We have more in common than you could expect
When I first landed in Tbilisi, Georgia, my first impression was neither negative nor positive. As an exchange student, I was in the mood for adventure and everything seemed interesting and so incredibly different from my home in Vilnius, Lithuania. But that was only for the first few days while I was travelling around the country before classes started. I was studying in Tbilisi State University, the oldest university in the country, and was fortunate to meet inspiring young people who left me with the strongest of memories.
One day in mid-November, I ended up attending a university event where Georgian students were holding a meeting with EU officials and US diplomats. In general, the event was like any other, but it stayed grounded in my memory. The young people were concerned by what their country could do to get closer to the West, closer to the European Union. I was struck most by the weight of individual responsibility carried by the students. There were no remarks as to what politicians ought to do in order to speed up the EU integration process. Instead, it was about what young people could do to become members of European society. As may be expected, the discussion was also dedicated to the foreseen benefits of getting closer to the EU, such as visa free travel, which was, incidentally, granted a few days ago.
At that very moment, I became aware that I have never truly realized the privileges I possess as a citizen of the European Union. Seeing the wonderful and bright-minded young people who don’t necessarily have this luxury made me think that many of my counterparts back home, who haven’t had this eye-opening experience, don’t realise this either. Before coming to Georgia, I also had the chance to do an Erasmus exchange in Budapest as a result of Lithuania’s membership of the European Union, which made the application process simple and straightforward. This experience convinced me that the EU offers a great deal of possibilities for self-discovery and development. It brings nations and people closer to each other by offering different opportunities, be they educational or cultural.
Getting back to my experience in Georgia, I believe young people there are no different from their counterparts in the European Union. We hold the same aspirations and dreams. I want to travel the world and so do they; I want to study and meet new people and so do they. The majority of young people already cherish European values, condemn corruption and work hard to increase their country’s prosperity. All the same, I was pleasantly surprised by the extent to which traditions are still deeply rooted in the minds of young Georgian people. Many know how to prepare traditional dishes, dance incredibly beautiful traditional dances and are proud of their heritage. This was inspiring to me as I hadn’t witnessed this as much throughout my travels in Europe: the ability to combine aspirations for closer integration with the EU with the desire to save the things that are precious to their country. The young people in Georgia seemed forced by no one but their heart to bring their country closer to the EU whilst still being proud of who they are.
The EU actively tries to strengthen its ties with neighboring countries by providing opportunities for both sides and changing the daily lives of so many people like myself. I think my positive experience in Georgia is one of the results of the EU’s partnership with the Eastern Neighbourhood countries, which has given young people the chance to connect with each other and discover how alike they may actually be.
Rita Jonušaitė
24 years old, Lithuania