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| Just some super thankful 1st graders |
My Peace Corps journey fits right in with Thanksgiving. Back in 2014 I received my invitation to serve the day before Thanksgiving. I hadn't told many people about my plans to join the Peace Corps so Turkey day 2014 became the perfect time to let family and friends in on my little secret. Now two years have past and I am sitting in my bed in Georgia (under 4 blankets and next to a small space heater) reminiscing on those days, a lot has changed.
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| So far from where I was 2 years ago |
All in all I am thankful for this experience I am having. I often tell people that Peace Corps service is one of those things that can be terrible in the moment but in hindsight it will always be great. The fond memories and happy times will always shine brighter than the frustrations and exhaustion that I might be feeling in any given moment. So if you were worried about me after my last post, don't be (but I do appreciate the concern).
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| Some adorable Georgian children dressed as Charlie Chaplin for a song and dance routine- too good |
Now before I dive into my I'm-thankful-for-s let me recap the months of November...
I haven't added up the days but I think I might have spent more time away from Poti than in Poti this month. First we had a training of trainers focused on working with youth and creating youth programs across Georgia. This is an idea that came out of a Youth as Resources meeting and has grown into something I am quite excited about. This I'll help host a youth empowerment summit for PCVs and their youth counterparts to prepare them to create clubs and projects in their towns and villages- I can't wait.
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| PCVs and our staff liasion, ready to start some projects! |
The next training was our All Volunteer conference which brought all 112 of us PCVs together for the first time. We are an impressive group, I am always amazed when I hear what people are doing with their service here in Georgia. Aside from getting to know everyone, we also took the time to launch our new diversity and peer support initiatives which I have been working on with other PCVs. They went over well, especially the diversity one. It sparked some great conversations and hopefully more interest in understanding and supporting each other in our various experiences.
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| Thanksgiving a week early but with all the volunteers |
Aside from the trainings I was able to spend 1 weekend in Tbilisi with two of my best friends- Brent and Sarah. They were in Paris/London and Melody and I talked them into coming to Georgia for a quick weekend visit. We were only together for 2 days but it was great to show them a sliver of this amazing country and enjoy each others company.
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| Quick trip to Uplistsikhe with this crew |
Finally, November 8th... Election day was rough. I was caught completely off guard and not prepared for the conversations I would need to have with the Georgians around me. I avoided my host family and others all day so I could process things and talk to some other volunteers. The phrase I use most often now is- ვნახოთ ვნახოთ (let's see [what happens]).
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| Reunited and it feels so good! |
Now for some I'm grateful gab :)
Friends and family are a great place to start however cliche it may seem. I really am grateful for my friends and family. I have had multiple friends come to visit me as well as my mom. I also receive a lot of support through texts, phone calls, and messages from people back in the States. However, my definition of friends and family is also expanding to include people in Georgia. My host family has been wonderful to me. Despite any annoyances that might persist, they are nothing but kind and caring people who have let me live with them and disrupt their normal way of life. They make my experience here in Georgia more meaningful and help to make sure I don't loose any weight. Aside form my new Georgian family I also have many new Georgian friends. These Georgians aren't forced to like me or be kind to me, they choose to be. Their friendship has made my time here a lot more fun and helped to make me feel more included in Georgian culture.
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| Visited the Tbilisi mosque and had a great conversation on religion with this man |
Second, I am grateful for my fellow volunteers and the Peace Corps staff. The volunteers I serve with are my people. I love when I meet people who I know are my people. We share many common interests and conversations are rarely dull- no matter who I am talking to. Also my G15 group of volunteers have become my main source of strength in the hard times. They are here going through this experience with me and they are great examples and fine comrades. The Peace Corps staff here is indescribable. I don't know what my experience would be like without them. I've spoken to other volunteers who aren't so fortunate and I don't know how they do it. I look up to the staff so much, I value their opinions, and I hope to become friends with all of them even after I have returned home.
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| The wall of diversity from our All-Vol training |
Next up, I am grateful for my country. Living abroad always readjusts my perspective and reminds me of the great life I have back in the US. I am grateful for the opportunities that being born there has afforded me. I am also grateful for the American values like diversity and pluralism which aren't found everywhere in the world. I didn't realize how much I valued the different people, cultures, and ideas that make up America until I was in Georgia experiencing life without the same things. I have learned to recognize and value the experiences of others and trying see things from new perspectives and all I can say is that I hope this appreciation never wanes.
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And now here is a list in not certain order of other things I am grateful for: indoor plumbing, indoor heating, insulation, quality products, convenience, lobiani, khachapuri, trains, no smoking restaurants, good students who make up for the bad ones, funny graffiti that makes me laugh every time I walk by, oreos, duct tape, dryers, variety, sunny weather, books, TV, and airplanes.
Speaking of airplanes, did I mention that I am going home for Christmas? I bought a spur of the moment flight for Christmas eve. I'll be seeing some of you real soon!
Happy Thanksgiving!
