I should be packing...

So I'm leaving tomorrow on a mere 24-hour journey to Tbilisi in the Democratic Republic of Georgia. I've been meaning to get this blog up and running for a couple weeks now, to learn the features and post a couple of times before I left, but alas, I have been busy with graduations, family, parties, reading, jigsaw puzzles, sunning, and painting my fingers and toenails startling shades of red.

The blog format will serve two purposes: One, I've never really liked mass emails that I send on my travels, assuming that other people actually want to know pages upon pages of my observations, so if you're interested, you can seek them out here. Hopefully I can post a couple times a week. Also, if I figure this thing out, I'll be able to post pictures that would otherwise clog your inboxes. Two, I've always wanted to have a blog for the occassions that I think of something clever to say that I want to share with the rest of the world, inspired by my much funnier and articulate friends' blogs. However, these times are far and few between and have never merited the maintenance of a blog for others to see.

That being said, what then is the purpose of me visiting the other Georgia? No it is not just to see if they too say y'all and worship bulldogs. I am apparently going to help with a project assessing HIV strains in the country that are resistant to very important antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. "Apparently" because I have had very, very little contact with anyone who I am supposed to be helping. It's been trouble enough to make enough contact to ensure that I could find a summer project abroad, have money to do it, and then get a plane ticket only 2 weeks before my departure, that I've kind of given up on finding out the specifics of the project. Either I'll figure it out when I get there, or I'll have a lovely vacation in Eastern Europe on Emory University's dime. I don't think I can lose.

Now, what do we know about Georgia?

Very little. But let's review.

1. Language- Georgian. In my opinion, sounds like Russian, looks like Middle Eastern (under the title is Georgia's name in its native language). I don't know a single word, nor can I pronounce any of the names of my contacts.
2. There is some ambiguity about whether Georgia is geographically part of Eastern Europe, Western Asia, or the Middle East. From what I've heard and read, the culture reflects this intersection.
3. The most promising thing to me is their rich culture of hospitality, food and drink. My guide book describes long, drawn out dinners conducted within an intricate etiquette that involves ALWAYS drinking at all of the many toasts- a requirement of which apparently the women are exempt. I am planning to demonstrate that some American women can drink with the big boys, undoubtedly improving our image abroad.
4. Looks like there are some mountains and some beaches. I plan to investigate both.
5. In Georgia, HIV means injection drug users. I imagine I will be experiencing not only the sparkly tourist exterior, but also the other side.

That's about it. So if this blog goes as planned, all the rest will unfold here.