95 Eli (Georgia, Age 15): English

Eli, 15 (Georgia)

Georgia - one of the most beautiful republics in the Trans Caucasus. It’s not only the country of magnificent nature, but also the country of the richest history and cultural past.  Georgians are proud of their ancient cultural monuments that are too many in such a small country. They represent history, spirit, power and talent of the nation.

Actually, Georgian history is the history of Georgian people’s struggle against enemies. They  have always fought for freedom and independence. Each Georgian is strongly connected to his country with the biggest love and I think that’s how and why we came to the present. The capital of Georgia is 1500 years old city of people’s friendship. Since ancient times, there lived many different people with same traditions and values.

That’s where I was born and grown up for 15 years - Tbilisi, the city where live the warmest and kindest people with huge love to each other. It’s a small city, approximately 1 million of population, so almost everyone knows each other and live like a big family. Georgian person seldom leaves native country, because of the special dependence with love on it. For each person here, homeland is one of the most valued thing in life. That’s why it was the hardest thing for me to leave my country. I love and I’m kind of connected to each part, corner and person of it and even now, when I’m thousands of miles away, I’ve never felt equal love to anything as I feel to Georgia.

In Tbilisi, I lived with my family - mother, father and younger brother, same as I live now. Our flat was on the fourth floor in the five storey building at one of the best streets. At first sight, it was a very small, modern house, but actually it was the best place ever. Despite the fact, that it was really small house, we have rarely been alone . It was the warmest place for friends to gather and always - as I remember - it was full of my parents’ - and lately- with my friends. Sitting at a small table in my small kitchen, drinking hot coffee and doing homework with my best friend, was the loveliest thing I could ever do. That’s what I miss the most.

Dad worked the whole day, mom - the second half, at same school where me and my brother studied. From 9a.m. to 3p.m. I was at school, which was the second family, by the way. After school, it was kind of rule to spend all the time with friends, because we wanted to. Even doing homework was pleasant with them, same as singing and dancing.  At school, we had much more homework, different than I do no. Sometimes I had to spend the whole day and even night with a huge cup of coffee next to me to complete my work, but it was fun too, because I loved my job. Sitting at class with bags under eyes and waiting for teacher to start, then the whole day waiting for the last bell to ring - that was nice too.

I went at 166 public school, which was so close to my home. I needed only 10 minute walk to get here. Each morning was starting with mom’s voice : ‘’Get up!’’, ‘’Right now!’’, ‘’You will be late’’... and finally when I got up of my warm bed and got prepared then watched TV cartoon - ‘’Life With Louie’’, that fact I remember extremely clear, because even when I was 15, I still loved to watch it while drinking tea.

First period usually started with sleepy faces and only teacher’s voice in the classroom. Then we were getting ‘’awake’’  and stayed for next 6 periods. I would lie if I said school was boring or I didn’t like it. Of course it was not so pleasant to get up at 8a.m. but it was really the best thing to go to school, walk in class and still feel like home, because you see your favorite people. I remember our friendship since the very beginning, since first grade and as the time was going, we were getting through more good or bad things together and that made our friendship stronger. Even lesson’s period was fun, just looking at each other’s faces was enough to guess what did we mean. They made our childhood unforgettable. We were like a big family at school or after it. It really is my second family and that’s why it’s hard to handle here, even if I’m with my family, I miss the second one.

It was May 1st, 2013 and I remember how much fun did I have with my besties at birthday party. Tired and full of positive emotions I came back home at the evening and after about 1 hour, my cousin called shouting with happy voice, that our family won Green Card. That was so, so unexpected. I didn’t even know what to say. Never had thought about United States seriously. At this time I was finishing 8th grade and when I found out that I had left limited time to spend in my country - that was terrible. Everyone   said : ‘‘you will adapt...’’ Those were words, which irritated me the most, because I knew I would adapt, but I didn’t  want. I loved my life so hard and didn’t want to change any part of it. It was incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable, unbelieveable and lots of same adjectives. I knew how hard it was for my friends too, even when they said with happy, smiley faces, that it was a great chance for me to build my life, I knew what was the feeling inside those words, but here is why I value them most of all. The whole year and half spent until we actually took tickets to NYC. The only thing I was trying to do was to not think about future, because, I guess it scared me.

September 12, 2014 - one of the hardest days in my life, when I had to say goodbye to my favorite people for the whole 9 months and must be satisfied with Facebook and Skype calls. Remembering the way from airport to new ‘’home’’ still gives me unpleasant feeling. I had left my country for 16 hours and already missed everything and realizing, I would feel the same for the next 9 months - oh my god. New environment, new people, new school and nothing seemed interesting.

After 3 days, I came at this school for registration and next day, I came at my first class in this school, it was math. Looking at absolutely unfamiliar faces and remembering at this time all of my friends were together and I was sitting in a room full of strangers - that was not so pleasant. The good part was lunch time, when I had possibility to meet those few Georgians, which study at this school and speak my language.

All days were alike and that boring kind of lifestyle needed to change. Finally I did convince myself, that everything that was going on was good, still my friends in Georgia and already from Georgia - in here, played a huge role.I guess I started adapting.  I  just tried to deal with chances life gave me and it worked. I was sad - because I wanted so, I didn’t know anyone, because I didn’t want to. Everything was depended on my ‘’want’’ and  ‘’don’t want’’. So I tried to want and chose to be fine. 

Now, instead of crying about past, I think - a lot, about future. I want to start building something right now, to be proud of myself after 10 or 15 years. Future plans contain finishing education in U.S. and go back in native country as a successful girl who can create something valued. I know what I want, who I have next to me and the most important - absolutely believe in myself.  I think here’s the key to success.