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Eleven-Year-Old Giorgi: “Main point is job but not “Hard Job””

June 23, 2008
Gulo Kokhodze, Akhaltsikhe

Everybody knows Giorgi in town. He has lots of friends and dreams a lot. He does not want to complain about his problems and avoids speaking with journalist. However, he speaks like an old person about politics, history, his family and his job.

Giorgi Gelashvili lives in King Parnavaz Street in Akhaltsikhe with his mother and sister.

“Parnavaz was the first king of Georgia,” Georgi explained the history of his street’s name.

Mother of Giorgi and Nia, his sister, are both single.

“My parents are divorced; I do not remember my father. My mother is best of all,” said Giorgi.

The mother, Marina Gelashvili is unemployed.

“She worked as a dispatcher at the bus station for twenty years. Initially the station was closed down and she lost her job. Now my mother is always at home,” said Giorgi.

“But I worked instead,” he continued proudly “I worked for the company “Arieli” for two years. I helped distributors to carry box of washing powders into the shops. I earned three or four lari a day.”

Giorgi and Nia go to Public School # 1.

“I get eight points out of a possible and I respect my head teacher, Mrs. Marina,” Giorgi singled out his head teacher from other teachers though we did not ask anything as who was his favorite.

Of all the subjects at school he loves history most of all and his favorite Georgian king is Erekle.

“I am very interested in Georgian history very much. I love Patara Kakhi (King Erekle) very much because he shot Turk invaders of Akhaltsikhe from Atskuri Mountain and pulled down the Turkish flag that was hoisted at the fortress,” told Giorgi who could not sit still on the chair. He is looking through the window because the noise of playing children is coming from the yard. Giorgi is eager to join his friends.

The Gelashvilis received their house from the grandmother as an inheritance; they usually are provided food at one of the free canteens.

“Mother brings food from the canteen; the food is buckwheat, bread and a meat course,” said Giorgi.

Giorgi loves speaking about politics.

“If I were old I would vote for Saakashvili. I know Christian-Democrats but I love National Movement. I have been to their party too; they invited me,” said the boy.

 When we asked what he wanted to be in future, the little “politician” hesitated and then replied: “The main point is to be always employed at the job that does not require hard work. For example, working as a distributor is ok,” he said at the end.

The eleven-year-old boy has old friends. He is not lazy to chat about them.

“My friends bought clothes for me. Patisona bought me shoes, t-shirt and trousers. I have one friend, Maia (I do not know her surname) she worked at the KGB and once she also bought me some clothes. Iura Abashidze also helps me; they are my friends and it is not strange…” he said.

Giorgi dreams a lot. He said “I am missing my friend Irakli who is in London now; I want him to bring rollerblades for me.”

He does not like complaining about his problems.

“We are not very poor. Now we have color TV Set; Petriashvili gave it to us as a present. He brought it seven days before the elections. It is color and large; before that we had small black and white TV Set,” said Giorgi.

After school he plays football.

“I love Zidani, he is perfect footballer,” said the boy.

He is not going to play football in future. He cannot sit still on the chair and is looking through the window.

“It is not going to rain,” he said in whisper. Thus, it is nice day and he can play in the yard. Giorgi said good-bye to us and left the house. He knocked on the window from the yard’s side, and then he put on his cap and ran away.


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