Volunteering, Friendships, and Mountain Air: My First Month in Georgia

If someone had told me a month ago that I’d be sanding walls, teaching English to teenagers, and traveling through Georgia’s wild mountains all in the same month, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. But that’s exactly what happened. My first month as a volunteer at the International Scout Centre in Rustavi has been a mix of paint, laughter, teamwork, and a lot of beautiful surprises.

On-Arrival Training in Kobuleti

Our adventure started in Kobuleti, where all the new volunteers from Germany, Italy, Latvia, France, Slovakia and Estonia met for the first time. The training was held in this super cozy hotel called Amigo, and we actually had the entire place to ourselves! The sea was just a few steps away, the weather was warm, and there was even a pool where we could chill after long sessions full of new information.

We learned about what it means to be a volunteer, about Georgia’s culture, about each other, and somehow, even with all the learning, it felt more like a mini holiday than training.

The highlight? Definitely our visit to the Batumi Art Museum, where we stepped into a mesmerizing projector-based Van Gogh exhibition. Lights, color, sound, everything surrounded us, making it feel like we’d literally walked into one of his paintings.

Back in Rustavi: Work and Creativity

After training, it was time to get to work! Together with other volunteers, we started a big renovation project in one of the volunteer apartments, sanding, painting, decorating, fixing things up so that future volunteers will have a cozy home. It was hard work, but honestly, seeing the transformation at the end was incredibly rewarding.

We also organized our first English Conversation Club for local youngsters, and it was a success! We played games, talked about travel, shared cultural stories, and laughed a lot. It felt amazing to see how curious and open-minded the participants were.

Mountains and Adventures

Of course, volunteering isn’t only about work, it’s also about discovering. So one weekend we packed our backpacks and headed west, to Zugdidi and Mestia. Zugdidi was full of energy, skyscrapers and green parks, while Mestia... well, Mestia completely stole my heart. The mountains were breathtaking, the air felt cleaner than anywhere else, and everything looked like it came straight out of a postcard.

So, that’s how my first month in Georgia went, full of mountain views, new friends, and a few surprises (both feline and human). I can’t wait to see what the next month brings.

Stay tuned, I have a feeling the adventure is just beginning! 🌍

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