Coming to Georgia as a Student

I was excited and nervous when I initially decided to study in Georgia. I read blogs, watched videos, and thought I had an idea of what to anticipate. But then I arrived, and I realized there were a few things no one actually shares.

The weather took me by surprise.
I truly believed Georgia had a mild climate throughout the year, but that’s not the case. Winters can become very cold, and summers are much warmer than I anticipated. I learned the hard way that a decent jacket and warm footwear are essentials!

English doesn’t always work.
In class and around the university, English is fine. But when you’re buying groceries or asking for directions, you’ll meet people who don’t speak it much. Learning a few Georgian words like gamarjoba (hello) and madloba (thank you) really helps — and locals appreciate the effort.

Public transport looked confusing at first.
The metro and buses are convenient and affordable, but I didn’t know how to use them when I first arrived. After a week of asking questions (and getting lost a couple of times), I finally understood — and now I use them every day.

The food is great but different.
I came to love khachapuri and khinkali, but initially did miss food from home. Fortunately, there are international shops around where you can prepare your own food when the hunger pangs strike.

People are very warm.
Georgians are among the friendliest humans I have encountered. Even if we don’t communicate the same language, they always make an effort to assist. It was their warmth that quickly made Georgia feel like home than I had anticipated.


Learning here has been more than a school experience; it’s been a life lesson in growing, adapting, and learning to love new things.