This is Part Five of our ‘Living in Tbilisi’ interview series with expat parents. My interviewee is the first real friend I made when I moved to Tbilisi (no easy feat as a mum in their 40s!), and this week she is heading back to live in the UK after 5 years of being in Georgia. I will miss her and her family (and her dry, British humour) terribly, but thankfully, they own a house here and will be back during school holidays.
Jessica | British | Full-time mum
1. When did you arrive in Georgia?
We first arrived in Georgia in August 2021.
2. How many children do you have and what are their ages?
We have one child she was 2 when we arrived (Editor’s note: her daughter is now 8 years’ old)
3. What was your reason for moving here?
We wanted a better quality of life and to be able to spend more time together.
4. What surprised you most about living in Georgia?
How the people love children. The Georgian people have a passion for Georgia.
The economy is very different.
5. Which neighbourhood in Tbilisi do you love the most, and why?
Vake - the cosy feeling, the park and all the coffee places, Old Tbilisi- it is so so so pretty, Saburtalo - everything is there.
6. What are your kids’ favourite activities in Tbilisi?
Being with friends and Gino paradisio. City Mall trampolines.
7. What does a “typical” week look like for your family?
A lot of activities, lots of eating out, a lot of Bolt and Wolt and transport.
8. Why do you think that Tbilisi is a good place to raise children?
Children are welcomed like a gift not like an inconvenience.
9. Is there anything from your home country that expats shouldn’t expect to find here?
Marmite? Capitalist mindset?
10. Any services you’d like to see for English-speaking expat families in Tbilisi?
General get togethers would be nice, picnics etc.
11. Any advice for newly arrived or prospective expat parents looking to move to Tbilisi?
Get Bolt and use it at the airport.
12. Where is your favourite place to spend time as a family in Tbilisi?
Radisson, Gino Paradisio, Marriot and Georgian restaurants.
One of their “community dogs” admiring the view from Kojori.
