So this is where I'll be spending the next two years of my life:
General Info:
Georgia is known by it's own people as Sakartvelo. The official language spoken is Georgian. It is one of the oldest languages in the world, and is different from any other language. This is what the alphabet looks like:
Lucky me, right?
For some perspective on it's size, Georgia is geographically about the size of South Carolina with a population of 4,648,551. The currency is Lari (GEL). The predominant religion is Georgian Orthodox (many people think that there are is a large Muslim community due to the geographical proximity to the Middle East, but that is actually a minority religion).
The people of Georgia are said to be extremely hospitable and gracious hosts. Supposedly, they treat volunteers as though they are "Gifts from God." I am so looking forward to the warmth and kindness of the people.
The Georgian economy is fueled primarily by agriculture. Their main export is wine. From what I hear, Georgians are extremely proud of their wine production and many families produce their own house wine.
The food is a mixture of Eastern European and Mediterranean. I am told that it's actually pretty easy to remain a vegetarian while serving here. They eat a lot of vegetables and beans! I plan on primarily sticking to that, but as per usual I'm willing to try just about anything. I'm a huge proponent of experiencing a culture in whole, and if that means trying unusual foods, or venturing from herbivore status, then so be it. One of the most traditional dishes is Khachapuri which is a boat of bread, stuffed with cheese, egg, and a slab of butter. Not so sure about my waistline, but my taste buds are certainly excited. Check it out:
Geography/Climate:
Georgia is as east as Eastern Europe gets. It is considered to be a part of the Caucuses region (with the Caucus Mountains running through the country).
The weather varies drastically depending on geography. There are tropical-like conditions along the coast of the Black Sea but also year round snowy peaks in the mountains. I'm hoping to be stationed in a more moderate climate, but I won't know my fate until the end of my first three months of training! The good thing is that no matter where you go in Georgia, it looks beautiful! Here's a juxtaposition of two of the various climates:
Batumi- a large city along the coast of the Black Sea. A very popular vacation site. Very lush, green, and beautiful beaches.
Svaneti- a northern region which the Caucus Mountains run through. Note the snow!
Safety: Once people discover I'm going to the Republic of Georgia instead of the outskirts of Atlanta, I feel like their first thoughts include political unrest, Russian invasion, human trafficking, etc. Georgia was invaded by Russia in 2008 in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian troops remain there today, and those regions claim independence from Georgia, but as a Peace Corps volunteer I will not be serving there or even permitted to go to these regions. The rest of the country however, is very stable and the most common threat is petty theft (for which Buenos Aires already prepared me). Georgia is governed by a semi-presidential government with a Prime Minister. The current president is Saakashvili and the Prime Minister is Ivanishvili. There will be a presidential election this year, and I look forward to witnessing the process.
This is a pivotal time for the country of Georgia. They are strengthening their economy and political stability. They strive to be recognized as members of both NATO and the European Union. There is a large movement to learn English as the second language (the second language has historically been Russian) in order to expand economic progress. This year, the World Bank reported that Georgia is one of the fastest reforming economies in the world. I think it's so exciting that I will get to be a part of this country's progress in such a formative time in their history.
While this is probably enough information for most of you, if you are still curious or want more in depth details about Georgia, here are a couple of links to make your search easier:
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