Were You Born in an Elevator? Tbilisi II

Today is the first cold day I've experienced in Georgia, and it reminded me of this post that I saw a while ago:

I have long wondered what the Russian equivalent for “WERE YOU BORN IN A BARN? SHUT THE FREAKIN’ DOOR!” is. Well today, it was written (in black permanent marker) on the doors to the entrance to my very own pod’yezd! It is:

“ZAKROYTE DVERI ZA SEBYA! VY CHTO, RODILIS V LIFTE?”

(Shut the door after yourself! Were you born in an elevator?)

This is a phenomenon I'd also noticed in Bulgaria and Serbia. When it's cold people always leave doors wide open, letting the cold air in. I assume part of it is not being used to paying your own heating bill. But also people don't seem to get cold when the door is left wide open. Which is especially strange given the belief in this part of the world that drafts are the cause of most illnesses. (I believe it's the second-leading cause of death, after sitting on concrete.) Any Eastern European readers are invited to give their reasons for this phenomenon.

In other news, tonight I'm leaving on a midnight train (in Georgia) to Zugdidi, whence I'll go to Abkhazia, one of the breakaway territories here. I've been told by many people here that I'll be closely surveiled in Abkhazia. They might be right: When I called the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, I introduced myself, said I was an American journalist, and I was coming to Abkhazia... and the guy interrupted and said "Yes, I know who you are."

Comments

[Veronika]

Nice blog - very intersting and lovely written!

I'm sorry to correct you, but sitting on concrete is not cause of death. It's second cause of barrenness, while the first one is divine retribution. Being a devoted eastern european :), I wouldn't make fun of either.
Reasons? Wisdom, old good wisdom. You are not a woman, otherwise, I'd suggest you to sit on concrete for about 20 minutes and tell me a day later how it feels after going potty.

[Josh]

Veronika, thanks for reading, and for your insights into Russian medical science. But can you explain why your people don't close the door when it's cold out?

[jibs]

Josh, very curious to read your follow up on the trip to Abkhazia. It would be very interesting to hear what is the mood among the Abkhaz about their chances of achieving the independence or about the question of the Georgian refugees.