14-05-2012

7:26 AM

Well let me tell you—I’m not going on a run without my camera for a while!  This morning while running along the main road (the paved one that people routinely do 80 mph on) we ran into two 100-head flocks of sheep and goats, a man herding his mares and foals from horseback ( maybe 12 horses total) and a LOT of honking cars and busses surrounded by horses, goats, and sheep.  We managed to run out … but not back … also!  It’s bath day!  Huzzah!

PS: In a major win moment for me, I can now reliably unlock the front door in the morning!  This is no small thing!

8:19 AM

Spongebob in Kartuli (Georgian).

8:16 PM

There are definitely difficult days and moments here.  All of this newness and change sometimes makes me feel on the spot—which makes me feel alone.  If that makes sense.  Right now, during our intensive language and teacher training, there is very little time to take a minute to myself to collect.  Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed.  In those moments, it’s hard not to really, really feel the fact that this is over a two year commitment.  Yesterday, I was flipping through a teacher resource book and I found Shel Silverstien poetry in the back.  It made me so suddenly, achingly homesick, I started to cry.

“Rain”

I opened my eyes

And looked up at the rain,

And it dripped in my head

And flowed in my brain,

And all that I hear as I lie in my bed

Is the slishity-slock of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,

I walk very slow,

I can’t do a handstand—

I might overflow,

So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said—

I’m just not the same since there’s rain in my head.

Love,

Al

PS: My host mom says it’s more Georgian to be Ala, rather than Allie, so,

Love,
Ala