24 Apr 2018

Mariusz First month in Georgia

"Thursday, 15 March 2018, 3 am, Warsaw – time to wake up, collect luggage, call taxi and go to the airport. Soon, my life will be completely different to the one I had so far. I am on my way to Rustavi. Georgia to do my EVS. Never heard about Rustavi before, my knowledge about Georgia is not do broad, but decision was made.

After a month of living there I can say it was good decision, so far. During that time I adapted to the new environment, met new people – in my organization, my flat mates as well as other volunteers living in the neighborhood. Just after arrival I participated in the on-arrival training, which gave me chance to think more about my time there, my goals, activities I will be taking part in as well as to meet other volunteers from Georgia and Armenia and exchange thoughts and ideas. Moreover, I participated in one youth exchange with youngsters from Denmark, which was a great time and opportunity to meet new people and spend time on activities, which I had never had time for before. My first month here is also about discovering Georgian culture with amazing supra tradition, super delicious food (so far khinkhali and eggplants with walnuts are my bests), amazing wine, beauty of country and hospitality of locals.
I started on-going job in my organization – helping with events organizing by it, organizing and leading clubs for youngsters as well as organizing other activities aimed on making live in Rustavi more vivid and interesting. They also help to be more integrated with local society, feel like at home and be part of the people living there.
First month passed really quickly and I’m pretty sure this same will happen with the remaining time. I hope it will be as interesting and full of emotions as the past month and at the end I would be able to say: “Wow that was amazing time!” However, right now is time to focus on my time here and enjoy every second of it"-  Mariusz  Long Term EVS Volunteer From Poland






3 Apr 2018

On-Arrival Training

Aga and Mariusz Polish Long Term EVS volunteers. "Meeting new people, with whom you have many things in common. Attending a dozen of lectures, sessions and activities where you gain new knowledge which helps you in many aspects of your life. Going out of place where you live for couple of days. Conversation with people you want to meet again in remote places in Caucasus. Georgian supra and folk dance… All that stuff in 5 days and only during On Arrival Training in Misaktsieli. Two brave and hungry of knowledge volunteers (Aga and Mariusz) from GYE in Rustavi had a pleasure to experience that all. 

Fourteen newly come volunteers from different European countries and their trainers have come to meet each other for and intense training for EVS volunteers in Caucasus Region. International community was represented by young people come from countries: Poland, Latvia, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, United Kingdom, Luxembourg. This variety made the atmosphere kind of special because of different attitudes, experiences and also duties performer by volunteers on EVS program. Activities and training lessons were useful and full of new knowledge which helps to improve personal skills and also volunteer’s work. Talking to other participants and also integration with them gave us new perspectives for our work in GYE and also brought us closer to quite new reality for some of us.
 Despite our schedule was tight, organisators found time for factors which made this training special according to getting to know Caucasus culture much better. I think all Georgians and people who have been already participating in this special event, will agree with me that Supra is a big part of culture captained in one evening spent with friends who are close to our hearts. For many of us it was an unique occasion to see and also be a part of this amazing event and admire traditional Mtiuluri /Georgian dance. Breathtaking and sometimes scary looking moments (saber fight)  impressed the audience the most. It is also obligatory to mention Georgian delicious food. Table was full like never before" ;)