Homestay accommodation is provided for teachers heading to Georgia.

Teachers are able to secure housing on their own but this can be quite challenging for those who are just arriving and for those who are placed outside a major city center. The housing situation and host families that are provided to teachers are screened by the Georgian Government to ensure they are as safe and comfortable as possible.

Some important facts about housing in Georgia:

• All homestay families are screened.
• You will not be put in contact with the host family prior to arrival as it is not yet determined in which region you will be teaching until you are in the country going through orientation.
• No pets.
• No children (read more).
• Couples can live together (read more).
• You contribute 100 Lari per month to your host family to cover the cost of utilities.
• You also provide a minimum of 3 English lessons each week to your host family if they are interested.

Gifting is not required or expected but it's nice and it certainly would be appreciated by your homestay family in Georgia. It is also a great way to break the ice.
I am not sure about you but whenever someone comes over to my house and brings something, flowers or a bottle of wine or a coil of sausage (I like smoked meat), it really makes me feel warm and fuzzy.  In Asian cultures it is almost a given and not gifting is an insult. In Korea, for example, they have gift wrapped spam for special holiday ocassions and other box specials for the specific purpose of gifting when visiting.  In Georgia, gifting is certainly not an expectation (just like if you visit me) but again, it wouldn't go unnoticed or unappreciated.

If you are considering giving a gift to your homestay here are a couple suggestions:

• try to get something regional from your local area - smoked salmon, maple syrup candies/cookies, knickknacks for the house, pictures, books, or calendars of local scenes, souvenirs from your area.
• not knowing how many people will be in your homestay familiy and not knowing the age and sex of the occupants makes it difficult to get age appropriate toys or clothing for kids but this certainly is something you could look at Amazon to send or perhaps use your family to assist with.

Litte Gift or Reward Ideas for Georgian Friends, Students and Homestay Families:

• pins (get them from your MP, MLA, Senator, Governor or any politician you know - they often give them away for free)
• hard candies that will not melt or spoil
• photos or postcards to give away
• stickers

FOOTPRINTS TEACHER

I’ve been very lucky in my homestay situation. I have a great host family, a nice house, and I’m very close to my school (just down the hill). More and more it seems that a good living situation can make or break it here. I’ve had a few friends change host families due to certain situations that were either cultural conflicts or something didn’t work from the start. I always consider myself lucky that my family is so great.

Most of the housing in Tbilisi consists of blocks of concrete apartment buildings. While they may be look old and seem to be crumbling on the outside, they are sturdy and well built. Many of the individual flats boast original hardwood flooring, high ceilings, and crown molding. Chandeliers of varying sizes are not uncommon in sitting and bedrooms.

Housing in the Mountain Region

Georgia is a developing country recovering from a huge 20 year void left by the end of the Soviet Union.  This has resulted in a lower standard of living for most people that I have met in the United States and closer to that of the average person I have met in England.  Buildings are old and in general disrepair both in the region I live and in the capital where I visit frequently.  In both cases I have experienced water outages but primarily in the region.  Currently, we get water from a community spout about 75 yards (meters) from the house.  It is winter now.  In upstate New York we have had ice storms and heavy snow with power out for a few days.  It is the same in the mountain region where I live.  Internet just arrived for houses in my village.  I have a large private bedroom with a fireplace and large windows.  My friends in the capital have similar accommodations.

Wayne Jensen

Footprints’ Teacher in Georgia