Snapshot from Georgian village

[peacetraveler22]

This is one of my favorite photos from the road trip in Georgia, taken in motion from a car window while passing. However, it's very symbolic of life throughout the country. Outside of Tbilisi, Batumi and a few other larger cities, Georgia is one big rural village, immediately transporting you to a different time and place. For all its beauty, the country is very poor, employment opportunities are limited, and people are tied to a simple existence without a lot of luxuries to which most of us are accustomed. This is part of the country's beauty and fascination, at least for me - an American coming from a middle class, stable environment. A woman who has had plenty of opportunities to achieve almost anything she wanted in life. Nothing has been handed to me, for everything I worked quite hard -  getting various degrees and a high education, fighting for positions at work, numerous other things...

I tried to find some statistics about average wages, but they are inconsistent. Figures released in 2015 show that women in Georgia earned an average salary of 697.3 GEL ($270), while a male earns 1,126.8 ($440). So, we can see that men earn substantially more there, regardless of business sector. The average pension is about $75. There is free health care, but nothing is really "free", and more favorable care can be arranged by getting private insurance costing from $10 - $50/month. With such poor wages, this seems almost impossible for most citizens. Georgians pay a flat tax on salaries and fees - 20%. If annual income exceeds 40,000 GEL ($15,600), the State will require additional taxes which are determined by the value of real estate owned by the family. At least, this is according to current information available here. Due to the fertile nature of Georgian soil, food is quite cheap - fresh fruits, vegetables and grains are all produced locally. With meat is another issue - sometimes expensive, and not the best quality, unless you like fatty dishes.

I can't really say how living in Georgia is different than life in Russia. In some ways, the systems are the same and village life in each nation mirrors the other based on my experience of traveling in remote parts of both nations. Cultures certainly differ in their openness, friendliness and tolerance for diversity. Georgians by nature are quite animated, friendly and talkative; Russians more cold in appearance, and less animated as a whole. But people are just people....:)

What do you think? Could you live in such a village? This is something I continually ask myself... and the answer remains inconclusive.

Comments

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Well, not all men, but yes - a lot. Why not, if a woman allows it? :) They put up with it, so the behavior will not change, and maybe they are fine with this arrangement. I'm never trying to push my idea of what a relationship should be on any culture, or even friends/family here in the USA. Different people want different things from their partners or spouses. I was mostly around Georgian men on my trip, not women. Thus, I don't clearly understand the gender dynamics there - I only spent time with one Georgian woman and she told me men "must sit at home and nurse their pride and ego, while women work." I've never heard such bullshit in my life..I would not put up with it, as I'm not a big fan of male ego. :))

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

That's the way they're living. I don't approve that either.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

They don't give a damn about your approval...and life continues. :) As long as the man and woman are both happy, let them continue on with their ways.

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

O man, you're so right! I wish someday american government beginning to think this way too. Why would they try to teach people all around the world how they should live? What the shit they're talking about, what on earth are the human rights and something? As long as they're happy, let them continue on with their ways.

I approve your message!