Georgian Hospitality

When we found out that we were headed for Tbilisi, Georgia in 2007 Seth & I began to read up on the country, its people and their culture. One of the things we continually came across was a reference to the "famous Georgian hospitality." We read accounts of people being taken in for a hot meal and on a back country road or a village family insisting that a wandering traveler spend the night.

During our first year or so here we often found ourselves exchanging a look now and then that begged the question "Where is this legendary hospitality?" Last night I backed right into it.

I was downtown to meet Seth and some friends out for dinner when I spotted a primo parking space right across from the restaurant. I pulled over and put on my turn signal to indicate my intention to parallel park into the space behind me. As I was backing up I heard a quick horn blast followed by a crunch of plastic. One of our local VIPs had seen the same parking space and headed into it front end first...and then we met.

He didn't speak English and I speak enough Georgian to ask How you're doing and if I can have 5 tomatoes please so he went upstairs inside the apartment building we were in front of to get his friend who could translate. After we called the police the English speaking friend invited us upstairs to her apartment.

Here's where the hospitality comes in.

We come inside and plates of cakes are immediately brought out to the living room. Place settings with a knife, fork, and napkin quickly follow for everyone. Would I like some coffee? No thank you, I'm comfortable. Would I like some lemonade? No thank you, I'm just fine. You have a lovely apartment. Thank you so much for your help. It's no problem, would you like some coffee? Maybe just a little.

We talk about her work, she asks about mine. She translates for me that the other driver was just shocked that this happened because he is, after all, a professional driver. A what? He is a driver's education instructor. Oh, I see.

We go on like this for 20 minutes until the police arrive.

Regardless of the other quirks and complaints we may have of Tbilisi, this was remarkable. Having been involved in one other car accident in Washington, DC where the people involved didn't look at each other much less speak to one another MUCH less invite each other inside for cake and coffee I found this experience worth sharing.