Last minute change of plans (of course)

I was meaning to write a more detailed reflection at some point in this time after the monastery tour and before the start of my teaching contract, but it seems that time will be cut short! I received an urgent email from the TLG (Teach and Learn in Georgia) flight coordinator regarding reimbursement of the plane ticket I bought to get over here. When I went down to the office I was offered the opportunity to start work a week earlier as an "Activity Leader" at an English language summer camp for gifted Georgians, between 9th and 11th grade. I asked if that would improve my chances of being placed in a requested location. So when they told me I could be placed in Sighnaghi beginning in August, I said, "Sure! Sounds great!" So now I'm getting ready to pack on out of the hostel. I'll be met with a car tomorrow morning, and I'm off to start a brief training session with a couple other folk just off the plane, and the camp starts on July 10th. Even though I'm cutting short my time for Georgian lessons (I had two 2hr sessions with a great tutor), I'll be busy, physically active, in a social environment, and paid. I think it's a pretty sweet opportunity.

Below is the email I was sent to confirm the position:

Dear Christopher,

Further our conversation you will find detailed information about Bucskwood summer school below (the letter might seem too long, but please read it carefully):

Position: Activity leader

Location: Tskhneti (near Tbilisi mountainous area)

Dates: 2nd intake: July 10-July 30

Room and board: All Leaders/Activity managers will be living in the rooms together with
students.

Salary: The TLG Volunteers will get the same monthly salary as usually (500GEL)

activities will include: sports, field trips, performances, intellectual and art games.

Buckswood International school was established in 2000 year and since then it has hosted many summer programmers.

Participants of Buckswood summer school are 9th, 10th and 11th graders. There will be around 150 students at each intake. The students come from different Regions and schools of Georgia.

Room and board description:

Rooms: there will be 5-6 two deck beds in each room. There are 15 rooms (45-54 square meters each). Girls and boys will sleep separately.

shower: Approximately 8 cabins.

Rest rooms : 7 and 3 others for the stuff members.

Food: 3 times in a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Equipments: sports, stationary and technical supplies will be provided for the school.

Medical Help: First aid and nurse available.

Cleaning: cleaning lady will be available.

Safety: 24 hour guards and video control.

Non academic programs start after the academic programs are over and varies every day.

Activities: sport and intellectual competitions, performances, poetry and musical evenings, group games and field trips.

Activity leaders are in charge of organizing all the above mentioned events and will guarantee safe and mobilized atmosphere.

The working language is always English.

Daily schedule:

7:00 _ wake up call for students

8:00- 9:00 _ Breakfast

9:15-12:30 _ English lessons

12:45 - 13:45 _ lunch

14:45 - 18:30 _ afternoon activities

18:30 - 19:30 _ Dinner

20:00 - 22:30 _ Evening activities

22:30 _ getting ready to sleep

23:00 - lights go off.

Buckswood Summer school is different from your work at school, where you teach English with certain your scheduled working hours. In Buckswood, you will be assigned as activity leaders which means your complete involvement in organizing and / or participating in afternoon/evening sessions. Maintaining good order during social program sessions and ensuring a safe environment with positive learning opportunities for all the children. Although activity leaders need to be involved in the activities from early morning till late night, Buckswood school management made slight changes in their program since the working hours there were than 30 hours. With the current suggested schedule, your working day will start at 3:00pm and finish at 10:00pm every day with one day off. This is still more than 30 hours but the benefits are that this is not a school situation this is a summer camp; you will not have to pay 100 lari to your host families because you will be living in Tskneti and getting free food and lodging; you are outside of Tbilisi, in a beautiful country side and school; you will have an opportunity to work with respectful staff and some of the brightest students coming from all over Georgia; you will get a letter of recommendation from Buckswood for participation and finally you will be staying in a rather comfortable and picturesque atmosphere. We would also like to let you know that there will not be additional pay and it will be the same – 500GEL. After completion in Buckswood, you will be required to participate in other summer programs if the need occurs.

We kindly ask you to think about this position, get acquainted to your duties and send us your confirmation stating that you would like to work for Buckswood. In your confirmation please indicate the intake (2^nd intake in your case)

We also attached a staff manual from Buckswood where you can find the detailed description of your duties and responsibilities in the activity leader’s section.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via mail or phone :

T: 877 239833 -Ketevan Tateshvili
877 239839 -Anano Tsartsidze

Kind regards

Best,

TLG Summer Team

(+995) 77 239839

(+995) 77 239833

www.tlg.gov.ge

www.mes.gov.ge