End of deployment...

I'm writing this final blog from Kutaisi airport, as I wait for the flight that will take me back to Rome. It's hard to sum up everything that has happened over the past few months and draw any final conclusions, but I'll try to share my reflections.

WORK

Without a doubt, this has been the most rewarding part of my experience. I had the privilege of working almost exclusively with the same group of beneficiaries, which allowed me to build strong and authentic relationships over time. Initially, I was worried that some of them would drop out after the first few meetings and wouldn't want to commit to a long-term project. In reality, out of the 12 women who started, only two dropped out, while the others continued until the end. The greatest satisfaction came from hearing their feedback at the end of the training: many of them remembered and appreciated aspects that I thought hadn't fully sunk in or might have been forgotten. They also expressed a desire to delve deeper into these topics in the future.

The relationship with my local NGO, unfortunately, wasn't always smooth, especially as time went on. However, I have to acknowledge that without the spaces and logistical support provided by the organization, I wouldn't have been able to carry out any of the activities I worked on.

LIFE IN ZUGDIDI AND GEORGIA

It has been an incredible experience. I met wonderful people who showed me beautiful places, introduced me to unique individuals, and gave me the opportunity to live unforgettable experiences. Despite the challenges I faced, Georgia is a fascinating country full of surprises.

Looking back, I realize how much this experience has enriched me, both professionally and personally. I've learned so much, not only about work, but also about the culture and the people who surrounded me over these months. I'm grateful for every moment I spent here, and I leave Georgia with my heart full of memories, experiences, and valuable lessons that I'll carry with me wherever I go.

PS: Georgia isn’t too far away, so I’ll definitely be back next year to visit everyone. Plus, by now I can’t go too long without Georgian food! 😄

Yet another shout-out to Georgia’s stunning nature—if it wasn’t already clear from the thirty times I’ve mentioned it before, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with this country!

Laura, my Belgian friend who’s practically a local by now, has been an incredible source of inspiration and knowledge. Without her, I’d probably still be stuck in some remote Georgian village, desperately searching for a marshrutka to get home!

Ode to Georgia

Before arriving here, I knew almost nothing about Georgia. I barely knew its location on the map and the name of its capital, Tbilisi.

But once I got here, I discovered a whole new world.

A world of people who, with great effort, are trying to free themselves from the burden of Russian occupation and who desire so intensely to join the EU that they protest for months, day and night, to prevent their government from passing a Russian-style law.

I discovered that Georgian food is unexpectedly delicious, that people always give thanks for what they have, even if it's very little (and unfortunately, many people live in extreme poverty).

I learned that food is taken seriously here, especially the Supra, the traditional Georgian feast (it's no coincidence that there’s even a special role for the "toastmaster," the Tamada).

I discovered a country surrounded by woods and forests that hide small earthly paradises, and, last but not least, I met incredibly welcoming people, where no one remains a stranger for long.

After seven months, I can say that I have fallen in love with this nation. Of course, it's not all perfect; there are issues and challenges to face. But this article aims to celebrate the beauty of Georgia.

So, here’s a collection of photos showcasing its wonders.

Enjoy!

a Georgian woman invited us to her house to show us her farm. We ate so much that I couldn't touch food for one day!

Cows and pigs have full freedom of movement, they go everywhere, you find them especially on the street.

One of the natural paradises I was talking about... I mean, look at this 😍

a field of hazelnuts trees, one of the main businesses in the agricultural field in Georgia.

A Georgian supra. As you can see, there are at least three layers of plates full of food, it's a tetris! there isn't even space to move

A small lake hidden among the hills surrounding the Zugdidi valley

Traditional dance clothes during the National Day of Georgia. Search for traditional Georgian dances on Youtube, they are something incredible (besides the fact that it requires a lot of physical preparation, especially for men, because it requires a lot of strength and physical endurance)

Campfire with expats and local friends

Me doing pet therapy with a dog from a Georgian family (here too, I ate a lot... it was a mix of pet therapy and food-comahaha)

First month, first impressions

I came to Zugdidi on January 31st. Together with Elena, the Italian volunteer who has been travelling with me since the day before, I met Olga, our coordinator. She took me to my future home where I met Tika, the owner. She showed me the room, prepared me some food, and we chatted for a few hours, amidst her uncertain English and my tiredness after the long journey. I thanked her, went to my room, layed down on the bed, and gazed at the ceiling. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, I was happy. It has been a month since that day, and even though I had ups and downs, the feeling of satisfaction has been constant.

I’m part of an exciting project, the women from the NGO are kind and helpful, step by step I'm creating new connections with locals and expats, and my host family has been incredibly welcoming from the very beginning. Honestly, I couldn't be more satisfied.

I'm not saying there are no difficulties! Language barrier is a big problem (few people speak English in Zugdidi), and I'm really scared to cross the street because Georgian drivers are crazy. I also miss some aspects of my life in Italy (like having breakfast at the café with a croissant and cappuccino XD).  

However, from the beginning, I've chosen to tackle these challenges proactively and embrace change with enthusiasm rather than dwelling on the difficulty itself. Thus, the language barrier has become an opportunity for me to strive to learn Georgian (a beautiful language btw!), the fear of crossing the street has become a way to take long walks to avoid the most dangerous pedestrian crossings and to find new corners of the city (what could be better than combining sports with sightseeing??). Finally, I replaced breakfasts at the bar with equally satisfying breakfasts on my porch at home, chatting with my host family and getting to know them better!

I understand that these examples may seem silly, but this trick has helped me a lot. I'm pretty sure it will continue to work in the upcoming months, especially when I may feel the distance from Italy more strongly.

I came to Merkuri as a Social entrepreneurship and fundraising officer. Basically, I’m gonna support the raise of financial capacity through crowdfunding campaigns, fundraising and partnerships with external organisations and, on the other side, I’m gonna carry out an entrepreneurship training for local women. The main objective of the training is to give them all the basic knowledge to start a small business. I already planned the contents and I can’t wait to start 😆. 

What are the next steps?

Georgia has ancient traditions of polyphonic songs and folk dances. As soon as I discovered this, I decided to take lessons in both. A local girl helped me a lot and found a dance school for me, while another one passed me the contact of a polyphonic choir teacher... I should start in the coming weeks!

That’s all for now, 

See you soon, ნახვამდის

ფრანჩესკა

Francesca

Here there are some photos:

Typical georgian food: Khachapuri, a sort of focaccia with cheese

Lobiani, similar to Khachapuri but filled with beans

Badrijiani, grilled eggplants and peppers filled with walnuts

Olivie, russian salad

Zugdidi Boulevard, the main street of Zugdidi.

It often rains during winter.

Random spot of the city.

Another random spot. 

Me and Elena, the other ESC volunteer, in the office

Social inclusion event for women from the Abkhazia region... We participated representing our NGO. 

My Georgian house!