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Peace Corps Volunteer Christopher Rhodes teaches English to Georgian children in Rustavi
Peace Corps Volunteer Christopher Rhodes teaches English to Georgian children in Rustavi
An American in Georgia, Georgians in America
BY IRMA BARATELI
Peace Corps volunteer Christopher Rhodes is from California and works in the Republic of Georgia and teaches English to Georgian children in Rustavi.
Also he is involved in activities of the Club Georgia and America and is the president of the club's junior group. He was interviewed by Irma Barateli, a journalist from the Republic of Georgia who was visiting Pioneer Press.
Q. Why did you decided to travel abroad with the Peace Corps?
A. I wanted to see another part of the world. I wanted to help people in another country learn English and American communicative teaching methods, learn about their cultures and traditions.
Q. Are you enjoying your stay in Georgia?
A. Yes, very much. I have many close Georgian friends. I love the beautiful and wild nature, like the Caucasus Mountains. I love the warm people and they are wonderfully hospitable.
Q. What difference do you notice between America and Georgia?
A. There are many differences, mostly cultural of course. Georgian families live together in the same house, often children, parents and grandparents, even when children are grown up (20 or 30 years old). Whereas in America most children leave home for college and live in apartment after college. Another difference is Georgians are very musical, I think much more than Americans, and every one here in Georgia knows national songs, and there is someone in every family who knows how to play the piano.
Q. Are you used to Georgian customs and traditions?
A. I have gotten used to them. The ones I like most are how close the family is with each other and the Georgian Supra (party) and toasting traditions. I also love Georgian food.
Q. What do you like most of all in Georgia?
A. I really like Georgian people and hospitality as well as Georgian food, nature, wine, folk music and Georgian women, of course, who are very beautiful!
Q. What Georgian customs would you like to see in America?
A. I would like to see Georgian food in America as I will miss very much Khachapuri (melted cheese wrapped in flattened dough and baked), or Khinkali - boiled meat dumplings, or satsivi - a walnut and saffron based dish.
Q. What wishes do you have for Georgia and Georgian people?
A. I wish most that the economy improves and people will be able to find jobs, because almost nobody has a job, but most people are very educated. Many Georgians have left Georgia for work in the U.S. and Europe, but they would prefer to work in Georgia if the opportunity were available.