Posted on 12/20/2005 4:12:48 AM PST by Coop
Edited on 12/21/2005 6:11:16 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
BUMP! A special Merry Christmas to all FReepers who helped bring joy to our wounded soldiers.
I was especially moved to meet Mischa, a coalition trooper from the former Soviet nation of Georgia. He speaks a Georgian language, not Russian, as he was emphatic in telling me. He spoke almost no English and, like many of the foreign coalition wounded who are treated by the U.S. at Walter Reed, he is lonely for someone to talk to. I was concerned by the anxious expression on his face as we searched for some words and gestures in common.
We managed a pidgin conversation focused mainly on the food items he wanted from the donation table, which I was honored and humbled to place in the backpack of his wheelchair (he is now missing an eye and the use of both legs and one arm). Please send those FReeper prayers for this brave warrior so far from home.
If Mishcha is still there, please put me in touch with him. I speak some Russian, so we may be able to help him communicate a bit better.
Thanks for the PING!!
;0)
Freepmail to you both!
*HUGS*
Ms.B
OK...keep track of the name and I will check out the ability to get them...try to get them there next week in time for New Year!
Back at ya! ;*)
How would we find someone to converse with him?
How about an activism, vanity thread? You might find someone or a spouse that way.
Someone might know a place to get a program or language aids too.
I wonder if we write, is there a translator connected to the Red Cross?
The D.C. area has a large Russian (and associated countries) community. We can get him a resource.
Note that one of the referenced threads has both the asshole's name (Michael Crooks) AND his picture!
About time we established a "Wanted Poster" corner?
Bump!
*HUGS*
Ms.B
Here is what I've found out to date:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Georgian (Kartuli)
Total speakers: 7.5 million
Georgian (Kartuli Ena) in Georgian) is the official language of Georgia, a republic in the Caucasus.....Georgian is the primary language of about 4,000,000 people in Georgia itself (83% of the population), and of another 3.5 million people abroad (chiefly in Turkey, Russia, USA and Europe with smaller communities in Iran and Azerbaijan). It is the literary language for all ethnographic groups of Georgian people, especially those who speak other South Caucasian languages (or Kartvelian languages): Svans, Megrelians, and the Laz.
I did not ask his status or whether he would go home, due to language disparity. At first I thought he was an Italian named Giorgio and tried speaking Italian, then French, before understanding what he was saying. He was emphatic about "No Russian!" I'm following up, and if you have anything coming from your network, it's welcome.
From the BBC:
Population: 5 million (UN, 2005) Capital: Tbilisi
Area: 69,700 sq km (26,911 sq miles)
Major languages: Georgian, Russian
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 lari = 100 tetri
Main exports: Scrap metal, wine, fruit
GNI per capita: US $1,040 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .ge
International dialling code: +995
What he said, precisely, was, "No Russian! Georgian language!" but you're the expert here, so by all means take over and do it your way. :-)
Will send a card to Sgts Evans and Christian also, and
maybe even a card in Cyrillic for Mischa the Georgian.
Okay then...
You know, like someone from Georgia isn't taught
the same language as someone from New York.
See post 111.
Yes, I'm quite familiar with it, thank you.
bttt
Merry Christmas!
Thank you.
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