Today was the day I would meet David and go up the mountain. I was really looking forward to it. But I worked late last night and ended up sleeping until noon.
It reminded me again: when you come abroad, interacting with people is the most important thing. Going somewhere with locals, spending time with them — that's truly important. If you can make friends, you can meet them again when you return to that country, and it builds a network for the future.
Female figure drawing
Met David at 2 PM near Freedom Square. Before that I had lunch at the Wendy's in the Galleria. Soft floppy bread, fries, and a Coca-Cola. The perfect combo. The set was 800 yen. It made me realize how cheap Japan is.
After waiting about 15 minutes, David arrived. It had been a week. Since we planned to paint today, we headed to the venue first. David had brought two warm scarves for me. But I'm used to winter, so I was totally fine.
The venue was underground. The first floor was a cafe — a dim place that would probably turn into a club at night. Chairs were arranged in a circle. I hadn't done figure drawing in about ten years, and my drawing skills were disastrous.
When I told David he said, "It's okay, you don't need to worry so much." And apparently at the end everyone shows each other's work. That was just too embarrassing.
We ordered wine on the second floor and drew while drinking. The server said, "A very strange‑tasting Georgian wine." Indeed, it was a taste I'd never experienced before. Like a stale wine, with the smell and taste of something rotten in it.
The female model appeared. After a minute she would move to a different pose, or move like in slow motion. The parts I intended to draw were already somewhere else, making it too difficult. Even painter David said, "This is insanely difficult."
In the latter half she became even more eccentric and suddenly started dancing. Like an exhibit in a museum. She must really have a unique mindset. No one could imitate her. That's exactly why she's rare and interesting.
The woman sitting two seats away from David had great style and was drawing sharply. I found her attractive. I wanted to talk to her, but I got shy. I bit my lower lip. Damn it. That's the issue — these are exactly the moments where opportunities slip away. In the end I left the venue without talking to her.
Up the mountain
We crossed Freedom Square and ran up and down the slopes. We reached the gondola station. David even bought the tickets. He offered his card to use. Really, thank you. I felt bad about him treating me.
December had many bad weather days and the mountaintop was full of fog. Still, the view of Tbilisi with specks of light against the darkness was really beautiful.
I annoyingly asked David to take a lot of photos and had him shoot portraits. But I wasn't satisfied — maybe I still lack confidence, or I don't know what poses look good. I need more practice with posing.
The tower lights change color every hour. The light refracted through the fog and the colors were like the "Lovely Night" scene from La La Land. It felt really romantic. If David were a girl and very beautiful, I think I'd tell her to dance with me (lol).
We tried to ride the Ferris wheel, but it wasn't moving. Instead, we took photos near it. The park was big, and on one slope I said, "Since we're here, want to run together?" and ran with David. We sprinted down about 100 meters of slope. It was an amazingly fun time. David was exhausted, but that's what makes it fun. Age doesn't matter.
Pictograma and the server Mariam
After getting off the gondola, we tried to go to Daphna, which is usually full, but it was reserved so we couldn't get in, and went to the nearby Pictograma. Its exterior was brick, wines were lined up, and it was a very beautiful restaurant.
We ordered khinkali and white wine. The server was very friendly. She was a woman about my age and had something different about her.
I told David my recent worry — when I gain weight the first place it shows is my cheeks — and he laughed, "I don't think so at all!" and said, "Then ask that server!"
When the server came and I asked, she said, "Like when I see you, just omg, like amazing guy coming here…" I was embarrassed. David said, "See! She likes you too, Kota! Why don't you ask for her contact info?"
During the meal David also talked. Apparently when he gets drunk he becomes like a child; he couldn't freely express himself when he was little. His father passed away some years ago and the last time they met was over ten years ago. I told him that my parents divorced too. Thinking about it, everyone around me seems to have only one parent. Maybe some unseen force is drawing us together.
We exchanged messages. I wrote a message to David in Japanese on the back of a receipt.
Then the server came and said, "Oh, this is Japanese!" She turned out to be a big fan of Japan. She said she wanted to go to Kyoto and that she was going to get a tattoo reading "Ukiyo" soon. Her dog's name is Haru (spring). She said she loves Japan's spring.
Her name was Mariam. She took a photo with the credit card payment terminal and printed it for us. It had a retro feel and was nice.
I wrote a message on the back of my business card and gave it to her: "Your smile is really lovely. I hope we can meet again somewhere someday." She wrote a signature and message on the back of the receipt.
"Your personality looks like "HARU".
She said I have a personality like spring. It was truly a wonderful thing to hear. I was also happy that she asked for my Instagram.
There was a woman at the drawing session I couldn't speak to. But that night, even shy me formed connections like this. The regret of not talking to her, and the words that still reached me. Both of those make who I am now.
David walked me back to the hostel. It was cold outside, but we hugged and said goodbye at the end. We're meeting again this Saturday.
