Never gets old

No way, no how!

Tutoring:
Tutoring man #2 for the first time went alright. Moderately awkward but nothing too unbearable. Next time (Friday) we are going to have a lesson about music where we talk about song lyrics from songs we like. Hence me going on a while Hanson video watching tangent. Tutoring man #1 is still fine, I've been there three times this week already and going again on Friday. We were going to be meeting 8 times a month, but we are halfway to that point in like one week, so maybe we will meet more. He said he would pay me every 8 lessons. Hooray! It's so weird reading a guy's unfinished screenplay. Especially since he's actually planning to film it next year. So does this mean if it sucks it's partially my fault? I'm not an editor, just trying to fix major issues. Thank God I have a decent knowledge of grammar rules, otherwise it would be difficult. Have you ever, on the spot, had to explain someone when to use "intense" vs. "intensive?" That's one I had to think about and get back to him on. Also, I got to explain comma vs. semicolon, "then" vs. "than," the difference between "massage" and "message," and "score" vs. "scholar" (random, right?).  Also, our lessons always end up being over and hour long but it's not weird at all. He probably thinks I'm weird though. But then again, he was the one who was hungover the other day asking "what do you drink in America when you have a hangover?" and then he offered me whiskey (I declined) and he drank a glass of vodka.

Today I was finally given copies of textbooks for school. I got copies of every book EXCEPT book #1. Including book #5 and #6 which NONE of my classes use. But guess what? 12 of the 20 hours I teach each week use only book #1. Typical.

I'm averaging about 5lari a week on bus/metro tickets. Adds up quick. I guess it doesn't help that I am now going to school, back from school, to Freedom Square/Rustaveli and back home from Freedom Square/Rustaveli almost every day now thanks to tutoring as well as wanting to do fun things (that usually ends up meaning going downtown). But whatevs, could be worse! And bus #61 is the shit. Takes us right up to our apartment practically, but doesn't come as often as some of the other ones like #87, 88 or 140. And 88 has the worst breaks that are super loud and screechy. Bus 87 is smaller. Yeah. I'm on my blog listing out facts about the bus. Lame.

I'm not sick yet, but I feel like I might be on the verge. I had a sore throat the last two nights, nothing too bad, but enough to make me paranoid. Mostly because Lydia's had a cold for about a week now and Nick got strep throat. I REALLY don't want strep. I've heard nothing but terrible things about it for years and have been lucky enough not to have gotten it yet. Considering we are all sharing food/drinks/whatever-else all the time it seems like I might be doomed. Maybe not. I'll hope for the best.

Oh and best news! We have this Friday off! Three day weekends are the best! Even if I have to tutor on my "day off;" it doesn't count!

Different planet

Every once in a while, I feel really weird. Not really depressed or anything. It just kind of hits me like "you are really far away from home and nothing makes sense." Mostly, it happens when I'm sitting in the living room looking at the unknown food in front of me and thinking "well, might as well try it!" and then it ends up being something like a massive hot dog that isn't shaped like a hot dog. And I really hate hot dogs. Actually, I think this was the most nauseating thing I've eaten since I've been here! Even grosser than the raw fish with it's head on the plate in front of me! But, now I've learned my lesson and will not eat it in the future.
And then other times I wish I was at home:
the middle of the night (or like midnight) when I'm really craving something I could easily get at Safeway but don't even know if they would sell in this country,
when I don't know where I would buy a certain thing (most things),
when I can't go anywhere without getting a ride (am I 15 again??),
when there is snow everywhere and I'm freezing,
when I want Taco Bell (frequently),
when I can't understand a word anyone is saying and cannot even express to anyone how I feel or even communicate a simple sentence like "Temuri is really funny, what is he trying to say to me?"
So, sometimes it basically feels like I'm on a different planet. I guess I've never been away from everyone I know for so long or really at all. But, I can call all my other TLG friends for free and it helps a lot because man, sometimes you just need to speak in English and be able to use slang or even regular terms that are beyond seventh grade vocab.

So now that I've complained a bit about everything being weird and different. I will list some good things.
Today:
I got off work ridiculously early, at like 12:45 and came home and had the house to myself. But I basically just hung out in my bedroom... the power was off all day too, so I couldn't even take a shower or go on my computer. But it was still nice to relax.
I was in my room at dinner time and Shorena sent me a text from the living room saying "please come to the supper" which made me laugh.
Talked on the phone with Cort and got a lot of hilarious texts from him.
Was entertained by Temuri (the 4 yr old) after "supper," he likes to mimic English words like "OK" every time I say them, in fact he is just very interested in me in general. He talks to me for long periods of time in Georgian even though I have no idea what he's saying. He also likes to sing and dance around the living room and acts shy when I look at him doing it. He's really adorable.

Ok. Well I'm done for  now. Tomorrow we have the day off for Mother's Day, so I am planning to go into Telavi and meet up with Cort and Ryan. Then on Friday night, we are going to Tbilisi for the weekend! Hurray!