Village life in Georgia...the country not state!

This is an account of some things that I have experienced living in a small village while teaching English abroad in the Republic of Georgia (an Eastern European country near Armenia and Turkey). My placement is in West Georgia in the Guria region which is situated near the Black Sea and known for its warm climate. My other group mates that arrived with me were so jealous, and they said it was unfair to put someone from a warm climate in a warm region. This hadn't been the case during my first few weeks here (locals say it was the longest winter in many years)!

Nasakirali is a quaint little community surrounded by evergreen bushy forests and a view of the Bakhmaro Mountains. There is only a school, clinic, and lots of little shops. Most the people do their own farming so there are lots of cows, pigs, and hens roaming the streets. I was shocked to learn that there is a large Muslim community here, but their practices are quite different from what you would think of. There is no Mosque, praying, and women covered up showing only their eyes. Some of the locals even drink wine, so this is definitely a Georgian version of the religion.

My village

Now to my village life experience:

◊ My host family consists of just an elderly couple that teach at my school. This is very small and different since generations of family members usually live in one household in Georgia. They don't speak any English, but are very loving and have truly embraced me as a part of the family. I call my host mother 'deda' and my host father 'mama' which are Georgian words for mother and father. I wish I had started learning more Georgian before my arrival, but since I am surrounded by Georgian I'm picking it up along the way.

◊ I live in a nice two-storey home, which is common in villages compared to cities where people usually live in apartments. Although my room is currently in the library with a double pull-out couch, now that we are in Spring I'll be in moving upstairs to my own private suite with a picturesque view of the village. I'm super excited! There is a wooden stove and no indoor heating, so this was a major adjustment during the cold these past few weeks. Many times I sat huddled by the stove to keep warm even with layers of clothing on so I am happy that Spring is finally here.

My home in the village

◊ My diet consists of mostly starchy foods including bread, potatoes, and cheese, but we eat beans, fish, and chicken as well. Meat is very expensive here. The good thing is that these are organic products since my host family has a garden of vegetables and cows. I do watch my portion sizes and started walking now that the weather has warmed up.

◊ Infrequent hot showers since pipes were frozen during the winter months. This having been a very long winter, I had to adjust to this. Two words WET WIPES!

◊ Neighbors frequently visit my home, and I am invited to their homes often either for 'suphras' (dinner parties) or to simply show me their homes and introduce me to family members. They love to give guests coffee and chocolates. I'm not a fan of coffee but I drink it to be polite.

My 1^st suphra!

◊ I usually walk wherever I need to go in the village, which is mainly to and from school. My host parents and I take a short 12-minute trot there. It's great exercise so I don't complain. It was a bit of pain during the cold and snowy days (sometimes we would catch a ride with a passerby) but the Spring weather makes it much better!

◊ To get in and out of the village, I have to take a marshutka (mini-buses that are very popular throughout Georgia). This is a 30-minute ride to the nearest town and I travel either by train or marshutka to my final destination. If I'm running errands or meeting up with other friends in town I walk. I'm still adjusting to this because the bus schedules are very limited so I have to be sure to get to the station on time or I will be stuck in town until the next day. I could take a taxi but they are very expensive and not being a local can mean additional costs. On weekends that I travel outside of my region, I'm usually able to stay at one of the school teacher's house.

 

The Marshutka

◊ After school and on weekends in the village, I mainly read and watch movies on my laptop. Otherwise, I sit and watch tv with my host parents especially Spanish soap operas, Georgian Dancing with the Stars and Georgian Idol (their version of popular American shows), visit with neighbors, and take long naps.

◊ Washing machines here have the modern look but do not work as such. I'd prefer to do laundry weekly, but these machines it takes hours to wash a load of clothes. The first time I did laundry I took a two hour nap and my clothes still were not done so I'm just thankful that my host family has a washing machine. There are no dryers and clothes are hung on the line (even in cold weather), but there's nothing like air drying clothes.

The washing machine

◊ There is no internet access at my house, so I had to go to the nearest town to purchase a USB modem and internet package. Although it's the best internet service is quite and most likely to work in villages, the USB modem is quite expensive and I pay monthly by GB.

◊ Curious stares and pictures are common for people of color so my village is no different, but being here over a month now everyone is getting use to seeing me. The people are friendly and always bid me hello 'Garmajoba.'

It can be boring living such a laid back lifestyle especially with no English speakers around, but I'm making the best of it. Now that I am picking up the language and making friends with neighbors in my age group it's not too bad. Also, I have been traveling around the country on most weekends now that the weather is warming up. It's great to be in a place I don't have to worry about locking doors at night or crime and everyone knows each other. Also, I can always meet up with other English teachers in town or call them for free on my local cellphone as well as travel to other regions on weekends. I'm enjoying the experience of living here so far, and I hope to learn to milk a cow, make homemade dairy products, and plant and harvest vegetables!

Gaining Financial Freedom Living Abroad

April, 20112—Cha Jones

"Umm—I thought I came here to travel!”

When I first set sail to live abroad in Korea in 2009 I had one major goal at the time—“Become debt FREE.” Of course I had a desire to travel, but I really wanted to go back to America better off than I left. And for me, that meant that I had to have a “Game Plan.”

Pleasure vs Pain

It’s really easy to live life constantly seeking those things that make you feel good, but it takes some discipline to deny yourself things that gratify your senses. Travel for most of us is an indulgence, but it has always been so much a part of my life that without it I feel a little lost. However, while living in Korea I found that if I were going to give up something there needed to be a compromise while I worked toward my bigger goal, which turned out to be great—domestic travel. While I had to forego the pleasure trips, I was able to take smaller excursions within the country and discover the sights in and around the peninsula.

How I became debt free in a year

I’ll be honest most of my life I live very care-free, but when it comes to my money I always have a foreseeable plan. It isn’t very difficult for me to budget and save for the things that I desire to have or do. However, if you find sticking to a budget or saving for something that you want difficult, then let me give you a few little tips on how to save and still be happy.

1. Visualize it-for me I write it all out, but for you, you may want to create a vision board of what you want in the future.

2. Decide to live from the end- when you live from the end you act as if what you want is already here. So, if you want to owe nothing at the end of your contract, then you need to act the part. Think of how you will feel when that happens and focus on that feeling vs thinking about how much you are missing out on, especially when you see all the cute pictures being posting on FaceBook. Remember stay focused on what you want!

3. Decide what you can live off of- look at your entire debt and your entire income and make a conscience decision of what you are willing to live off of. Make this reasonable, because if you don’t you will be setting yourself up for failure before you get started. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

4. Pay yourself FIRST-always pay yourself first because it does two things (1) it shows how value you believe yourself to be (2) when you pay yourself it allows you to set aside your portion of savings before anyone else gets a portion of what you worked for, look at it like you are rewarding yourself before you give anyone else a piece of the pie, “I mean you made the money, RIGHT?”

5. Create a budget and budget out your entire year- I know this may seem a little daunting, but the reason I suggest putting the whole year in a budget at once is (1) so you can see it (2) because most of us get paid once a month and you know what you are going to get paid, so in essence you already know what needs to be set aside in advance and this way you can stick to the plan with ease.

6. Celebrate you success- Don’t make saving feel like torture. When you are saving and paying off debt it may seem like jail time. If you view it as such, you will regret it and it becomes work-hard work, and most people hate hard work. Find ways to reward yourself for meeting your goals. Maybe you buy yourself an outfit when you make your 3 month goal, and maybe you go on a nice dinner outing when you hit another goal. Whatever you do, don’t sit around crying broke because you are working toward something great and you don’t want to resent the process in the meantime.

Example of my savings plan…

Based off of a income of $2,500 (after taxes monthly) with debt of $10, 000

Remember pay yourself FIRST, for those of you who attend church this is just like tithing (first fruit is yours and if you go to church and you tithe then you pay God too at this time.)

Self: $250

Credit card 1: $2,500 Credit card 2: $3,000 Credit card 4: $4,500

You still live off of $1075 a month

Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10
$250	$250	$250	$250	$250	$350	$350	$350	$450	$450
$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	0	0	0	0	0
$300	$300	$300	$300	$300	$500	$500	$500	0	0
$375	$375	$375	$375	$375	$575	$575	$575	$975	$975
Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425	Total $1425

As you can see this is only 10 months, but I based the dollar amount off of a complete 12 months. You want to start with the smallest balance and pay it off first, then you move to the next smallest debt and you use the money from the paid-off debt to pay the remaining debt. When you do this, you pay off your debt faster and consistently, and you will notice that I increased the amount I paid myself as I paid off the debt. This creates free cash flow and I suggest if you spend money from your savings you pay yourself back with interest.

To become debt free you will have to sacrifice a little, but at the end you will be much happier and more fulfilled. If you complete this goal it makes all your other goals more successful, and if you want to extend another year and travel you will be able to do it without the weight of your debt on your shoulders.

Once you have become debt free I suggest that whatever you charge you being to pay off completely every month, then you won't ever OWE anyone or find yourself IN DEBT again!

Traveling Sucks (Yeah, I Said It)

By Rukiya McNair

Photo.

I miss my husband. As I am here in Puerto Rico enjoying the sunshine (see photo), he is in a war zone everyday… working away. Having two small children does make it a bit better, as I always have company and for the most part they are a joy to be around. Missing him also makes me think about some of the things that travel has forced me to miss out on.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, travel has changed my life and opened my eyes to life in a way that I can’t describe in words but it does also have its downfalls.

For instance, friendships have been formed in every place I have  traveled to, and I mean real friendships. So, moving away is hard when you realize years down the road that the people who mean the most to you are often spread out across the globe.  On one hand, this great because you always have people to go visit, but on a day-to-day basis this can make things quite lonely.  Although, I can say that I am grateful for technology which makes it much easier to communicate now-a-days. So I suppose I should be thankful right?

Something else I have realized, as I have packed up and moved around more than most people I know, is that being attached to material possessions is a waste of energy and time. You know that lovely broach your grandmother gave you for your fifth birthday or that necklace that’s been passed down in your family for generations? Leave it with someone you trust or simply prepare yourself for the reality that it will get broken, stolen, or lost…or some combination of the three.  At this point, I have managed to program myself to not become attached to anything that can’t love me back. Be aware that luggage does get lost, delayed and stolen. Understand that when you leave items at a hotel, they typically don’t call you to say they have it, especially if it’s of value. Yes, people do pick-pocket, this is something your typical American is not accustomed to, but it happens (in some places, it happens rather often). Left your cell phone in a taxi after a fun and long night out? Kiss it goodbye.  Ipods, purses, wallets…anything you can think of can and more than likely will turn up missing if you travel enough. Just be thankful for your health and keep it moving.

A bit of advice I do have is that when you take photos, upload them to a website, internet storage, your email or somewhere you can find them in the case that your camera and/or laptop breaks or disappears. I mean, one thing you don’t want to lose is all of the beautiful photos you have taken along the way, right?

Okay, so now that I've officially scared you off (I'm joking, if you're reading this I know it can't be that easy) let it be known that traveling and living abroad is not for the faint for heart. It will, however change your life for the better and you will belong to one of the best clubs around. 

A Blogger's Collected Snapshots (The ABC's) of Travel

By:  Brittany S

I was searching for a way to sum up all of my travel experiences in one article and I stumbled upon the “ABCs of Travel” questionnaire.  Here’s my travel life wrapped in the alphabet.

A: Age you went on your first international travel
When I was in college, I was awarded a $6000 scholarship to go abroad.  I applied to a 6-wk study abroad program at Middlesex University in the UK (2007).  I was 19 when travel changed my life forever.

Does this count as a "float-thru?" (Bought Red Stripe here)

B. Best foreign beer you had and where:
I don't drink much, and I don't like beer.  However, Jamaica’s “Red Stripe” is pretty tasty considering.  The journey to get to it was interesting as well.





C. Cuisine (favorite):
So far, my palate was most satisfied in VIETNAM.  I'm NOT big on veggies or anything that people say “It’s good for you.”  But in Vietnam, I ate a ton of fresh/healthy food, even pumpkin leaves/stems, and it was delicious!  This is the ONE FOOD I've ever eaten that made me want to say “Tastes like chicken!”

Travel fatigue's no joke, especially when it's hot.

D. Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why:
My favorite country is Thailand (thus far).  I visited downtown Bangkok for 5 days on about $600 USD and had plenty of money to spare. 
My least favorite so far is Hanoi, Vietnam.  The local cuisine was phenomenal and my USD was stretched the farthest there.  The only downside was the weather.  I went there after traveling to two other countries that week and was running on fumes.  The hot weather completely wore me out and I slept most of my trip. 





E. Event you experienced abroad that made you go Wow
The Siam Niarmit is the best theatrical experience I’ve ever had.  There were two shows, a traditional village, and a wonderful buffet all included in the price of the ticket.  The “wow” moment for me was being stalked by both elephants!  I wasn’t trying to draw their attention like everyone else, but they were drawn to me and I was often trunk to face with one of the elephants.


F. Favorite mode of Transportation
The Tuk Tuk’s in Thailand feels like the adult version of boxcar racing in the middle of traffic!


G. Greatest feeling while traveling
I am just thankful for the simplicity in travel.  Seeing the same flower from all of its angles with all the different ways the light can hit it makes it all the more beautiful.


H. Hottest place you traveled to

Hanoi, Vietnam.  See (D).

Our cook, housekeeper, and Rasta tour guide with some of us.

I. Incredible service you’ve experienced and where
I took a trip to Ocho Rios, Jamaica with my (older) cousin and some of her girlfriends.  From the time we arrived at the airport we were just completely spoiled.  Even though they catered to us so heavily, they made us feel like welcome guests in their home and a part of the family.

J. Journey that took the longest
My journey to S. Korea was exhausting.  From start to finish it was a little over 24 hours.

K. Keepsake from your travels
I collect elephants, so anytime I can find an affordable and unique elephant that is small/light enough to travel with, I scoop it and a few of its friends up!  Trunk up always!

L. Let down site: when and where
Roppongi Hills--Tokyo, Japan.  To be fair, the majority of this let down was on my part, not theirs.  Japan's currency is really strong.  Roppongi Hills has endless shopping and dining, as well as places for wellness and fitness, entertainment, and sightseeing; almost all of which were out of my price range.  To top it all off, I purchased a combo ticket for the “Tokyo City View” and Mori Art Museum, but it wasn’t until I was about to go to the museum that I was told it was closed and wouldn’t be open until next month. 

Became Friends: Summer 2007

M. Moment where you feel in love with travel
In the UK, I reinvented myself there and realized that no matter where I am in the world, people are just people.  I've kept in touch with my friends I made there (who were from all over the world) and recently went to one of their weddings in Hong Kong.


 

Reunited: Winter 2011

N. Nicest hotel you stayed in
Arnoma Hotel in downtown Bangkok, Thailand.  The hotel was beautiful, staff was friendly, and the BREAKFAST WAS FANTASTIC!
 

 




 O. Obsession – What photos are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling

Sooo...style stinks?

"Horn Removal"? Is that common?

Funny signs!  I’ve seen everything from a sign that resembled the “Advance to St. Charles Place” Monopoly card to something with teddy bear trench coat flashers.  Bad English translations are funny, too.  Yesterday I saw a “Crap Salad” sign at a restaurant. :-)

P. Passport stamps, how many and from where
I currently have 11 stamps from:  London, Paris, Jamaica, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China (layover flight), Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan (in that order).

This is slightly erotic according to "Loveland" O.o

Q. Quirkiest Attraction you have visited and where
In Jeju, S. Korea, I visited “Loveland,” a sex museum/park.  I’ve never seen genitalia as tall erect statues (no pun intended) with polka-dots all over them.  The quirkiest part of it all is that it was a school-sponsored trip.

R. Recommended sight, event, or experience

Siam Niarmit.  See (E).

I can't swim or float, but I can do this

S. Splurge: Something you have no problem spending money on while traveling
If I have the opportunity to do one of those once-in-a-lifetime type of things like an “Aquanaut Voyage” or fly a plane, then I do it as long as the ticket isn’t TOO high and the intrigue is great)!







 
T. Touristy thing you’ve done
“Dr. Fish” is a special fish that eats dead skin.  There’s a café I visit often but I notice I never really see locals doing it.  Fish are eating my feet while everyone else is drinking coffee.






U. Unforgettable travel memory
I was sitting around with a group of people from all around the world and I felt I learned more about their countries and cultures one night over dinner than I'd learned my entire time in school.


V. Visas: how many and where
Korea (work) and Vietnam (travel).


W. Wine, best glass while traveling and where
I like Moscatos.  I’ve only had moscato in the States though, but it was during one of my roadtrip visits, does that count?


X. eXcellent Views and Where

The ocean view from my villa in Jamaica.  It was hard to distinguish the water from the sky and for a moment, all I could hear were my heart beat and the gentle waves.

Y. Year’s spent traveling

I’ve been in S. Korea for a little over 15 months.  Also, I've traveled domestically most of my life.


Z. Zealous sports fans
I’ve seen a lot of zealous sports fans in different places, but still, none seem to top those in my family.  While others are just extremely excited about winning and a little discouraged by losing, I’ve seen members of my family almost break a TV, chair, table, etc all at the thought of losing.

Spring is in the air and so are festivals in Korea!

By Nicole Brewer

It’s that time of year in Korea, where there is a festival almost every other weekend throughout this festival loving country.  Last weekend down in Busan I attended the Kite Festival located on Dadaepo Beach.  While the weather was still a bit chilly, it was nice to see the array of beautiful colors of kites with families alike having a fun day at the beach.  One of the best things about living in Busan is its abundance of beaches we have here. There are six including the infamous haeundae beach which toots the world record for the most beach umbrellas in the world, who knew.   

Now that spring is finally making its presence in Korea, the country is revitalizing its festivities for families and travelers.  From April 1^st through April 10^th the gorgeous city of Jinhae will host it’s annual Cherry Blossom festival.  I attended this beautiful festival last year with my coworker and it was a great delight to view the hundreds of cherry blossoms on trees throughout the city. When the winds blew, cherry blossom petals surrounded you in the streets.  

Nicole with Sam teacher at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom festival.

They will also have a fireworks display and the Jinhae Military Band & Honor Guard Festival  runs concurrently with the festival.   There are also 3 other Cherry Blossom festivals running during this time in April in Jeju, Cheongpung and Hwagae if you can’t make it the infamous Jinhae festival which usually host over 2 million visitors.  It was a feat managing to get a seat on the bus from Busan so take note to give yourself more then enough time for transportation (get to the station at least 2 hours early as there was a winding line last time).

Beginning April 19^th until April 26^th is the International  Women’s Film Festival in Seoul.  More than 120 films from 30 countries will be screened this year, including shorts, documentaries and films made by migrant women living in Korea.  Very sensitive issues such as breast cancer and the global scale of the nuclear crisis will be covered here so this is will be an event you do not want to miss.  It will run at  various venues in Seoul, including Shinchon Artreon theater, Korean Film Archive, CGV Songpa, and Ewha Womans University.

From April 18^th through April 22^nd is the Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. In addition to the 100 or so bullfighting competitions in the festival, it will include a US rodeo featuring members of the armed forces who are stationed in Korea and a performance by the US rodeo team. Tickets for the event are 4,000 won for adults and 3,000 for children.  

Woman speaking to news crew with her fish caught at the Eobang festival.

My last recommendation for some spring fun would be to attend the annual Gwangalli Eobang Festival in my beloved Busan.  It is held from April 27^th to April 29^th. The festival is a celebration of both the spring and the ocean. The word ‘Eobang’ describes the spirit of the fishermen in the coastal regions.  Here you can sample various seafood dishes such as sashimi, take part in cooking competitions and also check out the traditional Korean parade.  The kids play various traditional Korean games also. 

One of the coolest aspects of this festival for me was the bare hands fishing competition. Last year I watched many kids and adult kids alike jump into big pools of water and attempt to catch many kinds of fish swimming around in the pool. To say this was entertaining would be an understatement.  Also later in the evening they pull in a huge net that sat out in the ocean all day to bring in a batch of fish. Once it is drawn in it is a free for all of local residents trying to catch their own fish! So these are my top suggestions of spring fun activities to partake in while in Korea.  For more details on directions to these locations check out the official travel site of Visit Korea.