‘m long overdue for an update here. Once I arrived in the US after my week long journey filled with miscommunications and cultural frustrations, I wasn’t really in the right mind set to post on what the readjustment has been like. So, a month later I’m finally writing this. There are days where Georgia seems…
Category: Teach & Learn with Georgia 2011
I volunteered as an English teacher in the Republic of Georgia from January to July in 2011 through the program Teach and Learn with Georgia. I met some of the most amazing and generous people I have ever been graced with knowing. Through the language barriers and different educational philosophies I learned more about myself and what I hoped to create in this world. Georgia is a beautiful country filled with mountains, beaches, historical churches and monuments, delicious food, and lovely wine. Originally, I blogged about these adventures elsewhere but have migrated all old posts and pictures here. If you have any questions about the experience or traveling to Georgia, please feel free to ask!
I could not recommend traveling to and living in Georgia enough. It was truly one of the best experiences of my life.
The Never Ending Ticket
From my last post you might be thinking that I’m on my way back to the states. Sadly, you would be terribly wrong. Getting your ticket from a Georgian travel agency is like trying to solve non-linear equations with your 8th grade math book. The basic skills should theoretically help you at least gain a…
The Cliche Good-bye Post
Of course, the last two weeks I’m here things have to get super busy. I’ve had a great deal of intriguing adventures to write about and no time to do so. I went to Kutaisi to see some fossils and a cool cave. There are new volunteers in Poti. I wrote and then re-wrote some…
Independence Day Protests
So, one more post today about something that is making the news here and in the US. Thursday was Georgia’s Independence Day from Russia. Most of my neighbors had supras long into the night or celebrated with family. Many major cities like Tbilisi and Batumi had protests run by the Opposition. They hoped to oust…
Sunshine and Sneezes
Whew! It has been a very busy month. The end of the school year is approaching. This means students are, surprise surprise, even crazier than they have been the last five months. Teachers are working on preparing students for final exams. Classes are going on excursions now that the weather is nice. And, of course,…
Oh, If Only I had a Calendar!
I’m going to share a quick funny story that happened today. I must first though explain that Thursday we did not have school because it was St. Andrew’s Day. On Friday, I also did not have school due to my changed schedule resulting from not working with one teacher anymore. This means that I had…
The Quest for a Marshutka Proof Bag
Marshutkas are crowed, smelly mini buses. They are the standard form of transportation in every city and between cities here in Georgia. The great thing about them is that they are cheap and easily spotted. The bad thing about them is they are excruciatingly uncomfortable. You get smashed against the windows, or worse two strangers….
Easter Traditions!
I first want to mention that I spent last weekend in Zugdidi with some other TLG volunteers. The volunteers in this city were hosting a Karaoke Night for the schools in Japan to help rebuild from the earthquakes. There were many volunteers that showed up. Together we raised over 300 GEL! We had some drinks…
An End and a Beginning
My troubles with the Difficult Teacher are over. On Monday, this teacher once again randomly decided to have me to an entire lesson on my own. She has increasingly surprising me with lessons for a couple of weeks now. I have no problem ad-libbing a lesson everyone once and a while. Doing it on a…
A Growing Bookshelf
If you know me personally, you know that I have a severe love obsession with books. The first thing I fretted over when packing for my first year of college was how many books I could fit into our tiny car. Half of my belongings packed up before I left for Georgia was just books….
Where Danni Rants on the Philisophical Differences between Soviet Education and American Progressivism and the Misfortunes of Monday Mornings
I have a difficult teacher. We don’t see eye to eye on a lot of issues. Mainly, we don’t agree on a basic philosophy about education. Today that difference became the focal point for yet another communication conflict. A student was having problems spelling a word on the board. I was helping him sound out…
The Plague of Plastic
You can see it everywhere in Georgia. Plastic: bottles, bags, bowls, and trays. These things litter the streets, rivers, the beaches, and plants. It amazed me the first few weeks that I was here. I had never seen so much trash and plastic strewn about a place before. I couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some…
