Also check my response in Colleen's comment, I answered some questions.
Yesterday I couldn't stop giggling because I LOVE reading Georgian. Okay, I can't really read Georgian. What I can do is to sound out letters and SOMETIMES speak them together quickly enough that they sound like a word. If I get to that point, I can even sometimes remember what that combination of sounds means. It's sort of like a secret code. I know it's not really secret because EVERYONE around me seems to think it's very funny that I walk around town sounding out words like a kindergartener, but it's secret to me because YOU can't do it. HA!
This morning while attempting to sound out "apatakari" the lovely old woman working in the pharmacy graciously allowed me to struggle until I got stuck at "K", supplied the missing sound and then repeated the word several times for me. I think I'm going back to her to buy something later.
My host father (father in Georgian is Mama, go figure) loves to help with our homework of sounding out phonetic combinations (like m - a - m - a = mama). He's been very helpful in memorizing sound correspondences.
Our host family also has a beautiful garden with a cherry, peach and pear tree, Black and red berry bush, tomatoes and grape vines. And, if the answer to "Emi, Tomi, Chai?" is "Deakh" my host mother walks into the garden, picks a handful of mint leaves and brews them for after dinner tea.
Really can't imagine being anywhere else right now. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the kindness and beauty of the people around me.
I love you all, maybe we'll have some more time for pictures on Saturday.
By the way - tried to call Tom's parent's on Skype with poor results, will try again some other day.
your parents sent me a copy of the news article ~~ love how honest you are about your motives!
sounds like a beautiful place, but the language sounds impossible!
will be interesting to hear you speak when you return!