The First Post: I Have No Idea What I'm Doing

            As somewhat of an introduction, on the 28^th of August 2011 I will be traveling to the Republic of Georgia in the formality of an English Teacher through tlg.ge and will be subjected to all sorts of experiences as a result.  In December I’m going to return to the States.  That leaves me with roughly 4 months of being confined to the Caucasus.  Interestingly, I have no idea as to where I’ll be living in Georgia and while I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Tbilisi, I’m haunted by a pretty strong suspicion that Tbilisi is going to be pretty far from where I’ll be. 

            This blog is dedicated to the upcoming experience of traveling throughout the Caucasus and my lack of navigational skills.  It’s also dedicated to the numerous circumstances that I’ll undoubtedly find myself in and observations that I find noteworthy.  Yes there will be posts about the food, wine, people and a fair amount of history.    

            But enough about that.  For the four months this is what I’ve managed to pack:

                        One duffel bag placed inside a duffel bag. 

                        Two empty journals.

                        A camera, complete with a charger.

                        One energy converter.

                        iPod.

            That’s it.  I figure I’ll add three pairs of pants, a few pairs of underwear, socks, an pair of boots, two ties, some shirts and a coat.  Some books would be good, since I read one a week, but realistically they weigh a lot.  So let’s not get crazy.  I’m sure I’ll think of other things to add to the list and then in the heat of anxiety discard most of them on the day I’m supposed to fly out.   

            Also, I feel that I must add this, since I’ll be in the region, and its one that I study I’m definitely planning on traveling to a variety of places in my spare time:  Kazbegi, Van, Yerevan, Ganja, Oil Rocks and Baku, to name a few.  Naturally I’ll document these places as well as accompany them with photos.

            Having traveled before to Georgia and Armenia I have some idea as to what I’m preparing for.  However living in the region for four months is different than stopping by for a few weeks. 

            For those of you who have yet to enjoy the spoils of travels in the region, my visits were coupled with my bags being lost in a Belarus, a country I have never been to and that my bags also should never have visited, accidentally ordering an entire chicken for dinner, finding myself captured and taken to supra (a dinner complete with a large amount of alcohol) and being subjected to numerous toasts, which can be in excess of 40 minutes.