Kim's updates from the Country of Georgia: It's a Small World: Georgians in Greece too.

BBC recently reported on the effect that the Greek debt crisis will have on Georgia. This ripple effect is exacerbated by the EU structure today, but Georgians have been moving to Greece to find employment, both seasonal and long term, ever since the Soviet collapse. I know of many friends and acquaintances here in Georgia who have a parent working in Greece for many years, and sending money home when they can. They say about 200,000 Georgians live in Greece now, which is just under 5% of its population. Greece is also the most popular destination after Russian for Georgian migrant laborers. But since Greece is in the news, let me tell you my personal experience...

A Little R&R in Greece

I took a little R&R to Greece, a while ago, responding to cheap tickets before it gets too late in my Peace Corps service. I had been in Georgia for almost a year at this time. It seemed like a lifetime and a minute at the same time.

I downloaded Rick Steves guide to Greece, from my favorite on line Vail library free Marmot service. I love that service and most libraries in the US offer something like this. We had been busy at the Koda Community Education Center, trying to launch our new on-line catalog for our women's traditional handicraft items. Check it out at Art-Koda.com. If you want to order something, just "check out " and we will respond with the shipping costs and payment options. It's not automatic here, but still effective.

I felt I needed a little break My great world-traveled friend, Barbara, recommended Athens as a nice place before the tourist season begins. And I stayed with new friends in Galaxidi for two nights to be near the water, and toured Delphi to learn my future.

I'm busy enjoying my R&R!

Splurging on breakfast buffet

But first, I splurged with one night at an upper scale hotel, the Divani Caravel, with a pool and a bathtub! I was not sure of which I was more excited about or if I would ever leave my room. And after all those years complaining about living in those Marriotts on IBM business trips. Eventually I did pull myself away and ventured out to see Athens and I moved to Hotel Adonis, a lovely little family inn near Plaka, the cool old town...

It's a Small World After All

The first evening I decided to walk down to the main center in old town, Athens. Of course I took a wrong turn and got lost, as darkness was falling. There were very few people around and I was getting a little nervous. Finally I saw a young woman, approached her and asked her if I was going in the right direction, in English. She motioned "sorry, no English," and I motioned that I didn't speak Greek, but a little charades got me pointed in the right direction for town Central.

I automatically said " Madloba" (Georgian for Thanks) and started to move away.

She paused and then ran up to me.

"Raton laparokob cartuli? ( Why are you speaking Georgian?)

I responded, " Ratom itsi cartuli? (Why do you know Georgian?)

To which she answered, "ME VAR CARTVELI! ( I AM GEORGIAN!)

It was so funny, and so out of the blue. How would the first person I spoke to in Greece be a Georgian?

We had a great conversations - thanks Peace Corps intensive language classes. She had moved to Greece to get work, as had many Georgians, as we discussed. She was living there alone, missing her family. She was taking care of an older woman. I explained that I was living in Koda, helping the IDPs from S. Ossetia. It was so good to talk to her, and connect the dots between Greece and Georgia on a more personal level. And we talked about Georgian men vs. Greece men too. ( Of course Georgian men are better, she said, amazed I would even ask such a question!)

Culturally it was so nice to see men and women together,enjoying each other, socializing over a drink and meal. I still find the sexes so separated in Georgia. And Athens, being such a cosmopolitan city, there were great, inexpensive restaurants of all types. I also bumped into a few women from Charlotte, NC. Imagine their surprise tat I could place their hometown so easily, but you just can't forget that accent.

History

The history of Greece is as amazing as that of Georgia. I saw 5000 BC statues of female gods from the Cycladic islands, harp and flute from 5000 years ago. Of course the Acropolis, but I won't bother you with words. Here are my personal pictures. You can see all the famous stuff on google. :-)

I walked around the Acropolis a while with a Spanish couple.
They had classical music blaring, they said, to
get in the mood. :-) Neat couple.

I asked several people about this big hill, prominent in Athens. But it's not in the tour books I guess so no one seems to notice it. Finally I ascertained that is was from this hill that the Acropolis was fired upon, during one of the sieges. Not too popular now; it is a evening disco.

Quick sidebar: In our local youth leadership class we shared the TED Talk by Amy Cuddy, about feeling more confident by holding this posture for a short time. I thought the Acropolis was a good place to try it. It is a great experiment; check it out.