Coloring Eggs

English classes were full of fun the last week of April. In preparation for our Spring Festival my counterpart and I were mainly doing dress rehearsals with each class. But I needed some help from my older kids. Metanet teaches most of the younger forms but occasionally gets an older group. This year our kids are in 8th form and they are hilarious. They've stopped being so cautious around me and now we just have a really fun time. So this final week before our big Spring Festival consisted of learning all about spring holidays. We talked about St Patty's Day, Novruz, May Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, etc. But one day we did a little activity to go with our discussion of spring holidays around the world. Coloring Easter Eggs!

The second the dye was brought out, it got a bit crazy. The kids all thought that I was weird carrying a tray of eggs and they didn't quite get why I made them bring in hard boiled eggs themselves. I did a mini demo on how to use the spoons to dip eggs and all of a sudden I was swarmed. The kids were so into it. Oh man and don't even get me started on the magic crayon. Their own pens were soon brought out and many different crazy eggs came out. Since they were so excited I won't lie, a lot of eggs ended up turning brown. But they were equally as excited about their brown eggs, hilarious. We finished up with wearing face masks and beaded necklaces talking about Mardis Gras. I'm told that they would like to have a parade next year to play in a band. Who knows?

Read more...

Easter 2011

Okay I know this is about 6 months late but at least I'm getting to it right?

Just as it was last year, Easter was wonderful and spent with Nona! There was of course a midnight mass that involved a ridiculous amount of Georgians and my jacket getting a new hole and more wax from the mere proximity of all of the candles. Loki joined me and I had an amazing time. Sometimes with Georgian holidays people forget that I still don't speak Georgian so it was nice to have someone to talk to when everyone else was busy speaking noodle.

Outside the church we could see the enormous shadow of one of the altar boys ringing the bell. It was gorgeous. But now that I look at this picture it looks a bit horror film-ish. Just know that it was beautiful.
Georgian Orthodox also follows a form of Lent and the final days before Easter you are pretty much full out fasting. So the feast is EPIC. Every traditional food, wine, cakes, etc. I wrote out some toasts so I wouldn't be lost. After one huge feast we went in a huge group up to the church to pray more, light more candles and give offerings. It was nice to go during the day because it wasn't as hectic and the whole group dynamic was so joyous. Here's Natia, Nona and I leading the gang back home.

Then we landed back home after going to the church and 2 Easter feasts. I held a few babies and spent the better of 24 hours praying and yelling, "He has risen indeed!" in Georgian. Such a big crazy fun experience.

Read more...

Lagodekhi Day Trip

A Georgian PCV invited Löki and myself to hop the border for a day with our Georgian counterparts. He lives right across the border in a region called Lagodekhi. He has a great organization and we were frankly just there for the original introductions. The meeting started and I was rendered useless as Nona and Löki's counterparts jumped right in and began talking in super speedy Noodle Language. When the meeting was over we went to the Azerbaijani Institute and gave a mini presentation on what Peace Corps is as a whole and Tom's environmental project. At the end of the meeting and presentation we had a mini stop in the town center. Here's the gang. Then we headed over to the restaurant where all the counterparts were really awesome and big hams for the camera.We of course had to get back across the border before nightfall. It was a great end to a great day. Nona learned so much and she's been able to bring some of the stuff she's learned with some people in Qax. Great opportunities, done!

Read more...