Another IDP session.
Knitting is very popular - and practical too.
Drawing is also popular.
This time it is the match against #6 School.
The match.
The girls played too.
Team tea.
Team tea.Monday, December 8, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
In the morning we took Tim Banks, a student in photo-journalism, to see the IDP housing at Likani. He went off to take photos and we chatted with the IDPs.
Gill chatting with IDPs.
The once splendid spa hotel.
(Thanks to Tim Banks for the photograph.)
Former spa balcony used to dry washing.
Two of our IDP children.
In the afternoon we had another session with the IDP children. The younger ones prepared pictures for the OneWorld Classroom. They love having their pictures taken!
The older children had their volleyball macth against Khashuri. This time the Khashuri IDPs came to Borjomi. Borjomi won one and lost one.
The game.
The fans.
Dmitri refereeing.
Two park police came to watch.
Team tea.
Team tea.
A message for Gill. Roughly translated it says
"Cheers teacher Julie [sic]"
They like jigsaw puzzles, but they seem to be unfamiliar with them.
Most are not as skillful as western children of the same age.
'Not sure what this lot are up to!
In the morning we took Tim Banks, a student in photo-journalism, to see the IDP housing at Likani. He went off to take photos and we chatted with the IDPs.
Gill chatting with IDPs.
The once splendid spa hotel.(Thanks to Tim Banks for the photograph.)
Former spa balcony used to dry washing.
Two of our IDP children.In the afternoon we had another session with the IDP children. The younger ones prepared pictures for the OneWorld Classroom. They love having their pictures taken!
The older children had their volleyball macth against Khashuri. This time the Khashuri IDPs came to Borjomi. Borjomi won one and lost one.
The game.
The fans.
Dmitri refereeing.
Two park police came to watch.
Team tea.
Team tea.Sunday, November 30, 2008
We had a Sunday session with the IDP to try to get as many sessions as possible into the short time space available.
We had a Sunday session with the IDP to try to get as many sessions as possible into the short time space available.
A message for Gill. Roughly translated it says"Cheers teacher Julie [sic]"
They like jigsaw puzzles, but they seem to be unfamiliar with them.Most are not as skillful as western children of the same age.
'Not sure what this lot are up to!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
We went to Tbilisi to celebrate Thanksgiving with some RPCVs. We had a great time and everyone mucked in with the preparation.
Number 2 and number 1 wives preparing
Ruth, Brian, Amy and Gill.
Marina and Tamara, PC doctors, came too.
Katie and Ruth pretend to be odalisques.
We went to Tbilisi to celebrate Thanksgiving with some RPCVs. We had a great time and everyone mucked in with the preparation.
Number 2 and number 1 wives preparingfood (with their gin and tonics)
Ruth, Brian, Amy and Gill.
Marina and Tamara, PC doctors, came too.
Katie and Ruth pretend to be odalisques.Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
We went to the ambassador's house for a reception. A lot of Peace Corps and ex-Peace Corps folks were invited, so it was good to see people again. Number 2 wife did not attend.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Another day with the IDPs.
Preparing for the day's activities.
Gill took the younger IDPs to a puppet show in the local theatre. Tiko, Dmitri and I took the older ones to Khashuri for the football match against the Khashuri IDPs.
Puppet show audience.
We rented a bus for the Khashuri bash. They just would not sit still! In the end we just gave up.
Dmitri coaching!
The fan club!
One of the matches. We lost both matches:
one 11-1 and the other 4-2.
Team tea!
On the bus back to Borjomi.
Monday, November 24, 2008
We attended a children's concert in Borjomi. It was very "patriotic" with many references to Georgia and freedom and explicit refernces to Russia as the invader. It was very good and Borjomi clearly has a lot of talent. Actually, the preformers were mostly from #1 School, so the talent base was quite small.
Older children.
Younger children.
We went to the ambassador's house for a reception. A lot of Peace Corps and ex-Peace Corps folks were invited, so it was good to see people again. Number 2 wife did not attend.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Another day with the IDPs.
Preparing for the day's activities.Gill took the younger IDPs to a puppet show in the local theatre. Tiko, Dmitri and I took the older ones to Khashuri for the football match against the Khashuri IDPs.
Puppet show audience.
Puppet show audience.
We rented a bus for the Khashuri bash. They just would not sit still! In the end we just gave up.
Dmitri coaching!
The fan club!
One of the matches. We lost both matches:one 11-1 and the other 4-2.
Team tea!
On the bus back to Borjomi.Monday, November 24, 2008
We attended a children's concert in Borjomi. It was very "patriotic" with many references to Georgia and freedom and explicit refernces to Russia as the invader. It was very good and Borjomi clearly has a lot of talent. Actually, the preformers were mostly from #1 School, so the talent base was quite small.
Older children.
Younger children.Monday, November 17, 2008
Monday, November 11, 2008
Finally we got to go to the Tbilisi Opera.
Aida.
Our host sister, Mako, celebrated her 20th birthday on November 12 which was a bitter sweet occasion for us. We are very fond of her and did not want her to know that we felt at all sad. We took her and her mother to see Aida at the Tbilisi opera: the chorus was really splendid, Amneris was quite good, Aida was passable and Radames was dreadful. He also wore a very bad toupe. I think that the last time we saw a Radames who wasn’t shorter than both Amneris and Aida, didn’t have spindly legs and didn’t sound like a chain-saw was when we last saw Domingo.
Both Mako and her mother seemed to enjoy it as did we. There is under floor heating at the opera and it was delightful to be bathed in warmth and listen to good music. The performance was well attended but the audience did not behave well and chatted happily throughout the opera. Bob handled this pretty well all things considered – after all it wasn’t Wagner, but when one woman started humming along (out of tune) and tapping her feet, he almost lost it. However, Georgia must have made him more tolerant, or perhaps he does not expect them to behave well – they don’t do silence very well at all. Anyway, how can you lose when it’s only fifteen bucks for the best seats?
Tuesday, November 12, 2008
Mako’s celebrated her birthday with a party at a Georgian restaurant (i.e. one that serves Georgian food) in Tbilisi. She invited a few of her friends and Gill, Marina and Bob joined the party.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Another day with the IDPs.
Discussing the afternoon’s activities.
We took the boys to practice football in preparation for next week’s game against the IDPs in Khashuri. We shall be fielding two teams: the big boys and the small boys. So, we lines them up is size order and made the left half the big boys team and the right half the small boys teams.
Then we had to rush to get Mia’s birthday party in Tbilisi. It was good to see some of the RPCVs again – especially Bob’s second wife. She is returning to the US on Christmas day, so soon we shall not be able to see her until we return to the US. In fact, after Christmas, there will only be about four of us left.
Gill dances with Mako.
Small Brian, #2 wife and Mako.
Mia blows out the candles.
Finally we got to go to the Tbilisi Opera.
Aida.
Our host sister, Mako, celebrated her 20th birthday on November 12 which was a bitter sweet occasion for us. We are very fond of her and did not want her to know that we felt at all sad. We took her and her mother to see Aida at the Tbilisi opera: the chorus was really splendid, Amneris was quite good, Aida was passable and Radames was dreadful. He also wore a very bad toupe. I think that the last time we saw a Radames who wasn’t shorter than both Amneris and Aida, didn’t have spindly legs and didn’t sound like a chain-saw was when we last saw Domingo.
Both Mako and her mother seemed to enjoy it as did we. There is under floor heating at the opera and it was delightful to be bathed in warmth and listen to good music. The performance was well attended but the audience did not behave well and chatted happily throughout the opera. Bob handled this pretty well all things considered – after all it wasn’t Wagner, but when one woman started humming along (out of tune) and tapping her feet, he almost lost it. However, Georgia must have made him more tolerant, or perhaps he does not expect them to behave well – they don’t do silence very well at all. Anyway, how can you lose when it’s only fifteen bucks for the best seats?
Tuesday, November 12, 2008Mako’s celebrated her birthday with a party at a Georgian restaurant (i.e. one that serves Georgian food) in Tbilisi. She invited a few of her friends and Gill, Marina and Bob joined the party.
Saturday, November 15, 2008Another day with the IDPs.
Discussing the afternoon’s activities.
We took the boys to practice football in preparation for next week’s game against the IDPs in Khashuri. We shall be fielding two teams: the big boys and the small boys. So, we lines them up is size order and made the left half the big boys team and the right half the small boys teams.
Then we had to rush to get Mia’s birthday party in Tbilisi. It was good to see some of the RPCVs again – especially Bob’s second wife. She is returning to the US on Christmas day, so soon we shall not be able to see her until we return to the US. In fact, after Christmas, there will only be about four of us left.
Gill dances with Mako.
Small Brian, #2 wife and Mako.
Mia blows out the candles.Tuesday, November 17, 2008
We met with met with PCSSO, Beth Ritterpustch, and Regional Director, Jay Catzen so that they could ask us about safety in Georgia. We gave them an encouraging report - let's hope they take our advice.
We met with met with PCSSO, Beth Ritterpustch, and Regional Director, Jay Catzen so that they could ask us about safety in Georgia. We gave them an encouraging report - let's hope they take our advice.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The US Election - we missed it, but went to a celebratory party in Tbilisi!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The first program day with the IDPs.
Preparing the snack-food for the program
participants - sandwiches and Khatchapuri.
We took the older children to the National Park. Generally they were moderately well-behaved. Dmitri, a park guide, took them along a short trail and described the flora and fauna we encountered.
Start of the trail.
On the trail.
Monday, November 10, 2008
We have our hair cut in the kitchen!
The US Election - we missed it, but went to a celebratory party in Tbilisi!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The first program day with the IDPs.
Preparing the snack-food for the programparticipants - sandwiches and Khatchapuri.
We took the older children to the National Park. Generally they were moderately well-behaved. Dmitri, a park guide, took them along a short trail and described the flora and fauna we encountered.
Start of the trail.
On the trail.Monday, November 10, 2008
We have our hair cut in the kitchen!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Saturday, November 1
Today we had the IDP registration. About sixty children and parents turned up. We explained what the program was about – what the grant money was to be used for, and took their names, addresses, phone numbers where they could be reached, school and age. We also asked what they needed most and we would try to help with that. The most popular items were warm clothes, school books, computers and toys! We may be able to help with some of these, but computers are not likely.
Listening to our description of the program - the last time they will all sit quietly.
Teko and Mako register the children.
Today we had the IDP registration. About sixty children and parents turned up. We explained what the program was about – what the grant money was to be used for, and took their names, addresses, phone numbers where they could be reached, school and age. We also asked what they needed most and we would try to help with that. The most popular items were warm clothes, school books, computers and toys! We may be able to help with some of these, but computers are not likely.
Listening to our description of the program - the last time they will all sit quietly.
Teko and Mako register the children.
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