 Georgian
Studies Day: Impressions of
a first-time participant
Report by
Sylvia Mason (NKA Press Officer)
The day was a very enjoyable combination of a formal conference with
an extended family party! Everyone knew everyone and even if they
didn’t
it didn’t matter.
As soon as I sat down and passed the usual pleasantries with the person
next to me she showed me her husband’s newly published book and
invited me to visit them in Tblisi! (The book, incidentally, was a
discourse on
the common ground between quantum physics, philosophy, literature and
art. He did try to explain it to me but his accent made the spoken
word as difficult
to understand as the book!).
The tone of the whole day, it seemed to me, was resolutely upbeat.
The representative from the FCO tried hard to inject a note of realism
into
the mood created by the ambassador’s fluent, seemingly endless, listing
of the country’s achievements. But despite rather depressing reports
from Professors Lydyard and Porakishvili regarding cutbacks in funding
for scientific research, Peter Naysmith’s comments about the impact
of increasing capitalism and Chris Raiment’s EveryChild report,
I felt that the love and commitment of the participants towards Georgia
and
its brave new future was not to be denied.
Catherine’s excellent report on NKA activities went down very well.
As Vica said, ‘Catherine had three applauses.’ Everyone went
off with a copy of ‘Arielonline’ and there was much discussion
about the correct ingredients for Khachapuri!
At the wine reception at the end of the day I was able to speak personally
to some of the speakers, particularly Keti Kalandadze, the representative
of the Georgian Church in London. She has a son at Cardiff University
and would like to call into Newport to hear Father Deiniol on 25th
January
on her way to visit him. She offered to bring a few singers with
her!
I also was able to renew my acquaintance with Manana Vickers. We
discussed her difficulties as a student during Soviet times. She
did her research
in early Christian art yet had no access to Christian writings, not
even a bible. She had to glean her information about Christianity
from anti-Christian
propaganda.
I can understand in part why everyone is so optimistic about C21st
Georgia.
During the course of the day I absorbed a great deal about Georgia
and Georgians, which, being the purpose of my attendance, made the
day a great
success for me.
Sylvia Mason: NKA Press Officer
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