We went to Ellen’s and Tony’s wedding reception. Since most Peace Corps are young and single, weddings while in service are not uncommon, whether between volunteers or between a volunteer and a “local”. There were about 30 people there and we had a great time.

Ellen and Tony have their picture taken.

The Georgian marriage certificate.

Before we went to the reception, we did a little shopping in a shop nearby. Gill pointed and said “Oh, look, there’s Jeremy.” I said, “No, it can’t be; he’s over there”, pointing in a different direction. It transpired that Jeremy has an identical twin and he had kept quiet about it all this time. His twin was on vacation.

Jeremy is on the right.

School is over now until September. Amongst other things, we are now preparing for our trip to England and our return to Georgia with Diana.

Marina has bought three chickens and has
named them Gilli, Valeri and Bobbi.
The hope is that they will grow and provide us with eggs.
Bobi is the black one; I cannot tell the other two apart.

Washing is much easier in this weather!

We were invited to a concert at number 2 school. We had been there earlier for a performance of sketches and songs about ecology, put on by the school’s eco-club. This concert included Georgian dancing and recitations of Georgian poetry. We have been very impressed by the Georgian children’s lack of stage fright. They are no shrinking violets, they seem positively eager to stand up and hold forth!

We were invited to a piano concert at the music school. We were very impressed with the performers – mostly the school’s children. They were of all ages - the youngest could not reach the pedals. Besides the teachers in duets, the oldest performer was a very talented young woman who was now at the Tbilisi Conservatory (center-back, next to Gill).

One girl gave her bouquet to Gill!