In Training

We finally went up and saw the Narikalis Fortress and the Kartlis Deda statue above Tbilisi, the giant silver woman on top of the hill.  According to the old man with the homemade water cart at the base of the statue, she is the Mother of Georgia, holding a jug of wine in her left hand to welcome guests and a sword in her right hand to warn off enemies.  He also called her "didi gogo," which means "big girl."  To be fair, he's kind of right.

See?  A very big girl.

As you walk up the hill on the path in front of the Fortress, there is a tree covered in strips of cloth, ribbons, and torn plastic bags.  There is a myth associated with this tree that, if you tie your bit of stuff to it, you can make a wish.  It was Kelsey's birthday, so we all made birthday wishes for her.  And we wished for a man for Sengka.

Dear Magic Tree, please bring me an Official Red Ryder Air Rifle.  And a man for Sengka.

There is a gondola from the top of the Fortress to the Peace Bridge, and it's a really neat ride.  We had lots of nifty views of the city on the way down.  it lets out in the park at the end of the bridge, where we found a giant chess set.  Fortunately, they hadn't been Transfigured to come to life and smash each other to pieces whenever they were captured.

If they had, I think Kelsey could have taken them.

Some little Georgian kid followed me down the street calling, "Hello!  Hello!  Hello!  Princess Leia!"  George Lucas has invaded Tbilisi.  I approve.

We started training that afternoon, and we've been in training all day ever since.  Teaching Methodology, Intercultural Training, How Not to Die in Georgia.  You know; the basics.  And Georgian language classes.  Lots of Georgian language classes.  It's quite a lingual workout trying to pronounce all those consonants right after each other.  At night, we all stay up late studying and trying to cram this language into our heads.

No, really.  This was near midnight on Friday evening.

Georgian is too heavy for John's brain.  He can't even lift his head anymore!

I washed my laundry in the sink this morning.  My grandmother would have been so proud!  We should be getting our placement assignments today, and then we'll be off to the hinterlands the day after tomorrow.  Yay!

Before I go, I'll leave you with this picture of Olly trying to say "khaki pants" with an American accent.

What a daft bloke, talking such rubbish!