On Wednesday night we attacked the kitchen. We sorted through the items we would take to the Republic of Georgia (ROG ) and what we needed to store in the basement. Ron has had very little time for packing as he is still working on a project for Ethiopia and doing some work for Treasury. So it was a whirlwind of activity in our kitchen. I wanted to take care of it before the shipping agent came on Friday. Ron and I are an incredible team. We’ve worked together on many projects and there is a magic when we are teamed up on with a common goal. So it took very little time to accomplish our task. The best part for me was he carried all those big heavy boxes to the basement. The ole gray mare ain’t what she used to be! OY!
On Friday the shipping rep showed up early but we were ready with multiple piles. We are allowed 450 lbs air shipment, 1200 lbs consumables (food, toiletries and the like) and 7200 lbs of household goods, that’s 7850 lbs. total! We weighed in at 1200-1500 lbs total (est.) YEAH! We have our fingers crossed that it all will go by air because apparently there is some break-off point (we don’t know what it is) where it is cheaper to just send it all by air. I have a certain amount of guilt about shipping consumables that are non-essential but all the literature says to take advantage of it so I did include some items that I know we can’t purchase there. We did not have this privilege when we went to SL plus we had two weeks to get ready so buying consumables was out of the question. We barely had time to eat when we were getting ready.
We left very early (6:00 a.m.) for the airport on Saturday. We flew to Montreal by way of Washington DC for Ron’s annual ICMA (Int’l City/County Management Assoc.) conference. We arrived and our luggage didn’t. There was too little time for the transfer. Drat! Due to cost cutting measures, the airline no longer gives you an allowance; they give you a toiletries bag: one for the boy and one for the girl. If they only knew that I prefer Old Spice deodorant! We were told our luggage would be delivered sometime the following day. We are staying at a charming, old ‘brownstone’ B&B that has no resident manager. That means I need to wait here until the luggage arrives, not knowing when that might be. I called this morning to see if I could get more information and had no luck. Then I found out after breakfast that the airline called at 3:00 a.m. and told the owner whose telephone number we had given them that the bags would be delivered by noon. Talk about stupidity! 3:00 a.m.! No one is up at that hour. I bet we are very popular with the owner but doubt that we will ever see her.
I woke up at 4:50 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. After breakfast I fell asleep waiting for the bags and they arrived around 10:30. I washed my hair, changed clothes and headed out to the convention center to take advantage of their free Internet that ICMA provides each year. After checking email I walked over to old town and ate lunch in a delightful French café. I don’t know what they were on but every one who worked there was mighty happy. The food was fabulous. I most probably will return tomorrow.
Afterwards I wandered the streets and popped into various artsy shops that intrigued me. There are some wonderful galleries with Inuit arts and crafts. I drooled on the counters containing turquoise jewelry but resisted the urge to actually spend money. Getting ready for our trip requires a great deal of outgo so I am watching my unnecessary expenditures.
With tired feet I returned to the B&B and rested for a while since tonight we have two receptions that will be stand up affairs.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
3. An introduction to Georgia
So perhaps a little geography lesson would be helpful. Georgia is a country smaller than South Carolina. To the north is Russia. Its western border is the Black Sea, and to the south are Turkey and Armenia. On the east is Azerbaijan.
It gained independence from Russia in 1991. The language spoken in Georgia is Georgian! Many speak Russian and some speak English. We will be taking language lessons but their alphabet is entirely different from ours so we are not sure we will ever be able to read the labels at the grocery store or street signs.
There are 4.7 million people in the country, mostly ethnic Georgians. About 1.5 million live in the capital, Tbilisi which is where we will live.
Background information from CIA website
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After a series of Russian and separatist provocations in summer 2008, Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.
Terrain
Largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Natural Resources
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Religion
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Economy
Unemployment Rate
13.6% in 2006 est.
Population below the poverty line
30% 2006 est.
Labor Force by Occupation
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Inflation Rate (consumer prices)
10% (2008 est.)
9.3% (2007 est.)
Industries
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
If you want to see some beautiful photos of Georgia, go to
http://birding-georgia.bunebaprint.ge/gallery.php
It gained independence from Russia in 1991. The language spoken in Georgia is Georgian! Many speak Russian and some speak English. We will be taking language lessons but their alphabet is entirely different from ours so we are not sure we will ever be able to read the labels at the grocery store or street signs.
There are 4.7 million people in the country, mostly ethnic Georgians. About 1.5 million live in the capital, Tbilisi which is where we will live.
Background information from CIA website
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After a series of Russian and separatist provocations in summer 2008, Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.Terrain
Natural Resources
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Religion
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Economy
Georgia's economy sustained GDP growth of close to 10% in 2006 and 12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government spending. However, growth slowed to less than 3% in 2008 and is expected to slow further in 2009. Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, aircraft and chemicals. Areas of recent improvement include growth in the construction, banking services, and mining sectors, but reduced availability of external investment and the slowing regional economy are emerging risks. The country imports nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable hydropower capacity, a growing component of its energy supplies. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by bringing in newly available supplies from Azerbaijan. It also has an increased ability to pay for more expensive gas imports from Russia. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas, oil and other goods. Georgia has historically suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, the government has made great progress and has reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on corruption since coming to power in 2004. Government revenues have increased nearly four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in customs and tax enforcement, smuggling is a declining problem. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on a determined effort to reduce regulation, taxes, and corruption in order to attract foreign investment, but the economy faces a more difficult investment climate both domestically and internationally.
Unemployment Rate
13.6% in 2006 est.
Population below the poverty line
30% 2006 est.
Labor Force by Occupation
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Inflation Rate (consumer prices)
10% (2008 est.)
9.3% (2007 est.)
Industries
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
If you want to see some beautiful photos of Georgia, go to
http://birding-georgia.bunebaprint.ge/gallery.php
Saturday, September 5, 2009
2. Preparing to leave
Needless to say Ron and I are thrilled to be going to the Republic of Georgia. We leave October 3rd. We knew this was a strong possibility in August but didn’t get firm confirmation until we were in Washington DC August 24th. To make things a little dicey we are traveling a good bit between August 24th and when we leave: LA for four days in early Sept., Montreal for an ICMA conference Sept 12-16. And Ron goes to Paraguay Sept 19-26. Ron and I like life intense!
You can hardly imagine what it is like to move to a foreign land for two years. The most difficult part is the minutiae. Let me give you some examples. We need to notify the elections office so we can still vote. There’s an election coming up and I worry that our ballot will not arrive in time at our post for us to return it before the deadline is passed. Oh I see my driver’s license will expire while I am away so I go to the DMV and find out after waiting for twenty minutes there are specific procedures I have to follow in order to get an extension but I have to wait until I get a letter stating that my license is about to expire. Oh I see my ATM card and credit cards will expire while I am gone. They don’t send these things to me internationally so I will have to find another way. Thank goodness for Wayne and Dana who will handle our mail and this detail will be handled. I need to notify my bank and credit card companies that we will be living in Georgia and don’t cut me off thinking someone has stolen my card-it’s me making those withdrawals and charges. I better pick up a 2010 calendar because I can’t read the Georgian alphabet. I need to see all my doctors before leaving town. What do you mean she has no openings until AFTER I have moved? I probably can’t get my supplements, vitamins and prescriptions in Georgia so I had better get a good enough supply to last me until I get settled and can order them online. Well you get the picture.
On Friday the 11th of September the shipping company rep will be here to ‘survey’ what we are shipping. We need to have three piles: what is going by airfreight, consumables (deodorant, foodstuffs, Band-Aids, etc.) and household goods (stationary bike, weights, summer clothes, our kitchen, etc). Airfreight will arrive 3-4 weeks after we do and the other items 4 months or longer. This means we need to think through what the heck goes in what pile. We also need to do a practice ‘pack’ to see what will fit into our suitcases. We need to do that before next Friday in case everything we want to take won’t fit we will then put it in the air shipment pile. You won’t believe what it costs to take more than one suitcase with you internationally. If you exceed the size allowance by one inch it is an extra $175. More minutiae-measure that big suitcase.
I freaked out when I realized that we will be attending some Embassy functions. Remember me, Ms. NW America with a fabulous wardrobe of casual clothes. I’m the one who thinks dressing up is putting on my clean jeans! Oy! I need a couple of Embassy outfits. So I went shopping when we were in DC at a training with Treasury. I got discouraged at a department store but found a small shop that had a couple for ‘evening’ tops that will go with a pair of dress slacks and a beautiful silk coat I had made in Thailand. Whew! Saved. I was fretting about shoes for such an outfit but discovered a pair of fussy little heels in my closet. Saved again. Fancy parties aren’t exactly my thing.
You can hardly imagine what it is like to move to a foreign land for two years. The most difficult part is the minutiae. Let me give you some examples. We need to notify the elections office so we can still vote. There’s an election coming up and I worry that our ballot will not arrive in time at our post for us to return it before the deadline is passed. Oh I see my driver’s license will expire while I am away so I go to the DMV and find out after waiting for twenty minutes there are specific procedures I have to follow in order to get an extension but I have to wait until I get a letter stating that my license is about to expire. Oh I see my ATM card and credit cards will expire while I am gone. They don’t send these things to me internationally so I will have to find another way. Thank goodness for Wayne and Dana who will handle our mail and this detail will be handled. I need to notify my bank and credit card companies that we will be living in Georgia and don’t cut me off thinking someone has stolen my card-it’s me making those withdrawals and charges. I better pick up a 2010 calendar because I can’t read the Georgian alphabet. I need to see all my doctors before leaving town. What do you mean she has no openings until AFTER I have moved? I probably can’t get my supplements, vitamins and prescriptions in Georgia so I had better get a good enough supply to last me until I get settled and can order them online. Well you get the picture. On Friday the 11th of September the shipping company rep will be here to ‘survey’ what we are shipping. We need to have three piles: what is going by airfreight, consumables (deodorant, foodstuffs, Band-Aids, etc.) and household goods (stationary bike, weights, summer clothes, our kitchen, etc). Airfreight will arrive 3-4 weeks after we do and the other items 4 months or longer. This means we need to think through what the heck goes in what pile. We also need to do a practice ‘pack’ to see what will fit into our suitcases. We need to do that before next Friday in case everything we want to take won’t fit we will then put it in the air shipment pile. You won’t believe what it costs to take more than one suitcase with you internationally. If you exceed the size allowance by one inch it is an extra $175. More minutiae-measure that big suitcase.I freaked out when I realized that we will be attending some Embassy functions. Remember me, Ms. NW America with a fabulous wardrobe of casual clothes. I’m the one who thinks dressing up is putting on my clean jeans! Oy! I need a couple of Embassy outfits. So I went shopping when we were in DC at a training with Treasury. I got discouraged at a department store but found a small shop that had a couple for ‘evening’ tops that will go with a pair of dress slacks and a beautiful silk coat I had made in Thailand. Whew! Saved. I was fretting about shoes for such an outfit but discovered a pair of fussy little heels in my closet. Saved again. Fancy parties aren’t exactly my thing.
1. How this adventure came to be?
Ever since our 14 months in Sri Lanka, Ron has been looking for another long term assignment over seas. He’s been lucky enough to get a number of short term assignments in places like Serbia, India, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia. He’s met with many firms and the only places he could get assignments were Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. These are places we didn’t want to go to mostly because of the security issues and that these places were not “accompanied” posts, which means the employer would not take any responsibility for Tricia’s travel or evacuation in the event of an emergency.
As things would happen, Ron was offered two assignments at the same time. One was in Ethiopia and the other in Georgia. This was a very difficult decision for Ron because of the pluses and minuses of each assignment. He agonized over the decision. Tricia was willing to go either place, but was more interested in Georgia because of the opportunities for work or volunteering through the Embassy in Georgia.
One day towards the deadline for deciding we went to the 100th anniversary sale at the Pendleton Woolen Mills outlet, not far from our home. We were looking at shirts for Ron & the boys and just looking around. Tricia found a nice woolen jacket and was holding it up when Ron asked if she was going to buy it. Tricia said that all depended on if Ron was taking her to Georgia or Ethiopia. Ron said, “Then you better get it.” And that’s how the final decision was made!
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of activity, packing up the house, making arrangements, finishing up work commitments for the short term work Ron was doing for Ethiopia, and getting training for the new assignment.
Ron will be working for the US Treasury department and will be helping the Georgian Ministry of Finance with budget issues. Specifically he’ll be assisting and advising on improvements to the budget process, implementing a capital budgeting system, and helping to develop a revenue sharing program in the country.
We’ll be living in Tbilisi Georgia the capital of the country. This is a city of just under 2 million in a country of just over 4 million. We’ll be living in Embassy assigned housing, as of this writing, we don’t know where that will be.
As things would happen, Ron was offered two assignments at the same time. One was in Ethiopia and the other in Georgia. This was a very difficult decision for Ron because of the pluses and minuses of each assignment. He agonized over the decision. Tricia was willing to go either place, but was more interested in Georgia because of the opportunities for work or volunteering through the Embassy in Georgia.
One day towards the deadline for deciding we went to the 100th anniversary sale at the Pendleton Woolen Mills outlet, not far from our home. We were looking at shirts for Ron & the boys and just looking around. Tricia found a nice woolen jacket and was holding it up when Ron asked if she was going to buy it. Tricia said that all depended on if Ron was taking her to Georgia or Ethiopia. Ron said, “Then you better get it.” And that’s how the final decision was made!
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of activity, packing up the house, making arrangements, finishing up work commitments for the short term work Ron was doing for Ethiopia, and getting training for the new assignment.
Ron will be working for the US Treasury department and will be helping the Georgian Ministry of Finance with budget issues. Specifically he’ll be assisting and advising on improvements to the budget process, implementing a capital budgeting system, and helping to develop a revenue sharing program in the country.
We’ll be living in Tbilisi Georgia the capital of the country. This is a city of just under 2 million in a country of just over 4 million. We’ll be living in Embassy assigned housing, as of this writing, we don’t know where that will be.
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