A couple weeks ago while walking outside Sighnaghi, Tim and I were reflecting on how nice it is to be in a country where the passage of time can be measured by the selection of fruit in the market. It's nice not to have the globalized North American supermarkets where blueberries can be had in January. It's difficult to remember all the time markers, because once the season is over, they're nowhere to be found. But here we left the peaches and nectarines long ago, along with the sweet, red flesh of perfectly ripe watermelons. In September we welcomed figs, pears and the first table grapes. It was grapes in earnest come October followed by persimmons, apples and pomegranates.
When I woke up on the morning of November 7th, it was clear the snow was early. Walking along the road unconventional Christmas trees were decorated with globes of persimmon orange and pomegranate red. Sinister Saparavi grapes still hung on some vines like the bearded heads of wise men, prematurely crowned with white. It's strange to miss the bleakness of late November when all the leaves have fallen, the naked silhouettes of trees greet early nights, and the earth lies frozen, waiting for its winter blanket.
The screen of my laptop gave up on Georgia. There's nothing but a black screen when I turn it on. But this has allowed me realize just how much time I was spending sitting alone at my desk listening to music and challenging my computer to endless games of Hearts. Unfortunately I've discovered shows in English broadcast on a Turkish TV station that we get. Sometimes I have to work to pull myself out of the vegetative state that TV can put me in so easily. But the absence of my laptop has allowed me to make faster progress through my Georgian grammar book, which I've almost finished. It also makes time for reading- I got my hands on a copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude", which has been exciting to read again. I'm almost through that as well! And finally without the distraction of an always-ready Hearts opponent I've been able to take more time to catalogue my thoughts and take stock of my current situation in reflections like this.
I'm still happy to be here, still enjoying the work in the school. For everything I teach I learn at least as much. My co-teacher, Tamriko, and I continue to developed a comfortable relationship with an understanding of where our respective strengths lie and how they can best be used in the classroom. But the undercurrent still persists for me of wanting more, both in terms of my work and socially. Teaching all of 16 hours a week leaves a whole lot of free time, and I would be happier with full days. It would be great to find a way to apply my ag econ studies to a project, or even just to pick up some tutoring to fill out my schedule. Socially, I have found whole lot of acquaintances here, a good handful of friends, but few that I feel really close to. While it can be frustrating waiting for these relationships to develop, it's given me a new appreciation for those already in my life that are truly good friends.
But soon enough I'll be flying back to the states for a month among those friends and family, and in the meantime, while I'll keep my eyes out for ways to channel the undercurrents that remain, I intend to enjoy myself thoroughly and take advantage of all the opportunities that are to be had, for they are abundant!
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