Wrapping up the end

We spent the last five days of our trip at the Black Sea. In my previous post, I left off with being extraordinarily homesick after being extraordinarily sick. After having a few rough days, I spent time reflecting on the experience, understanding how it changed me. I spent ten days with some of the coolest people I've ever met. I'm talking about the team I was with from the metro-YMCAs. We were amazing together, and I could not have worked with a team with bigger hearts than these people. Everything fell into place nicely when I jumped on the trip last minute. As for group dynamics, we all got together very well. Toward the end of the week, we were working as one cohesive unit, with one goal: work as much as possible. I've never met any other group willing to work as much as our's. We not only completed the Georgians' projects, but we added two more. We built a tire swing and a porch swing in addition to doing yardwork and painting the balconies at Camp Orange. I'm so proud to be a part of our team. And now back to reality, I am back teaching swim lessons for the next couple of weeks before I start working at Georgia State University. Summer is winding down, and I will begin my graduate assistantship with intramual sports. Enjoy the school year!

No AC. No chicken noodle soup.

I woke up today of course exhausted and completely depleted of energy as I have not been able to keep any food or drink down. I went to breakfast in hopes of finding something to eat despite my complete lack of appetite. I choked down two pieces of bread and one piece of beef jerky. I feel empty, but I can't bring myself to eat more. And to top it all off, the students are bored out of their minds today, and there's no AC. Next post I will elaborate on the boredom part.

Today was a horrible day

So this morning, we were supposed to finally begin our actual work at YMCA Camp Orange. As we loaded the bus, my stomach began to churn. To make a gross, long story short, I three up everything. I ended up in the ER with an IVu,ping fluids and meds in my system. They wouldn't let Erik or the YMCA Georgia leaders in the room with me, and they kept waking me up to drink some nasty water. Finally it sunk in, I was in a foreign country, with IVs pumping my arm, and little way to communicate with anyone, let alone hear a familiar voice. After beginning to cry, they finally let Rezi (a YMCA leader) in to translate. After three and a half hours of this craziness, they dismissed me. I have three prescriptions to take every time I eat, and I'm on a restricted diet the rest of the trip. I either had a virus, food poisoning, or ingested bad water - they don't know. The cool thing was I did not have to pay anything, because a billionaire owns the facility. After getting back to the hotel, I started to get a fever which makes me think I have a virus. I made my way to the YMCA band's concert for ten or so minutes, and they were phenomenal. Great end to a terrible day!

We arrived to the Black Sea!!

Today, after six long hours in a coach bus, we finally arrived at the Black Sea. We spent the afternoon swimming and spent the afternoon playing games. We're staying at a local resort, and the Black Sea is about 150 feet from the door. We are here with our eleven, and twenty plus YMCA leaders from Tbilisi, and tomorrow we will meet up with about twenty more people. We begin our mission work tomorrow. As of now, we have done a lot of tourist stuff. We are working with the Tbilisi leaders to do more mission work and less tourist activities. We're ready to WORK! I can't wait to show everyone my pictures. The sand on the Black Sea is black, of course.

Ex.haust.ed.

Today we went to an orphanage. After touring the boarding house and the school house, we took the children to an amusement park for the afternoon. It was so much FUN!! We only took eleven kids. Typically during the school year, the orphanage has 80-100 children, most of which have families, but their families cannot afford to keep them. However, only eleven of the children (the ones we were with) have absolutely no one to call family. During the summer, the state requires that all orphans with any type of family member spend the summer with their family in order to keep close family ties despite the economic downfall families experience. It's kind of a sad and cool deal at the same time. While the parents cannot afford their children year round, the children still get some time with their family during summer. Afterward we went to eat - the food here is so HEAVY. It is pretty tastes, but it fills you up very quickly. Now we're off to take naps before we begin shopping for souvenirs. Tonight we are going to ride the skylit that crosses the city and ends at a castle!

Honey badger don't give a ****

You think you've seen enough of he world to merely understand that others have hardships incomprehensible to you; a lifestyle impossible to imagine living. Then you go somewhere new, and reality sinks in again, even further than ever before. I'll never understand what it'sike to truly live the lifestyle I just witnessed. Today, we went to visit a family three hours outside the cities in need of groceries and medicine. They have seven kids, and the grandparents live there too. The parents were at the hospital having baby seven, but the grandparents and other children were there. The grandmother was so excited and grateful for the donations. She talked our ears off; I only wish I knew what she was saying. She let us into their house - a two room shack - a room for sleeping and a room for cooking and worshiping. All eleven family members sleep in the same room between three twin beds. Thy heat water on a stove of lesser value than my camping stove. They bake bread, weave wool, and clean laundry outside. David, the 6 year old has epilepsy, and we gave him the medicine to last a month. The government gives the family a pension, but it only amounts to $60 US - not near enough to cover the family's needs. What bothers me about today is that my biggest concern prior to meeting this family was the fact my feet were swollen, and my sandals weren't fitting correctly. Talk about having a first world problem. Seeing families like I saw today truly puts life in perspective as to how blessed we truly are.

Day 1

We did not arrive to the hotel until 4:30 a.m. Georgia time which is 8:30 p.m. Georgia time. Hahaha, get it? Anyway, because it was the middle of the night here, we went to bed, and because of the time difference, we did not wake up till 1:00 p.m. Republic of Georgia time. We spent today meeting YMCA leaders and teen leaders. We have Rezi who leads everything for us, his boss (Gayla, I think), and George. The teen leaders are Luca, Nicka, Ana, Tata, and Helena. They were all wonderful. We are trying to teach them as many camp games as possible in the next ten days. A for now, I think they just think we're a little crazy. After meeting them, we all toured two cathedrals and went out to an authentic Georgian dinner. In the cathedrals, the women all had to wear scarves over our head, including myself, Sarah, and Leani in my Y group. Dinner included some fruit flavored sodas, some cheesey bread, and dumplings. I wish I could name what they were actually called, but I am struggling with the language here. The only word I know as of now is madloba which means "thank you." We went to a couple markets along the way, and I caught myself speaking Spanish to the women.... Well, I'm glad my Spanish comes so naturally (5 years post Panama'), but it's rather embarrassing to speak neither Georgian or English to the people here. After dinner, we walked around the city. It's gorgeous. There's this amazing bridge near the President's house like no other I've ever seen. Pictures will be uploaded as soon as I get home! As for now, it is 10:19 p.m. Georgian time, and it's 2:19 p.m. Georgian time, so I am off to bed!long day ahead tomorrow...

A day in Munich!

After a nine hour flight from Chicago to Munich, we arrived and had six hours out in the city. We took the students out in the city for lunch and went shopping around some small shops. No bought anything really, just looked. It was so nice to stretch our legs. This is the first time I have traveled into a country where I could not communicate their language with them. I even explained to some of the Germans I knew English, Spanish, and French, but it wasn't enough. However, it was not hard to get where I needed and communicate via pointing and smiling. What a weird feeling to know I can't say something to anyone. The students here are awesome! We get along so well, and we are already creating awesome memories. I keep asking questions to everyone, like, "What are we going to be doing? Where will we be? How modern will it be?" I'm still in the dark as is everyone else, and at this point, the surprises to come are going to make this even better!

Georgia on my mind...

So here's the scoop (that I know of)! This trip includes myself, my boss Erik, another male leader, and eight teenagers. The youngest is 16, and the oldest will be a junior in college. We're still getting to know each others' names, but I can tell this group will be amazing. The teenagers consist of two girl s and six guys. They've been working on this trip since January. Each year the metro-Atlanta YMCAs have teens apply to go on one of three mission trips: Costa Rica, Jerusalem, and Georgia. After applying, the students are interviewed and placed on one of the trips according to their wants and needs. This year the Jerusalem trip was canceled due to politics, and those students either deferred until next year or were put on Costa Rica or Georgia. After being selected for the trip, the students are given materials to help fundraise for their trips. If a student falls short of the $3,000 necessary to go on the trip yet tried as hard as they could to fundraise for the trip, the YMCA will cover the rest of the costs for the trip. However, if a student fails to fundraise or attempt at fundraising, he or she is responsible for the cost of their trip.  As for the specifics on my trip in Georgia, I'm waiting on details still. I know, some of you would be dying in my shoes - jumping on a plane with 9 strangers and your boss, to go to a foreign country, without any details as to what you are doing when you get there. Honestly, the lack of details I know for this trip does not bother me at all. I've been abroad before, and some of the best knowledge I've gained from my travels is: expect absolutely nothing. Whether I know the details or not, I am still going to have an amazing time and make memories that will last a lifetime. So for now, I'm still sitting on the same details as this morning - I'm going to Georgia to do mission work with the YMCAs in Georgia. I believe we are helping train counselors to some degree while we are there, helping one specific YMCA develop into a residence camp. We will also be working with an orphanage over there. Oh, and of course, my big excitement - I get to swim in the Black Sea. :)

God is good!

In the past 24 hours, what started off as a joke has turned in to me packing my bags to go abroad once again. I've been working with a YMCA program called Teen Expedition all summer, taking teenagers camping and teaching them outdoor ethics. My boss has been planning a trip with a different group of teenagers the past year to take them to Tbilisi, Georgia for a mission trip. My boss's trip takes place July 18-28, 2012. As he left the office yesterday, I said, "Hey Erik, take me with you!" wholeheartedly joking with him. He looked at me and said, "Actually our female counselor just dropped!" Well to make a long story short, after I gave a rather large donation to the YMCA to help cover the cost for a last-minute plane ticket, I am joining Erik and the teenagers in Tbilisi this week! We leave TOMORROW!! God is s good, and he works in very mysterious ways. In my Teen Expedition camp, it's always me and Daniel - a male and female counselor for the male and female campers. Well, this week, instead of having twelve campers, only five BOYS signed up. Had one girl signed up, I would not be going to Tbilisi. We were able to pull in another male counselor to replace my spot with Teen Expedition, so I could embark on this awesome opportunity. I also had numerous friends and colleagues step up, giving me recommendations to jump on the Tbilisi trip last minute. I appreciate everyone's help to make this trip possible for me - my boss, Ben, Toby, Wes, Amber, Sam, Daniel, and the list goes on! Follow my blog, and I will be sure to update you on what's going on! As of right now, I leave for Tbilisi in 23 and a half hours. I will be with the YMCA - a few leaders and several teens. I get an eight hour layover in London the day after the Olympics begin. I get to swim in the Black Sea. That's all I know for now, and I'm jumping in with two feet!