tovli modis

Winter has finally come to our sub-sub-tropical Adjaran sub-paradise, and snow is falling on the beaches, the mandarins, the palms, and the bamboo, across Batumi, on the towering soviet apartments and tin roof-tops of houses below. Along the coast, the lush, green hills have turned white. The doubly long Georgian holiday season has come to an end, and we are back to school.
The cold is kind of a shock, since the weather’s been so mild until now, but the snow is a welcome relief from the half-frozen slush that’s been falling for the past few days. I’ve had to abandon my room during the daytime and retreat to the life-giving warmth of the woodstove in the family room downstairs. At night, I seal myself into my precious, zero-degree sleeping bag and play games on my cell phone until I’m warm enough to fall asleep. The worst part of the day for me has always been getting up in the morning, but the pain of leaving the safe, sleepy world of my warm little cocoon has become almost unbearable on these frosty mornings.
Last week was my first week back at work. After my month-long, travel-filled vacations, it required some readjustment. I’m looking forward to the next semester and our much-anticipated move to a new school on Feb. 1st, but I have to get used to showing up to my cold classrooms, misbehaving students, and tedious lessons, once again. The new school we are moving to is the old school that has been renovated 7 years after it partially burned down. I haven’t seen it yet, but I have high hopes (which is probably not good).
My holidays were excellent. No time for any long travelogues, but I will tell you a little bit about Istanbul.
Istanbul is probably the greatest city on the face of the earth. At least for a few days in December. There are trams and ships and the third longest suspension bridge in the world. Did you know that the Blue Mosque is the only mosque in the world with six minarets? (Mecca used to have six but they added one after the Blue Mosque was built.) Istanbul also has amazing street food. I can’t speak for the restaurant food, because I didn’t eat any. The Bosphorous also rocks. I love a city with good waterways, and I love it even more when those waterways are major international shipping lanes.
Istanbul was a good destination for a break from Georgia. It was relaxing, but still exotic and exciting. Aspects of the city were almost overwhelmingly large, especially coming from wee, little Georgia, but we could still appreciate its smaller treats: the apple tea, hooka and backgammon, the detail of the architechture, the lights on the water at night, the turkish delight. It was also very laid back. I wanted to post some pictures, but the computer is not cooperating. I will try next weekend. gilotsav akhal tsels! Happy New Year everybody!