no smoking!!

I smoked for almost 15 years... Tonight I just finished the 4th night without a single cigarette...

Of course like majority of smokers ( not all but most! ) I have been thinking, trying, talking about quitting for many years... Had a couple of attempts but always came back to the start for some reason... Well not a reason but more of an excuse... And the fact that I ‘loved’ the habbit L

This time – the only difference is I did not prepare myself. It was a usual day at work and while we were ‘chatting’ I came up with the topic –again - regarding my desire to quit smoking.  One of my colleague said ‘ you can and you should!’ a few commented ‘no way! She can never quit’ others ‘of course she can! All she needs to do is to decide’

All of a sudden I realized – my habit was discussed as if I was not there... It sort of gave me a chance to see how much I had gained trust within my team. Some seemed to have total faith in me while others obviously still had some questions...

‘I will quit on the 27th’ – As if I wanted to end the conversation. Why 27th? I have no idea... As days passed by – one of my team member seemed to take my decision so seriously that she reminded 27th to me on a almost daily basis... Days flew quickly and on the 26th while I was on my way for a smoke break her voice whispered ‘you know what date tomorrow is right?’ – The day had come... So who would win the debate... Would I really quit? Was I serious? Or was it a NO WAY! for me?...

Tonight I just finished the 4th night without a single cigarette... ( Thank you Tamuna for the support - thank you Zubin and Su for hiding the ash trays at home :))) )

Do I have any suggestions? Well not suggestions but here is a short summary of my last 4 days:

•          First day was the day of denial! Was I really doing this? Every time I wanted to smoke I drank a glass of water. I suppose I drank like 5 lt that day! It was not easy
•           2nd day was better – but I still avoided places of ‘influence’ such as restaurants, bars etc ( smoking is allowed ‘almost’ everywhere in Georgia ) 
•      3rd day I was brave – went out to a restaurant with team and the whole table was smoking around me ( well almost all table – at least it felt like it )
•            Today – I am fine... Started to notice smokers less – enjoying the fresh air at my house and feeling that I can breathe easier...

So I will try not to go back to this bad habbit!!  As below video shows it seriously damage the health!! J

Arrivals

The new airport building gives a fresh, modern look to Georgia however the old airport building - which I used back in 2006 on my first visit to Georgia - is still there, not used anymore but still salutes you next to the new airport building as if a reminder of the old days...

Arrivals:

Very easy and user friendly  - There are 3 jetty’s at the airport so if you are arriving to Tbilisi at night – there is a high possibility for you to be transported to the airport with a bus. Very small airport so I never felt confused or worried whenever I arrive to Tbilisi. After immigration turn right and after a very short escalator journey – you are at arrivals baggage hall – clear from customs and the below picture will welcome you while you pass the sliding door.

                                     

The train terminal –which is supposed to connect air to land - is another modern look to the entrence of the counrty however  – it is not used effectively only 4 trains a day. If you happen to get a train it will take you to the central railway station of Tbilisi with an approx 20 min ride.

The train schedule is from airport to Tbilisi is:

08:30 – 13:50 – 18:05 – 22:25

You can also use the bus or a taxi upon arrival. Buses are quite frequent but a longer ride to the city center with 0,50 gel like the train.

The taxi’s – now that is an adventure! You need to negotiate with drivers in Georgia before taking a ride. They recently changed the taxi’s at the arrival of the airport to new modern cars with a taximeter fitted in them.Make sure you speak to the driver to ensure they either open the taximeter or negotiate a fixed price to the city center. The approx price to city center should be around max 20 GEL. If they seem to request more from you – you may try your luck with the taxi’s who are dropping off customers.

So welcome to Tbilisi – to the city that loves you...  

The Decision

Decisions – especially life changing decisions never seem to turn out as planned. 

Maybe that’s the beauty of it – if you are prepared for the challenge!

Marriage, changing country are just a couple of ‘life changers’ that support the  above observation. Relationships for example – with your family, life partner or friends are not as they are shown in movies J. They are like a heart beat – ups and downs but never a flatline. So these ups and downs makes you feel alive. If you live with a pattern of a flatline = you have no colour in your life...

My first months here were more of a down – not in a disaster way but can be described more as an unlucky experience. I had to live in a hotel room with 5 days in Tbilisi and 2 days back in Ankara for about 3 months. I didn’t know those were my good days back then... Finding a house in Tbilisi was more challenging than I expected. For those who are planning to move to Georgia – I will post a topic on my experience later – I moved twice in 6 months so I do feel I have a word or two on this...

With having such a hectic travel schedule in the beginning I still feel I couldn’t say a proper good-bye to my family and friends. I guess this is one part that didn’t go as planned – I was hoping to have more time to say good-bye to my loved one’s. I did promise that I would travel quite a lot – at least do a weekend in Ankara each month considering we are neighbour Countries and flight’s are easy to catch. However this didn’t turn out as planned as well... I could not travel back to my hometown for the last 3 months. So lesson one – do not promise unless you are sure you can keep them...

While writing this – I stopped a moment to think if there are any regrets on my decision to move to Tbilisi. I have a feeling there are some – cannot really describe exactly what they are but I have some that I hope I will discover through this blog as well... However there are so many other things this city have offered me that covers these regrets and turn them into the salt and pepper of this experience.

I know I will never say  ‘I wish I had moved’ – ‘I wish I had tried’ instead I agree to the lyrics of ‘no regrets’

No regrets they don’t work...

The question

Of course that was the question when I was offered to be posted to Tbilisi....

I had applied for a promotion which required a 2 days maraton of several phases. I had to pass group discussions, had to prepare business cases and reports, go through roleplays where I had to handle ‘challenging’ employees. At the end of the first day – we were asked to wait in our hotel rooms for a call to be either invited to the next phase which was the ‘board interview’ or to be sent back home with the first available flight. I arrived to my room at around 15:00 and the call would be after 17:00. Longest 2 hours in my life... At 17:00 I was literally sitting on my bed with the phone on my lap.

17:05 – no call

17:28 – still no call...

17:40 – as soon as the phone rang I answered

‘Dear Seda – we are pleased....’

I didn’t hear much of the rest of the voice on the other side of the line!! I also just heard ‘please check your e-mail / interview details will be sent to your address’

I had passed the first day!! I didn’t blink my eye that night. My mind was full of questions ( as always – part of being a woman I guess – questions – questions – questions!! )

What if I had failed?

What if I would fail the next day?

What if I pass and they post me to a place that we would not be happy to live in? ( I had to think of my better half of course... What if my husband would hate the idea of moving although he had supported my application? )

What if I pass???

Next morning – I was so tired but was somewhat calm. As soon as I entered the interview room – I knew I would pass. Don’t ask me how – I just knew it!

And so I did – I had wished for Tbilisi... The wish came true... 

But I still had the same question on my mind

The Idea

The blog idea came up when I realized how challenging it has been for me to start-up a new life in Tbilisi. I had the luxury to go online and check for information and there are couple of blogs as well as some useful websites but none helped me find a house or find the supermarket I could shop in or which cafe I would like... So of course there were no information on what would become my ‘life habbits’ here.

Also the main issues on my mind where – what language would I use ( I am Turkish ), what would I post, would anyone even read the blog and why do I want to start a blog anyway! But here I am 05:40 am in the morning writing my 2nd post.

A special salute to my landlord - Iako - and my 2 amazing Iranian friends – Zubin & Su - whom I have met recently. These fellows below have encouraged me to start my own blog J

Gamarjoba!

I just checked my passport exactly 1 year ago I came to Tbilisi to see my possible new adventure. I have changed my life so many times – I had a feeling this would be just another phase of my life. Another chapter – another page... Until a new one comes up...

So at the anniversary of my arrival to Tbilisi I finally decided to start my blog. You may say this is out of ‘loneliness among the crowd’ or ‘sharing the experience’ or you may take it as a ‘travel’ or ‘city’ blog. I leave that part to you because I do not want to limit my writing into a ‘theme’. This is all about my Tbilisi...