Nothin' but a bucket and a pair of shoes.

I was going to update all of you about Kobuleti, but the jist of it was that I had a great time and hung out with a bunch of volunteers. I swam in the Black Sea, which was pretty cool. I Jumped on some wooden structure that would definitely not be deemed safe in the states, so that was cool.

I ate some pretty good food and sampled a variety of Georgian vodkas and one American, SKYY (I'm not gonna lie, SKYY is tasty, and expensive, but we have one volunteer who has turned into something of a sugar daddy, if you are in contact with my parents you can see his picture. His name is Yuta.)

I have decided to share some cross-cultural info with you today. PJ and I discussed this last night when he called me. Thank you Peej, good phone call. First, I would like to point out that it has been rather easy for me to adapt to the change in creature comforts that we take for granted in the United States. I was told this would be the case, but it really is true. A flushing toilet, really, isn't that an extravagance? I actually have a toilet, which puts me ahead of a lot of the other volunteers. It does not flush, but that is what the large barrel of water and bucket next to it are for, to "act" as a flushing mechanism.

We do have electricity in Akhaltsikhe, but apparently not in the winter, which is when we use our pechi, which is a wood stove. It is conveniently located next to my room, since I bogarted (stole) mom and dad's room. This is fine. That is why we have long underwear. C'mon people, who really needs central heating, that is a waste of money.

One final point for today, since I have to head to work - at 11am. Nothin' but a bucket and a pair of shoes. You may have been able to catch that reference, but in case you were not, here it is. In Khashuri, I did have a shower, which is to say, a shower head, a drain on the floor and hot water. Now, I am roughing it a bit. My "shower" consists of a basin full of hot, but not too hot water, a pitcher and me with a smile and a pair of shoes. The first time that I did this, I will admit it was awkward, but I now have a system and it works well. I don't think my family understands why I have to do it every other day, but they are respecful of my wishes.

In my effort to adapt and find humor in things that would not be funny in the US. I have started a new game. This is by no means meant to be mean, it is just way, again, to find humor in ridiculous situations. It is called, "What Would Barb Do?", or WWBD for short. The thought of my mom standing in the middle of a room dumping water over her head for a shower is a little funny. I love my mom, but she has said that her idea of camping now includes a hotel room. I love it. This game has been helpful and I'm sure that we'll play it when my mom gets here as it really does make everything ok. I only write this down because I also know that my mom is a really good sport and would not be offended, because it is not meant to offend. A few months ago, it could have just as easily been, WWSD, but that doesn't work as I am the one here.

Well I've gotta run. Take care and let me know how all of you are doing.