Georgia2Georgia Project

Day 12 & 13: The end of our Georgian stay...

2009-05-02T10:02:00.005-05:00

First of all, I want to say that I took over 800 pictures during my entire stay in the RofG, but somehow I managed to only take 3 pictures the last two days. Therefore, I will only have maybe one or two pictures on this post. I will probably follow up with a reflection post that will hit on all the many stories that I left out, or some of the most interesting pictures that I have not yet posted.

We left early in the morning from Gavazi. Stephen and I, in the fashion we were most accustomed to, tried to get in the bed at a decent hour, and awoke to a breakfast of hard boiled eggs and buckwheat. Renee, who had the most plush living quarters from what she told us, arrived early to meet Stephen and I at our home stay house (the van was leaving Gavazi from our place...lucky). However, Dr. Williams and Heather arrived in an ever so jubilant mood; apparently they had a large time with the locals partying and dancing the night before. Plus their living conditions weren't as cozy as our so they made the best of the situation and took in some culture. And as soon as we departed on the 5-6 hour trip to Tblisi, Dr. Williams and Heather were out like a light. This would prove to be the longest early morning van ride yet.

Our arrival back at the british house in Tblisi marked the 3rd and final time we checked in, and in a little over 14 hours we would be checking out and beginning our journey back to the states. Altogether, The British house was top notch: they had a restaurant, wireless internet (sometimes...), and TV. On the TV we picked up BBC, various and sundry other news stations, and World Cup Channels. Futbol (Soccer) was not a sport that I paid much attention to before this experience, but it was almost unavoidable (especially when I was surrounded by high schoolers at the FFG Camp). Soccer was one of the many things that I learned to gain a greater appreciation for in the RofG, along with dramamine, water pressure in the shower, American soft drinks, toilet seats, and strangely enough - People. To be a stranger in a country 7000 miles from my own, and to be shown the kind of hospitality we were, almost makes me forget all the times in America where we are completely left out in the cold by our friends that our too busy to help us in times of need because they are pursuing their own agenda. In the RofG, the only agenda they have is to help one another prosper, even if that means putting business or priorities behind what they are consumed with at the moment. In America, we call that being confused; In Georgia, they call that showing love. Just a little bit different.

After a shower and packing all our bags up, Curt wanted us to experience the only restaurant that overlooked the river that bisected Tblisi. It was the last meal that we would share with Curt, our translators Teona & Sesili, and in the RofG. It was a good one. (The picture above is the Well that the restaurant was built around and me and Curt hanging around it).

Our last night in the RofG was spent reflecting about the times we had during the past two weeks, the relationships we had built, and the road that we had laid for the FFG organization. Sadly enough we got in bed pretty early (10:30), because we had to be at the Airport in Tblisi at 3:15. Departure time was at 4:00.

We left at 4:45. Not, Good. We were scheduled to arrive at the "Charles" in Paris at 11:00. We arrived at 12:15. If you see were this is going, then you know it wasn't good.

So we missed our connecter. Thankfully, we did manage to talk to some embassy people and work some tickets for the 2:30 flight to Atlanta. It was a frustrating time in Paris, and I have purposely chose to forget most of the events that transpired during the three hour layover. I will say one point of humor originated from a gentlemen who looked like Morris Day of the Time. He was a sport.

We eventually got on our flight and before we knew it, were landing at the Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l Airport in Atlanta.

After a few concourses and some customs check-thru's, we were reunited with our parents, who had been waiting patiently for us to arrive back some three hours ago. We shared hugs, words, web addresses, etc. This was an experience that we would never forget. One that we know had a great impact on those that we were focused on and maybe some we weren't. And for every bit of information that we learned about the RofG, we learned two bits about ourselves. We learned about pushing our own limits, stepping outside not just our comfort-zone - but outside our comfort-Area Code, and what our stomach could handle.

My First meal back in the U.S. was when my parents and I stopped in Jonesboro at the Olive Garden - the Tour of Italy. Delicious. I slept all the way back to Tifton.

Gogimarjos

Michael Pisciotta

Day 11: Kakheti

2009-04-05T17:27:00.008-05:00

After a restful night a sleep & a buckwheat breakfast we were off to Kakheti for a school visit, some sightseeing, and a supra. As you can see from this picture, there was a lot of heavy, slow-moving traffic that day (of the bovine variety).

We eventually made it and were just in time for a school visit. Some of our favorite FFG Students would be getting to show us around today: George, Shota, and Data. Georg

e was an incredible dancer, Shota really liked american basketball, and Data was t

he National officer that was known for his public speaking abili

ties. So naturally we would be well taken care of. The school in Kakheti was large

, and they had a badmint

on court, and a soccer/basketball court (not uncommon to many of the schools we traveled to). We had the opportunity to see their FFG chapter room, w

hich also doubled as there computer lab. Upon our arrival we saw that they had much American paraphernalia on the wall.... and dead in the center of the wall was something that struck Heather and I by surprise....

You Can't Hide That Gladiator Pride! Clarke Central High School! After Heather and I had traveled half way around the world the last thing we would think we would see would be a Clarke Central Spirit Flag! Apparently a Peace Corp Worker had left it at the school some time ago as a souvenir, and little did that Peace Corp Worker think that people that lived mere minutes away from Clarke Central would ever see it again! Truly Amazing (and ironic).

After the school visit, we traveled to the birthplace of Ilia Chavchavadze, Georgian activist, poet, and "Founder of modern Georgia".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilia_Chavchavadze. His museum was impressive as was his wine cellar. The FFG students knew almost as much about Ilia as the tour guide, and I was impressed with how proud they were of their country's people and history.

Our group then traveled to a monastery which was very amazing in its on right. The students took us up to to rooftops to check out the scenery. Sho

ta and I had some quality bonding time as well.

Following a day full of sight seeing and hanging out with the FFG students you would think that they would have a nice, quiet evening supra planned for us. But as you may have already got the picture from reading this blog, things are seldom as the seem in the Republic of Georgia.

The food and drink was abundant, people young and old were playing the guitar & the piano, everyone had to sing and most everyone danced. By this time I had grown accustomed to the tradition Georgian dance and even tried my hand at it....

Embarrassing? Yes, I know. Fun? Most in the world. I found that no matter what language you speak laughter and love, along with sports, is universal. Many of the older male students that could speak english asked me a very simple question when I first got to know them, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" You see, in the RofG the number of siblings you have correlate to how blessed you have been in life. When I responded with a "no", they still smiled from ear-to-ear and responded with "We are now your brothers!" This made my trip and I knew that this would give me a lot to think (and write about) on my way back to the U.S.A. Speaking of which, the return would commence in less than 48 hours. We would trek back to Tblisi, which could be regarded as the land of plenty, tomorrow but for now Stephen and I would relish the time we spent in Gavazi & Kakheti at Giga's home. It would be a journey from Gavazi to Tblisi, but hopefully the dirtroads might have found a box blade by now....or not.

Day 10: Home Stay in Gavazi

2009-04-04T22:35:00.011-05:00

Gamar joba! After a journey from Buknari to Tbilisi and Tbilisi to Gavazi, we arrived in the mountainous region that we would call our home for the next two days. Gavazi was easily as rural as Chala was, except for the fact that people from Chala (as well as everyone else in the RofG) make fun of people from Gavazi, because they value the simplicity of life and have a glorious absence of refinement. In our country, most would call this being a "redneck".

The house where we would be staying at (left) seemed very primitive compared to the hotels and hostels we frequented on our journey. However, Stephen and I had a real bed (Dr. Jen and Heather slept on boards with sheets on them), a furnace to heat water for hot showers ( Dr. Jen and Heather had pans w/ lukewarm water, ladles, and some assembly required), and each other (renee braved the home stay by her american lonesome). Therefore, we were very blessed. The son of the family we stayed with, Giga, was 15, tall, goofy, and loved american rock music. His favorites were The Doors, Bob Dylan, & The Who and in recompense for us listening to music on CD's at night with him he would show us the way to Gavazi's High school in the mo

rning.

Stephen and I found out the house was equipped with a natural alarm clock as well - half a dozen roosters outside the house. After a breakfast of buckwheat, fruit, and a very cheese-grits-like substance, Giga, Stephen, and Myself hit the dirtroads en route to Gavazi's High school. In a semi-serious moment, we passed an military base equipped with soldiers pac

king up their jeeps for a days trip to the larger city of Kakheti, which we

would be traveling to the following day. Many of them were smoking and burly in build, but as we passed they raised their hands and waved followed by an ambitious "Hello America!" I found this to be a sign of reassurance that we would make it through the next two days.

Gavazi's High school had a very rustic feel to it, but it did have a computer room, a wood shop, and a full greenhouse/garden/vineyard/Beehives outside of the main building. The principal of the school was Paata- the father of the FFG's National President, Nino. Following the school visit we had a supra at a local restaurant and saw all of the hot spots, including a grist mill and this 3rd century church....

Stephen and I retired early as we would be visiting our friends in Kakheti, Shota and Gorgi, doing a school visit, seeing a monastery, doing a supra, and possibly some recreational activity. A big day ahead of us.

Camp (Day 6-9): Our Lives are Brilliant....

2008-08-04T02:19:00.014-05:00

On to Buknari, the Black Sea, and the bunk that we would call our Home for the next four days. Stephen and I were pleasantly suprised by our view from the room at the camp.

As a Summer Camp Counselor at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington, Georgia, U.S.A. I pretty much thought I had seen it all. I was way off. The compound had all the same amenities, but the Buknari site had one exceptional feature, a beach! Using space to our advantage, our first order was to construct a bonfire on the beach so that our Georgian campers could roast marshmallows to make s'mores. Wood was sparse, but we managed to get enough to get it going. By the bonfire we were introduced to the National Officers of the FFG(Future Farmers of Georgia), and in turn, they introduced us to everyone else. After spending some time with the campers playing ping pong and kicking the football (soccer ball), we decided to meet for the last time before we started teaching our lessons during the sessions. Up first, Dr. Jenn bringing the Values/Ethics seminar.

Teaching with a translator presented some difficulty for all of us at first. We eventually caught on to how to relate the ideas to Teona and Sesili, our two wonderful translators, and began to cruise through the lessons. I was very impressed by how most of the campers listened, took notes, and become actively involved in the lessons through asking questions and participating in games. I felt relieved that Dr. Jenn went first, but she set the bar pretty high for us. Stephen was up next giving the lesson on Vision.

After a two hour coffee break, which is not uncommon in the RofG, Stephen was up. With his lesson, was a game called Find Yourself Outside, in which students had to find things that represented them as people around them. Some of them picked chairs, some of them picked blankets, but it challenged all of them to examine their purpose and direction in life. The campers thoroughly enjoyed this activity and especially learned from it.

After Stephen's lesson we packed up and were headed toward Batumi to an orphanage house that held around 50 children between the ages of 8-18. We had planned to bring our sack lunch dinners there and eat them outside. When we walked in the FFG National Officers took over, doing activities and teaching the children the some ideas behind our Values/Vision lessons we related to them earlier. They were paying attention (!) and did an excellent job teaching the kids from what the translators told us. Then our campers threw us a curveball (not always a bad thing) with what they did; they gave our sack dinners to the orphans who don't get food that is as good as sandwiches. The spirit of these children dumbfounded me! I was proud to even be associated with teenagers that have that kind of heart of giving. Without the sack dinners, we got to go into Batumi to eat, but on our way there we saw something that suprised us even more.

WE MADE THE NATIONAL NEWS, which in America is very difficult to do unless you go on a crime spree.

On Sunday, it was Heather's turn to teach and what a lesson she had planned: Communication. Her lesson involved a game of story telling, and how much something you tell someone might change the next time you hear it. The campers had a good time with the story game. Heather also taught the campers something that they were stumped on, how to write Thank You Notes. Apparently, in the RofG Thank You Notes are not required for graduation, wedding, or birthday gifts. But now they know.

After Heather's session we decided it would be best if Renee and I went on the last day, to cap the camp. This would allow the camper's plenty of time to get some of their energy out before we traveled into Batumi for the night's activities, which included a laser-water fountain show.

The morning of the last day is still very vivid in my memory. While Stephen did the smarter thing by giving the Georgian people pictures he brought, all I had was stuff. In the same sense, I felt like if I didn't give something to some of my newly made friends, I would just be a distant memory of a visitor that came to entertain. I wasn't; I came with intent to better, to help build the FFG Organization. I gave one of my friends my UGA hat that has seen better days, but it has been there for me through good times and bad. I gave another one of my friends a soccer ball, which is like gold to these teenagers. The soccer ball was the first soccer ball I ever bought with my own money. Strangely enough, I don't think it will be my last.

Renee taught first. Her lesson was on setting goals and step-taking to ensure success. The game she chose involved an obstacle course. It was difficult to facilitate at times, but overall I think the campers enjoyed themselves.

I was up next. I focused on having a fun and leaving the kids with something that could remember easily. My lesson was on using your strengths to help your team. My activity was one my high school Agriculture teacher did with our class when I was in 11th grade. It's called Handicapped Paper Air Plane Factory. The name pretty much says it all. I was very skeptical of putting an activity like this on them (one with a lot of directions), but the campers really got into it. If nothing else they had fun and got a little loud with my lesson.

I was very satisfied with all the team's performance and effort at the camp at Buknari. I believe we were successful at giving them knowledge that they can use as a foundation to build the FFG Organization on. The ball is in their court.

There is one story from the camp that particularly sticks out in my mind though. After Heather's lesson on Sunday, before we traveled to Batumi, Stephen runs in our room. He tells me that there is a camper playing piano in the girl's cabin and she is amazing. We round up the troops and go to see this she-beethoven. Of course, she is playing traditional Georgian music, but she has broken English and tells us thank you after we applauded her effort. She tells us the next song is American Western. Yep, the same corral music that you would probably hear in Deadwood, South Dakota in the 1930's. It was very good, and of course we clap again, but she wasn't done. American Jazz was her next selection, and once again, smooth and silky. One more song and she tells us "this is my favorite." At first, I didn't know if I was hearing it right...but I was and it was familiar...

My life is brilliant.

My love is pure.

I saw an angel.Of that I'm sure.

She smiled me on the subway.She was with another man.

But I won't lose no sleep on that,

'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful,

You're beautiful, it's true......

Who knew teenagers in the Republic of Georgia are listening to James Blunt's ballads?

Day 4-5:Caves and Rooms with Bathroom Slippers

2008-08-04T01:29:00.008-05:00

After Chala, we relocated to the rural town of Akhaltsikhe for a night of rest and relaxation. We were comforted to find that the hotel did not only have a swimming pool, but also grazing cattle that frequented the roads that led us to the hotel. It kind of felt like home.

Our first item on the agenda was a trip to the school in Akhaltsikhe. It had a certain rustic feeling to it that included composite pictures of every principal and teacher at school as well rusted iron bars that guarded the class room with computers on it (this was not the only time we saw this). The visit went well but I noticed Curt, our fearless leader, was looking on to the next stop. A place called Vardzia.

After a bumpy ride through the hills (and by hills, I mean mountains), we arrived at our destination. We trekked up the first mountain to see three large caverns where Curt described an ancient civilization of Georgian peoples that strikingly resembled Mr. Tumnus from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Hilarity ensued.

Upon a climb, a few turns, and passage through a fort with gates to deter intruders, we beholded the 12th Century Cave-City of Vardzia.

Monks still live there today. For more information visit http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/middle_east_and_north_africa/georgia_and_armenia/vardzia_caves.php

We proceeded to our final destination before camp, the coastal city of Batumi. Arriving into the hotel in Batumi, I immediately knew that this would be the nicest living accomadations that we would see during our time in the RofG. Wireless Internet, living rooms in our quarters, disinfected up-standing toilets and our own personal bathroom slippers! Impressive.

After a Coke Light/Camp Planning break we hit the sack. We knew that the upcoming days at camp would define the success of our trip to the Republic of Georgia.

Finish the Drill

2008-08-04T00:44:00.002-05:00

It has been several weeks, and many happenings since my last blog so I would like to apologize about the tardiness of what will be following. Once again, I want to extend many thanks and praises to our supporters in the United States.

Let's recap what has been happening since the last post: Our Diamond Dawgs lost in the College World Series Championship game to the Underdogs of Fresno State, The mighty boys in Silver Britches are ranked the Number One football team in the nation on not only the EA Sports NCAA 2009 College Football Game but also by the Coaches in America, The Dark Knight is breaking box office records and our race for the White House is still as much of a hot mess as it was when we first left the country.

I would now like to take a no holds barred approach to advising the next group (and I pray that there will be one) that globetrots to the country of Georgia.

-bring a small notepad that you can write happenings and events in. While in the RofG it was virtually impossible to keep up with all the things you will see and all the places you will go. With limited internet access, you will not be able to blog whenever you feel like it. I found this out the hard way.

-Take pictures. but not with a camera, silly, like physical pictures that you can give to your newest friends that don't speak you language. This is Stephen Bowman's brainchild and was quite the parting gift. These Native people of Georgia will love this gift and it is something that they will cherish like your their favorite son or daughter.

-Lloyd Christmas said it best, "Some people just aren't cut out for life on the road." You will travel by van/bus/taxi with people that could easily drive on sunday at Watkins Glen, Talladega, or Atlanta Motor Speedway. Most everyone struggled with this at some point and time and dramamine will be your best friend.

-Bathrooms are few and far between, so to avoid having to stop the vehicle that is already moving at the speed of light, go whenever you have the chance.

Now that I've picked a few bones, I would like to leave who ever the next suitors are to the Georgia 2 Georgia Experience with this advice: Be flexible, prepare for the elements, and you only live once. So go for it!

Reflections of Georgia

2008-06-24T12:41:00.005-05:00

This is somewhat of a reflection piece. Don’t worry…Michael and Renee will update the blog soon and fill in all of the gaps from our trip. And trust me, there are good stories to be told!

I just wanted to add some thoughts about what occurred. First of all, I had the opportunity to be with four amazing students for two week. Everyday I learned more about them and was continually amazed at their knowledge, excitement, and truly giving souls. I can honestly say we have all bonded as a team more than any team I have ever been on. I guess traveling across an ocean will do that for you. We all got really good at knowing when to step in and help each other and when to push each other’s buttons (again, funny stories…right Princess Stephen?).

I am so proud to call these students “mine.” When they were teaching and interacting with the students at FFG camp as well as on our school visits, I was like a proud Momma hen…

Each one of these guys brought a different dynamic to our team. The amazing thing (as a leadership professor) is that each dynamic offered made this team stronger. It was truly group member roles at its best.

As our trip progressed, it was fun for me to see the growth in these guys. I am proud to say that there was little complaining when the "facilities" were not what we are used to here in the States (having to chase chickens out of the outhouse) or when the roads were so bumpy that we all turned a bit green (stopping a couple of times for a break). These students were troupers. I can only say that I hope they will keep me around a bit to watch them change the world!

Day 3: Adventures beyond Stalin Street

2008-06-12T23:02:00.002-05:00

Gamarjoba! First of all I would like to say thank you for all the thoughts and prayers you have sent our way to Eastern Europe! They have been greatly appreciated as our travel thus far has lent us plenty of rocky dirt roads, and roads without navigational lines, literally, yet we have been safe, warm, and happy, so thank you again.

I would like to apologize for not having any pictures this blog, but I have taken over 350 personally, not counting Dr. Jenn, Heather, Renee, and Stephen, so they will be posted shortly.

Now that we have seen some sights, it was time to learn about Georgian Education and witness it first hand - by visiting schools in the rural parts (which is most) of the country outside of Tblisi. Our first destination was the village of Chala, a semi-self-sustaining (say that three times fast) agricultural community that had one of the premier schools (k-12) in the country. On our way there we witnessed something very strange, a middle-aged lady walking down the middle of the road on the opposite side of the highway from us. A small group of people were watching on the side of the road from their vehicles. Our translators, Teona and Sescilly, were quick to inform us that the mountain above the hgihway was where Joseph Stalin was born. I guess even when he been dead for almost 60 years, he still has a cult following, but if they don't get out of the road soon they're asking for the "suicide cult" title. This theme awas once again revisited as we turned unto the main road in Chala, Stalin Street. I'm glad we can say that no people were walking down the middle of this raod, however we almost did hit 3 chickens, 2 dogs, 5 head of cattle, and a goat.

The school in Chala was large with chain-linked fence surrounding it. The first man we met was Archil, the school's principle; he ushered us inside, and after a bathroom break we began touring the school. The very first place he took us was a second fllor classroom that as we approached we began hearing familiar words like "light", "Black", and "down" being sounded in unison. We turned the corner and...Third Graders! Learning English! I could only manage to mumble one word, amazing.
They were being taught by a U.S. peace Corp Worker named Jess. She was from Pennsylvania and said she "wanted a challenge." She picked a good one. Blessed be.
We concluded the tour with a trip to their greenhouse, that included full stands of cucumbers and tomatoes. Now to Archil's house for our first Supra (a feast of food including mandatory toast). Once again, our plates ended up stacked three high on the table and Stephen, Curt, Heather, and Myself toasting our hosts and hostess to health, personal success, and relationships. It was quite and experience to say the least.

I'm running short on time, but will be back as soon as possible with pictures and stories from the camp. It should prove even more exiciting as the high schoolers have been waiting for this moment since last year's camp.

Day 2: Travel in Tbilisi/ Who wears short shorts?

2008-06-10T15:56:00.006-05:00

Gamarjoba! chemi sakhelia Mikhal Pisciotta. (Hello! my name is Michael Pisciotta to all my friends and family back in the United States). I hope everyone that is reading this blog is doing as well as I am right now. And even though the Republic of Georgia is 8 hours ahead of us, I still have managed to stay up to 1 A.M. Georgian Time. Seems no matter if I travel 6500 miles away, I will still revert back to my all too familiar Athenian night owl mode. We still have our busiest time still ahead as the camp will be the 13th-16th, but so far we have managed to remain in fifth gear. As Renee mentioned previously we were all extremely tired after a large Georgian meal, so we did not hesistate to crash into our beds as soon as we returned to the cozy british (mari) house at 11 P.M., G-Time. After a solid 9 hours of sleep, we started the day with breakfast at our hotel - Eggs, Bacon(which was very good), Georgia's famous fresh bread(I'll talk about this later), and pear jam. After much fellowship, we decided to hit the town to trade in the good old' American Dollar for the Georgian Lari (1.42L=$1.00). Now we're ready to see the sights, and what better place to start than the National Orthodox Cathedral. It was one of the most amazing structures I have ever laid my eyes. It was surrounded by a serene garden, a goliath chapel bell, and a few smaller chapels (Some dating back all the way to the 12th Century).

It was also during this time, when I realized there are a lot of feral dogs just roaming the streets of Tblisi. All-in-All I counted 12 strays, and took as many pictures of the elusive animals as I could. As a great man once said, "Please get your animals spayed and neutered."

Next, off to Georgia's oldest bakery. "So what's so historic about this bakery?" you might ask. Other than the fact that it is underground, the walls are made off cobblestone, and the bread sticks to the brick oven's wall like it's been super-glued there, there is a underground tunnel that connects the underground bakery to the adjacent cathedral. Yeah, well it might sound pretty crumby (no pun intended that it was a bakery, HaHa), but I enjoyed it.

Now t0 the adjacent cathedral. It was very old, very dark, and I had the faint distinction that someone was looking at me. Well it was not any of the St. Mary, St. Peter, or St. George pictures on the wall that's eyes follow you as you move, but it was the Church's female hymn/worship leader.

Let's gather ourselves for a second. The Republic of Georgia is not exactly a tourist destination, and not saying that foreigners are not welcomed with open arms but you are very easily noticed if you are not Georgian. Thankfully our translator/tour guide/georgian FLEX student Teona keeps us informed about what's going on in the world where we can only understand a few words.

Back at the church: I turn around and I see her scolding Stephen, as well as pointing at his shorts. I knew what was coming when I saw the same lady turn to point at me. Once again, Teona intervened and told me exactly what I already knew, "No Shorts in God's House."

This all made sense - we saw tens of thousands of people today and only 2 were wearing shorts other than Stephen and Myself; Respective ages - 3 and 5.

So we were kicked out of church because only sinners wear shorts in Tblisi, apparently.

Thankfully, Dr. Jenn made me feel a little better by spinning off of the Right-Said Fred song with the line "I'm too sexy for your church..."

We made it!

2008-06-10T01:12:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone!

I do not have long, but I wanted to let everyone know we made it over safe and sound. I am in the hotel right now typing this message. We are staying in the British House and we just had our first Georgian Breakfast. We got into Tbilisi early enough last night to enjoy our first Georgian Supper. Everyone who mentioned it was right, catchapori(Not sure of the spelling, I will look into it.) is great! Its a cheese filled deep fried bread.

We met our wonderful translators as well as some of the other FLEX students. We had a great time at dinner, but there were no problems once we reached the hotel in falling to sleep.

We are going to do some sight-seeing around Tbilisi today and hopefully I will have some great pictures to post as well!

Look for our blog for the next weeks as UGA takes on Georgia!

The Final Countdown.

2008-06-05T08:18:00.003-05:00

Hello again!

I hope everyone is excited about the upcoming trip to Georgia. I know our group has worked very hard, and we are ready to put that work into action.

We have added a new group member, Stephen from the Griffin Campus. Each UGA Campus is now represented. Michael and Heather from Athens, Dr. Jen and Stephen from Griffin, and myself from Tifton.

The flight leaves this Sunday, June 8th from the Atlanta airport and we will return to Atlanta on June 20th. Throughout the time we are gone we will be facilitating a camp, speaking to school groups, and dining on the very interesting Georgia cuisine.

Here is a plan of our schedule for all of those who wish to follow on the map from the comfort of your homes!

Sun 6/8
ATL

Mon 6/9
Tbilisi

Tues 6/10
Tbilisi

Wed 6/11
Tbilisi to Chala to
Akhaltsikhe

Thurs 6/12
Akhaltsikhe to
Batumi

Fri 6/13
Batumi to Buknari

Sat 6/14
Buknari

Sun 6/15
Buknari

Mon 6/16
Buknari
Tbilisi

Tues 6/17
Tbilisi to Gavazi,Kakheti

Wed 6/18
Gavazi-Kakheti

Thurs 6/19
Tbilisi
Gavazi

Friday 6/20
Tbilisi

Check back soon to read all about our trip!

Renee`

The New Group

2008-05-23T13:12:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone who reads or has read the Georgia to Georgia blog. I hope you have enjoyed the travels of Kerry, Rachael and Bridget, but we now have a new group of individuals.

During the month of June, Heather Savelle, Michael Pisciotta, Dr. Jennifer Williams and myself (Renee` Smith) will be venturing to Georgia. We are preparing for a great trip and we look forward to the camp and home visits.

Throughout the rest of our preparation and our trip I will be updating the blog so you can see where we have been and where we are going. Thank you again for your interest, and remember to look for updates!

Day 15 (May 18) - CAMP DAY 3

2007-05-22T00:47:00.000-05:00

One of most fun and challenging days was our third day of camp where we explained officer roles and responsibilities as well as how to maintain a successful organization. The students learning about what officer duties are required in each position. The FFG has an Editor instead of a Reporter and a few other different offices. The students met with other officers in the same position and created a presentation about the duties of their position so that everyone was aware of each others responsibilities. Proper organization of meetings was introduced along with use of the gavel and parliamentary procedure. We did not have a gavel so we ended up utilizing the toy baseball bat we brought with us. By the end of the session the student really understood the basics of parliamentary procedure and how to run a meeting! The final lesson for the day involved speech and presentation development and presentation. This was especially usefully since the students just found out that elections for National FFG office would take place the next day. Each student wrote a speech about what they learned at FFG camp. Our hope was that the students would share their speeches with fellow students back home. We thought it would be fun to teach the students a dance to get them energized before each session, so we started learning the YMCA!

Day 14 (May 17) - CAMP DAY 2

2007-05-22T00:46:00.000-05:00

On the second day of camp the students experienced a completely different style of learning. Teambuilding activities were planned to help strengthen the bond between officers. The entire morning was dedicated to fun activities. The students participated in the human knot, balloon squeeze, chocolate river, lifesaver pass, balloon bounce, a back to back standup, name ball toss, and many more. After each activity we would all circle up and debrief the game and determine what we could learn regarding teamwork. The teachers saw the students having so much fun that they joined in on the human knot exercise. After about two hours of fun and games, we allowed the students to break until lunch after which we started our sessions. Campers learned more about team accountability, team communication and decision-making, and commitment to their team. Everyone is becoming more and more willing to share their opinions with the group- especially today when we were discussing the characteristics of a successful team.

On this evening we planned a special event for the students and teachers. We brought a piece of American culture into the camp by having a campfire by the beach where we roasted marshmallows and made s’mores. The students and teachers loved them! They were a little sweeter here in Georgia than in the states, but they were still very good! After the campfire we sat around and enjoyed the music created by our Georgian friends. Everyone could sing very well and proceeded to dance. We learned a few moves ourselves; however, it was a little difficult on the rocky beach.

Day 13 (May 16) - CAMP DAY 1

2007-05-22T00:44:00.000-05:00

Camp is finally here! We arrived at our campsite on Wednesday and were pleasantly surprised. Our facility was a three-story cabin with a large open room for dining and teaching. The beach was only a hop, skip, and jump away from our cabin. Students began to arrive around noon and were ready to get things started! We already knew a hand full of the students from our school visits. Day One of camp focused on leadership and personal growth. It was a shorter day because we began after lunch. Our lessons focused on four issues: vision, character, communication, and commitment. We used games and fun activates to captivate the students attention while simultaneously teaching them about leadership. At first the students were a little uneasy about this style of teaching, but as the week progressed, everyone seemed to feel very comfortable with each other. The most significant occurence on this day was the creation of a personal mission statement and a team mission statement. The students also determined their style of leadership through our leadership quiz. The quiz was a learning experience for us as well since we became aware of the meaning of the color light blue- long story. Everyone received their Georgia 2 Georgia workbooks as well as their camp T-shirt! The students were so excited about their shirts that many put them on right away. We also put in place a camp call back song so that the students knew when to come back to the room. By the end of the week the students were singing “I Like to Move It”.

Day 12 (May 15) - On the Road Again ... to Batumi

2007-05-22T00:40:00.000-05:00

Today we packed up and made the six (plus) hour drive to the seaside town of Batumi. We stayed overnight at the Hotel Alik before moving to Buknari for the camp. The hotel was very modern and Mr. Alik himself was outside to greet us. We parked the van next to his black Hummer. He seems to be an influential man. Batumi is a beautiful port city and we enjoyed a delicious meal at a local restaurant.

Day 9 - 11 (May 12-14) - Back in Tbilisi

2007-05-21T22:47:00.000-05:00

We made it back "home" - Betsy's hotel in Tbilisi! Curtis Stutzman, our coordinator from World Link, and Dr. Ricketts also made it into town.

We spent a few days preparing for camp, doing laundry, repacking our supplies, and, of course, doing some street shopping.

We also met with our partners Keti and Nestan at the Georgian Rural Development Program (GRDP), which is part of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). They have helped coordinate all of our travel inside the country, as well as translated all our materials. They work closely with the FFG schools, providing resources and support through field staff and partnerships like this one with the University of Georgia.

When we stopped at the post office to pick up some stamps, we were greeted by a row of phone booths. In Soviet times, the post office was where you had to go to make a phone call. You would coordinate with the desk receptionist who would arrange the call and then you would go into one of the booths to talk. These are no longer operational, and today Georgia has one of the most sophisticated cell phone services of any country in the world.

Some West Georgia Sites

2007-05-21T15:32:00.001-05:00

Below are a few pics from our time in West Georgia:

In Kutaisi we visited several more beautiful churches. Here is one and also a view of the city.

We made it up the mountain thanks to our driver, Nugzar, and his Indian-made SUV. He and Irakli work for GIPA. They are based out of Kutaisi and served as our guides and translators while we were there.

Traveling to the “sea side” was a relaxing experience. The Black Sea literally sparkled as we sat on the beach and ate our first fresh fruit of the trip (oranges, bananas, and apples we picked up from a local market). The beach wasn’t so much sand as it was rocks, but they were smooth and oddly comfortable to sit on.

“Don’t drink the water … ” Well, we did. This spring was located at a water-bottling factory in the mountains.

“Don’t pet the animals …” Rachael tried to get close to one of the cows on the side of the road, but wasn’t quite able to pet it.

As we drive through the small towns, down the windy mountain roads, past the small farms, and along the expansive hillsides my mind can’t find enough words to describe the beauty of the country. Around every turn is another picture for a postcard. Gazing out the window takes our minds off the road (and the zigzagging cars).

Georgia is a country of diversity. There are many differences between city life and the subsistent rural culture. For an economically depressed country, people are unusually hopeful and hospitable. Dilapidated and neglected school buildings are filled with bright and energetic young people. Abandoned factories and crumbling cement buildings stand out like ghostly landmarks of another time, yet just beyond the horizon is the breathtaking view of the snow capped mountains. An old woman sells bread along a mountain road, while a young girl walks through the city with the most sophisticated cell phone on the market. An old man works the land with a hoe, or an ox and plow … he’s lucky if someone in the community has a tractor to borrow… and a young man races a Mercedes through the crowded city street. We feel so lucky to have experienced so much in such a short time.

The Supra Experience

2007-05-21T15:09:00.001-05:00

A supra is a traditional Georgian meal, led by a toastmaster. Mountains of food and drink await guests. The toastmaster leads the table through a series of toasts for family, friends, good health, and many other things. Some examples of the food include: various dishes of pork, wild chicken, goat, and beef, khinkali (dumplings with meat), khachapuri (cheese bread), cheese, regular bread, various desserts and fruit, corn pudding (like grits) with cheese, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Tkemali is a tart plum sauce, often referred to as "Georgian ketchup". The meal ends with Turkish coffee (very thick and a little grainy at the bottom). Below are some pictures from the supras during our West Georgia travels.

School Visits in West Georgia

2007-05-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

We experienced our first school visits during our excursion this week! We visited four of our FFG schools: Ianeti, Dvabzu, Kvaloni, and Chala.

Our first day in Kutaisi we met Nugzar who took us to Ianeti. We were really unsure about exactly how this would go, but we arrived to a warm welcome from our Georgian friends.

The students showed us the bee hives they manage. They started with five hives and have since increased to seven hives.
Next we visited the farm where they were finishing their greenhouse. On this land, which is cultivated by a student using a borrowed tractor, grew cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes. When asked what their favorite crop to grow was, the students responded “eggplant”. When asked what their most successful crop was, the Ianeti students answered “eggplant”. Being business savvy individuals, they plan to grow more eggplant next season. They also give some of the crops to vulnerables in the community.

After we toured the school, we went inside to begin our presentation. However, we had arrived close to the end of the day and spent so much time outside, that when we went back inside the electricity had turned off. We delivered our PowerPoint presentation with just the small computer screen on which to look. However, before we began the slide show, we had an activity. The students were instructed to have everyone in their group participate in building the tallest tower using only the materials in the bag- which contained balloons, straws, and tape. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and was very competitive! At the end of the allotted time, we questioned them about their experience. They knew what we wanted them to gain from this activity- a realization that teamwork gets things done!

After all of our activities we answered their questions and mingled with Ann, Toena, Nazi, Mari, David, Solemi, Omari, and Bazo. Ann taught us to write our names in Georgian and many of these students spoke English very well. Unfortunately, we knew very little Georgian.

They all stayed well after school was over, so we were honored that they wanted to hear from us. Each of them had us sign a paper for them with our name and email address. The boys carried our very large and heavy supply bag to the car. Our first visit that Tuesday made us aware of the fun we were going to have and the rewarding experiences we would encounter along the way.

We visited Dvabzu Wednesday, which was Victory day and a holiday for the students. These students made us feel extra special by coming to school just to see us. They made us feel like celebrities!

We decided to do our balloon activity outside since it was such a nice day and we had more room. They students did awesome at catching on and coming up with some pretty good ideas for constructing the largest tower. They had an English teacher who spoke very good English, and she chose our winner for us. After the activity we toured their farm where they grow tomatoes, potatoes, and hazelnut trees. Dvabzu also has their greenhouse finished and were cultivating the ground while we were there.

We presented our show in the computer lab and many of the students spoke fairly good English. Little of what we said was translated for them so we hope they received all of our information.

We picked up a few more words from some of the students such as: beautiful, excuse me, and sorry. Many of these students want to be bankers when they grow up and some journalist, lawyers, and doctors. However, Teona wants to be a traditional Georgian dancer and she demonstrated their native dance which was very beautiful and artistic.

After visiting with the Dvabzu students, we joined the principal for a supra.

Thursday marked our third day in Kutaisi. Our school visit was to Kvaloni where we were greeted by over forty students!

They had a wonderful farm and greenhouse at this school. They grew cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, beans, cucumbers, and eggplant, pretty much everything!

The school did not have electricity so we had the students view the presentation on both of the computers; they really got a kick out of how well we treat our swine. The balloon activity went very well except that we had left our tape at our first school visit so we only had one roll left! These students really made great use of their resources and came up with some innovative ideas!

Kvaloni was very welcoming and the students and teachers were very kind to us!

Once the students left for home, we enjoyed a supra with the director of the local FFG.

Our last school visit was way up in the mountains. It took two and a half hours one way to get to Chala. Chala has a benefactor who just recently built them a new school. The school is very fancy- tile flooring, computer lab, and much more. We only had a few students because the other half was helping work the land in the neighborhood.

They really had a fun time with the balloons and scared everyone with numerous popping balloons!

After our slide show we asked them what they liked most about the show. They responded they thought the pictures of calves in little huts and pigs being washed were humorous.

Chala’s greenhouse would be finished in the next two days, and they plan to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes. They plan to sell their harvest for profit towards the local FFG.

School ended and we went inside to the lunch room where we joined many of the teachers for a supra. Mia the English teacher spoke great English and asked us for books in English and pictures of English writers for her students. The Chala students had us sign their balloons as mementos of our visit.

TIPS FOR VISITING GEORGIA

2007-05-13T01:09:00.000-05:00

1. Save your Dramamine patches for the car rides!
Riding as a passenger in Georgia can be a very frightful and nauseating experience if you begin the trip unprepared. The roads in Georgia could be at best considered bumpy and tend to wind along with the shape of the mountains. Cows, pigs, and all forms of livestock use the highways freely and drivers must share the road. Such sharing often leads to drivers making sudden stops and quick jerks to avoid a collision. You will also find that in Georgia, lines painted on the road serve more as decoration than as boundaries. Often two cars will travel side by side in the same lane and pass other cars together. Riding on or straddling the white line is customary in Georgia so do not be scared. Most of all take your Dramamine, prepare to hold on tight, and avoid watching the road as much as possible. In doing so you will have a less nauseating experience.

2. Invest in earplugs especially if you plan to visit before the middle of May!
In Georgia it is considered bad luck to marry from the middle of May to the middle of June. Therefore, during the first weeks of May everyone tires to host a wedding. Weddings here are just as much a celebration as they are anywhere else and are followed by a long night of drinking and partying. The parties can become very loud and are usually not over until 3 a.m. In order to feel rested we suggest that you bring earplugs.

3. Leave your watch at home!
While in Georgia you should learn to operate on Georgian time. This simply means do not worry about waking up early and do not expect for others to be punctual. Georgians lead a very relaxed lifestyle; they come and go as they please and do not worry over the time. If a Georgian is 30 minutes or an hour late, they are not being rude, they simply just had other things to do.

4. Learn to like eggs!
The poultry industry is very large in Georgia as nearly every household has free-range chickens. When you go out to eat do not be alarmed if everything you order comes with an egg. For example if your club sandwich, hamburger, or even soup is accompanied by an egg have no fear….this is normal in Georgia.

5. When your toes begin tingling it is time to stop mingling!
In Georgia it is customary to drink wine with your meals. It is also common for the host to give 7 or more toasts during one meal. If you do not have a large tolerance for alcohol make sure that you drink slowly and do not feel pressured to drink your entire glass for one toast. Most importantly, when you begin to tingle you should make that your last drink. Georgian wines and vodka can be very strong and as the Georgians say, it doesn’t take much to “get your blood flowing.” Simply tell your host that you need to go and have the final toast.

This was our first supra. It was here that we discovered rule #5!

6. When packing, prepare for all types of weather!
The weather in Georgia varies greatly from region to region. In most areas the mornings are cool and require a light jacket, but by the middle of the day things usually have warmed up quite a bit and tank tops are comfortable. In May, the weather by the sea is warm enough for one to spend a day at the beach, however, at the same time in other regions the weather is cold enough for skiing. It is possible to spend your morning skiing and warm up in the afternoon on the beach so pack accordingly!

Kerry, Rachael, and Bridget standing in the snow only hours after burning up in another region of Georgia.

Day 5-8 (May 8 - 11) - Kutaisi and Beyond

2007-05-12T23:36:00.000-05:00

Early Tuesday we left Tbilisi and traveled about 3 hours west to Kutaisi, which would serve as our home base for the next few days. This was a much deeper immersion into the Georgian culture, as we experienced the fullness of Georgian food, language, hospitality, education, rural life, and infrastructure. Our day trips included site visits of the Ianeti, Dvabzu, Kvareli, and Chala schools. The next few blogs will attempt to capture some of our adventures!

Day 4 - More Walking in Tbilisi

2007-05-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

Today was cooler and breezy, you needed a jacket. It felt like perfect spring weather when the sun was shining. We hit the town again on foot with Secili, stopping to check out the goods at many of the local street vendors and small tourist shops. We attempted to visit the Georgian State Museum, but it was closed for rennovations.

This picture is in front of one of the buildings on the college campus. We looked like total tourists amongst all the college students.

Our final stop for the day was at a wonderful coffee shop where we sampled several of the delicious cakes (and Kerry enjoyed her first latte of the trip!).

Day 3 - A Walking Tour of Tbilisi

2007-05-06T17:34:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed breakfast this morning at the hotel--Georgian pancakes. They are small, sweet pancakes that taste almost like a fried donut. Sesili met us at 10:00 am and we left the hotel on foot, beginning a descent down the narrow cobblestone streets toward the center of the city. We passed a McDonalds (below).

As we walked down one of the main streets we passed many theaters, the post office, schools, office buildings, and the Parliament building. We met up with Big George, another former FLEX student who did an exchange with the FFA in California. George and Sesili were amazing guides, giving us both historical facts and cultural commentary ... George knew all the best places to eat!

We have so many pictures, we'll have to explain them through several posts. But here are a few highlights:

The Churches: There are so many of them! Georgia's primary religion is Christian Orthodox. Today was St. George's day, so the churches were flooded with people, and we saw several people in traditional Georgian clothing. Some churches were build in the 16th century, while the most modern cathedral was built just two years ago. All were extremely beautiful, with soaring architecture and intricate icons made of gold and colored stones. The church service itself lasts from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is very ritualistic with the priest leading people in prayers and songs. And there are no pews--everyone stands. People can light candles and say special prayers in front of one of the many icons of the saints. Women wear skirts and cover their heads. Everyone makes a sign of the cross when entering, and then exit facing backwards, again making the sign of the cross.

Some of the churches are nestled in between old buildings, while others are high on hills overlooking the city. We took a taxi only to the new cathedral, the rest we walked to ... and got a lot of exercise (we might be sore in the morning). It was worth it though for the amazing views!

The Baths: Below are pictures of the outside and inside of the sulfer baths. You can rent out a room at one of the baths to relax and refresh your skin (although the smell was anything but refreshing ... it was reminiscent of hard boiled eggs).

The Bread: The bread here is delicious. We walked down a flight of narrow dark stairs to an underground bakery where they sell traditional fresh-baked bread for about 50 cents per loaf. The bakers pressed out a ball of dough into a tennis-racket shape and then used a wooden paddle to slap it onto the side of a stone oven (see below). The resulting loaf has a thin and crispy outer crust and chewy inside. The flavor is a little salty, almost like sourdough.

We sat down in a small park to enjoy our bread before moving on.

After a three hour nap back at the hotel, we ended the day with iced coffee with icecream and hot chocolate at a local cafe.

Day 1/2 - We Made It!

2007-05-05T21:01:00.000-05:00

We left the Atlanta airport on Friday, May 4 at 5:05 pm, EST. Below is a picture (Rachael, Kerry, Bridget) just after checking in our bags. We have happy faces because (with a little rearranging), each our six check in bags weighed exactly 50 lbs each ... the limit for this international flight. Half of the bags were stuffed with camp t-shirts and other teaching supplies.

All of our bags made it with us to Tbilisi! After a short layover in Amsterdam, We arrived about 5:00 pm on May 5 (Georgia the country is 8 hours ahead of EST, so it was about 10:00 am at home).

The airport was very nice, clean, and unusually quiet (compared to ATL!). Two men from the American Embassy were holding signs for us when we arrived. We rode in a van through the busy streets of Tbilisi to the Hotel Betsy. It was an eventful ride, reminding me of riding in a cab in New York City (only no one really follows the lines). There is a lot of honking.

It was a beautiful sunny day when we arrived, about 60 degrees F. We got just a quick tour through the city, and look forward to exploring more in the coming days.

We are staying at the Hotel Betsy, a beautiful boutique hotel that overlooks the city. Below are some pics from our balcony. We have every modern convenience, including internet, cable TV/DVD player, a lovely bathroom, and comfortable beds. The hotel has a dining room that serves two meals per day, and also a fitness center (that we are going to try out this morning!).

So far we've discovered that the bread here is amazing. The fruits and veggies look amazing, and we were sad not to be able to eat them at dinner last night. But we are being careful to follow our travel safety suggestions regarding food and water. The hotel provides free bottled water, which is wonderful. You don't even know how hard it is to remember not to stick your toothbrush under the sink!

We met our guide for the next few days, Sesili. She is a student at one of the universities here. She spent a year as an exchange student in California, and was also an FFA member there.

Right now it's morning here on Sunday, May 6. We are looking forward to a full day of touring. More pictures and updates to come!

FFA Mentor Schools

2007-05-02T16:15:00.000-05:00

The Georgia2Georgia project has paired each of the eight FFG schools with a mentor FFA Chapter. Here is a list of those schools participating:

FFG - FFA
Gavazi - Alcovy High
Ianeti - North Hall
Kvaloni - North Oconee County
Chala - Morgan County
Dvabzu - Loganville
Akhalsopeli - Clark Central
Kvareli - SE Bulloch County
Akhaltsikhe - East Laurens

Itinerary

2007-05-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick snapshot of what we have planned!

May 4 – Kerry, Rachael, Bridget depart ATL
May 5 – Arrive in Tbilisi (capital city of Georgia)
May 5-7 – Sightseeing, Georgian University, State History Museum
May 8-11 – School visits in West Georgia/Home Stays
May 12 – Return to Tbilisi, via Mtskheta
May 12-14 – Camp prep in Tbilisi
May 14 – Dr. Ricketts arrives in Tbilisi
May 15 – Travel to Batumi
May 16-19 – FFG CAMP - Buknari
May 20 – Return to Tbilisi, sightseeing in Gori
May 21 – Visit US Embassy and Ministry of Education
May 22 – Dr. Ricketts and Bridget return to ATL, Rachael and Kerry travel to Kakheti
May 23-25- School Visits in Kakheti/Home Stays
May 26 – Rachael and Kerry return to ATL

Planning & Packing

2007-05-02T15:53:00.000-05:00

The last few days have been crazy ... with packing, last minute planning, and trying to finish out the semester at school. We head out in just two days!

Thanks again to all of our mentor FFA chapters for your hard work, putting together the care-packages and scrapbooks for your partner FFG schools. We can't wait to pass them out to the students and teachers! This is a great first step in our partnership.

One thing we are really excited about sharing is the Georgia to Georgia camp t-shirts! Congratulations to the Morgan County FFA Chapter for submitting the winning design. (see below)