Family Abroad

I haven't written for a while again, so hello.  I feel like I owe the world at large a story here, so I will tell the story of my host uncle and my real family.

My host uncle is a cool guy.  He's a big dude, especially for a Georgian, with a big broad face and a wide, very charming smile.  He gets away with stuff.  He's one of those people that, even though you know that he would never harm a hair on your head, you're still never sure if he's going to do what he says he's going to do.  In other words, a politician to the extreme.  I don't think I'm saying anything that's not generally known here-- his own wife prefers to refer to him using the Georgian word for "devilish".

When my family visited, he requested that I translate for them that he works in Parliament.  He always says this.  He works in a hotel.  Now, I certainly don't see the shame in working in a hotel, but I think he was a "bigger man" back in the old government and the change is rough on his ego.  Still, I suppose these niceties should be preserved.  Parliament it is.

He's always searching to let me know that I am a daughter and, more than that, my American cultural differences are OK (although he is clearly disappointed that I don't drink chacha more often).  He emphasized that my strange American ways were OK by letting me know that I could stay for free at the hotel he works at with my, ahem, male companion.  He renews this offer semi-regularly and I appreciate it-- while I'd never accept (my relationship status notwithstanding).  As a consequence, he's always seemed miffed that I don't appear to trust him.

So, when my mom, brother, and grandma came to Georgia, I saw the perfect opportunity.  Family!  Family is socially safe!  We can stay a night at this hotel, allow my host uncle to show us his hospitality, and everybody will be happy!

Fast forward.  We are all on a marshutka going through the backstreets of Batumi.  Looking for this hotel.  We find it.  It's not that far away from the main street.  Cool.

It's kind of a funny building and it looks like it may contain more than one club.  The floors on the steps inside are marble, though, and the stairwell is full of stained glass windows.  The hall containing the door to our room is dimly lit, not decorated, and infinitely long.  How long is this building?

Our room has a big screen TV, no light in the bathroom, a shower that leaks considerably and sprays water in very awkward directions.  This, however, is Batumi and none of this fazes us so much as the very interesting lighting and color scheme of the room.  When you turn on the lights, they're white in the middle with a colored strobe light around them.  Every wall is painted a different, bright color.  The room is relatively large and does not look like a bedroom, even though it contains a bed.  The other "bedroom" is partitioned off by a curtain.  In fact, this definitely looks like a party room with a few beds in it.  Hmm.

There are only 3 beds and my host uncle very much would like to put my brother in his own room.  I tell him it's fine and I can sleep in the same bed as my grandma.  He's miffed.  Man, this dude is miffed at me a lot.

We take pictures, we laugh at the very strange lighting and, exhausted from a weekend in the village, we go to bed.  My brother can't sleep, though, and decides to check out the club downstairs.

 The next morning, he tells us we are staying in a brothel.  After a few comments from the bartender, the club containing only smoking girls in normal "club wear" took on a whole new meaning.  My bro bailed after being offered new friend with good English skills.

... my host uncle put my grandmother up in a brothel.  And didn't think twice about it, either!

Seriously, I live with the Mafia.

And a few pictures

 My (just turned!) 4 year old host sister in her new favorite evening routine of coming into my bedroom while my host mom is milking the cow and rifling through all of my clothes to try on anything that is pink or red.  Those are also my slippers.

 The springtime view out my bedroom window.

 An "old" volunteer trying on the traditional Georgian hat that she got as a parting gift.  These fools are leaving in a week and then I'll be "old"!  How 'bout that?!

 

 A particularly beautiful sunset in Kobuleti overlooking the Black Sea.

 

Trainers and trainees (minus 2) standing outside of the Batumi USAID office after SELF Camp Training of Trainers.  Go us!  Go SELF!  (If anyone from my family is reading this, this is not the same camp as the email I sent you, but it's awesome too!!!)