting into it; from preparing the room, to writing the contract, to raising more money, to negotiating with the store, everyone is doing something. Sometimes I have to keep myself motivated and on track, while my Georgian counterparts are waiting for me to catch up. This project has been all I could believe and more. The gamgebeli, or mayor, of my town wants to hire someone full-time to work at the center. So, now there’s work for someone, too. People from the USA may think our 7-9% unemployment is bad, but they can’t imagine the 25-40% unemployment is places like Georgia. So, work, any work, is a great thing to provide. Still, I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s donations. So, again, THANK YOU.

I also spent last weekend with some friends at a ski resort north of Tbilisi, near the border with South Ossetia, called Gudauri. This is one of the most famous resorts in Georgia, and is an up and coming attraction for Europeans looking for new slopes. I have not been skiing since I was 7, and I have never been snowboarding. It was a friend’s birthday, and she wanted to have a party here (she’s a big skier). I decided to try snowboarding, and my friend said he’d teach me a bit. Well, he stayed with me for about 30 minutes, and then my friend whose birthday it was stayed with me for another 30 minutes. I just kept falling on my butt. I wasn’t on the bunny slopes either; I was on the lower-intermediate slopes. I fell A LOT!! By the end of the trip I was starting to get the hang of it, but I took a really nasty fall on my last time down and decided to stop. Great vacation, though.

Then we returned to Tbilisi for our Close of Service (COS) conference. Here we learned a lot about reverse culture shock—something I haven’t thought too much about, but something it seems most returned Volunteers face—finding jobs, health insurance, and all the paperwork and medical tests we have to go through before leaving. We got to stay at a new, and very nice hotel in Tbilisi—the Holiday Inn. You may laugh at that, but the Holiday Inn here is like a Radisson in the USA (the Radisson here is like heaven). On the last day we had a big dinner to celebrate the end. We also got to meet the ambassador and had a reception with news crews to discuss our service. It was great, but sad at the same time. Many of the Volunteers in my group I will not see again before leaving Georgia. We came over together, and we’ve done a lot together, and now this is it. In three months I’ll be out of Peace Corps and looking to the next thing in my life. What will it be? I don’t know yet.

These are my updates for now, but I’ll write more this weekend, because I need to catch up on my blog posts.

A Conversation

The following is a conversation I had (in Georgian) with a man who approached me in the center of my town; meanwhile, he is holding a bottle of vodka:

Man: Tom, how are you?
Me: I'm fine, how are you?
Man: I am, *****'s father in the * grade.
Me: Oh, really? Nice to meet you.
Man: Why doesn't my son/daughter know English yet?
Me: Well, they don't have the books. You need to buy the book for them. We use the books in class. Student draw and color in the books. They are good books.
Man: Books? No. Books are expensive.
Me: It is 18 lari
Man: Yes, expensive. You must be a better teacher so my son/daughter will learn English.
Me: How much did that bottle of vodka cost?
Man: 15 lari.Why?
Me: Just wondering... walking away


Sigh... I should have and could have said more, but I didn't want to start an argument in the middle of the road. I decided the best thing I could do is just walk away.

My Packing Mistakes

I was going to make a Part II to my last entry, but I think I’ll write something a little different. A G12 wrote on my last entry and was interested in some advice about what I would have liked to bring with me and things I wish I hadn’t brought. It’s impossible to answer the question for somebody else. Some people just need things that other people don’t need. With that said, there are certain things I brought with me that I consistently have not needed, and I know I won’t need (and have likely already brought home).

My Peace Corps timeline was VERY short. Most people have to wait at least 6-months, some one-year, but I think the average—from the interview date to invitation—is about 8-months. From my interview date to invitation was almost exactly 2 months (application to staging was 4 months). I really didn’t have a lot of time to think about what I needed and plan for it. I basically just got whatever I THOUGHT I might need. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t have a lot of time to think and rethink my packing situation. I don’t even quite remember everything I brought, but some of it WAS ridiculous. Here we go…

1. More than 3 pairs of nice pants.

It’s not that you don’t need nice pants from time to time, but you learn to wear the same pair of pants for several weeks before washing it. There are some pants I brought that I STILL haven’t worn yet, and most of those I brought back to the States, because I know I’ll wear them as a teacher next year.

2. More than 3 button-down shirts.

Along with number 1 I realized that I had certain shirts that I’d go to natural, and they aren’t all black or gray. The truth is, I always look like a foreigner, so having a blue shirt on isn’t going to make me stick out as much as my blue eyes and blond hair. As one PCV put it so eloquently once: “Tom, what are you going to do when you go back to the States and you aren’t special anymore?”

3. Batteries

Bring a few if you want, but batteries are HEAVY, and you can definitely find them all over the country. I brought a Ziploc bag full of AA and AAA batteries. I still haven’t used all the batteries, but overall it was a complete waste of space and weight.

4. Flashlights

Now one flashlight (specifically a head lamp) is an excellent idea to bring, but the phones Peace Corps give you have flashlights on them. If you are going to bring your own phone that won’t have a flashlight then bring a small one, because there are many dark areas.

5. Tons of pens/pencils

You can buy these in Georgia, or have them shipped to you. Don’t waste your valuable space on these things. I’ve turned a lot of my mechanical pencils into prizes for students.

6. Medical supplies

Will be given to you.

7. Binders and notebooks

You will get so many of these through Peace Corps meetings and conferences you will go nuts. I would bring one NICE notebook for PST. I didn’t have a good notebook (Lacey stole mine) for PST and I wrote in a tiny journal like book for the whole time that got me teased a lot. A good bind will help you organize your notes.

8. Teaching materials (except stickers)

Leave any activities or games at home until you’re sure you know that you need/want it. The exception being stickers. I brought a 1000 pack of stickers from the Dollar Store and it’s been the best dollar I’ve ever spent.

9. DVDs

I brought like 5 cases of DVDs. You really don’t WANT or NEED all that much. I brought my entire collection DVD home in the winter. If you want you can rip them to your hard drive.

10. Sports coat/Blazer

Wore it once when Hillary Clinton came. Not worth it.

11. Baseball mitt/Football/Soccer ball

You will use a football or soccer ball, but enough of those will be left here in Georgia I doubt you’d use it much anyway. It’s really only a few times in PST and during All Volunteer Conferences that you’ll end up playing. If you want it for your summer camps and stuff then maybe ask a G10 or G11 to let you borrow. I personally brought a football and a baseball mitt. I never got to play baseball and the mitt got damaged from the humidity and cold. The football I lost during FLEX training.

12. Georgian language books

You can get some money to buy language materials after PST. You’ll get a lot of good material during and after PST. In fact, if I could give a piece of advice to G12s: DON’T STUDY GEORGIAN NOW!!! I know you’re excited to come and excited about this language, but enjoy your free time now. In 2 months you will be studying for 4-hours a day 6 days a week. No matter what studying you do from now ‘til then you might only buy yourself one day of lessons. So, relax on the studying now, and save your time for enjoying the things you’ll miss.

13. Clothes

I really did not need as many clothes as I brought. Think of it this way: the more clothes you have the more laundry you’ll be doing. During PST/service you’ll be doing your own laundry (at least females will) and you want to do it quickly. Do bring enough that if you’re washing something that you have something clean to change in to.

Again, this is just my personal opinion, and you don't have to do everything I say here. Everyone is different, and you'll undoubtedly find something you wish you could bring that you left back in the States. This happens, but try to make sure your bags don't weigh you down too much, because you'll be carrying them all around the first two or three months. Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me: talyon1986@gmail.com

A Look Back (OR 5 Months Left)

 My host sister just finished using all the hot water. Now I get to wait a couple hours until more water is ready. I haven’t bathed in a week, but it’s not that bad because I’m always wearing the same clothes that do a great job at holding in nature’s smell. It’s either that or get hypothermia in my room whenever I want to change my underwear. Give me a break. So, while I wait for the water I’ll write a blog entry.

As of last Wednesday I have officially 5-months until COS (Close of Service). 5-months compared to the 22-months I’ve been here already seems like a piece of cake. In fact, our COS conference will be the first week of March, and that’s the last official Peace Corps conference I’ll ever attend. It’ll be exciting to leave; about as exciting as it was to arrive. I’m full of anticipation, but also fear. I know I am not the same person I arrived as. It's even funny to think we're anticipating the arrival of the G12 group, but I'll be leaving just as they swear in. So, they are reading about me as I'm preparing to leave, meanwhile they are just preparing. Weird thought (my group didn't have that issue because G9s were the first group back in Georgia since 2008 War) We can even look at pictures of the progression I’ve been in since leaving the USA. First, there is pre-Peace Corps Invitee Tom:

I enjoyed kayaking, backpacking, camping, and all manners of outdoors things. 

On the other hand I had a fun party side. This is in Atlantic City.

Right before being accepted to Peace Corps I was in a bit of a dead end. I was a teacher without a classroom. I first thought “I’ll be a teacher with a Masters; schools would love to hire me”. We all know 2008-2009 was a hard time for jobs and especially for people my age. I always knew I wanted to be Peace Corps, and I decided that this was the PERFECT time to apply, you know, instead of sitting around my house playing Modern Warfare 2 and Halo (though the skills I earned help me wipe the floor with Carsten and his brother here in Georgia). So this became:

I packed WAY too much in my opinion. Attention G12s: YOU DON'T NEED THAT MUCH!! 

Archimedes the Kitty. This is back when she used to love me and let me pick her up. Now she's a mean, junk-yard kitty.

Last picture in front of my house.

Wow, this day was scary. I have that scared yet excited look on my face. It was the last time I’d see my house until this past Christmas. Staging in Philadelphia was great. I met some good people that are still my close friends today. In fact, with pretty much the same people I went to Cheesecake Factory with the last night I am going skiing and snowboarding with later this month:

My final American dinner--at the Cheesecake Factory.

\I can still remember a female friend saying: “Tom, you’re gonna be THAT guy aren’t you?” “What guy?” “That guy who is too charming for his own good.” Awwww…

Me (as a much muscular "Tom") and my cluster-mate. We became good friends.

My first view of Georgian soil. It's VERY green.

I don’t remember Orientation very well (even though what we “learned” was later used against me when I accidently violated some whereabouts policies). I can’t tell you what’s going on in these pictures:

Learning to play Backgammon (Nardi) was a lot of fun. This girl is REALLY good and she kicked my butt. I did take out my Nardi Vengeance in September.

There was a lot of studying. I believe I’m just trying to learn numbers 1-10. 

My three best friends (we didn’t know it yet, though). The guy on the left was really mean to me at first, too.

This post is already WAY too long. I’ll continue it next time with pictures from PST and then my first few months of service. Basically, whether you’re a current PCV in Georgia, an Invitee, family, friends, or PCV in another country—this experience is nothing we can explain to you in a 5-minute conversation, e-mail, or blog posting. I cannot tell you everything I felt and saw (even those first five days) in a way you will ever understand. You will never understand the excitement, fear, euphoria, depression, anxiety, loneliness, friendship, love, and adventure we have. If we sound negative sometimes that’s our right. We aren’t miserable, depressed, or hate Georgia or Peace Corps. We have good and bad days just like anyone else, but it’s on a whole other level we will never explain. In fact, if you’re too positive we’ll probably make fun of you a little bit—nobody can be THAT happy about bread and cheese every day for 2 years.

So, as I look back, at the past 22 months I am left with a sense of pride at everything I have (and have not) accomplished. Most of my lessons failed, every club fell apart, but I’ve done so much, and learned so much in the meantime. Even if I never did a real project, the personal growth I’ve developed here will last me a lifetime. 

The First Post of the New Year

It’s been a long time since I’ve updated my blog. Funny to think the last time I updated was last year. I have been meaning to write a blog post for a long time, and I’ve had the time to do it, but I just haven’t felt the need to update. Nonetheless, I do understand my blog isn’t the most entertaining thing to read, but I think I should let people know what I’m doing. I owe everyone, especially considering all the help I’ve received from people for my fitness club.

I should let everyone know that I got all $1800 funded through Wide Awake. So, THANK YOU! In fact, I had only planned on $1000, and the extra $800 was a real surprise and will help us achieve our goals. The town is fixing the room right now, and they stripped away all the paint and put in new electrical sockets in three new places (I was only hoping for one, but they surprised me). Now they are patching the holes and getting ready to prime and paint. I went to the sports store in Tbilisi and found almost everything we wanted to buy. I decided to trade out some pieces of equipment in order to get higher quality. For example, I don’t see many people using a bench press, and I am worried about kids being in there, therefore I probably going to try and get two treadmills, or something along those lines. Nonetheless, I’m certain that within one month we’ll have our equipment in the room. At that point it’s all about getting everything translated on the machines and then making my healthy lifestyle/fitness lessons. I’m hoping for PCV assistance and presentations in that phase. Still, I’m very excited.

I’ve also been going to school here a lot more since university is on break. It actually got me thinking about how much I miss teaching kids instead of adults. I love being in the classroom, and although I don’t normally enjoy teaching English (I prefer History), I really like planning lessons that let me students hit the “Ohhhhh” moment. That “Ohhhh” moment is rarely reached in History class (it’s not that kind of learning), and it’s nice to be there. Unfortunately, my first day back a student asks my counterpart “With Tom here again, are we going to play games again?” I don’t think that comment made me counterpart very happy, and it doesn’t make me happy either. I don’t want students or teachers thinking that’s what I’m about, because I’m not.

Anyway, the winter is upon us. This winter is definitely worse than last year. There is more snow and it’s considerably colder. I mean, not as cold as it is in Ukraine or Czech Republic, but still cold. Last week I was at a conference in a town near Tbilisi. I was asked to lead a session on teaching multi-level classrooms to G-11s and their counterparts. I was there for a few days, but on the way back our bus kept getting stuck and we got into Tbilisi much later than we were supposed to. Back to the conference, I was happy with my session, and many counterparts and Volunteers came to tell me that they enjoyed it. Better yet several counterparts told me they were going to use some of my ideas in class. That’s something every instructor likes to hear.

I am somewhat surprised that my last post seemed to make people think I wasn’t returning to Georgia. A bunch of people who read my post from when I was in the USA thought I wasn’t coming back. I’m sorry that it created any frustration, but I hadn’t seen my home in 18 months and I was just happy to be home. So kill me. Firstly, I’m doing some great things here, and I’m actually hitting my groove as a Volunteer, and I’d be stupid to leave. I would be especially stupid if I decided to leave, especially with only 5-6 months left in my service. It’ll be an exciting, fun, and busy rest of winter and spring.

I’m also aware that a large number of G12s have received their invitations to serve in Georgia. I’m hoping that while they look through posts from me and other Volunteers that they understand there are good and bad times to be had in Georgia—just as in the USA. Also know that when you receive your invitations we are in the middle of winter, and few of us can always be positive. It’s not that Georgia is a bad post; of course there are good things and bad. I generally keep my frustrations to a minimum on my blog and focus them more in my personal journal. One of my friends suggested I write entries when I’m upset, but only post them after I leave Peace Corps. That way I would be able to write something and post everything when I’m no longer a Volunteer. Then people can read the positive and negative posts together and get a more accurate view of my experience in Georgia. I think instead I’ll write a few posts at the end of service and describe my negative and positive experiences together. I guess we’ll see when the time comes.

I’m looking over everything I’ve written now (not editing, because even with grammar mistakes, I want to keep my writing honest and without rethinking anything) and I think this is prime time to end my entry. I’ve also heard some funny comments that I end my posts abruptly Therefore, here it goes.

THE END!