It's been a month since I left Georgia. On one hand, Zugdidi feels like a fever dream a world away. On the other hand, it feels like I was there yesterday. The last few weeks were spectacular: I visited Mestia in Svaneti for the last time with a good friend, my mom came to visit …
Zugdidi Guide
Zugdidi, the capital of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, is Georgia's sixth most populous city. I spent nine months there as an English teaching assistant at Shota Meskhia State Teaching University with the Fulbright Program. This is a compilation of local organizations, restaurants, helpful information about transportation, and even stores where you can purchase hard-to-find items. …
5 Days in Armenia, from Tbilisi
In this post, you'll find details about a 5-day trip to Yerevan, Armenia and surrounding sites. I linked tour companies and restaurants you may find useful if planning a visit.
February: Old Friends in Tbilisi, New Friends at the FIS Freestyle World Cup
It's springtime in Zugdidi, but I'm still catching up on writing from this winter! I had a very long break from February 10 to March 20 because the university held final exams (which I had no part in) and a spring break. So, I decided to spend almost every day doing something exciting! I packed …
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An American in Zugdidi
I had a busy last few weeks! My boyfriend Ben came to visit and we spent a wonderful ten days in Mestia, Zugdidi, and Tbilisi for the holidays. A post about Georgian New Year's and Christmas celebrations will be coming soon! In the meantime, I feel like it's due time for a post about culture …
A Weekend in Mestia, Svaneti
After returning from Racha on October 31, I had spent 17 full days in Zugdidi and was getting a little stir-crazy. The solution, of course, was to go to the mountains. Zugdidi is the gateway to Svaneti, one of the famed mountain regions of Georgia. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision; snow was forecasted for the …
The Last Days of Autumn in Racha
I caught the first glimpse of Racha's indescribable fall beauty as the Delica meandered around the curves of the steep highway between Shkmeri and Oni. When I peered off the side of the road, I could see the Kheoni River stretched onwards through the valley below. We departed Tbilisi at 6:30 that morning, but my …
Autumn Celebrations in Georgia
Since arriving in Georgia in September, I had heard excited talk about Rtveli and Tbilisoba. Rtveli is the name for harvest celebrations held throughout Georgia in September and October. It's a time for family and friends to spend time together, enjoy food and wine-making, and help with the enormous task of harvesting grapes. As wine …
The Terrifying Road to Tusheti
My first venture into the Caucasus mountains was to Tusheti, a region in northeast Georgia. Through one of the many "Expats in Georgia" Facebook groups I belong to, I found out there were spots remaining on a $175 weekend tour. The only route to Tusheti is Abano Pass: a 45-mile (72 km) one-way dirt road …
Hard-Launching My Fulbright Year in Georgia
A few weeks ago, I boarded a plane on my first international flight since leaving Austria in March of 2020. After several long layovers, no missed connections or lost baggage, I arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia at 4 am on September 11 to start my year as an English Teaching Assistant with Fulbright. A Quick Geography …
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