I was born in Chula Vista, California, and spent my entire life there. The furthest I had ever traveled was to Los Angeles. Coming to Georgia was the first time I was abroad. I was somewhere that somewhat reminded me of home, but also was nothing like I had ever known. The language was nothing like English. Everyone seemed to stare at you. They knew you were a foreigner. At first, it was a little nerve-racking. Then, I began making friends. My first friend was a girl in my Chemistry class named Salome, but she told me to call her Sally. She helped me find my way through the campus. It took us a while before we became good friends, but she helped me understand the Georgian culture. She took me to a church in Old Tbilisi. In order to enter, the women had to be wearing long skirts and a head cover. It was strange to see something that back in America would not be accepted so easily. We decided we would go back when we had the right outfit to enter the building.
Mariam, a friend I made at the dog shelter, made it her goal to help me see the beauty in her country. The first day we met, she took me to her favorite restaurant in the city. It was the Kiwi Vegan Café.
