Greenheart Reviews

The program that Greenheart recruited me for was aptly named "Teach and Learn With Georgia." I taught English to Georgian children, and learned some Georgian myself. I taught Georgians about American culture and ways of life, and learned all about Georgia and its people. I also learned a great deal about myself and that I can do whatever I set my mind to, no matter how daunting it may be at first. Greenheart made this experience possible for me, and for that I am incredibly grateful. The application process was painless and they answered all of my questions quickly and thoroughly. I would undoubtedly recommend to them to a friend.

Let me just start by saying this: you will get sick. Georgia (especially the capital) is a VERY dirty place. Everyone got sick. Whether you had something mild like constipation or IBS, or something more severe like contracting an STD (I know three people who did. One of whom was sent home), you can count on getting some form of illness while you are there. However, though I had the worst flu of my life, slept in a room without heat for 6 months, and had to go to the hosptial becuase of a terrible bladder infection, I wouldn't change one thing about my experience. Georgia changed my life. The people I met there changed my life. The culture and hardships you will face will rock you to your core and with every moment that you spend there you will never be able to understand or even come close the fathoming how much you are growing and learning. So, if given the choice I would reluctantly do it all over again because I am a better, more compassionate, intelligent, patient, and stronger person because of that country. However, my ambivalence only stretches so far and I still can not bring myself to recommend Georgia to any of my friends, but for someone who needs a life change and is searching for themselves like I was, then yes. Go. You will return with a very strong understanding of what kind of man or woman you are.

As an experienced teacher, teaching in Georgian schools can be frustrating but working with Georgian children is extremely rewarding. Be prepared for lack of classroom management, teaching methodology and Soviet era teaching attitudes. Despite this the children are energetic, enthusiastic and will be happy to see you.

Overall, the experience has been enjoyable and has provided the opportunity to see and be a part of things that you would never see anywhere else. If you come in the winter be ready for cold and mud-bring lots of layers!

My experience in Georgia was terrific, due mainly to my Host Family and school placement. I was in the village of Dighomi, just outside of Tbilisi. The school is the 2nd largest, in Georgia, with 900 students. I had 400 students in 14 classes and I conducted each class, on my own, with some translation assistance from my Georgian co-teachers. My host family consisted of 2 sons in their 20's, parents and one grandmother. All members of my family were university educated. They cared for me as a member of their family; giving me the true Georgian guest treatment--wonderful food, inclusive visits with their relatives and friends, assistance with my transportation and needs--they are some of the most interesting, kind and strong people that I've ever met. I remain in contact with my Georgian school teachers and my family, even now.
For someone going on the program, I'd recommend overpacking as you do not know where you'll be placed--this is the biggest drawback of the program. You'll want to be prepared for respiratory and stomach illnesses so it is best to bring anything that you may need to feel better. Although I didn't get any stomach illness, I had a couple of respiratory infections (as did everyone I encountered, from the program.)

Teaching is Georgia takes a lot of patience. There are little to no teaching resources (ie copy machine, printer, paper, chalk...), teachers have not been trained in classroom management and students are often out of control. However, kids are kids and Georgian children will love you and will teach you as much as you teach them.

Georgia is an incredibly friendly country-I am always being given gifts, food, wine and warm wishes from total strangers on the street.

I have loved my time in Georgia though it is coming to a close soon. I have been here 7 months and have found that your experiance here is only what you make of it. Signing up for this program is a little like a game of roulette. I asked for a village and was placed in a tiny city while friends who asked for cities were placed in villages. The program does provide new host families if you are not happy where you are placed. But for the most part, I have loved it here. My host family has chickens and cows that sleep in the back yard, and the street isn't paved, but a two minute walk takes me to paved roads and my school. If I walk another 5 min or so, I am at a big church with a great park, and another 3 min takes me to one of the 3 cafes with english menus and free wifi. There are many other volunteers in my city, which is great and normal for a city, but not normal for a village, which is where the majority of people are placed. Fortunatly, there are easily used (once learned) systems of public transportation that can take you to a central town to city to hang out with other native english speakers if the village life is getting too much. They also provide cell phones which have free calls to all the other volunteers, so you are very rarely without people to talk to.
But you have to be more than willing to spend a lot of your time sitting in a room full of people who are speaking another language that is honestly very difficult to learn and that you probably will not be able to converse in in three months, no matter how good your language skills are. You need to be able to self entertain yourself. I have an e-reader, but it made my family feel like I was cutting them out, so I have taken up knitting.
I am very flexible and go with the flow, and that is very much the georgian way. If you like to follow and strict schedule, Georgia might not be for you. Things change at a moments notice and no one thinks to tell the Volunteer, so you might go to school one day to find that they have pushed back the school day by half an hour, or there just is no school today. Learn to laugh at that, and accept it as "Georgian". You are there to teach English and western culture, but you are also there to learn about Georgian culture. The eating, the drinking, the religion, and the relaxedness. I have reccomended it to friends, they have come over, and we are still friends, so yes, I would reccomend this program for anyone who wants to get out and see a completly different way of living.

Arriving with EPIK really was the best option for me. They provided all the essential initial administration processess which come with working abroad; bank account, health insurnace etc. I wouldn't have known wear to start and the bilingual staff were really dedicated.

From talking with other teachers, it seems that every teaching job is different. I got lucky and really liek my school. I have a whole classroom and high tech facilities to myself- however, I didn't have a clue how to use any of them when I arrived to figuring it out was a challenge. I have creative license to teach my own syllabus, and I really enjoy that, but I have no collaboration with my Korean co teachers so I rely heavily on the expat online community and it really helps.

The expat community is really tight here, people need each other, so making friends wasn't difficult. There is always someone about to grab dinner or coffee with or have a moan about stuff- which is needed sometimes.

The great thing about Korea is that public transport is so cheap and efficient, so getting about at the weekends is easy. But, learning to read Hanguel and speaking some Korean is essential to getting by. Like knowing which town you're headed to on the bus (many of them look and sound very similar, and I have found meself at the wrong end of the country before!). I learnt Korean at a free language exchange programme and once I could read Hanguel, I found that life became so much easier, and it's really not as difficult as it may seem!

The downside is that school can feel a bit isolating at times, as you will be the only native english speaker in public schools. I found that really making an effort with my colleagues helped me to feel more at home. I'm in my second teaching year and still get a buzz out of new food and visiting new places. It's worth the effort in the beginning in making new friends and putting yourself out there in learning new skills.

First, let me say that this program provided me with my first opportunity to travel outside the U.S. and for that I am truly grateful. Second, Greenheart's application/interview process was thorough and efficient. Third,the TLG staff here in Georgia are always working for and communicating with their volunteers.
TLG placed me with a great host family. They really listen to you when you have specific issues, mine was smoking, and they found me a non-smoking family. I'm with a couple and their 12 year old son. His mother teaches Georgian and I teach in his English glass. In a happy coincidence he is obsessed with martial arts in which I have an extensive background. Almost every Friday the boys have a San Da (Chinese freestyle sparring) class, which I attend.
The village that I'm in is about 3 hours drive west from Tblisi. Nestled in the Lesser Caucasus' it is absolutely beautiful here, especially now that Spring has arrived. I'm from Southern New Jersey (highest point 232 ft. above sea level) so the terrain here is very different to say the least. I really enjoy hiking in the surrounding mountains, and I'm fitter now than I have been in years.
Teaching here is difficult sometimes, with few resources, cold in the winter, power outages and unruly children but the challenges are truly what make it worth coming here. And I'll be honest I have not come up with many grand solutions to the problems we face here, but every day I try to the best I can.

I'd say more but I have to go to school now.

TLG offers you a chance to immerse yourself in Georgian society, to experience the ups and downs of this country and to really be a part of the local scene. As a teacher at a local school you will quickly become known in your community and people will be very happy to invite you to cultural events, parties or celebrations. The hospitality of Georgia is immense, from the teachers who give you small gifts, to the random strangers who invite you for khinkali (Meaty ravioli) and Chacha (spirit made from grape residues). The teaching is varied and as challenging as you want it to be, you can stimulate the school with extra lessons, fun after-school activities or even field trips. The salary is more than competitive and the living conditions (vary a great deal) are mostly comfortable and enjoyable. So get involved in this project, I have been here for 8 months and I can't get enough of Georgia. The Greenheart program gave me advice and sound support throughout my time pre-departure and during the program.

Teaching in South Korea was a wonderful decision and has given me experiences I never could have imagined. Although navigating the language and customs was and is a bit difficult, Korea is an easy place to become accustomed to and has plenty to offer expats. It's extremely easy to travel all over the country via the bus and train system, the food is fantastic, there are many opportunities to learn the language and the country as a whole is very English friendly.

In terms of teaching, most schools provide plenty of guidance and support. Personally I was put in an apartment that was bigger and nice than I imagined, in a great neighborhood and near many other foreign teachers. The staff was welcoming, my students are great, and I had plenty of resources to work with. I'm very happy I made the decision to teach in Korea.