Hello, My Faithful Readers

May 5, 2017

Volume 1, Number 6

I don’t exactly know why; but for the last month or so we have lost power in my building a couple of times (maybe more, I’ve not counted). The electric does not stay off for a long period of time (like it did in the village); but it sure is inconvenient when it does go off….especially because there is no internet. Not a crisis; but a pain.

I’m sitting in the dark right now; so, I thought it would be a good time to start the blog. The good news about the building that I live in is that since we have 24/7 security so the building security folks make sure that whoever needs to know that we lost power has that information. No need to call…or do anything.

Note to self – Buy more candles. (Real Exciting stuff, huh) J

Georgia has finally been taken off the list of countries that people cannot receive their social security benefits in. Yipeeeeee. If it had come earlier (like this time last year) it would have saved me countless hours of work. You see, I had to appeal the decision and that took work and time. The good news is that I was successful and my appeal was approved; but one of the conditions was that I had to check in with the US embassy every three months. The trip required some time to get out to the embassy and go through the rigors of their security protocols and also forms had to submitted – but, nothing too difficult. Just required planning; and I know how to do that.

My social security office is in Athens, Greece so we only communicate via email; but, they have been wonderful.

I understand that the reason it was on the list was because Georgia was a former soviet block country. Unless you live abroad you would really not have any reason  to know this; but, since I do….it was just one more thing to deal with.

OK. The question is Retirement…..I don’t know how to do this!

So, I’ve retired since April 2014, when I went into the Peace Corps; however, I was not really retired. The 2-1/2 years I spent in the Peace Corps was anything but retirement. At times I had more work than I had when I worked full time. My life was very different; but, a lady of leisure I certainly was not. Now, I am not complaining; this was my choice and I would not have traded it for anything. So, part 1 was Peace Corps and then Part 2 was setting myself up at an ex-pat here in Tbilisi. My efforts were focused on finding an apartment, getting to know my new city (Tbilisi) and my new neighborhood (Vere); finding health insurance and doctors; dealing with transportation, etc., etc….and then travel back to the USA for the holidays. My days and nights were filled with wonderful new adventures.

And, now I am fairly settled - whew; and I am feeling the effects of real retirement.

I’ve been offered many full time jobs; but I don’t want to work full time. I do teach where and pretty much when I want to; but, I don’t have the rigid structure that I did when I was working before retirement. Even though I do work; I have settled myself into a routine. There are still lots of surprises; but, I feel more like a native than I feel like an outsider.

So, this is so odd to have nothing on the calendar except the things that I want to do and interest me. I am coming to the conclusion that I don’t know how to relax and just enjoy nothingness. I have planned and scrimped and saved to reach this point and now I am here. So, what is next…..

I am making myself stay grounded and to stay with being uncomfortable with retirement. I do have a couple of irons in the fire; so to speak – but, honestly, I don’t know if I want them to reach fruition. More to follow……….

I did find the Holistic Center here in Tbilisi, via a friend. So, I made an appointment and had my first massage in over 3 years. For a full hour it was 35 GEL; Which is $14 USD.  It was wonderful and I plan to make many more appointments. The only difference was that there was no dreamy music. but, didn’t mind that.

April brought Easter to Georgia. Celebrating Easter in Tbilisi was so different than in the Village. I didn’t move to Tbilisi until June; so last April I was still in the Village. Easter was lively in the Village. Family and Family arrived and stayed and stayed. Lots of food and wine; but, since no one left everyone just found a place to sleep in the house. The weather is usually OK; so, we could sit on the porch and welcome the neighbors as they stop by. However, here in Tbilisi was so quiet because most Georgians go home to their roots in the Village. It was wonderful here in Tbilisi as there was very little traffic and few people to dodge around walking from place to place. Most places were open  leading up to Easter Sunday but on Easter Sunday so many places were closed. I was amazed that even the outdoor vendors that sell fruits and vegetables were locked up tight. I’ve never seen such a vacuum; but, then I was never here in Tbilisi during a holiday.

I spent the time wandering around and enjoying the solitude. It was a real pleasure not to have to fight to get on a bus or a marsh and very short lines in the stores. I entertained myself and had a light dinner with a good friend who also stayed in the city. (We were lucky to find a decent restaurant open).

At the End of April I went to a Big Band Concert at the Tbilisi Concert Hall here in Tbilisi. What a wonderful experience that was. The tickets for events are so cheap – like 15 Gel; which equals about $7 USD. I was a little disappointed as I thought they would play Glen Miller and icons such as he that were popular during the Big Band era; however, this is Georgia and I failed to take that into account.

The band was mostly brass and did play themes from Jurrasic Park; Indiana Jones and other popular movies; but, lots of the night was dedicated to men and women who sang to various songs played by the band. Some in English and some in Georgian. The song “My Way” and “I’ve got you under my skin”..both wonderful songs but not what I expected to be part of a Big Band Concert.

Before the performance started (Of course late by 15 minutes) there were a series of speeches by Georgian Officials and also the US Ambassador. It was the anniversary of 25 years of affiliation between Georgia and the USA…so, lots to celebrate.

I also renewed my membership with ETAG (English Teachers Association of Georgia) and as a result was able to participate in a 2 days conference at the Black Sea University, located away from the city proper. It was the IRCEELT – International Research Conference on Education, Language and Literature.  The conference was sponsored by ETAG. It is held every 2 years and had over 200 participants from 26 countries around the world.

Conference topics went from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 as a future  prediction to The Role of  Person – Centric Education in Developing Learners’ Human Potential and everywhere in between. It was a tough choice to decide which session to spend my time in.

One Conference topic was on the agenda that I found particularly interesting was “The concept of Time in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.  I never understood this play and not that I understand it now; but, the issue of Time is a little clearer since attending the session. This 1969 Nobel Prize winner in Literature described daily life as a dismal one. It is repetitive and stagnant and lacks meaning, purpose and perpetual suffering. I found this description on the web.

The issue of Time in the play describes how we are all waiting for Godot. In life, how we are all waiting for something..it made sense to me.

All in all it was 2 days of  enrichment that I was really lucky to be part of.

I have made some changes in my teaching schedule. The first being that I resigned from my Sunday teaching at the British Corner because it felt more like I was baby sitting rather than teaching. Every Sunday for (3) hours I worked with two different age groups and it was like the game wack-a-mole. As soon as I got one student settled another student would act up…it was exhausting and I finally thought that my time would be better spent elsewhere.

As a result; I finally spent the time to construct a new curriculum which surrounded Critical Thinking and Life Skills. I spent countless hours pounding the pavement pitching it to groups that I thought would be interested.  The overall topic was Non-Traditional Education; in that, classes on topics that are not traditionally taught in school but used as a vehicle to learn English.

 I did connect with American Councils here in Tbilisi and we prepared an information sheet and a FB video to provide additional details. The back and forth between myself and American Councils gave us one week to advertise; but, sadly no one registered. I was so disappointed. I have been on the trail to pitch this program to other organizations; but, to date nothing has been finalized.

The program is just not moving in the direction that I thought it would. Honestly; I am not sure where or if it is going. I am asking myself questions if this is really how I want to spend my time. I do enjoy this type of teaching; but, I am just all over the place. I think this program intersects with my confusion over my retirement. I ask if this is something to just make sure that I have some structure to fill my time? I really don’t know; but, I do know that I am still asking questions and that is a good thing.

This program is what I spent most of April on. I miss traveling as that is really what I want to do. I want to research geographic locations and then travel there. Ideally I want to work while doing this so that my expenses can be offset by the work; but, that is not going in the direction that I would like.

The good news is that I am solid and stable here in Tbilisi. I am sure that the “whatever” will reveal itself. I just have to be patient (not my strong characteristic) to see what develops.

I am teaching tonight at the Sulkhan Saba University (link below). It is for a group of adults with the focus being Vocabulary and Listening. It is my first time with this group, so we shall see. It is a 2 hours session. Of course, not much money (then it never is) – but, if all goes well with this group I would be invited to teach at a 12 day summer camp out near the Black Sea.

http://www.sabauni.edu.ge/

I will close for now; but, wanted to get another blog under my belt before too much time had passed. Enjoy the nice weather, My Faithful Readers.

Best, Catherine Lawrence – 5/5/17