‘nina in Tbilisi 🇬🇪
Tags: Travel, Digital Nomads, Blog, Designer, Remote Work

Tbilisi Time

I feel I’m writing this post somewhat with a Tbilisi time mindset. I went for a morning run today at 10 am (Yes that’ like 8 am Tbilisi time ;) Early and late is perceived differently here.

Although I went for a morning run today earlier this week I was running at night. Totally unreal. It felt like I was “Emily in Paris” however I’m not Emily and this isn’t Paris and I’m not in a Netflix production but it sure felt pretty close to it! “I’m ‘Nina and this is Tbilisi.”

If you know me — I’m an early wake up kinda gal and going to bed when kids go to bed. Honestly, I thought I chose that routine. I soon realised my environment played the biggest role in that routine.

In SA I usually went to bed early cause you know you either end up watching Netflix or work till late. Plus you want to wake up early to get active. It makes sense you are most predominantly at home when its dark. You want to enjoy as much of the sun when it rises in the morning.

Here you go to bed late because you can be active, run be social and out at dark. Places close late too which makes it easy and convenient to do all these things till late. So yes your environment might change your routine — and that’s okay I still work, get to be active and social — and much less Netflix.

A note on safety

This was my first run here and running in the night might seem like a non-event. Well, let me tell you it’s not. Coming from the 3rd unsafest country to the 4th safest country in the world (2020 stats) you don’t go out after dark and as a female that’s not even a thought. You could say we always had an unofficial curfew. So YES! this is a big deal — running by myself in the dark mind blown🤯

I don’t think I will ever not be a little careful. It’s been homegrown for over 30 years. Case and point. When a car drove by I thought it might be following me. When I saw a carton box on the sidewalk I thought there might be a homeless person who is going to harass me. When there is no one in the street I kept on looking over my shoulder to make sure no one is going to grab me. Right, so I won’t’ be totally irresponsible but I can definitely ease up a bit.

I can only speak for where I lived and my experiences. I wouldn’t have guessed South Africa is the 3rd unsafest country in the world. To be totally honest I only found that out as I wrote this post. I remember thinking twice if I want to wear jewellery because it’s much easier (safe) to just not wear it. I knew it wasn’t the safest and you have to be more observant and careful but it’s not that bad or so I keep telling myself.

I won’t say you can ever become used to the crime but you seem to justify it in some unconscious ways. Ever heard when someone’s phone or laptop get stolen we justify the crime by saying things like you should’ve known better why did you walk with your phone/laptop where it can be seen. The reality is you gotta be safe by keeping safe and what I mentioned above you definitely shouldn’t do.

Why am I bringing this up because I never thought of crime until I didn't experience it anymore. It’s funny how that happens like when you always had peanut butter for breakfast on your oats and now I seem to think about it everytime I have breakfast and honestly I should stop thinking about it my oats is great I don’t need it.