Here are some thoughts on my host family:
First, they are GREAT. Lovely, caring, & kind. Super-hospitable. Hospitality is a very important part of Georgian culture, and my host family is no different. I also feel VERY lucky, because I know how hard it can be to find host families for foreigners! The PC Georgia staff is amazing -- they were able to identify 58+ host families in an area with a population about the size of Jefferson City! (Imagine that, AFS volunteers!)
I have a host "mom" who is 48, two host sisters (28 & 25) & a host brother (20). The two younger siblings are mostly only home on the weekends as they are working and studying, respectively, in Tbilisi during the week. Host mum is a school bookkeeper, and sister Khatia works in a bank. Sister Nana is a doctor (or some kind of medical professional) at a children's hospital (in Tbilisi) and brother Giorgi is in the police academy. Nana was actually home for my whole first week, as she was recuperating from a surgery, but she's headed back to work this week. They are all wonderful.
Some things I have done and/or have so far:
- Lots of tea and coffee. Host mum Lamzira's coffee is Turkish-style and amazing.
- Lots of salty food (natch!). Also, eaten lots of food of potentially questionable safety, I think. We have no refrigerator. (So far, so good...but I'm pretty sure I'm playing with fire.)
- My room is lovely! I suspected that I had displaced one of the family members. Indeed, after about a week, I had enough Georgian language skills to confirm that "my" bedroom is usually Khatia's & Nana's bedroom. Khatia has moved in with her mom for the time being.
- Hot shower (usually) and indoor western toilet -- yay!!! (I'm very lucky. Some of trainees in smaller village clusters, mostly Education trainees, don't have this luxury, although most (all?) of us in Kareli do have.)
- Went briefly to a church -- quick stop-in for prayers and candle lighting. Side note about Georgian Orthodox churches -- no pews. Everyone stands during the service...which might explain why my host sister prefers a quick stop-by in the "off-hours" and not attending the full-on Sunday service. Here is the small church in Kareli, and my host sister Khatia and I there.
- Hand-washed my clothes! We have no washing machine. It took less time that I thought it might. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure my clothes are exactly thoroughly clean. More like "clean".
- Meeting LOTS of neighbors and friends/relatives. Someone stops by every day -- this is totallly normal in Georgian culture -- no need to call ahead!! One neighbor/relative (niece maybe?) is a local hairdresser; this fact will come in very handy when I need to dye my grey hairs again...
- Today, we had a special Sunday afternoon dinner. Nana's boyfriend Levan and his sister Tiko visited, so all the stops were pulled out for them. Fancy table, lots of food, and WINE. Georgians are extremely proud of their wine heritage. Wine was invented in Georgia, and it seems as though every family has vines and makes their own wine. Today's wine was house-made. Giorgi drank a lot. The custom for Georgian men is to empty the glass -- bottom's up! -- with each toast. And there are a lot of toasts. Fortunately, women are allowed to just take sips!
The spread: dumplings, stewed chicken, chicken livers (I skipped those), fruit, wine, bread, cukes, & orange soda.
Tiko (Levan's sister), Levan, Nana, Giorgi, & Khatia.
Levan & Nana (sweethearts) & cousin Tamuna.
Lamzira & Giorgi (aspiring policeman).
Me and Lamzira, host mum! (Weird thing sticking out of my head is a chopstick I was using to keep my hair up. I didn't realize how ridiculous it looks.)
- My host family has grapes, various veggies, a few cherry trees, and chickens. Here is a view of the "back yard"/vineyard and the chicken coop from my bedroom window.
Yep!! It does look weird and dangerous too. James
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