Rachel’s Writing Portfolio

One of the most important elements of Georgian culture is hospitality. Often they can be so hospitable, you will find yourself presented with more food, sweets, coffee, wine and limonati (soda flavored with fruits) than you could ever hope to consume. Georgians live for community and connecting with their neighbors and family. One way this is done is through Supras. A supra is a large feast, often held in someone’s home, that celebrates an event. The meal can often last hours, with a quantity of many traditional dishes, lots of bread and of course, toasts. Often cold dishes of mayo based salads, vegetables, bread and khachapuri (bread baked with cheese) are laid out first to eat while the hostess brings out dish after dish of hot stewed meats, fish, and refills on anything running low. At the head of the table sits the “Tamada” or toast master. This person, usually a man, is chosen for his rhetorical skill and eloquent speech, as well as his ability to consume a lot of alcohol...

I have now been in country almost 4 months. So much has happened in this short time period! I have finished up my pre service training. It was a grueling 3 months but now that it is over, I miss it. We put on a summer camp at our public school in Khidistavi, visited educational organizations in Tbilisi, finished out technical training and took our first Language Proficiency exam. It is a 20 minute conversation in Kartuli ( ქართული ). It was incredibly difficult for me, but thanks to my amazing language teacher and the help of my family and cluster, I was able to squeak by with the required intermediate low grade. Now am officially a sworn in volunteer for the United States Peace Corps! It was a bitter sweet moment. On one hand I am happy to be in my new home, living in the mountains of Imereti, but on the other it was very hard to say goodbye to my host family in Shida Kartli. I spent 3 months bonding with and growing to love my wonderful, very large family. In my new home, I hav...