supras, supras everywhere.

so there isn’t too much to update you all on. but, here goes:

i went to my 3rd funeral this thursday. it was a pretty emotional one because it was for one of the teachers at school. she was 60 years old, had had some problems with her heart and got an infection that turned into pneumonia. nani taught in the room next to me and helped me out on my halloween trick-or-treating day. she was also a pretty well known poet in the area. i have to say that one of the best things about this particular funeral was the video of some of her poetry readings playing in the background. i think a lot of the attendees weren’t too happy about it (since those sorts of things are not done here; at least not at village funerals), but i thought it to be incredibly refreshing and a great memorial to her talent and personality.

(unfortunately for my host mom, a fellow teacher and myself, we had to walk home in the dark…about 4 miles…over rocky terrain…after a long supra).

my host parents wedding anniversary was this past saturday. in their honor i made brownies and rice krispie squares (thanks to my fabulous mom back home for providing me the most important ingredients: marshmallows and rice krispies!) the brownies did not come out as great as i hoped they would (i think i may have messed up on the conversions and with no measuring cups or spoons, it’s difficult to really pinpoint exact amounts) and the rice krispie squares were met with mild enthusiasm. oh well. more for me! just a note, i asked around to fellow volunteers and some of the pc staff about what to give as a gift for a wedding anniversary and i was always told, “i don’t know even know my host parent’s anniversary” or “those things just aren’t celebrated here”. well, i celebrated it! even though, much like my mother back home, luda ended up doing laundry all day on her anniversary (if we had a new washing machine, it wouldn’t have taken all day. just sayin’).

in other news: i finished watching the last season of weeds. it was a good one. still keeping my interest. i’ve been watching a lot of movies to maintain some sanity. i’m saving the ones i haven’t seen for this dismal winter that i’m sure will be on it’s way soon. i’m sticking to the pixar and animated movies to keep the mood light. i have also begun making plans for some secondary projects. more on that later!

in animal news: there isn’t much, but the cat has been pooping in the house plants. the house plants have been brought in from outside for the winter and stationed right outside my bedroom. how’s that for poop-urri. that was bad, i’m sorry :] ah! only 30 minutes ago did we change october’s name to ბელა (english: bella). my host mom did not like october because it’s not a proper girl cat’s name. 5 bucks says she still calls the cat, “cat”.

yesterday was a big holiday in georgia: გიორგობა (giorgoba). basically it’s the celebration of st. george, and all you really have to know is that you drink and you eat…A LOT (like 5 pieces of cake and 10 glasses of wine A LOT). but, to support cultural exchange, here’s some historical background on the holiday:

Saint George’s Day (Giorgoba) is a very important holiday for Georgians and is celebrated every year on November 23rd. People go to church, gather together with their families and have supras.

St. George was a Roman soldier and priest in the Guard of Diocletian. He is immortalized in the tale of St. George and the Dragon. The episode of St. George and the Dragon was a legend brought back by the Crusaders and retold with the courtly appurtenances of the romantic genre.

According to legend, after St. George’s death God scattered the parts of his body all over Georgia; chapels and churches were erected on each place. There are more than 400 churches and chapels named after St. George all over Georgia [i've been to at least 4 of them; only about 396 more to go!].

Even the country name “Georgia” is related to St. George. The French chronicler Jacques de Vitry and the English traveler Sir John Mandeville wrote that Georgians are called Georgian because they especially revere Saint George. In January 2004, the country adopted the five-cross flag, featuring the Saint George’s Cross. The monument on Tbilisi Freedom Square symbolizes the importance of the Saint George in Georgian culture.

how’s that for a little history?!

oh, as i’m sure you’ve discovered, i’ve found google translate…stay tuned for further vocabulary in georgian script. by the time i’m done here, all of you will have a pretty exhaustive georgian vocabulary…to use extensively in all of your daily dealings…because georgia is the only country that speaks it…ha…ha…ha. now you all know how i will feel after being here for 2 years: i came and lived in georgia for 2 years and all the language skills i have now can only be put to use in this one country?!?!! you betcha!

so i leave you all now to join my host family in watching our daily mexican soap operas. however, in the winter, where there’s a tv, there’s warmth.

კარგად! (vocabulary word #3 — bye!)

p.s. thanks for the love and support :]

p.p.s i took some pictures of food at the giorgoba supra to go with my earlier food post. i will eventually upload them. plus, i’ll upload a picture of my counterpart’s new baby girl….a cuuuutie!