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.”
She walked him to a cliff overlooking the Mtkvari River. “If you see something truly amazing — like a rainbow over the entire city — an older Georgian might say: mama mia qartulad
Enzo tried it: “Deda chemoo!” Tiko nodded. “Good. But here’s the twist.” Tiko held up one finger
They were standing near the clock tower of the Anchiskhati Basilica. Enzo had just dropped a whole bowl of churchkhela (Georgian candy) into a puddle. He threw his hands up and cried: “If you see something truly amazing — like
Tiko smiled. “You know,” she said, “in Georgian, we don’t say Mama mia . But we have something very similar.”