I did as much research as I can, I did not find a lot of
things on the net. So to get out of my comfort zone, I was off on an extraordinary
adventure. I remember in the car for the airport my father asked me if someone
going actually come to pick me up once I got here, Doubt settles, because I was
not very sure that Nana would be there. Arrived at Roissy (French airport), I
write a mail to make sure she's going to pick me up on the airport. She says
she's going to be there. Then stopover in Turkey, first time in Turkey and I
exchanged my first Lari (Georgian money) super emotion to be and do new things.
When I arrived in Georgia, I had 5 minutes
of doubt before I saw Nana and other people who had an important role in my EVS
adventures. It was my welcome to Georgia.
So my first impression when I saw the apartment where I was
going to spend the next 6 months of my life, I thought that would will be super
long this EVS. At the same time, I have never felt an impatience like this in
my all my life, I hardly slept the first night, because I wanted to be so much
tomorrow to start the adventure in an official way. This country who was a part
of the Russian empire that has a strong character as well. The mountainous
landscapes, these monasteries and churches, so much history in this rather
small country. Two weeks ago, for example, I went to make my first official
hitchhiking experience alone. The first one, it was last December when we went
to Armenia with two colleges, but that's another story.
Two weeks ago, trip to Uplistsikhe small village not very
far from Gori. In hitchhiking, I was sure that the village was well before Gori
,so imagined my reaction when my map and the car where I was go through Gori by
the way there is the Stalin museum because yes Stalin was born in Gori (fun
fact) .I have kept my calm of course because my experience in Georgia taught me
to keep my calm in any situation. I had even the moment when I thought that
this little town is really cool with a little Cuban vibe (it was Gori) .I
stayed maybe 2 – 3 hours in the cave town of Uplistsikhe really a lot of wind
and a little cold. All these whitish stone grottoes, we will say more than I
thought, disappointed for that because I was looking for a quiet visit with my
pod-casts in my ears. I don't really want to discourage anyone from visiting
because it really is an experience to live. Among others, I was able to visit:
Mont Kazbegi, kobuleti, batumi, Gori, Borjomi, Gudauri. All these cities offers me a unique experiences.
I really have this philosophy with this trip are a bonus, and I'm very happy of
each trip, because they are part of me now.
Now, I'm going to go faster in time, because clearly all
things were so new for the days and weeks that followed my arrival than today,
it's normal, but I was like a child coming into a toys store. I don't really
like what I'm going to do, but I have to do it, I have not found any other way
to do it. I'm going to make a list of all the things I have done. I could do
here:
-First clubs: French conversation, English conversation, IT
club, movie club, game time, Philosophy conversation. These are the major clubs that I have been
able to manage here.
-Now other stuff: I manage
organization YouTube channel and Instagram page, writing articles for the
bulldozer, I had a day volunteer in dog shelter, I helped my organization to
find partners for the future mobility
project and help also to develop Mobile application, Manage team building game,
make a lot of posters for events, create game for events, make a presentation
public, etc... That is just some things that I manage to make in this
6-month mission. I learn a lot. The most important, for me, is the people a
have the opportunity to meet. One of the biggest lessons I learn here is the
best way to learn is just to listen people when they talk and ask questions.
When I arrive here, I had so much stereotype about the people who do this type
of volunteer service and who use hitchhiking for transportation. Maybe with the
college and experience I had, I can't believe
that someone can take you in this car without making you pay something’s, in
France we have blablacar but that a company you need to pay them for it. That
why I think that They are hippie for sure but now my way of seeing the world
and people change a lot EVS is definitely a life changing experience.
Today, I still have 1 week before departure or back
depending on the point of view, in France. Have been a few weeks that I am between
I want to return because it must and I want to stay even if it is not the right
thing to do ,in addition it is not possible. The thing I am sure is that this experience
is the best decision I made even if I decided to do the mission 1 hours after I
have received the mission offer.
By the way I want to say a big thank you to all people who
make this wonderful experience possible .Thanks to Nana for every things she
teaches me about work, computer stuff, happiness and a lot of more STUFF, thanks
to Aleks for this opportunity, my mentor Mari wonderful girl. We often had
conversations a little curious but still very interesting, thanks to Mokhalises, we have an amazing team and our teamwork help
me a lot to grow as a person and as a man and I want say thank you very much to
every single person who came to GYE. As Oprah Winfrey us to say “Surround
yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher” that what people
did here, I fill very bless to have the chance to be a part of your life.
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