Personal Narrative: Living In Georgia

The Barbie house along with all of its occupants was the hardest to give away. Since Barbie dolls were difficult to get in Russia, my father would send me some from the United States. As my mom prepared for her trip to the States to undergo chemotherapy treatments, I reluctantly relinquished my most prized possessions. Assuming that the cure was just around the corner and to shelter me from the battle, it was decided that I would move to the Republic of Georgia to live with my aunt.

While the year’s I spent in Georgia during my mom’s illness and after her passing were filled with hardships, my subsequent life in the United States and, ultimately, all of the opportunities that I have been given by the many individuals involved in my upbringing, solidifies in me a strong belief that adversity is surmountable. In my experience, bad things happen to everyone; the real difference lies in the resources …show more content…
Since its independence – gained after the collapse of communism – Georgian people have endured periods of civil war, extreme poverty, corruption and crime. My school and, at times, my home had no heat or electricity, severely underpaid teachers used force to disciple students, and the void left behind by the absence of authority was filled with criminal-economic organizations. But, none of this stopped my aunt from providing me with the best possible education and ensuring I have a happy adolescence. During my time with her, I learned the Georgian language, excelled in school, took up extracurricular activities and formed lasting friendships, I also began to understand the critical importance of having advocates in overcoming adversity. A lesson I rediscovered when after my aunt passed away, I joined my father in the United States. Once again, I had people in my corner helping me overcome tragedy and providing me access to leading schools, inspirational mentors and glimpses into other world