Last classes

Talk about highs and lows, stresses and joys, rockstar status and total isolation. It has been a journey. Although I unintentionally stumbled into teaching four years ago at Ecole Francaise du Caucase, I leave feeling satisfied with my contribution. I really loved the children and felt fortunate that I was able to teach at every level from kindergarten up through twelfth grade.

It is an amazing thing to move to a foreign country, completely separate from anything you've ever known, and to integrate into a community there. That was perhaps my greatest accomplishment.

Chaladi Glacier

Our horseback trek brought us to the trailhead for Chaladi Glacier. The trail starts with a rustic drawbridge across a thundering mountain river. The trail then winds up through the rocky valley as the river tapers into a spring. The glacier spans the top of the mountain peaks. Just gorgeous. I only wish I'd had my standard lens to get some good wide angle shots.

It was the perfect day to encapsulate all that has been good about our Georgian experience.

Our friend R. joined us on this our final journey through Georgia. He has been a dear friend to our family and, incidentally, has a calming influence on the children. He is always a pleasure to have along. We will cherish the memories we have made together.

Svanetian sally forth

Feeling joy

and newfound capability.

I love these two shots of my girls because of what they represent. A couple years ago we set a family goal to go on a horseback trek through the mountains before we left Georgia. As the months and opportunities passed by, our goal started to feel out of reach.

These pictures capture the joy, relief and satisfaction of that goal being achieved. We got our horses and had just ridden through town and this was the moment the kids realized, "Hey, we can do this. We ARE doing this!" It was so beautiful.

Most oft quoted phrase? "This is the best day of my life."

Last road trip

We weren't planning on taking a road trip, in fact we had long anticipated taking a small plane through the mountaintops to our destination, but when less than optimal conditions caused our flight cancellation, we decided on a dime to take the 9-hour drive and make it worth it.

(Also, after many months of going without, I finally got my camera repaired and returned to me. Though I only had the telephoto lens, it was enough. This trip was the initiatory run.)

The road was washed out, buckled or partially covered in avalanche at many places along the way, but at last we arrived at our favorite Georgian destination: Mestia.

Last month

We now enter that strange time where everything we do, we count as our last: our last time climbing this fruit tree, our last walk through these woods, our last playdate with that friend. We have less than one month left in Georgia, and so many lasts.