Anonymous wrote:Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?

No, I was never in the CIA though people -- including some family members -- thought I was. I went to Kuwait to attend Kuwait University to study Arabic. I was learning Arabic because I was studying Arab Studies and Arabic was a requirement.

I went to Georgia as part of a USAID-funded project to assist the Parliament of Georgia. I ended up managing a project to create the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Georgia, connect the Parliament to the Internet via that ISP, and train Georgian parliamentary staff to use and administer the hardware and software needed to use the Internet. During this project I met Maria and we were married two years after first meeting.

I know very little Russian and Georgian. Setting up an Internet service in Georgia in the mid-1990s had a lot of challenges. This is reflected in the fact that the first thing I learn to say in Georgian after "hello" and "thank you" was "there is no electricity".

Anonymous wrote:Do you like the food at Supra?

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?

No, I was never in the CIA though people -- including some family members -- thought I was. I went to Kuwait to attend Kuwait University to study Arabic. I was learning Arabic because I was studying Arab Studies and Arabic was a requirement.

I went to Georgia as part of a USAID-funded project to assist the Parliament of Georgia. I ended up managing a project to create the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Georgia, connect the Parliament to the Internet via that ISP, and train Georgian parliamentary staff to use and administer the hardware and software needed to use the Internet. During this project I met Maria and we were married two years after first meeting.

I know very little Russian and Georgian. Setting up an Internet service in Georgia in the mid-1990s had a lot of challenges. This is reflected in the fact that the first thing I learn to say in Georgian after "hello" and "thank you" was "there is no electricity".

Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!

Anonymous wrote:If you were in the CIA, would you tell us?

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever post anonymously?

Almost never. I learned very early that some posters have a remarkable ability to recognize people by their writing style. I would be terribly embarrassed to get called out. But, once or twice I've had questions involving my kids and I asked them anonymously to protect their privacy. In one case, the responses were really rude.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever post anonymously?

Almost never. I learned very early that some posters have a remarkable ability to recognize people by their writing style. I would be terribly embarrassed to get called out. But, once or twice I've had questions involving my kids and I asked them anonymously to protect their privacy. In one case, the responses were really rude.

Don’t answer this but was it a question about merld?

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!

Yes, she is a great cook. Last week she made some great Ajaruli Khachapuri (the kind with an egg on top).

maria wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!

Yes, she is a great cook. Last week she made some great Ajaruli Khachapuri (the kind with an egg on top).

Here's the recipe I recommend if anyone is interested. It's pretty simple and delicious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ROCm1ZD92Y

Anonymous wrote:I enjoyed this AMA, thanks!