As we drove through Rustavi today, a former industrial town just outside Tbilisi, I sang along with Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) on the radio and learned from my host that Joseph Stalin was actually a Georgian whose born name was Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili. I was told that “stalin” means steel, and he used that … Continue reading
Author Archives: feisty living
communication…
“Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” ~ Rollo May All I did today was sleep and eat. Oh, and I also began reading my Beginner’s Georgian book, which promises that, upon completion, I should be able to speak and understand Georgian as well as if I had taken three to … Continue reading
the republic of georgia: first impressions…
Some first impressions of the Republic of Georgia: I Getting out of the airport was pretty simple. I got off the plane, stood in line for about 10 minutes, showed my passport and got it stamped, grabbed my baggage, which arrived very quickly, grabbed a trolley for all my heavy stuff, rolled through the “nothing … Continue reading
home…
I recently went to the Art Institute of Chicago to see the “Van Gogh’s Bedrooms” exhibit with my friend Michelle, and it was worth the visit. What was especially significant about this particular exhibit is that this was the first time all three of Van Gogh’s bedroom paintings were in the same space in North America, and, … Continue reading
so many things…
Several months ago, I committed to spending three months in the Republic of Georgia to help LCC International University start up the Middle East Scholars Program. And several months ago, May 9 felt very far away. Suddenly, though, it’s right around the corner, and I leave in only 17 days. Eeek! The leaving part, … Continue reading
winter is dead
“She turned to the sunlight And shook her yellow head, And whispered to her neighbor: ‘Winter is dead.’” A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young As far as I’m concerned, this week was the first week of spring. I got to wear my beloved flip flops (which have traveled with me around the world). … Continue reading
jewels!
Move over Tiffany…I’ve discovered some new favorites houses! Yesterday, I attended the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2015. According to the event’s website, “The Exhibition distinguishes itself from other exhibitions as the chosen venue for international product launches in the world of jewellery and watch design and manufacturing. Our aims are to establish the highest … Continue reading
what a difference a day makes…
Moving from the familiar to the unknown can be challenging, in more ways than one might anticipate. Obviously, moving across the globe, away from family and loved ones, is hard. And working at a new job and learning to interact with new colleagues can sometimes feel difficult, too. But, when one has to also deal with … Continue reading
my latest adventure…
Last year, I accepted a job as a research assistant at Texas A&M’s Qatar Campus. And up until just a few days ago, I was working from Chicago. But, after finally receiving my work visa, I flew out of O’Hare on December 29, and landed in Doha, Qatar on December 30. A new year in … Continue reading
hats!
“Fashion is a kind of communication. It’s a language without words. A great hat speaks for itself.” One day, while walking to the Kierkegaard conference in Copenhagen, I happened upon a butik (boutique) whose window display drew me in. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the shop, but I did take pictures of the … Continue reading
feisty living 