This is a photo of my middle school class, 5th grade back in School 128 in Tbilisi, Georgia. If you don’t know me that well, that’s where I was born and raised until in 1991 at the age of 12 my parents emigrated to USA.

I have most of my fond childhood memories from there and those times. In some ways immigration was a negative short term shock as much as it was a positive thing in the long term. You loose your friends, relationships established for years of being in the same class (unlike what often happens in the USA), a familiar culture. You loose any sense of belonging or being an integral part of your surrounding.

For a couple of years I considered my immigration fate as trading in my happy childhood for better food. I write “food” and not “conditions” because as recent immigrants the conditions were actually worse off for a couple of years compared to what we had back in USSR. My family pawned off most of the measly belongings that they accumulated over the years – book collections, furniture, apartment.

Having come to New York my parents didn’t speak English well, did not yet have jobs. We were on welfare support from the government, living first with my uncle, and then in a tiny one bedroom apartment for a year or so. Money was tight, I have memories of spending some time here or there looking to earn a buck by trying to bag groceries for people at local supermarkets before I was shooed away, or better yet scouring the neighborhood private garbage bins before the recycling day to collect bottles in return for pocket change. It was a bit of a sharp contrast to my relatively care-free attitude from just the prior year back in Tbilisi.

And yet it wasn’t too bad, I have friends who said they’ve spent time portering heaps of garbage for a few bucks in their building (hi Alex!) Like many immigrants, we were prepared to start doing the dirty work. Years later, our parents have decent jobs, we have decent education and jobs. I have my own business, my other friend works for Microsoft. Life goes on.

And yet this experience wasn’t bad either. From what I hear soon after my family left Georgia things have really spiraled out of control for a few years (at least). Republic’s independence, lack of infrastructure or proper laws and authority, lack of energy resources such as gas and electricity have really transformed the country. I heard stories of people having to cook food on open fires, or carrying guns for personal safety. That is in stark contrast to what life has been like before. It sounded like it turned into a 3rd world country, but I hear things have been better the last few years. I lack information from people still living there, which brings me to my original topic I had in mind – old classmates…

The other day someone found me on the Russian speaking version of Classmates. After I logged in I found a few familiar faces. It’s amazing that after over 16 years suddenly memories bubble up back to the top, so to speak, and you remember the faces, sometimes little details about your interaction with those classmates or even details about their parents or friends – yet often you cannot remember their names!

The above photo is one of the only ones I have seen, I have another one at home I plan to scan for the group there later. My wife took a look at it and said I look pretty ugly back then, thanks dear, you are so kind Then I get messages from old classmates that it was easy to recognize me and I haven’t changed that much. Putting 2 and 2 together I am not sure what I am supposed to get out of it

I put a green arrow above myself there. My very best childhood friend from Tbilisi is on the photo right behind me to the left. Gio, we should write to each other more often. Life goes by too fast. It’s been over 16 years, I sure do miss seeing and talking to you in person.

I will try to direct a few of my old classmates who may give a rat’s behind to this blog for some background info on what happened to me. Since we were so little, or some might imagine I just disappeared one day after 6th grade. Guys and gals, feel free to leave comments on this blog and otherwise keep in touch. Thanks for reading everyone.