Each year, the majority of GZAAT students look forward to various field trips and excursions. It's the time when all of us create many memories, have lots of fun, connect with our classmates and teachers, and explore the history of our country. The 2020 year has been unusual for all of us and turned the whole world upside down. Because of the Coronavirus, many important things have been postponed, including a field trip that the 9th and 8th graders had recently been looking forward to. To find more about the trip and the reasons why it got canceled,
I interviewed the principal of our school, Mr.Andres Cruz, and asked him a few clarifying questions.
Interviewer: What kind of a trip was planned this year that got canceled?
Mr. Cruz: “Well, there are two types of trips. Classical field trips that we do twice a year: one in the fall and one in the spring. Then, there are smaller trips that we have been doing this year since we started school. The big field trips are not going to happen. Due to covid, the idea was to make many excursions but with a small number of students. We can’t take all the freshmen, the whole class, at the same time on the trip. As I said, what we did is that we planned individual trips in which only a small group of students were invited. Out of those groups, some of the students were not able to come, parents of some of the students didn’t want them to go, and the trips that I have been to were mostly with 8-12 student. I had this one trip this year, where I took the students to Sololaki for the photography project. Then we took the freshmen and sophomores to Grakliani, an archeological site, then to an art gallery, and also to the regions. We were about to continue the trips, we wanted to take freshman and junior high students to Mtskheta, to the monastery, and see some beautiful archeological sites called Bagineti. It wouldn’t take too long, just about three hours in total or so. We only did this with one group of Junior high students. The 9th graders were the next ones to go. Actually, I believe we would have gone there on 12 November, Thursday, but unfortunately, I had to cancel.”
Interviewer: What was the reason that this trip got canceled? Did the government tell the school to do so, or was it your choice?
Mr. Cruz: Two things have been happening the last few days: the pandemic hasn’t gone any better, it has gone worse and worse… and I saw what people were doing during the Parliamentary election day and after the election. It was clear to me that the pandemic isn’t going to stop because many people continue not to follow the recommendations. Now the possibility that one of the students can get the virus is much greater than it was two weeks ago. There is another problem too. Before doing the trips, I always go to the place first, normally with a teacher. This time weeks ago, I went with Nino Mitsishvili, the history teacher, to check all the places. By coincidence, the day we were coming back, there were demonstrations, on Rustaveli Avenue. Even though this demonstration wasn’t big, everything was blocked: from The Tbilisi Mall until the center of the city. One of the centers where they usually protest is actually the national center for actions and that center is exactly on the road that goes to Mtskheta. Due to these protests, the traffic is terrible. Coming back from the trip, Nino and I were in the car for an hour and a half. How are we going to have 12 students in the van, with the masks on for one hour and a half? Even with a mask, it’s still a risk. Because of all these factors, I had to cancel the trip.
Interviewer: What was the purpose of this excursion?
Mr. Cruz: The main reason I decided to begin such trips was that I wanted to provide some balance. The amount of time that you guys are spending in front of the computer is not good. By going out, you would get a chance to communicate and talk with each other and spend less time sitting in front of the computer. Other than this, it’s always a great idea to visit beautiful archeological sites and learn the history of the country.
Interviewer: What regulations should students and teachers follow during the trip?
Mr. Cruz: Even though the trips happen outside, still, everybody has to wear a mask. The students have to stay distanced from each other. We did this even before the government would make it mandatory. For instance, when we went to Sololaki a few weeks ago, everyone wore masks and we checked students’ temperatures too. There were some situations when more than 10 students wanted to be part of the excursion, so I took my car, I have a jeep, and took 2-3 students with me.
Interviewer: If the situation gets better, do you plan to reschedule the canceled trips?
Mr. Cruz: Yes, of course. If the situation gets better, the coronavirus cases decrease and the demonstrations stop, we will definitely go to Mtskheta and on many other trips too. I think it’s very important for you. Students are different. Some are perfectly fine with this situation, but many students need to go out, chat with their classmates. By the way, there are some trips that I didn’t cancel. Meriko mas is taking a little group of her students to walk in many different historical places around the Metekhi bridge.
Interviewer: Mr.Cruz thank you for taking the time to answer the questions.
After speaking with Mr.Cruz, I found it interesting to ask one of the teachers their thoughts and opinions about the cancellation of the trip, so I decided to ask my advisor Meriko Toradze.
Interviewer: Meriko mas, what do you think about the trip being canceled?
Meriko Toradze: I wasn’t coming with you on this trip, but It’s sad that you don’t get an opportunity to go to Mtskheta with some of your classmates and Mr.Cruz, but I believe that this is a very good decision. Every day there are approximately 3000 cases of coronavirus and additionally, political demonstrations. the best alternative in this situation is to stay home and stay safe. I believe everything will get better by spring and we will have way more fun on that excursion.
Interviewer: How do you plan to keep in touch with your students?
Meriko Toradze: Even though the plan to go to Mtskheta isn’t in consideration at this time, the small trips are still happening. I want to take my advisory to the zoo by following every regulation. Outside activities are much safer and I look forward to meeting the students. I also take my class of freshmen to the Metekhi bridge to see some historical places.
Interviewer: Meriko mas, thank you for answering the questions
As the trip got canceled it was interesting to see what the 8th graders and 9th graders thought about it, so I decided to survey some of my classmates and 8th graders. Here are some of the 8th graders’ responses:
8th grader: “I was very excited about the trip, on our last excursion we went to see Old Tbilisi. We wore masks all the time and followed every regulation. The trips give us the opportunity to meet our new teachers and classmates. I expected this trip to be as good as the last one because each of us had lots of fun. At first, I didn’t think about going because my mom was afraid of corona’s so many cases, but then I changed my mind. Such opportunities don’t pop up often. I was looking forward to it and I became sad when I heard the news, but I truly believe that when the situation gets better, we will have many trips..”
8th grader: “I had a lot of fun on the last excursion, Ana Abashidze went with us, we took tons of pictures and saw Old Tbilisi. When I heard the news that we were going on a new trip I got very excited. I expected it to be better than the last one as we could spend more time together. It is very unfortunate that the trip got delayed, I was super happy to see my classmates again.”
9th grader: “I would have gone on this trip, but I don’t think that such excursions aren’t good to hold in such a period when coronavirus cases increase and increase day by day. I expected this trip to be as good as the last ones we had. It’s nice that our school thinks a lot about us. During the pandemic. It’s hard to communicate with each other. From these trips, I expect to have regulations, such as wearing masks, keeping distance, and etc. Also, I think it will be very interactive, fun, and interesting because we will be able to spend some time with each other outdoors.”
Edited by: Elene Jakhutashvili
Comments