Vieną dieną man teko važiuoti mikriuku stovint, su didžiuliu sunkiu krepšiu ant peties - prireikė lygiai 20 sekundžių, kad šalia stovinti moteris pasisiūlytų palaikyti mano krepšį - juk tikrai nesunku, ir jokia čia ne problema ir ne trukdymas, ir nagi, juk man patogiau bus stovėti. Tą dieną mikriukais ir autobusais važiavau dar keletą kartų, ir kiekvieną kartą sulaukdavau lygiai tokio paties dėmesio - o mano krepšys perėjo per daugybę rankų.
Tai privertė susimąstyti: daug kartų skųsdavausi, kokie gruzinai nemandagūs - ne tik kad nenusišypsos tau gatvėj ar parduotuvėj (pardavėjos ar padavėjos dažniau elgias taip, tarsi joms trukdai); stovint eilėje žmonės dažnai stumdosi ir užlindinėja; vairuotojai nuolat užslaudę garso signalą ir šūkauja vieni ant kitų (va kur aš išmokau gruziniškų keiksmažodžių:) ir niekad nepraleis tavęs per perėją. Bet nenoriu daugiau skųstis - esmė tame, jog mandagiais išauklėti užsieniečiai dažnai jaučiasi ganėtinai nejaukiai ir įsitempę gatvėje. Norint kažko pasiekti, tenka pakovoti už save - ir nėra laiko toms kovoms susikaupti, susidūrimai ir susirėmimai vyksta kasdien ir visur, daugybėje situacijų. Kartais tenka pabūt grubesniems, pakelti toną ar pasakyti aštriau nei norėtųsi. Dažnai tai nėra labai paprasta.
Tačiau Gruzijoje yra dalykų, kurie visa tai atperka - tai nepaprastas žmonių nuoširdumas ir paslaugumas, kai prisireikia pagalbos. Ir tai nebūtinai turi būti kažkokia didelė nelaimė: jei ieškai kelio, informacijos, tenka nešti ką sunkaus ar kito smulkesnio pagelbėjimo prisireikia, visuomet atsiras neabejingas žmogus netoliese. Gruzinai dažnai prašo ir siūlo pagalbą - kartais atrodo, kad Vakaruose tai nėra taip jau labai įprasta. Būti nepriklausomais ir savarankiškais mums dažnai būna kur kas svarbiau.
Vis dar manau, kad mandagumas labai reikalingas - tokia aplinka suteikia saugumo ir nuima įtampą kasdienybėje. Tačiau atidumas artimui - dar svarbesnis, nepamainomas ir būtinas. Ir tikras.
Jei reikėtų pristatyti Gruziją ir gruzinus, turbūt apie tai kalbėčiau visų pirmiausai.
2012/08/20
2012/08/19
Polite or Helpful
The other day I was riding a marshrutka, standing with a heavy bag on my shoulder - it took exactly 20 seconds for a woman sitting nearby to suggest that she could hold it for me, and no no, this is really not a problem, and cmon, it will be easier for me. I took different buses and marshrutkas several times that day, and the same story repeated each time.
It got me thinking: so many times I was complaining that Georgians lack politeness - not that nobody smiles on the street, but people can push you, cut line right in front of you; drivers always beep their horns and shout on each other (and swear too! oh gosh, that's where I'm learning all the swearing words in Georgian....). And they never let the pedestrian cross the street at the zebra place - don't even try that. But I don't want to continue complaining - the point is, being a polite foreigner, one can get really frustrated and stressed out on the street. You have to struggle and fight for yourself, every single day and in many situations. And you also have to get rude at times. Which is hard.
But one thing that outweighs all of this is the extreme warmth and helpfulness of the people when you are in trouble. Not even very serious trouble: if you need to find your way, or to get some information, or you're carrying something heavy, and need an extra hand - there will always be someone near and ready to assist. People give help and ask for it a lot - something that is quite forgotten in some Western countries, where it's just so important to be independent.
I still think that being polite is necessary, and that it helps to make everybody's life just less intense and more pleasant. But being helpful is something so much more real.
If I even had to present Georgia and Georgian people, I would surely put it as a point #1.
It got me thinking: so many times I was complaining that Georgians lack politeness - not that nobody smiles on the street, but people can push you, cut line right in front of you; drivers always beep their horns and shout on each other (and swear too! oh gosh, that's where I'm learning all the swearing words in Georgian....). And they never let the pedestrian cross the street at the zebra place - don't even try that. But I don't want to continue complaining - the point is, being a polite foreigner, one can get really frustrated and stressed out on the street. You have to struggle and fight for yourself, every single day and in many situations. And you also have to get rude at times. Which is hard.
But one thing that outweighs all of this is the extreme warmth and helpfulness of the people when you are in trouble. Not even very serious trouble: if you need to find your way, or to get some information, or you're carrying something heavy, and need an extra hand - there will always be someone near and ready to assist. People give help and ask for it a lot - something that is quite forgotten in some Western countries, where it's just so important to be independent.
I still think that being polite is necessary, and that it helps to make everybody's life just less intense and more pleasant. But being helpful is something so much more real.
If I even had to present Georgia and Georgian people, I would surely put it as a point #1.
2012/08/10
Who rules the rules
Recently I've been thinking about freedom, and where it actually comes from. I was reading a travel blog of my friends, who are trotting around the world - what an ultimate sense of freedom it must be! Living in such simplicity, surrounded by nature, people and silence, and having the rules that make sense.
Cause there are so many rules that don't really make sense. We limit ourselves - mostly, to feel safer and more comfortable, and to not need to try what's new and unexpected. That's one thing the world could learn from Georgia - braveness to give it a try. If there is a space, it means it's possible to pass through it; if there is a chair, it means it's possible to sit on it. There is no questioning, "oh, is it allowed?" Of course, it is allowed. And if not, you'll find out in due time - but till then maybe you will have achieved what you wanted already. I guess, it's a survival skill, quite lost in richer countries.
We are so careful in Lithuania. Sometimes it makes sense, of course (!!!), but other times just stops you from improvising. And getting you where you didn't expect to go, but where you'd enjoy yourself the most.
2012/08/08
Kavos galia
Ar kada pastebėjote, kad kur nors skubant sugalvojus užšokti į parduotuvę "labai greitai kažko", kas nors būtinai bus ne taip.
Ryte jau beveik vėlavau į darbą, bet vis tik nusprendžiau pirmiausia pasipildyti kavos atsargas mažytėje parduotuvėlėje šalimais. Kavos puodelis visuomet padaro rytą darbe malonesnį, o kavos kvapas iškart gerai nuteikia visai dienai...jau taip ir įsivaizdavau netrukus garuosiantį puodelį. Parduotuvė buvo beveik tuščia, greitai pagriebiau viską, ko reikėjo ir atėjau prie kasų.......... Tolimesnis dialogas atkartotas beveik identiškai, apytiksliai verčiant iš gruzinų kalvos:
-Mari, gal atidarom kitą kasą.
-Gerai, aš tik centus šitoje supakuosiu.
(pauzė, aš ir darbininkas su alaus buteliu ir cigaretėmis kantrai laukiame)
(Mari kraustosi į kitą kasą, jos kolegė tvarkosi pirmojoje)
(po kurio laiko patys susiprantame, kad ir mums reikėtų pereiti prie kitos kasos, ši dar neatsidaro)
(anoje kasoje Mari vis dar išsipakuoja visus centus ir monetas)
-Na gerai, galite prieiti. O ne, popieriaus čekiams spausdinti nėra... Gal pereikit prie pirmosios kasos.
(greitai ir tyliai su darbininku judame tarp kasų, už mūsų atsiranda daugiau laukiančių žmonių)
-Atsiprašau, bet alus tai daugiau kainuoja, jums dar teks larį pridėti (ar kiek ten)
-O, tikrai? Nu kaip čia taip... tai gla cigarečių neskaičiuokit tuomet...
-Hmmm.... nu gerai, pažiūrėkim....
(klik klik klik....klik klik klaviatūra)
(pauzė)
-Mari.
(pauzė)
-Ką?
(pauzė)
(pauzė)(pauzė)
-Koks alaus stiklinių kodas?
Kantrybė ir kavos galia atsilaikys prieš bet kokias klūtis.
 |
| ....O jeigu... :) Pasiskolinta iš www.cartoonstock.com/ |
Coffee power
Have you noticed that whenever you are in a hurry and decide to just "run real fast" to the nearest shop on the way, something must go wrong.
In the morning I was nearly late but needed to refill my coffee supplies. Morning in the office always goes more smoothly with a cup of coffee, and I was already imagining a full cup just 5 min from that moment. The shop was almost empty, I quickly took all I wanted.............and then I got to the cashier's. Following conversation is almost identical, roughly translated from Georgian:
-Mari, let's open another cashier.
-OK, let me count all the coins from this one.
(pause, me and a construction worker in front with a bottle of beer waiting)
(while Mari is moving to another cashier, her colleague at this one is tidying up)
(we understood that we should also probably move to another cashier)
(Mari there is still unpacking coins)
-OK, please come closer. Oh no, there is no paper in the printer... Please return to the first cashier.
(quickly and quietly me and the construction worker move in between the cashiers)
-Sir, you got the price wrong. Please add one more lari (or how much it was)
-Oh, really? Then please, cancel the cigarettes.
-Hmmm...ok, lets see.....
(click click click....click click)
(pause)
-Mari.
(pause)
-What?
(pause)
(pause)
(pause)
-What is the code for the beer glasses?
Patience and strong wish of morning coffee can prevail against anything.
In the morning I was nearly late but needed to refill my coffee supplies. Morning in the office always goes more smoothly with a cup of coffee, and I was already imagining a full cup just 5 min from that moment. The shop was almost empty, I quickly took all I wanted.............and then I got to the cashier's. Following conversation is almost identical, roughly translated from Georgian:
-Mari, let's open another cashier.
-OK, let me count all the coins from this one.
(pause, me and a construction worker in front with a bottle of beer waiting)
(while Mari is moving to another cashier, her colleague at this one is tidying up)
(we understood that we should also probably move to another cashier)
(Mari there is still unpacking coins)
-OK, please come closer. Oh no, there is no paper in the printer... Please return to the first cashier.
(quickly and quietly me and the construction worker move in between the cashiers)
-Sir, you got the price wrong. Please add one more lari (or how much it was)
-Oh, really? Then please, cancel the cigarettes.
-Hmmm...ok, lets see.....
(click click click....click click)
(pause)
-Mari.
(pause)
-What?
(pause)
(pause)
(pause)
-What is the code for the beer glasses?
Patience and strong wish of morning coffee can prevail against anything.
|
| ...If only... :) Borrowed from http://www.cartoonstock.com/ |
2012/08/06
Off Shopping
After a week-long trip home I suddenly realized how much I have adapted here in Georgia. It took two years, and of course, there are still things that surprise me - but overall, everything seems somewhat "normal", including relaxed lifestyle, occasional power/water breakdowns, and even the August heat (boy it's melting everything!).
I just realize things more consciously now. For example, shopping this weekend taught me a lesson that with patience you can win anything. And that the sellers hold their personal respect higher than possibility to sell and earn (quite a lot of) money. That's how it works in some shops.
If you enter and see a lot of people, prepare yourself. We were pro-active, checked all the goods in the shop ourselves, even took some samples to carry around (till this day I don't know if they were left on the table for this purpose...) and tried to make the choice. During the process we chose one seller and from time to time caught her by the hand to ask some question. In the end, caught the same seller and told that we are ready and to give us some attention. Abra kadabra - it worked! And all those polite customers who would like to get personal service will have to come another time...and maybe to some other place :)
Another point about shopping in Georgia. Often people who have been travelling in Turkey or in Eastern Asia are expecting to bargain hard and get things so cheaply. After all, Georgia is considered a developing country! Oh well, I have only one thing to tell here: it's just completely wrong. Georgia is not that cheap at all; and while bargaining one can get down 20% off the price....max. And if you offer too low price, the seller might get offended and won't want to talk to you anymore.
The best way to get what you want is communication - friendly informal chat will open many doors and give lots of information, unreachable otherwise. Good luck shopping!
I just realize things more consciously now. For example, shopping this weekend taught me a lesson that with patience you can win anything. And that the sellers hold their personal respect higher than possibility to sell and earn (quite a lot of) money. That's how it works in some shops.
If you enter and see a lot of people, prepare yourself. We were pro-active, checked all the goods in the shop ourselves, even took some samples to carry around (till this day I don't know if they were left on the table for this purpose...) and tried to make the choice. During the process we chose one seller and from time to time caught her by the hand to ask some question. In the end, caught the same seller and told that we are ready and to give us some attention. Abra kadabra - it worked! And all those polite customers who would like to get personal service will have to come another time...and maybe to some other place :)
Another point about shopping in Georgia. Often people who have been travelling in Turkey or in Eastern Asia are expecting to bargain hard and get things so cheaply. After all, Georgia is considered a developing country! Oh well, I have only one thing to tell here: it's just completely wrong. Georgia is not that cheap at all; and while bargaining one can get down 20% off the price....max. And if you offer too low price, the seller might get offended and won't want to talk to you anymore.
The best way to get what you want is communication - friendly informal chat will open many doors and give lots of information, unreachable otherwise. Good luck shopping!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)