Georgia, the land of the Golden Fleece, has been a cultural and commercial crossroads since the Neolithic Age. Located in the region known as the Caucasus, Georgia borders the Black Sea in the west; the Russian republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia in the north; and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in the south.

Between the fifth millennium B.C. and modern times, Georgia experienced numerous invasions and migrations from both the west and the east. Early on, Georgia was dominated culturally and politically by Greece and Persia. The Caucasus region was conquered by the Romans in 66 A.D. and remained under Roman control for 400 years. The Byzantine Empire also exerted a strong cultural influence, as did Islam with the invasions of the Arabs in the seventh century.

Alaverdi Cathedral, Kakheti - Photo courtesy of tbilisipastimes.com

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Georgia experienced a Golden Age of cultural, political and military ascendancy. This period came to an end in the 14th century with the invasions of the Mongols and the Persians. Russia annexed Georgia in 1801 and maintained control until 1918 when Georgia broke from Russia to form an independent state. However, in 1921 the Red Army invaded and Georgia became part of the Soviet Union.

In 1936 Georgia was recognized as one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union; however, it had little opportunity for self-rule. Under Stalin, a Georgian by birth, Georgian citizens experienced harsh repression of their rights and freedoms.

During the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia declared itself an independent state once again. In 1992 Georgia became a member of the United Nations and in 1995 Georgia's constitution was adopted and presidential elections were held. Today, although Georgia still faces many economic, political, and social challenges, it is an independent nation with a proud history and a rich culture.

Kazbegi - Photo courtesy of tbilisipastimes.com

Georgia, about the size of West Virginia, is a land of high mountain ranges, including the Greater Caucasus range in the north and the Lesser Caucasus range in the south that runs parallel to the Turkish and Armenian borders. The alpine zone begins at about 6,300 feet and snow and ice are present year-round above 11,000 feet. In the west, along the Black Sea, there is a dominant subtropical climate that features high humidity and heavy precipitation, while the eastern mountainous area has a drier and more continental climate. The average summer temperatures range from 20°C to 24°C and the average winter temperatures range from 2°C to 4°C.

Georgia has a population of nearly five million people, slightly over 70 percent of whom are ethnically Georgian. It is also home to ethnic Armenians, Russians, Azeri, Ossetian, and Abkhaz. Though largely a Christian country, with 85 percent of the population following some form of Christianity, Georgia also has a large Muslim minority.

Georgian hospitality is well-known and guests are honored and respected. Friendship is highly valued, and those with many friends are seen as having character of high merit. Fulbrighters have often taken notice of the hospitable character of the Georgians. One grantee commented that his hosts "went out of their way to make [him] feel welcomed and at home." Fulbright Scholars report being invited to lectures and institution events by their university colleagues, as well as dinners and supras (Georgian feasts).

Feasts are a large part of Georgian hospitality and Georgian cuisine is as unique as its people. Traditional Georgian dishes include Badradzhani, eggplant topped with walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds; Khachapuri, the famous Georgian cheese bread; and Madame Bovari, meat, potato, tomatoes and mayonnaise baked in a cast iron dish. No matter the dish, the beans, cheeses and breads of Georgia are always renowned. Though Georgian dishes borrow from other countries, the mix of eastern and western flavors result in extraordinary original creations.

Tbilisi State University - Photo courtesy of www.angelfire.com

The Fulbright Scholar Program has been active in Georgia for over ten years. Since 1993 there have been 18 U.S. Fulbright Scholars to Georgia in a variety of fields that include: linguistics, public administration, political science, law, business administration, arts management, archeology and public health.

Former Fulbrighters have used the word "unpredictable" when describing life in Georgia. Teaching in Georgia requires grantees to adjust their social and professional expectations. Fulbrighters often return from abroad with remarkable stories and positive attitudes toward their experiences. Frequently, grantees are able to see how they were able, even in small ways, to effect change. One scholar, who mentioned having problems with constant class interruptions, stated that his "greatest compliment was when one of the students in the class became annoyed enough to get up and lock the door." Another scholar who experienced troubles with class attendance added that he was able to develop a core group of students who became devoted enough to attend every class without fail. Even with the challenges, Fulbrighters will tell you that they "loved (the experience)."

Below please find links to sites that provide information we hope will be valuable to you in learning more about working and living in Georgia.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi

Home page of the American Embassy in Georgia - www.usembassy.ge/

The Georgian Embassy in Washington, DC - www.georgiaemb.org/Home.asp
The Parliament of Georgia - www.parliament.ge/
Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations - www.un.int/georgia/
The Press Office of the President of Georgia - www.president.gov.ge/
Georgian Search Engine - www.internet.ge/en/
The Library of Congress Information Page on Georgia - http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/getoc.html
The CIA World Fact Book - Georgia - www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gg.html

Georgia Tourism Information - www.iexplore.com/dmap/Georgia+(Caucasus)/The+Essentials
Borjomi-Kharagaul National Park - www.borjomi-kharagauli-np.ge/
Lonely Planet - www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/georgia/

EurasiaNet - www.eurasianet.org/resource/georgia/index.shtml
Kvali Online- News on Georgia from foreign sources - www.kvali.com/kvali/index.asp?obiektivi=show
Rustavi2 Broadcasting Company - www.rustavi2.com.ge/index.php
Sarke Information Agency - www.sarke.com/

American-Georgian Business Council - www.agbdc.com
Georgian Business Links - www.eurasianet.org/resource/georgia/links/business.shtml

The Culture of Georgia - www.cac-biodiversity.org/geo/geo_culture.htm
The Georgian Museum of Photography - www.photomuseum.org.ge/index_en.htm
The Georgian Cultural Heritage Information Center - www.heritage.ge/
Georgian Folk Dances: http://members.tripod.com/~ninog/dances.htm

Tbilisi State University - www.tsu.edu.ge
International Black Sea University - http://www.ibsu.edu.ge/
Sulkhan Saba Orbeliani Tbilisi State Pedagogical University - www.saba.edu.ge
Tbilisi Institute of Asia and Africa - www.tiaa.edu.ge/
The Georgian Institute of Public Affairs - www.gipa.ge/