Moving On Up...To The West Side

The long-awaited day is nearly upon us. Tomorrow we embark on our mysterious journeys to locations across the western portions of the country and discover just what it means to live in this culture.

Last night (it's currently Friday, 8:18 a.m.), we were able to visit with current TLG teachers and hear their stories about the host families and the schools in which we'll teach.

Things I've learned thus far about Georgian people as a whole: They like to drink, eat, and be merry at any chance they can. They are a lot like the Turks in that they will always negotiate prices with market and mall vendors; even taxi drivers.

They are also a very proud people, comprised of primarily orthodox religious cultural beliefs and go to church frequently. They believe women should be virgins before marriage (not men...still curious how that works?) and find homosexuality appalling (except in a few progressive pockets of Tbilisi). Although the people are really friendly, they don't smile. Although, I'm told they once did before the economy tanked and the Russians started ruining things again.

On Wednesday, my hotel roommate Logan and I met up with our friend Monica to eat dinner and check out the casino at the 5-star Raddison hotel in Tbilisi's uptown. The food was amazing, particularly the egg pastries and the eggplant and bread we ordered, which I'm still feeling today.
While in the restaurant, a group of Georgian men at a table adjacent to us ordered us a bottle of red wine. It was my first experience with local wine (which is relatively sweet if red) and local hospitality.

After chatting with the gentlemen for a few minutes in broken Georgian, we learned that one of the three had been stationed in North Carolina as a marine. I suppose he immediately recognized we were Americans and since it was a holiday (don't ask me which one) he wanted to make us feel at home..."just because."

"Just because" is kind of the attitude people have here. Why not buy a bottle of wine for someone at a random table or kiss a stranger? Why not celebrate with a Supra (huge party) for a villager's birthday down the road that you don't have any relation with. It's just how things are.

And for the casino....yeah, let's just say that James Bond would have been a bit sketched out by the number of Russian big wigs running the show.


-SCB