She led him to a bakery selling fresh lobiani (bean bread). An old man bit into a hot one, burned his tongue, and yelled:
Tiko held up one finger. “Let me tell you a helpful story.” “In Italy,” Tiko began, “ Mama mia means ‘My mother!’ — but you use it when you’re surprised, upset, or amazed. In Georgia, we also call on mothers… just differently.” mama mia qartulad
That means ‘My mother!’ — exactly like Mama mia . We use it for shock, pain, joy, or disbelief.” She led him to a bakery selling fresh lobiani (bean bread)
An old Georgian woman nearby laughed and said, “Swartad, bichobo!” — “Exactly, young man!” In Georgia, we also call on mothers… just differently
She pointed to a woman selling fresh produce nearby. “See that woman? If she suddenly saw a car splashing water on her tomatoes, she might say:
Enzo tried it: “Deda chemoo!” Tiko nodded. “Good. But here’s the twist.”