Almost 6 weeks in "Sakartvelo"

Work in the International Scout Centre Rustavi

As our organization is not only a regular scout centre, we  – volunteers – offer work with youth up to our interests, experience and expectations from the local youngsters.

Frederik has his club focused on discussion in English and he will also provide additional German at local school regarding German culture. I started my club of Italian language in Rustavi and also in Tbilisi as there was quite big interest from the side of university students. I also provide basic English teaching for a part of the ISCR staff twice a week. Damián does not have any clubs, but he awaits scouting activities and he also supports the ISCR just like me and Frederik. 

Extracurricular part of our work was helping on festival „Future and Focus“ organized by UNFPA which took place in a very pretty Rustavi Park in Old Rustavi. 

Weather bummer

Totally surprising change of weather which came directly after the festival shocked most of us. When you wear on Monday your shortest shorts and you barely think of taking a jacket with you even late night and then you wake up on Wednesday to the rain and temperature 20! degrees less, you kind of wonder how long did you actually sleep :D. Georgia really seems to be a country of extremes. 

Three of plenty new experiences

Our time in Georgia is definitely not boring and almost every day happens something interesting. For now I picked 3 things to mention.

1. As we usually don´t work during weekends, we use our time to discover Georgia and Georgian culture. We visited the capital city during Tbilisoba which is a  festival celebrating the diversity and history of Tbilisi. It was a very nice experience with ongoing concerts, events , colorful decorations , flowers and singing characters on the streets. And of course „churchkhella“ (georgian „snickers“ – typical candle-shaped sweet) everywhere.

2. We traveled on our own so far twice. Our first self-organized trip led us to Birtvisi in Kvemo Kartli. It is basically a natural rocky fortress surrounded by beautiful nature. The access is not the easiest one and we luckily met a group of Georgian students which helped us to climb up the hills. The second time we went to Gori (the place where Stalin was born) and we even visited the controversial museum of Stalin.

We hitchhiked and I have to say that in my opinion hitchhiking in Georgia is super-easy (because of so many kind Georgians).

3. Last but not least, the 3rd extraordinary experience I am going to mention is georgian „rtveli“ – it is a name for period when they pick grapes in Georgia to make wine afterwards.  We picked grapes and then also pears and pomegranates in the garden in New Rustavi and we saw how the process of making home-made wine looks like. Afterwards we enjoyed 4-hours long supra (traditional Georgian feast) with a lot of wine from previous year and very delicious food. Such a nice Sunday!