An Emigration Story: On a 16 000 km Run to Find Peace
I don’t know if it’s their rugby or unforgettable scenery but I’m weirdly obsessed with New Zealand. Whether it’s work, studies, or a short visit, I’m determined to spend some time there. And when I get so obsessed over something, I tend to do obsessive research. So one day, I decided to randomly look up Georgian restaurants in New Zealand, although I knew I wasn’t going to be eating Khachapuri there anytime soon. I didn’t find a restaurant but instead, found a Georgian man selling some traditional goods at a local flea market. Apparently he’s been living there since 1996. I instantly knew it would make a good story because New Zealand has never been a common destination for Georgians- not now and especially not in 1996.
Later on as I got a chance to read through a collection of his real-life stories, I realized Nick Zhorzholiani has lived many lives. He was a dancer at Georgian National Ballet- Sukhishvili, which allowed him to travel across the globe when traveling wasn’t really a thing. He spent months trying to get on the telephone with his Hungarian friend back when you needed to “schedule” calls ahead and the phones were carefully listened to. KGB had him almost killed after his attempts to break into the hotel “Iveria” and get red roses to an English singer he was deeply in love with and for whom he decided never to get married. And when you think things couldn’t get messier, his university professor turned out to be a KGB agent who tried to talk him into hijacking a plane.
To escape and heal, he moved to New Zealand and started a new, zealous life. Despite the time difference, we managed to sit down for a talk.
In one of your stories, you mentioned that your friend and you wanted to escape to the USA, why New Zealand then?
Initially, my childhood dream was to escape to the USA and I was trying to find ways as soon as the Soviet Union collapsed at the end of 1991. Later in 1994, I found out that my neighbor in Tbilisi had immigrated to Auckland, New Zealand with her husband. I asked my mom for her contacts. My neighbor talked so fondly about life quality and the people of New Zealand that I changed my mind and decided to move there for good.
When thinking about fleeing your country I'm sure a lot of things are at play. But what was the absolute turning point that made you decide to leave?
Unlike many others, my financial situation wasn’t the reason. I wanted to escape Georgia so that I could leave painful memories and deep wounds behind. The political system and its society had done enormous damage to me. Each street, corner, house, and even trees reminded me of all the pain I had suffered in the home country that I so deeply loved. I did not want to stay there anymore.
You said that you left Georgia with the intention of never going back, did you keep your promise? Have you never visited Georgia since 1996?
When I said I left Georgia with the intention of never going back, I didn’t mean Georgia which had great history and culture. I didn’t mean the Georgia of great Kings and heroes who fought for the country’s independence and freedom throughout centuries. I didn’t want to leave that Georgia, but the communist one.
However, I did visit my homeland back in 2004 for my mother’s funeral. I want to visit again by all means. I don’t think a desire to escape a communist society means that you hate your country. Back in the day, if you loved your country and wanted to free it from communism, you were considered a traitor.
Georgia will always be the biggest pain in my heart, mind, and soul.
In your book you told quite a few stories about your relationship with KGB, can you tell us more? Has your mental and emotional health been affected by it?
KGB was trying to recruit me and I was offered many, many times to work for this organization, which never ever happened because I never accepted it. I knew it would put me in a high position but I did not want that kind of life. I can recall numerous instances when I was being targeted by the KGB but somehow I always managed to get out of it just in time.
To answer your second question, of course, it affected my mental health. When I arrived in New Zealand I was depressed to a point where I wasn’t sure if I would ever overcome it. However, I am infinitely grateful to the Health System of New Zealand and all its resources for taking care of my mental state. It took quite a few professionals to put me back on my feet. I feel great now and I thank God and New Zealand for it.
What helped you cope with the pain that the Soviet system caused you?
Hope helped me cope with the pain that the Soviet System caused me. Hope and also faith in God. I had Faith that this nightmare with the name of the Soviet Union would end one day. I often call the communist regime “red cancer” because of its severity.
New Zealand, I imagine, is very different from Georgia, especially from Soviet Georgia, can you name 3 main cultural differences that you’ve observed throughout your life in New Zealand?
I shall write here in my opinion 3 main cultural differences that I’ve noticed over the period of my life.
- First difference that is impossible not to notice is that people walk outside barefoot. It is funny now but when I first came here I was so shocked. New Zealand is a relatively young but highly developed country with great agriculture and for some reason, I thought it would be more like Western European countries. So when I saw New Zealanders walking down the street in nice clothes and barefoot I was surprised and confused.
I guess it is because locals spend a lot of their time at the seaside. New Zealand is like a big green garden surrounded by water, so now I understand.
-Second big difference is that in New Zealand every university and every educational establishment is accessible for the disabled. I admire how New Zealand tries to make everyone’s life easier and gives everyone a chance to study or work. When I lived in the Soviet Union and in particular in Soviet Georgia such opportunities did not exist. It’s been a long time since my last visit to Georgia but back then it wasn’t the case.
The third difference I noticed is in the quality of work. People here are very hard-working, busy all the time, and business-oriented. They know the value of time. When they have to work, they work. From what I have observed, New Zealanders are constantly trying to give high-quality work, products, and services. When I left Georgia, it wasn’t like that at all. I think the communist system made people lose their ability to create anything of good quality at that time.
When you spend so many years in a different country, you automatically adopt parts of their cultural identity. Have you experienced an identity crisis? How do you find a balance between immersing in a new culture and not neglecting your own?
Have I experienced an identity crisis? How did I find a balance between immersing in a new culture and not neglecting my own? It’s something to think about.
You have to love your own people and your own country and homeland dearly to be able to love other people and other people’s country and culture…
I personally don’t believe that anyone can love and respect my homeland if they don't already love and respect their own homeland and culture. Love is the main power, the most powerful tool or I would say a weapon that makes people adapt to other people and other cultures!
You used to sell some Georgian treats at a local flea market. How successful was it? Are you still doing it? (if not, why)
Yes, I used to sell some Georgian dishes at a local flea market. “Pkhali” and Georgian “Lobio” (Red kidney beans) to be specific. Customers loved Georgian dishes. They liked the taste and quality. Although I graduated from the New Zealand School of Hospitality as a qualified Hospitality Business Manager, I don’t necessarily think that I’m a good Chef. Our cuisine happens to be tasty in general. Love and appreciation for my homeland made me and my mother start this business. Unfortunately, my mother passed away after a few years of her arrival in New Zealand. I still wanted to work on making our mutual dream come true, but this time, alone.
Here is to say that I made one big mistake. When I went into the business, I had the food part taken care of, but the financial part-not so much. I started with about $600 New Zealand Dollars in my pocket and since there is the highest level of competition in food markets one can imagine, I didn’t last long. I survived only for 6 months.
I have stopped the business for financial reasons, but giving up isn’t in my blood. I’m strongly determined to continue and I plan to return to the same flea market with new strength and energy in September 2021!
Written by: Anano Itriashvili
Interviewee: Nugzar (Nick) Zhorzholiani
Illustration: Viltė Piežaitė