marzipan ladas - the beginning

Three years ago I was dancing to Ukrainian folk songs and checking out my Young Pioneer school dress costume (complete with the fluffy white bows in my hair) in the mirror. I was in my beloved dorm room, Sullivan Honors Dorm 222. Situated pleasantly between a small computer lab and the girls showers in a nearly 100 year old building, 222 was my haven of freedom, creativity, and privacy (which I had never yet experienced.) It was the smallest room in the building and it had carpet. In short, it was perfect. I spent some of my most life-changingly awesome eras in that room, and indeed, at that university.

Today, I'm in my room with my host family in Isani district of Tbilisi, Georgia. It isn't 222 (and indeed, many times I wish I was still there) but it's what I was dreaming of when I was in 222.

As you might have gathered, I came from a different background than most of the TLG (Teach and Learn with Georgia) people. Unfortunately, I must tell you that I got my first real introduction to Georgia was through Simon Sebag Montefiore's "Young Stalin." Don't be misled. It left me wanting more than ever to travel to Georgia (and at many times, go back in time to Georgia.) Now, don't get me wrong, although I'm very interested in all things Soviet, I'm not a Stalinist or Stalin-sympathizer in any way (living in Georgia sometimes has strengthened that view.) During my time at university and in my studies just for fun, I was and am pretty Ukraine-centric, which, if you know much history, explains it all. :)

So, how did I become that girl shamelessly watching Doctor Zhivago on Friday night, dancing to Ukrainian folk songs, wearing vintage Soviet costumes, and eating сушки? I guess it all started here... gymnastics (that's right, parents, starting your child in gymnastics will make them grow up to be commies!) ;) Being of Hungarian/Romanian background, gymnastics is important (and wonderful.) Following custom, I began at three years old. I loved everything about gymnastics- the history, the leotards, the gymnasts, the countries, the real Cold War venue, the way chalk smelled and even how it stuck to your warm ups forever. Many of my favourite gymnasts were Russian (AKA 1992's unified team "Russian.") And so sometime between pretending I was at a Soviet gymnastics training camp (I prefered Leningrad, although the actual facility was only in Moscow) and eating butterscotch palaschinta, I grew up and had developed a real interest. I suppose I had stepped onto a path with many sidewalks taking me to many places and leading me to various people.

Back to room 222. One day around 2007, I wrote about Georgia. I imagined as best as I could the balconies, housing blocks, statues, the Ladas and Volgas passing by and I thought, what an adventure I could have.... if I ever make it there....