Mating Call

People here in Georgia are much less promiscuous then their cars are. We observed two cars last night sending off their mating call of car alarms as we walked by, each one echoing the other's lovesick sighs.

Honestly, everything is more demonstrative through the third person, that is the cell phone, car, music, etc. Although don't get me wrong, people do start shouting at each other in the street as well. For example, it is generally not accepted to kiss in public because it is "indecent" yet it is ok to have half naked non-Georgian (obviously) women on magazine covers on display in kiosks. The botanical garden appears to be the make-out place in Tbilisi yet it is not anywhere close to "making out" of Brazil, France or even Italy. My friends in Iran say the same is true about the parks and overlooks of Tehran that it is also the place to go and kiss.

When we first arrived, I usually hold on the Vova's arm so he doesn't walk to fast, or we will not get separated or the bus driver will know that he is paying for the two of us. Most men and women or couples do not hold hands/arms here. The man drapes his arm over the woman's neck. Sometimes the man looks quite uncomfortable and awkward. I call it the choking position. Women and women however do hold hands as they walk down the street. To set the record straight and in case you were wondering, these brave bold men that chainsmoke and refuse to hold umbrellas as they are too "feminine" and will instead get wet or put a newspaper over their heads, will kiss another male family member on the lips, a male friend on the cheek as well as hug him. Interesting paradoxes, n'est-ce pas? Americans somewhat have this problem about kissing on the lips. For some reason it has been designated only an activity to do with spouse/or love interest of your shape and flavor. I always thought it was unfair for one person or family member to give and another to receive a kiss but it is that Victorian sense of puritan values to keep relations in their proper boxes.