After re-reading my journal entries in my personal diary from my trip, I can see first-hand what lessons I learned. Georgia, a beautiful country with a laid-back way of life, has shown me what kind of life I envision for myself. I was able to experience many different terrains- the sea, the mountains, and the city. I know that in my future life, I would want access to all of these different terrains and have the opportunity to travel. Even my daily routine varied, and this is when I learned the most. My daily life in Georgia wasn’t like my typical, comfortable life in Pittsburgh. Each day, I had to commute 45 minutes to school, communicate with people with my hands, and learn new norms every single day. Be that as it may, adjusting to this life wasn’t a struggle for me. I was able to prove to myself that once I learn and become adapted to a new routine, I am able to adjust to a new life immediately. Something that was key in this adjustment was being able to “read the room” and know how to interact with the everyday person in Georgia.
One of the big issues I had was knowing when I can speak Russian in public, and to whom. If you spoke Russian to the wrong person, they would just simply look at you. Because of Georgia’s tumultuous history with Russia, the people had an animosity towards Russians and the language. On the walls, I saw graffiti telling Russians to go back to Russia and signs with an “X” through the Russian flag. One time, I went to a market to buy souvenirs for my family. I went up to the shop owner saying “Привет” (“hello” in Russian). Although he understood, he answered “gamardjoba” (hello in Georgian). Even though it was clear he knew Russian, he wanted to speak English with me. This was a common issue of some of my other classmates too. On the other hand, there were some shop owners who originally addressed me in Russian. When I went through the country, I had to be wary of what people were comfortable with. In the United States and at Pitt, I believe this same way of thinking will carry over. In various political climates, many different races/ethnicities, and different ways of thinking, it is important to be conscientious of what others are comfortable with. When it is necessary to have an uncomfortable conversation, we must remain respectful and know that people often have a basis for their varying opinions. In all, I believe that my time in Georgia has made me more observant and a better listener overall.