Posted by Wade
We were recently invited to some friends’ house for a meal. This is a big honor and a significant part of the culture here in Georgia. We were told to dress warm – so we did. We put on our best base layers to help keep warm and layered enough shirts which we thought would be sufficient. After all, I was sweating before we left home with all the clothes I was wearing. When we arrived at our hosts’ house, we took off our coats and were shown around the apartment. I noticed right away how cold it was but was still warm from being underground on the metro (subway) and walking a few kilometers to their apartment. That was good.
We soon began to eat our meal together. The food was delicious, and we could tell this was a significant cost and effort for our friends to share with us. As we talked to them, many stories came up including the comparison between pre-independence and the post-soviet era. There are many struggles that continue today because of poverty, the country being a relatively new democracy, and the shift in culture from communism to a free-market society. This was certainly evidenced by our hosts not having heat at all in their apartment during the winter. As the meal continued, we both began to shiver. Our hosts were not, and we did our best to hide it. At one point, they put a blanket over Megan’s shoulders. We are fairly spoiled so we can’t imagine trying to live every day without some of the things we take for granted such as heat, hot water, and a refrigerator. True, our hosts did not have a refrigerator, but you don’t need one in the winter if you don’t have heat!
From being here several months now, we are certain these situations are very common. The struggles of Georgians are real; they lack in many basic needs, but their hospitality is not lacking at all. Our hosts, and others we have visited and spent time with, would give their guests anything they want. There is frustration with the politicians and poverty, but there is enjoyment that comes with freedom too. We pray that Georgia’s young democratic, free-market society will endure these “tough times” and one day become a bit spoiled too.
We were recently invited to some friends’ house for a meal. This is a big honor and a significant part of the culture here in Georgia. We were told to dress warm – so we did. We put on our best base layers to help keep warm and layered enough shirts which we thought would be sufficient. After all, I was sweating before we left home with all the clothes I was wearing. When we arrived at our hosts’ house, we took off our coats and were shown around the apartment. I noticed right away how cold it was but was still warm from being underground on the metro (subway) and walking a few kilometers to their apartment. That was good.
We soon began to eat our meal together. The food was delicious, and we could tell this was a significant cost and effort for our friends to share with us. As we talked to them, many stories came up including the comparison between pre-independence and the post-soviet era. There are many struggles that continue today because of poverty, the country being a relatively new democracy, and the shift in culture from communism to a free-market society. This was certainly evidenced by our hosts not having heat at all in their apartment during the winter. As the meal continued, we both began to shiver. Our hosts were not, and we did our best to hide it. At one point, they put a blanket over Megan’s shoulders. We are fairly spoiled so we can’t imagine trying to live every day without some of the things we take for granted such as heat, hot water, and a refrigerator. True, our hosts did not have a refrigerator, but you don’t need one in the winter if you don’t have heat!
From being here several months now, we are certain these situations are very common. The struggles of Georgians are real; they lack in many basic needs, but their hospitality is not lacking at all. Our hosts, and others we have visited and spent time with, would give their guests anything they want. There is frustration with the politicians and poverty, but there is enjoyment that comes with freedom too. We pray that Georgia’s young democratic, free-market society will endure these “tough times” and one day become a bit spoiled too.
