I am sitting in my bed, in this -relatively- cold evening thinking of my cousin- in the middle of I do not know where- just far far away... .drinking the strawberry flavored tea that she brought for me from a long distance country that I forgot which... and wonder if she is thinking of me, wherever she is, maybe today she saw a chocolate bar that was strawberry flavored, or oxygen in a can that is strawberry flavored, or maybe some tool with strawberry design on top! She remembers me whenever she sees a strawberry and thinks that I will like and well yes I do like them a lot!! I feel her so close to me all the time. And many times, I think of her in her environment having some fun, or being melancholic- as she likes that too... But now when I think of her there is something missing...
I look at her blog-diary, I read and check the photos, but still I can not think of her in a concrete place! That is not good!!! I am afraid she feels the same way about me... Well I update as many photos as I can and try to write as many detail as possible for the readers of my Abkhazia diary, still it is not easy to dream of something that you have never experienced even a similarity. By the way she is in Japan! So I decided to think of things we lived in the past... and I checked the photos that we took in Germany about two years ago- the best one -that is hanging on my wall- is the one with her and my aunty, in which we- three adult size person- fitted inside a small box, you know those that you throw the money and have to stay still for 4 different shots of portraits. Well, this one is black and white, and we did not sit still. Actually there was not enough place for us to sit at all. In those, we try to fit our heads into the single-portrait size frames!
Anyway, I wonder how it is like to stay in a Japanese temple just to learn a language. Would I ever stay in a Monastery in Abkhazia, just to learn Russian? Would it be fun? Well if it would be the Afon Monastery than it will be great silence, and with those sun sets great enthusiasm for writing!!! And very possibly a lot of touristic polution :(
They are saying this year 2 million toruists came to Abkhazia! 2 million! I only had 5 guests, three from Germany and 2 from Belarus and they would have come even if it were not to me! This is a good number and I wonder if it is better to do trade related to tourism than to be an academician? That was a joke! I like being an academician and by the way I had a conference last week, in Ankara. Well- no comment! And I have another one in Abkhazia next week- I have to get prepared!!!! And I have another one that I am one of the organizers at the end of october and I have to deal with my paper for that too. Well you see, I am back to academic life in full speed.. :D
What else should I say...
About my life in Abkhazia after I returned from the conference: First of all I came very comfortably this time. The “Russian Custom Controllers” that do now have uniforms, have greeted me with laughs, and gave me my passport back in a few seconds with everything complete with small jokes in mixed Turkish and Russian. Than I shared a taxi with an Abkhaz lady and an Abkhaz student from Turkey. Than it was late and there was no minibus to come to Sohum and we bargained with a Gagra minibus driver, the lady giving 1000 rubles and us 900 rubles. Too much! Will never ever come on wednesday if I can... By the way, did I wrote about the happy third ticket!!! Aeroflot don – the only firm that flies to Sochi, the nearest Russian airport to Abkhazia, had a campaign that you can buy the third return ticket (if you gave the first two, to the seller) for 205 Euros instead of 300 Euros or so... It is cheap! I was planing to take the ship from Trabzon but think about it, taking a bus to Trabzon for 15 hours from Istanbul or 10 hours from Ankara that costs around 50 dollars, taking a ship from Trabzon to Sochi for 50 (pulman- open seat) or 75 (shared compartment) dollars and spending at least a day or two in the ship because of weather conditions, and spending another on the way, spending at least 5 hours at Russian customs- because they are really happy to see you- the walking banks according to them- and than you have to take a bus for an hour to come to the Abkhazian border. Does it worth it? No way!!!! Ofcourse I came with the plane...
Anyway, after I came I did not do anyhting for a few days- still it was tiring for me. And the first days had to clean the house- what a mess! Has there been a disaster in the house? - And tidy, and wash things... and rest...and shop... and take photos- for you! (You can check them at the picasa web gallery)
Well, a few days after I came there was a rumor about kidnapped boys from Tkuarchal rayon. So many different things we heard... Now everything is clear- at least more clear... A group of young military soldiers were being trained near to the border in the mountains. They were resting when they were attacked by a group wearing black clothes and masks- georgian army special team they are told to be... killed the two teachers after torturing them, took 6 of the soldiers that were not wounded during their shooting show and went... It created the fear in the people- you may think. But not really. People are not aware at all, still the funeral of the two Russian soldiers/teachers attracted about a thousand people to Sohum. They were taken within Abkhazian flags and with hundreds of red roses carried by soldiers at the front...
Well that is a sad story... that is why I will cut it short...
Other than that I have received a piece of land from the Gudauta rayon administration! Well, we just wrote an application about a month ago and it was accepted. It is a land in a village near to the main road, 10 minutes from the Gudauta center, but a small village very near to the historical Lihni village. I can even start farming- but really it is not my but my mothers field of interest. She is a farmer in our village in Sakarya doing organic farming... Maybe she will come to suggest me what to do with the land!
Oh I was nearly forgetting!!!! I have started to attend the university caucasian dances group- Dioskuri- and it is going... lets say fine. Being a late new comer, who does not have any knowledge of the main steps, or any coreography, and does not know anyone who can teach her at extra hours, I am exiled to stay at a corner and follow whatever I can with my own ambition. Every monday, tuesday and thursday I will be there from now on. And next week my school is starting. Woah ;,(( I have not yet finished my homework... I have to study harder but I have pain in my eye and I think I should not even be here, infront of the computer. Maybe I should drink another tea to feel better....
All for now. Next time to write more about everything. (Ps: to see interesting fruits from the market- check the market gallery)
