Hello, my name is Kathleen, and I’m a new volunteer at ISCR.
I arrived here on November 13th and will stay until June 2026. I’m from Germany, from a town near Leipzig. I finished school this summer, and now I want to travel and see the world. I spent a month in Italy this summer, and that experience made me realize that I want to see even more. I think I’ve found a really good place here in Rustavi.It was a big step for me to get on a plane and be so far away from home, but I want to travel and learn a lot while I’m here. I want to get to know the culture and discover many new corners of Georgia and its neighboring countries.
On my very first day, I met the other volunteers, and they welcomed me into the team with so much kindness and warmth.
On my very first day, I met the other volunteers, and they welcomed me into the team with so much kindness and warmth.
The first week was mainly about arriving — arriving in Georgia, in Rustavi, and in the apartment.
Sharing an apartment with four other people was something new for me, but after I learned how to use the gas stove and set up my room, it wasn’t a problem at all. In fact, it has become something really nice — sitting together in the evenings after dinner, chatting about the day, the next trip, or simply about what we need to buy for the coming days.
During the first two weeks, my tasks were to start planning the German Culture Evening and to collect some ideas for the next upcoming project.
Later, I compared my ideas with Anniika, and she gave me some helpful tips on how to improve my Instagram posts. Together we continued planning the German evening.
Sharing an apartment with four other people was something new for me, but after I learned how to use the gas stove and set up my room, it wasn’t a problem at all. In fact, it has become something really nice — sitting together in the evenings after dinner, chatting about the day, the next trip, or simply about what we need to buy for the coming days.
During the first two weeks, my tasks were to start planning the German Culture Evening and to collect some ideas for the next upcoming project.
Later, I compared my ideas with Anniika, and she gave me some helpful tips on how to improve my Instagram posts. Together we continued planning the German evening.
My First Trip
From November 21st to 25th, I went on my first trip because I attended the On-Arrival Training in Bakuriani. But let me start at the beginning: Anniika and I began our journey on the morning of November 21st. We had to take a bus to Tbilisi and then find the metro to get to the meeting point. That alone was an experience — my first real time in Tbilisi and immediately so much stress! But we managed everything and found the group. Then the bus ride with everyone could begin.
It was truly a wonderful experience. We didn’t just learn a lot about the ESC program, Caucasus culture, and teamwork — we also met many new people from different countries and cultures. At first they were strangers, but by the end of the training they weren’t strangers anymore — they had become friends. I hope we will meet again, and that I can visit them or travel through Georgia or Armenia with them.
On November 24th, our whole group took a trip to Borjomi. It’s a small town known for its mineral water, but that’s where I had my first Supra — and it was beautiful.
If you don’t know what a Supra is, let me explain it:
At first I was told that a Supra is simply about eating and drinking. But it was so much more than that. I made memories there that I will never forget. For example, I tried Khinkali for the first time — they’re so delicious, you absolutely have to try them! We also danced together, even to Georgian music, and we were shown a traditional dance, which was really beautiful.
It was truly a wonderful experience. We didn’t just learn a lot about the ESC program, Caucasus culture, and teamwork — we also met many new people from different countries and cultures. At first they were strangers, but by the end of the training they weren’t strangers anymore — they had become friends. I hope we will meet again, and that I can visit them or travel through Georgia or Armenia with them.
On November 24th, our whole group took a trip to Borjomi. It’s a small town known for its mineral water, but that’s where I had my first Supra — and it was beautiful.
If you don’t know what a Supra is, let me explain it:
At first I was told that a Supra is simply about eating and drinking. But it was so much more than that. I made memories there that I will never forget. For example, I tried Khinkali for the first time — they’re so delicious, you absolutely have to try them! We also danced together, even to Georgian music, and we were shown a traditional dance, which was really beautiful.
The time in Bakuriani went by very quickly, which I found a bit sad. But I’m grateful that I got to experience something like this right at the beginning of my stay here. This is just the start of my journey as a volunteer in Georgia. I hope I’ll collect many more wonderful memories and that time won’t pass as quickly as it did in my first two weeks.
If you want to know what else I experience here — or what the other volunteers are up to — then check back again next month. I would really appreciate it.
Bye for now!
Kathleen
If you want to know what else I experience here — or what the other volunteers are up to — then check back again next month. I would really appreciate it.
Bye for now!
Kathleen
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