Business, Babies and Brotseuli

I'm back! Okay, well I've been back for about two months now but life has been busy. I want to get into regular posts now since I have so much to say, let's see how well that goes. A lot has happened, I decided to suspend my university education to continue something completely different later and am now focusing on starting my own English Language company while I'm here. It seems there are barely any other foreign people here after Saakashvili left, so I'm not sure how easy it will be. It's all part of the experience though I suppose!

I feel more native here now, dare I say it. Our nearest metro station is a 20 minute bus ride away so I'm experiencing more of a village life (my Instagram is full of our settlements' cows and pigs). The neighbours call me Tamari, rather than Chloe, since it's apparently easier to pronounce and I can just about communicate that I don't like the cold weather and where I'm going.

Unfortunately I missed the wine harvest this year but did get to make some chacha surrounded by fruit and newborn babies. I've been quite disheartened by the news here lately, too much violence and hostility, as seen in this article as a prime example. A lot of the hostility is related to the heavy patriarchal mentality. The men are very macho and brutish in their approach to women, seen in young boys too which suggests it's more of a social issue. I want to expand on the roles of men and women here in another post but I can honestly say I've never seen a country so strict and severe in its expectations of people. Don't even get me started on the attitudes people have towards LGBT communities, let alone women.

It's an interesting topic although not a particularly positive one, so rather than end this on a downer I'll tell you now that I'm heading home for Christmas in a few days (this time with my sweet!) to indulge in some home comforts and dog cuddles before heading to Berlin in the New Year on our way back to Tbilisi. That's when everything business-wise should kick off so fingers crossed!

What are your plans for Christmas?

Interlude

Gldaani Bazaar

Okay, so I'm sadly back home now for a few weeks which gives me a chance to get myself organised and back down to planet earth. I feel physically different in the UK, uninspired and lethargic although that might be part of the severe food poisoning I had last week (avoid soft tomatoes dear God). Life here is predictable, grey and quiet. I love the home comforts like anyone but two days is more than enough before I'm itching to go back! I've spoken to a few people actually, mostly Americans, who say they feel addicted to Georgia. There's something about it, honestly. 

Anyway, I have a lot of topics I'd like to cover on this blog before I start writing more regular posts and I will get round to it I swear. These few weeks should give me some time to tweak too so wish me luck! 

I've attached a few photos of Tbilisi (above) and Imereti (Sachkhere and Chiatura) below. Those in Sachkhere were actually a small village nearby which annoyingly I can't remember the name of. Anyway, vineyards, animals, homegrown food, singing, laughing, loving... It was magnificent.

This cow nearly broke my foot...

Recovering at bebo's. Hopefully not too much information but if you ever have a bad stomach and need it to stop quickly just get some bark from an oak branch, boil it, then slowly drink the juice. It's known as 'moukha' here and works miracles.

Imeretian grapes are much more sour than in Kakheti, both gemrielia but goes to show how the climate differs