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Our evening class student, Jean Blakeman, shares her experiences learning Georgian and her travels in Tbilisi!
Letters from Tbilisi
My evening class teacher is Keti Kalandadze. Keti has family and friends living in Tbilisi. I decided to write about my activities in Georgian, sending my letters and photographs to Keti. Being the kind of teacher she is, Keti used them in class, getting my fellow students to translate the texts. Since most of them are planning to visit Georgia quite soon, I felt they would be interested in what is available at this time.
I went to Tbilisi, Georgia to practise my spoken Georgian. I had been twice already with a group from the gym but had not uttered a single word of Georgian despite having attended evening classes to learn the language. I decided to find a household willing to take me in so that I would have to speak up for myself. I am fortunate in having a Georgian connection who agreed to find a suitable host in Tbilisi. Knowing many influential people in Tbilisi, Giorgi found Maia, an experienced teacher of English living in Mtstsminda (Holy Mountain) an up - market area of Tbilisi only a short walk away from the main thoroughfare, Rustaveli Avenue
Maia was born and grew up in Mtatsminda so she knew the best places and events to take me to. She introduced me to her friends and neighbours who were all most interested in an elderly citizen from the U.K. learning their difficult language.
Being the kind of teacher she is, Maia vetted my Georgian, making sure there were no mistakes. Once I had written my version of a letter, we would sit down together and go through what I was trying to say. I realised I knew enough about the language to understand the changes she advised me to make. As a result I had a one to one lesson on a daily basis, besides enjoying having the services of an excellent guide.
My letters to Keti included an account of how Maia's close friends soon became my friends; buying tickets for a visit to the Opera; stepping back in time on a visit to the Byron School, Tbilisi; exploring old and new Tbilisi, looking at recently reconstructed buildings in the area around the former American Embassy; enjoying street life after dark watching traditional Georgian dancing outside the Liberty Square underground station and riding the cable car to the naturally sourced Turtle Lake.
And what about my Georgian? I found my listening improved immensely; my greetings became more spontaneous; my perception of regularly used words and phrases more immediate and my courage to join in much improved. Even just listening to the children playing outside in the courtyard made learning Georgian more meaningful.
A letter from Jean in the Georgian Script
Dear Keti,
I have three new friends, sisters Nino and Giuli and Ketino. Nino is a doctor in Tbilisi. Giuli lives in America and works with the famous basketball player Zaza Pachulia.Keti has curly hair. The girls graduated from Tbilisi State University in 1985. Maia helps me with speaking Georgian and I help her with her English.
Your student,
Jean
Giorgi, Maia and myself under Maia's magnificent lamp shade in her flat.
I was disappointed to find the National Museum closed on a Monday so we took the underground, a taxi and the cable car to Turtle Lake, ending up with a delicious meal in a famous Georgian restaurant.
There are many lovely parks in Tbilisi. Maia and I made full use of them.
Georgian food is delicious, especially the cheese bread.
