April: Facts we know about this month – 30 days, including 7 days of Easter holidays, two hikes, two cool events and changeable weather.
I have to say, the weather was mostly lovely and warm outside. The last few days of April in particular were lovely and perfect for wearing a T-shirt.
Easter and a week off work
Easter fell at the start of April this year. Easter is actually a holiday I always spend with my family, with a few traditions such as painting eggs – and NO, I haven’t gone
On the first day I had off that week, I didn’t do anything; I just relaxed and went for a walk in Rustavi.
On another day, I met up with my new mentor in Tbilisi for the first time. We walked around the city a bit, had an iced coffee and had a long, nice conversation where we got to know each other better. She’s really cool and I’m glad I’ve met her.
I also took a trip to a small town near Tbilisi because there’s a Svaneti Tower there and I wanted to see it. In the end, there really wasn’t anything to see in that town. I walked about 30 minutes to the tower, spent another 30 minutes there enjoying the sun, and then went back to Rustavi and met up with Inga to go to the park.
On the first day I had off that week, I didn’t do anything; I just relaxed and went for a walk in Rustavi.
On another day, I met up with my new mentor in Tbilisi for the first time. We walked around the city a bit, had an iced coffee and had a long, nice conversation where we got to know each other better. She’s really cool and I’m glad I’ve met her.
I also took a trip to a small town near Tbilisi because there’s a Svaneti Tower there and I wanted to see it. In the end, there really wasn’t anything to see in that town. I walked about 30 minutes to the tower, spent another 30 minutes there enjoying the sun, and then went back to Rustavi and met up with Inga to go to the park.
Back to Armenia
From Friday to Monday, I was in Armenia with a group I’d only met a week earlier.
I met the group through Jaco, and that was really cool because otherwise I’d probably have gone to Yerevan on my own.
The group consists of three volunteers from Italy, two volunteers from Poland and me. You can probably imagine that they sometimes spoke only in their own language, but that was fine.
After we arrived in the afternoon and moved into our flat, we set off to explore the city. I also saw a few spots that I hadn’t seen the first time round.In the evening, we met up with volunteers from the city at their home. There I met a few people I knew from the training sessions, and Katlina, with whom I’m travelling back home at the start of July. That was what the trip was all about for me: I wanted to get to know her, have a chat with her and see how we got on.
I met the group through Jaco, and that was really cool because otherwise I’d probably have gone to Yerevan on my own.
The group consists of three volunteers from Italy, two volunteers from Poland and me. You can probably imagine that they sometimes spoke only in their own language, but that was fine.
After we arrived in the afternoon and moved into our flat, we set off to explore the city. I also saw a few spots that I hadn’t seen the first time round.In the evening, we met up with volunteers from the city at their home. There I met a few people I knew from the training sessions, and Katlina, with whom I’m travelling back home at the start of July. That was what the trip was all about for me: I wanted to get to know her, have a chat with her and see how we got on.
We were all together in the dom and chatted with friends about various things in different languages. At some point, it all became a bit too much for Katlina and me, so we went to her room to carry on chatting there. We knew the others wanted to go to a club later, and she said we’d hear them when they set off.
We talked for so long that we didn’t even notice how quickly the time had flown by, until I said, “Let’s go and see where the others are.”
Anddddd… there was no one left.
I’d simply been forgotten or left on my own for the second time in Armenia. I wouldn’t have thought that could happen again – I’m starting to think Armenia just doesn’t like me.
Through a few other friends in the group, I found out where they were, and Katlina helped me book a taxi. So I was on my way to the party.
When I arrived, everyone apologised for forgetting me, and we carried on partying for almost two more hours. It was actually really lovely.
The next day, we visited some of Yerevan’s sights. I’d already seen almost all of them the first time round, but that didn’t matter, and I discovered some new things too.
The day after that, we went on a trip just outside the city. We visited a derelict building. I’m not usually a fan of that sort of thing, but it was really cool to see. It was an old ‘Radio Optical Observatory’ and there were even various machines still inside the building.
We spent the rest of the day in our flat with a few friends.
We talked for so long that we didn’t even notice how quickly the time had flown by, until I said, “Let’s go and see where the others are.”
Anddddd… there was no one left.
I’d simply been forgotten or left on my own for the second time in Armenia. I wouldn’t have thought that could happen again – I’m starting to think Armenia just doesn’t like me.
Through a few other friends in the group, I found out where they were, and Katlina helped me book a taxi. So I was on my way to the party.
When I arrived, everyone apologised for forgetting me, and we carried on partying for almost two more hours. It was actually really lovely.
The next day, we visited some of Yerevan’s sights. I’d already seen almost all of them the first time round, but that didn’t matter, and I discovered some new things too.
The day after that, we went on a trip just outside the city. We visited a derelict building. I’m not usually a fan of that sort of thing, but it was really cool to see. It was an old ‘Radio Optical Observatory’ and there were even various machines still inside the building.
We spent the rest of the day in our flat with a few friends.
Our journey back was eventful too. We found a driver who took us straight to Tbilisi and let us make longer stops. So we stopped off in Sevan and at Lake Sevan.
It was a big surprise that it had snowed there over the weekend and there was plenty of snow on the ground. For a few hours, it felt like winter again – but it looked absolutely beautiful.
It was a big surprise that it had snowed there over the weekend and there was plenty of snow on the ground. For a few hours, it felt like winter again – but it looked absolutely beautiful.
Back to daily life
After the week off, work started up again and we’ve planned some really cool projects, such as ‘Games around the World’. We picked out various games from different countries and the children were able to come by and try them out at little stations.
Another event was our costume party with the theme: your favourite film or TV series character. I have to say, it was really nice and the children's costumes were very creative.
Nature just like in the movies
Hiking whilst enjoying Georgia’s beautiful nature. At the moment, the landscape here is really amazing, because everything is green and in bloom.
I went on two hikes in April – one with Jaco and our Scout group. We were above Tbilisi at Turtle Lake. I’d already done this hike with Inga in February, but it was beautiful again anyway.
The second hike was with Inga and Alex in Kojori. It’s a small town that’s still part of Tbilisi. There we saw two waterfalls and crossed a river what felt like ten times. But the scenery looked sooo beautiful – just like in a film.
I went on two hikes in April – one with Jaco and our Scout group. We were above Tbilisi at Turtle Lake. I’d already done this hike with Inga in February, but it was beautiful again anyway.
The second hike was with Inga and Alex in Kojori. It’s a small town that’s still part of Tbilisi. There we saw two waterfalls and crossed a river what felt like ten times. But the scenery looked sooo beautiful – just like in a film.
Back to the 20s
We had another team-building activity this month, led this time by Annii. She decided to organise a murder mystery dinner.
The theme of the evening was ‘Jazz, Gin, Money and Murder’, and it was set in the 1920s. Before we started, we made sushi together – that was quite an experience, as I’d never done it before.
We were asked to dress up in 1920s style, which was really cool, and to get into our characters. I was Mimi Crye, a famous movie star, and I loved the role.
Later on, we found out in a letter who the murderer was – and it was me.
At first I didn’t want to play the part, but it turned out to be really fun. In the end, three out of seven in our group said I was the murderer – which is actually a good sign.
The theme of the evening was ‘Jazz, Gin, Money and Murder’, and it was set in the 1920s. Before we started, we made sushi together – that was quite an experience, as I’d never done it before.
We were asked to dress up in 1920s style, which was really cool, and to get into our characters. I was Mimi Crye, a famous movie star, and I loved the role.
Later on, we found out in a letter who the murderer was – and it was me.
At first I didn’t want to play the part, but it turned out to be really fun. In the end, three out of seven in our group said I was the murderer – which is actually a good sign.
Ballet
Another wonderful event was that we also went to see a ballet this month. This time it was a Georgian ballet, which was absolutely lovely. I just love the fact that cultural events here aren’t that expensive. After the ballet, we went out for some khinkali.
And that was April all over again. Another month of my volunteering has come to an end, and you slowly realise that your time here is almost over and that you have to try to see as much as possible and gain as much experience as you can.
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