My first steps in Georgia 🤪

Gamarjoba! Welcome to a new ISCR blog 🇬🇪

Gamarjoba! My name is Oriane, I come from France, and I recently joined the Rustavi Scout Center for a new two-month volunteer adventure. Even though I haven't had time to explore every corner of the country yet, Georgia has already offered me its first surprises and stories, and I feel that the coming month will be just as rich.

When I arrived here, I was immediately struck by the simple, raw beauty of the landscapes, mountains, and rivers. But in the end, I've seen more of Armenia than Georgia 😆 so far, because we decided to take a little trip there... by hitchhiking 🤪.

And that's exactly what allowed me to discover the true nature of Georgians: their welcome is sincere, spontaneous, and sometimes even incredible. Several people invited us into their homes, offered us food, insisted on paying, and told us a bit about their lives, just because we were sharing a ride. I didn't expect such generosity, and it's definitely what has impressed me the most so far.

Everyday life also has its charm. Cats, for example, seem to be the real owners of Rustavi: they enter apartments without asking permission, wander around as if everything belongs to them, and you end up getting used to it. It's almost a ritual: you open the door, a cat comes in. No invitation needed, it's his home too. 🙃

For now, we're busy planning at the scout center. Everything is moving slowly, we're in a quiet period, the cold weather is coming 😶‍🌫️, and even though I sometimes wish things would speed up, I'm taking this time to understand the culture, get to know the other volunteers, and adapt to the pace.

I feel that the real moments, the ones that leave a mark, are just beginning. And I can't wait to find out what the future holds: the mountains, the encounters, the projects, and everything this experience has to offer.

See you soon for the rest of my adventures in Georgia! 🇬🇪✨

I've posted my vlog in Armenia if it inspires you (in French sorry ❤️) 😁

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