On 1 September 2010 we took a trip to visit the Minister of Education and Science. It turned out to be a big media event that was a bit interesting.
We arrived in three buses which was interesting due to some of the city streets being so narrow around the ministry. When we arrived, one bus was taking at least a 10-point turn just to get into the driveway to park. Our program coordinator, Nino, got impatient of waiting for the bus to make the turn so we jumped out and walked in the back way.
We go into the rotunda and see empty seats and media everywhere. Those of us at the front stop and wonder what we are getting into. We are urged to sit down and we do – in the back. We are then told that the chairs are just for the volunteers so we have to move up to the front. I sit in the front row. Shortly after sitting down, the media come up to the front and set up their cameras right in front of us facing towards where the Minister will be talking, not us. Whew! But then there are 10 cameraman and mic people in front of us and we cannot see. WTF!
Next thing we know there is a reported asking the lady next to me if she would do an interview. Whew, not me. She goes up and two other volunteers are also asked to do an interview. All three are ladies (thinking back on this, I think that this was because teaching is a ladies job – lots of old stereotypes here) with two being blond and one being black. Being black here is a big deal for most locals have never seen a black person in person. (side story – we have heard stories from volunteers that have been here since August on how their host families were disappointed that they did not get a black person)
After the interviews are over, the Minister comes in and does interviews with the media. After he is done, the media pull to the back of the room and he then addresses us. In pretty good English. Basically, he says thank you for helping them start this new program that was started by the President and that what we are doing is very important to their country (e.g., don’t frack this up for us!)
After he is done talking, Maia, the head of the Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program addresses us briefly. She then tells us to enjoy the drinks in the back and we all relax. The drinks are water, orange juice, apple juice, red wine and white wine. All local. Well, at least, I am assume it was local. I had the white wine and it was pretty good.
Here are a few pictures from the event (or view full screen slideshow of photos here).