I thought that with the recent Volunteer Showcase video completed, I'd post all of the ones we have done so far in case you've missed any. The Volunteer Showcase is a video documentary series I thought would be cool to start in Georgia back in September. Each month we focus on a different volunteer, working on different projects, all in different parts of the country. I was able to film four

With close to only 4 months left of service (Huzzah!), I'm finally able to start tying together the loose ends of all my projects. However, there is one more project I'm looking to implement before I set sail back to the US of A. I'm looking to help renovate a classroom for students and teachers to give them a better environment where they can continue improving their English and learn integral

March has been the month dedicated to start celebrating the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps. In addition to tons of activities and projects we are planning here in Georgia, a few have us have come together to create a Anniversary webpage for Peace Corps and Georgia. Here, you can find photos, videos, Georgian cooking recipes, stories, current and on-going volunteer projects, etc. - all which make

(below is an excerpt of an email sent to me by Peace Corps) The Peace Corps family mourns the loss of our founder and visionary father, Sargent Shriver. Affectionately known by many as Sarge, he helped create the agency in 1961 and served as its first Director (1961-1966).  The entire Peace Corps community is deeply saddened by the passing of Sargent Shriver. He was a distinguished

Oh, and sorry for the constant weird ominous tone you might have heard while checking out my blog within the past 2-3 months. Apparently one of the games I embedded on the site would instantly start up and basically creep everyone out. I had no idea... So, my bad. As an apology, here you go:

I'll preface this post with, yes...I know, I suck at updating. Haha. I always forget that even my ordinary days in the village, or my regular witnessing of what I deem normal life/behavior here in Georgia could potentially be entertaining for everyone not living a "fake" life as I am. So. I apologize, or as we would say here...Bodishi. So with that I'll continue on and share some things I have

A new project I have started working on is a monthly video highlighting different volunteers about their lives in the Peace Corps. The first video spotlights my buddy Tom who lives in a village closest to me. I hope to travel throughout Georgia in my remaining months, interviewing fellow PCVs, not only for my own interest but so I can share their experiences with others. Soon, the Information

After decades of promoting peace, friendship, and aid to countries all over the world, Peace Corps will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year in 2011. It's exciting to be a part of John F. Kennedy's dream. Me and a few other volunteers are involved in the Peace Corps anniversary committee, where we are in charge of creating different projects to let other family, friends, and host

After a brutal, hot summer here in Georgia we have finally been getting some cooler weather. To take advantage of this change in seasons, Peace Corps had allowed all of the volunteers to come into Tbilisi for an "Emotional Wellness" weekend. The event included grilled hot dogs whilst jamming out to classic American rock, playing kickball, dominating in an undefeated 15 game beer pong winning

Alright folks, I know my posts are usually straight and to the point, so this time I thought I’d share a story with you. Another volunteer and a good friend of mine, Lauren, will help tell the tale. We both wrote our own perspective of the weekend. To preface this story, a co-worker of mine caught me off guard one weekend and asked if I’d like to come to the mountains and go camping with his

My town of Kvareli has been in the Georgian spotlight recently, after discovering that the government's Department of Tourism and Resorts has chosen it as their next tourist location. They are planning a budget of 30 million dollars towards this project, that will go towards road reconstruction, new restaurants, hotels, shops, etc. The project has started now, with the construction of the new

I know I've already stated that it's been a year since first coming here to Georgia like 13 times...but when realizing this is the second 4th of July spent in this country it still surprises me. It was a great Independence Day weekend though. I made it a point to stuff my face with some classic McDonalds burgers and freedom fries in the morning, then sluggishly make my way over to play softball

So...this doesn't necessarily show what my summer here in Georgia is like, actually...not at all. I saw ice in drinks at the beginning of the video!, where's the animal slaughter?, or the marshutkas filled with 26 people when it has seats for only 18!?  Haha, but they do make Georgia look pretty good. I gotta admit. Anybody want to come visit? Hello? Anybody?

Last March, a couple of volunteers and myself were asked to be interviewed and photographed for Peace Corps Washington D.C.'s marketing department. The video interviews were about an hour and a half long, and they asked questions regarding practically every aspect of your service. Then I guess when they finally start cutting the footage they pick a certain a theme they want to portray and stick

Whoa…I have lived in Georgia for exactly a year from today. I can’t believe it. Looking back on my first blog post and remembering all the worries and apprehensions about coming here reminds me how much I have learned and seen in my 1st year: I can now speak Georgian (I still use the term ‘speak’ loosely, but am at least able to finally get my points across to them now), I can also read and

We're finally about to reach the halfway mark of our service! At times it seems that the first year has flown by, and other times (especially winter) time felt that it was barely craaaaaaawwwwwlling. And yes, there have been some lows since being here but fortunately they have been countered by some incredible highs. I am truly glad to be here, to experience this country and its people firsthand,

I'm about a month late on this, and most of the other volunteers already know about it, so this is solely for the friends and fam back home. CNN has started a cool project called i-List and it's, "A new special program that visits a different country each month and look towards its future. Highlighting innovation and influence in business, industry, culture and more. i-List showcases a

So, I realize this an older video...and for some reason, there's a few of you out there who haven't seen it/but heard about it/and yet still want to see it. To everybody else. I'm sorry. Don't watch it. (especially if you plan on having BBQ, bacon, ham sandwiches, or any pork related products in the near future.) The back-story was: My buddy Tom went home on Medical leave for a couple of

"ძალიან დაკავებული ვარ" aka "Sorry it's taken me like 2 months to give you the latest from the land of Stalin." So, the purpose of this post is my hope to dispel any rumors of me that all I do is sit at a winery everyday, drinking and gettin mtvrali with the locals, playing backgammon, and stumbling back home to just do it over again. Not to say that this isn't a recurring theme in my