As it is said, sometimes even a pen is powerless to communicate the author's impression of his or her subject. Despite Sandra Roelofs' prominent place in society, she doesn't like talking about Georgian politics. But as the wife of the President of Georgia, sometimes it is impossible for her to avoid touching on the topic. The first lady of Georgia is very busy woman. She combines taking care of her husband and son with pedagogical work as a teacher of French. Not to mention that she is also writing a dissertation, on the Belgian dialect of the French language. She tries to spend most of her free time raising and teaching her son. As she acknowledges, in spite of the fact that her husband and son are great gourmands she hardly ever has time to spend in the kitchen. She is still learning to cook Georgian national dishes. She is very good at baking "khachapuri", mixing up "pkhaleuli", making Georgia's delicious salads, and roasting "mtsvadi". But she hasn't even attempted the more challenging "satsivi" or "chakapuli".
The following interview provides a glimpse into the life of Sandra Roelofs, First Lady of Georgia.
On the day of the president's inauguration you looked very beautiful and elegant.
You know, that day was one of the happiest of my life. The truth is, I had prepared so much for that particular day that I was jittering, and at the same time I was trying not to look tired because of the many sleepless nights in the preceding days. In general, my style is simplicity and maybe that's because I have very little time to take care on myself. I meet a lot of common people all over the country and I don't want there to be any barrier between us.
Some say that your simplicity, directness in meetings with people, humor and other qualities made you the number one image-maker for Mikheil Saakashvili.
That's an original idea... I think Misha has many good traits and he is also very direct and up-front in his relationship with the public. Of course, I am very happy whenever somebody tells me that I have contributed to forming his image. It was Misha's hope that Georgian society would accept me so warmly, and I must insist that the public has been more gracious in accepting me than I could ever hope to be.
What didn't you like in Georgia before the Rose Revolution? What don't you like now?
First of all, I didn't like Georgian government policy because the process of governing the country wasn't transparent to society. To be blunt, they were thinking deferentially, making deferential statements and doing deferential things. The interests of people and government were at odds. I think it's important that now dialog between people and the government has become possible. As for the present day, I don't like the current of fear in the society. The economics of the country cannot be saved only with arrests. After twelve years of systematic robbery, it can seem like the country needs a miracle. But even just two months without crime and corruption would have dramatic effects. That's why rapid action is necessary. The new government took office not at a neutral point but with problems in international relations, debts and other obstacles to overcome just to get back to zero. It is necessary for Georgia to have friendly relations with the civilized world and especially with our neighbor states.
One philosopher said: "You can undestand a person by his desires."
These are the words of Dutch philosopher Benedict Spinoza. But let's talk not about my own desires but those things that are most important for the country. First of all, I would like to see the public's trust in Misha and his group grow stronger and their hopes realized. We only have one wish: that the next generation will live in a strong and unified country.
What about friends? How many friends does our president have? Besides you, of course.
The phenomenon of Georgian friendship, like Georgian culture, is truly unique. As for our Georgian friends, they consist of three parts: my friends, Misha's friends and our common friends. We share ups and downs, pain and happiness with these people.
Do you think there are people in the president's circle who don't have the country's best interests at heart?
This is a situation where my own intuition isn't enough to really know. Of course, not everybody in his circle is of a single mind. But if there are worthless people, this will become clear and they will be replaced with better advisors.
I am interested to know, how did your love for Georgia begin?
The first time I came to Georgia was for a ten day business trip in 1992. In spite of the difficult political situation and frequent shocking events, I left Georgia with great desire to coming back and see all the parts of this wonderful and beautiful country. You should read the words of Spinoza to find out much more about me [smiles]. I came back to Georgia in 1994 for the second time and on the first of September of that year, Misha and I got married. In 1996 we returned to Georgia with our son.
Which parts of our country do you like most of all? Who is your favorite Georgian writer?
Every region of Georgia has its own charm. Several years ago my mother and I accompanied a group of Dutch painters on a ten-day sightseeing trip in Kakheti. I will never forget their enamoration with Georgia. Generally every foreigner leaves Georgia with great impressions because they get to know the Georgian people and Georgia's history, culture and customs, not least of all from Georgia's unique ancient architecture. As for Georgian literature, my favorite Georgian book is Shota Rustaveli's "The Knight in the Panther's Skin". It is a unique masterpiece and philosophic treasure that has no analogue in world literature. I read translations of this poem in several languages but now I am happy that can read it in the original.
I hope you will also agree with me that not only architectural monuments but most of our population needs help.
Trust me, that it's the hardest thing for me to talk about. And do you know why? In December of the last year, for the pre-election campaign, I visited many regions of the country. I met common working people and most of them live in an extreme poverty. I was trying to know much more about their everyday lives and to do what I could to be a source of humor, hope and joy in the brief time I spent with them. But one place where I couldn't do anything was Chiatura. That's why I decided to open a branch of my humanitarian organization in Chiatura. I think that by giving food parcels to about 200 families we gave them a piece of joy.
I mean no offense, but you must know that despite your work, there are people who are dissatisfied with your organization.
I am not grieved and do you know why? Every day I get 50 poor families' letters. I try to answer all of them and to help if I can help. But I am very sorry that sometimes I have no opportunity to help all of them.
How much do you think is necessary in Georgia today to constitute a living wage?
I think a family's living wage must be a few hundreds of lari that at some point that should be made a policy. I have often wondered, how do people reach such an extreme limit of poverty? I think the answer is that most Georgians were unprepared for the transition to a market economy and didn't have enough specific knowledge of economics. This fact was well used by corrupt politicians and profiteers, who became the sole autorities on profit and government guidance of the economy. Compounding this, because of Georgians' family-centered mentality, teenagers aren't taught to earn their own money from an early age. My parents were materially well-off, but my brother and I worked during every break from school from the age of 16. I've worked as a kitchen maid and an assistant worker in a bakery. There is one way out of this situation (Misha often says these words): let's all begin to work as hard as we can to build a better future.
Eraz from Rotterdam said,"Nothing will be impossible for he who has strength." What is a dream of our first lady' that hasn't come true yet, but is possible to achieve?
I'll need much more time to answer this question [smiles]. Like every person in the world, Sandra Roelofs also has the right not to reveal every one of her dreams and wishes! I will just say that, like all women, I wish for happiness and peace. As a mother, I hope to raise my son as a worthy citizen of this country. As a wife I wish success to my husband in his difficult job. Nobody knows our president better than I. Misha is a very talented leader, which is why I believe he will lead our country in the right direction. I wish for to Georgia to become a strong state without any territorial problems. Georgia has become my homeland and I am proud that I am a member of the great Georgian family. As Georgians like to say: "What enmity has destroyed, love has rebuilt."
Postscript: Sandra Roelofs is a person with whom conversation comes easily and is very interesting. It's no surprise that she should gain the love and respect of the public--which, to tell the truth, is not something that happens everyday. - Iamze Kiknadze
Iamze Kiknadze