Kim's updates from the Country of Georgia: Some Tidbits from Georgia for early 2016.

Hi Folks, I'm reading The Martian, by Andy Weir, and love his attention to small details that really are interesting. So, in that vein... Last year I sent you the David Letterman Top 10 Differences between Georgia and America (click to review). This year I've learned a little more. So here is my early 2016 list of random info and pictures, for your enjoyment.

our garbage men empty the outdoor bins
and separate garbage right in the truck

Plastic bags: I have mentioned previously that in Georgia, and if you buy 5 things at the magazia, you get 6 bags. Now, hold on a minute, let me explain. One bag is for your eggs - yep, you really can take 5 eggs home in a plastic bag and not break them. Most things in the store are bought bulk and you put it in a plastic bag - no packaging to deal with, or worry about throwing out - macaroni, flour, sugar, coffee, frozen chicken legs, kingali (only want 3 of these meat stuffed dumplings tonight, just buy 3. Our freezers are VERY small!), all your produce that are weighed, cookies, chocolates, beans, cheese - all in little plastic bags. Now for recycle... we do use these bags for everything, including take out the garbage.

Here we are with all the food PILED up in front of us

Entertaining: When we are invited to someone's house in the US for a dinner party, at least most of the time, you eat, you drink, you talk a lot, maybe a little music, then you go home. Maybe it's just me and my friends. But here one is expected to at least add to the enjoyment of the evening. Sing, dance, play an instrument, play a song through your nose, poetry is popular too. And Expected! That is why every party (every party!) has a Tamada, a master of ceremonies. The good ones can give impassioned speeches, sing and recite poetry. Here is a fun party we attended in a small town in the wine country. The locals from another Community Education Center - funded by the DVV Foundation that I have discussed - went all out to entertain the 20 of us on our little excursion. Enjoy some pictures...

The guests jumped in to help make our khachapuri.
Women don't just sit and be served here!

And of course, the traditional georgian dances are performed.

A novel way to play a song with flutes

Eight men sang in polyphonic harmony,
while one accompanied them

Poetry in motion

Real Estate: I am on one of a main shopping streets in Tbilisi, the nation's capitol. And here is prime real estate, just sitting empty, with junk piled up. How can they do this? Because they can! People here own a lot of real estate. It seems they never sell it! You inherit your aunts village home, a place to relax in the summer, your parent's home... A shop front could stay empty for a long time. They don't need the rental to pay a mortgage. In many cases, they just own it, and will use it or rent it when they feel like it. ROI doesn't enter the picture here.

January: In January America leaps into action. Of course it has been more than five weeks since we were really productive,what with thanksgiving, etc. of course, year-end sort of puts a damper on things, especially if you are in sales. In Georgia, the partying begins on New Year, when small gifts are shared. Then Christmas on January 7th. Now we have old New Years January 14th. The decorations will still be up for a while longer, but January is a very laid back month - no kickoffs, quotas, goal and strategy session. We drift into February amidst a choir of "jer ara, kimi" (not yet, Kim).

Coka Cola Local Customization: I just thoughts this was interesting. Local customs targeted on their packaging. Good for them. People bring a bottle of Coke when they come to visit.

This says - "for our Guests"

Fuel: Our President talked about gas under $2 in the US. WOW. Here are our prices, per liter of course. And remember there are almost 4 liters in a gallon! They still have some leaded fuel as well. And they sell some type of propane, and convert their gas line to intake from a large propane tank in the trunk. It costs about half the gas prices, but safety is a question.

Local Produce: I really like my favorite 'travelling magazias' now. The same produce I find in a market in Tbilisi, I can buy for much less here... no overhead of course. :-) I love that vegetables can be so inexpensive and candy and sweets are so much more. This is what I bought today - in multiple plastic bags.

All this for 4 lari ( $1.80)

Christmas Decorations: Umbrellas to decorate for Christmas? Why not? Just seems odd when we associate them with baby showers.

Church habits: Almost everyone crosses themselves one or three times when they pass a church. I find myself dong the old Catholic sign of the cross over the heart thing, just automatically now.

My sunrises: Why are the sunrises so beautiful here. Big sky I call it. Well of course. In Raleigh there are so any trees. One has to drive to even find a place where one can see the horizon. And in Colorado the sun sets behind the mountain way before any show of colors appears. Not that I will move to a flat state anytime soon, but I really have enjoyed this.