We don't have internet access at the moment (still on the boat… still), so I'm writing these up in an attempt to stave off the boredom a little while longer and we'll post them when we are back in internet range. For some reason I don't have Dr. Suess memorized so I can't provide a little snatch from "Oh, the Places You'll Go"… but I KNOW there's something in there about meeting people, making friends, and maybe even getting help from strangers.
I'll try to find it before posting. Otherwise, use your imagination.
We've been on the road for less than a week. I'm a little confused on what day it is, so I'm not sure exactly how long we've been out-- but I know it's less than ten. Already, we've met so many people who have helped us, befriended us, and generally made this trip worth taking.
I've already mentioned the Georgians and the English teachers in Batumi who helped us figure out the boat situation, helped us get tickets, and gave us a home base to come back to in the form of their hostel. Nice guys.
Then there's the two Dutch men we're on the boat with-- Howerd and Freerk. Freerk turned thirty on our second night on the boat, and we had an little birthday party for him, including brandy tasting, cake, and getting yelled at for making noise. We're the only actual passengers on the freighter-- everyone else is either a truck driver or crew-- and we're kept pretty separate from them. Our meals are after everyone else has eaten, and while most of the crew speaks English, most of the drivers don't. Howerd and Freerk have made excellent travel partners for this ride, and we've had some marvelous times in the last three days.
But the one who amazes me the most is a Georgian man by the name of Emzar. Our first day in Batumi, we ran into a little trouble; one of us got a bit of food poisoning, got dehyrated, and we ended up needing to go to the hospital (DON'T WORRY. WE ARE ALL FINE. I MEAN IT). Emzar helped us get to the hospital and, at our refusal to leave our bikes behind, stuck them in the back of his work van and took them to the hostipal with us. He sat with us in the hospital, taught us some Georgian, insisted on buying us lunch. When we got the bill (48 lauri), we didn't have quite enough to cover it, so he payed it and then drove me to the nearest ATM so I could get the cash we needed to pay him back. And, when we tried to give him money and buy lunch, he refused. He practically shamed us for even suggesting that he would take the money.
This man helped us above and beyond the call of duty. He could have just walked past us instead of offering to help. He could have helped us get to the hospital and then left us in the capable hands of the staff there. But he didn't. He did so much for us, and all we could do was learn how to thank him in his own language. It wasn't enough. We will always be grateful to him.
I hope we don't have another time where we need help like we did then-- once was enough for a trip. But when we did need the help, someone stepped us and gave it to us, despite not knowing us, despite barely having a common word between us. And this does kind of reassure me a bit-- that, much of the time, people do step up and help, whether it's by sharing a cup of tea and some stories to pass the time or by asking if there's a problem, then helping to find a solution. I only hope we're able to repay some of the kindnesses we've received-- and continue to receive, I'm sure-- in some way.
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