Gilotsavt indauris dgres!

Summer ended as swiftly as it came and so has swooped the cold hand of winter gripping its boney finger around pulse of our mountainous Repulic of Georgia, blotting out any sort of emanating warmth. Perhaps you find me a bit melodramatic. But if you had to wonder around your apartment with an extension cord tied around your waist connecting you to newly purchased electric heater (and consequent source of happiness) in order to stay warm, you too might be prone to a bit of an affectation.
But I jest (well, partly). It does seem that there was very little fall this year. They claim that Georgia has a supta (pure) continental climate. But I’ve yet to see the existence of seasons in this county. It’s either incredibly hot or heinously cold. No medium, mean, moyen, or moderation.
Enough kvetching, it really isn’t so bad. Like I said, I bought a fabulous electric heater, with a warranty (gasp!), so I think I’m pretty well set for the winter ahead. I’ll be warm. After all, you really can’t help but be warm with a heater strapped to your waist! I also nailed a blanket to my window to mimic my old Science Olympiad competition and “keep the heat”.
School is going fairly well. Not much new to report on. My grant it almost finished I’ll post pictures of my room as soon as I get my camera back from the camera-stealing bandit. Halloween was a few weekends ago and I went as North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il. Way better than the beat-up ex pat that I went as last year. I had problems staying in character and it seems I was way too tall for the role...and not korean or a man…but I really think I captured the spirit of Kim Jung Il. The glasses I was wearing for the costume almost made me sick though. For future reference: even if you have extraordinarily bad vision, a pair of prescription glasses—no matter how weak they are—will mess up your site and cause you to get ill if you are already wearing corrective lenses. Just so you know.
I’ve been busy cooking up a storm! I’ve finally figured out how to use my kitchen and the products of my endeavors have been delicious! I’m a regular Martha Stewartishvili! I had a week of pies where I made chicken potpie and pecan (aka walnut) pie. I had so much pie leftover that I gave some to my neighbors, whose taste buds, I can only assume, were so overcome with delight and gratitude that I introduced them to such a gastronomic sensation, that they later surprised me with a verdant bouquet of flowers in thanks! Or, so I must deduce.
As you can see from this entry, not much new is happening and I have tapped into my over abundant imagination to embellish life here in Georgia. Perhaps my father was correct when he said that the first year everything is new and the second year you finally figure out what’s normal and what’s out of the ordinary...or maybe I’ve just finally become delusional.
We have yet another conference for Peace Corps next week. This conference shouldn’t be too bad as it coincides with Thanksgiving dinner. I’m looking foreword to Christmas break, the visitors, and the chance to ski for the first time! I’m going to go somewhere for vacation…I just haven’t figured out where yet. Let me know if you want to meet me anywhere.
In the meantime I’ll be here.
Happy Thanksgiving or as the Georgians say Gilotsavt indauris dgres!