Georgia Links || Welcome to Georgia || Living Space || Sightseeing || To the Conference || Thinking of Keti || Foreigners in Georgia || Kartuli

Travel Stories >> Georgia

GEORGIA: T'QEMALI AND TSINANDALI

During the long cold winter of 2003 in the wilds of New Jersey, Roger and I waited for news of a project in the Republic of Georgia, based in the capital, T'bilisi. On May 23rd we were finally alerted, the project was moving forward, pack your bags and be here on or about June 14th. The SAVE (Support Added Value Enterprises) project was in its second phase (the implementation phase) and Roger was to head a component to establish the first agricultural equipment leasing company in the country.

The Georgians have been around since the Bronze Age and have managed to survive centuries in spite of serving as the world's crossroads between Asia and Europe along the famous Silk Route. Marco Polo passed through these parts and likely experienced the same chivalry and hospitality that we experience today. Georgia is where Jason found the Golden Fleece (the Greeks later told of a process of seining for gold in the rivers by using sheep fleece to catch the tiny pieces of gold) and fell for Medea (lots of modern-day women here are named Medea or "Dea" for short). The Greeks and the Romans both knew this region intimately and wrote of it often. One of the first peoples to convert, Christianity was introduced in 330 AD by St. Nino of Cappadochia (a woman). The Arabs spent centuries here, focused on the trade routes and allowing the culture to bloom and grow. It wasn't until very late in its history that Georgia found itself as part of the Russian Empire and eventually one of the soviet states.

Although one of the Soviets, Georgia maintained a firm hold on its religion (Christian Orthodox), its language, and even its alphabet (a lovely script of circular letters). During soviet times Georgians were one of the favored children of the union (perhaps because Stalin was a native son) producing steel and glass, and tea, wines and citrus for the empire. Georgia was also a tourist haven for many of the soviets, who skied and trekked in the alp-like mountains, and summered at the resorts by the waters of the Black Sea. The Georgians enjoyed a high level of cultural and intellectual life and continue to have one of the most highly educated populations in the world.

With, I'm told, nine micro-climates Georgia produces an incredibly high variety of fruits and vegetables. It has been written and I agree, that the Georgian tomatoes are the tastiest in the world. The Georgians are very proud of the native dishes and wines they produce, and meals and hospitality in general play a significant role in their lives. An invitation to a banquet or 'supra' is highly respected and there are important rules to follow involving toasting (a 'tamada' or lead toastmaster should start the toasting) and one of those is never to toast with beer (an insult).

Lastly, my favorite story regarding the Georgians is this one... When God was handing out land to the various peoples of the world, the Georgians (typically, I guess) were off drinking lots of wine and merry-making and missed the chance to receive a homeland. When they finally came around, God was a little miffed and told them that they had missed their opportunity. The Georgians replied that they had only missed the chance because they had been busy lifting their glasses in HIS honor. God liked this tale so much that he gave the Georgians the one place on earth he had been saving for himself. It is a beautiful, fertile, exquisite land, and we are delighted to be spending the next 3+ years here.

(top)