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If you're happy and you know it - write a blog post!

In absolute contradiction to it‘s former month February passed in the blink of an eye. It was so fast, I still haven’t managed to reflect on everything that occurred. I am not yet sure whether it is due to this month missing three days or because of the countless events and experiences taking place in February 2026. So let’s find out together:


Hearing nothing but 67:

The start of this month also provided some changes in the working style of us ISCR volunteers. In addition to our weekly activities we finally opened up Scout School, making it possible for youth to spend their weekends learning important outdoor and survival skills and just everything else that comes to our minds as the responsible people for planning their activities. 

Together with Lisa and a couple of Georgian volunteers we handle the youngest age group and while they are truly inspirational in their never subsiding energy levels, if it was not for the support from the Georgian Volunteers team I am not sure we could deal with the chaotic but lovable group of pre-teens. My goal for next month might just be to atleast once tire them out so much with sport games, that they listen to me for five minutes straight. However, I would lie if I didn’t say I also enjoy my time with carefree 9 year olds who are always in for a game and at least never lack motivation.


Annii - now trying to speak without dialect:

Very different to my Scout School experience is another set of impressions I was able to make for the first time this month. Since the beginning of February I have the chance to help a local German teacher during German lessons for 7th and 8th grade. While I was initially afraid of going back to the formal setting of a school’s education, I was surprised by actually motivated students and a teacher who cannot possibly be more enthusiastic about her job. I feel lucky having witnessed that since it changed my perspective on how schools should provide education in a way to meet students interests. I was even taught the names of animals in Georgian by the students. I do not know when I will ever need to use แƒ—แƒฃแƒ—แƒ˜แƒงแƒฃแƒจแƒ˜, but I appreciate the gain of knowledge nonetheless.


Probably should have adopted the dog:

In one of my first blogposts, I have already mentioned to neither be a spontaneous nor adventurous person. Still, February proved to be a month of changes and me take a small peek outside of my safety bubble. But see for yourself:

First, the brush of the February wind brought early versions of spring weather – which I was endlessly thankful for. It gave me motivation and I tagged along my volunteers-crew for a daytrip to the east of Georgia. 

We started in Sighnaghi and although I had already seen this city swiftly during the Youth Exchange I participated in forever ago - it was nice to experience it outside of working conditions and take time to discover on our own. Through this discovery we found a dog, which still holds a place in my heart. Her name is now Laika and I dearly miss her. After giving way too much attention to the dog instead of the city, we also made sure to visit the city walls and enjoy the quiet of a Monday in a usually very touristic place. Going further we visited the Bodbe Monastery (I am still absolutely and utterly blown away by how beautiful painted walls can be.) and later made our way to Telavi, simply to take a tour through the city and check out all the sights immediately surrounding us, while the sun was slowly setting.

This sounds like a horribly romantic and fulfilling experience, but I must admit after a day with my chaos crew (international volunteers) my social battery is deprived of every last drop and I need a small break. Still, I am happy I got to take along, and it is sure to never get boring or miss fun when they are near.


Perfect Day:

Pursuing my need of a break, the next weekend I did not come along with the others and stayed to spend my time in the local area. Through one of Lisa’s contacts, we found a small cinema with an interior so cute it almost became kitschy. After a good review of their furniture, we also managed to watch the movie – “Perfect Days”. This movie turned out to be my first eye opening moment of February. It was portraying a Japanese toilet cleaner who did not hunt after the ultimate adrenaline overdose but rather appreciated the world’s everyday-beauty and the peacefulness of routine as well as small special moments interrupting it. At least this is my interpretation. I am sure there is a million others absolutely contradicting my idea of the movie’s topics.


Younger me would've cried happy tears (I cried happy tears):

For the following weekend my fellow volunteers planned a trip to Armenia, while I did not feel adventurous enough to accompany them, I decided last second to register for a tour through Kazbegi – and I am so thankful I did. It became the best day of my Journey through Georgia so far. After receiving the notification that they did still have a free spot on their bus I put on my warmest clothing and left early Sunday morning to join a group full of Georgians in which I would be the only person not understanding. All of it sounded horrifying, but I quickly realized that maybe this time alone with my thoughts, listening in on conversations here and there to catch the 0.05 percent I was able to comprehend, might have been exactly what I needed. I am also forever thankful for the women, who guided the tour and provided me with small, whispered explanations whenever we reached another stop, keeping me involved in the group. Therefore, even I had some social interactions and later managed to connect to some of the other participants although we were facing some language barriers.

But just how did this day become so amazing? Well, first – as already mentioned – sometimes I just need to be an introverted person. And I enjoyed every second of that. Second, imagine someone who never really travelled before suddenly realize it can be fun and relaxing at the same time. It blew my mind. In addition to that, it was beautifully sunny almost the whole day and I believe, I was able to restock some of the vitamin D, I was lacking after winter. Lastly, I have never seen mountains up close and wow – those things are so enormous. I believe I received a “nature-shock” having grown up in a city, where there are no mountains even close. I don’t think I have ever appreciated my environment's beauty that much before – so let me rank my highlights for you:

  • 3rd place: Visiting a monastery but spontaneously deciding to spend an hour on having a supra all together, while speaking so many toasts I absolutely lost track of what they were about and considering the other’s intake of wine and Chacha, I believe they did as well.
  • 2nd place: Sliding up and later down the frozen pathway to the Gergeti trinity Church but being rewarded for my figure skating performance with a breathtaking view from the top and seeing Mount Kazbek. 
  • 1st  place: Hiking (climbing) up the way to the Gveleti Waterfall during a minor snow storm, but getting a dopamine overdose, because I haven’t felt this alive in forever then turning around and suddenly realising there is the Caucasus I my back. You can be sure – I would not stop grinning afterwards.

Maybe you can understand, why this was such a special journey for me and if you don’t – well then just don’t. I will make sure to keep those memories and impressions close to my heart in order to never forget them.

Side Note, because it is an honorable mention: At one stop three guys suddenly unpacked a panduri and started singing Georgian Songs. After some time many other visitors joined in, some not even from our traveling group. It was beautiful and I was already a fan, but they put the cherry on top when one of them started rapping. It was such a random moment but was beautiful nonetheless.

This ends my monthly blog update, although the Kazbegi trip took up most of it, but it also took up most of my mind and still does. It sparked my motivation to travel more and use this opportunity to discover more places throughout Georgia, while doing so at my own pace. So I look forward to what March may bring and where it takes me next.

Yours dearly – and now slightly more happy - Annii

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