Speaking of Georgia: The Life of a Crypto Media SMM Manager in Tbilisi

It didn’t take us long to find our heroes — most of our editorial staff, the CoinsPaid team, and many crypto experts we regularly work with gladly responded, telling us what their move to another country was like. Read about the reasons, cultural specifics, and things to pay attention to in our materials. 

Olga, the SMM Manager at CoinsPaid Media, is engaged in the project’s social networks helping subscribers keep on top of news and interesting articles from the latest media developments. She is the very bridge between the editorial board and readers who are keen on the topics of cryptocurrencies, blockchain, NFTs, and other industry trends. Olga moved from Vitebsk to Tbilisi in September 2021. 

“Actually, my job played a big role in my decision to relocate. I decided to be closer to the team since part of the editorial staff is based in Georgia. We have a gathering point here for people from different countries involved in the media process. So, I associate Georgia with my work. I feel more at home when I go back to Belarus. My family is nearby, I am more focused on myself and my feelings. And in the office in Georgia, I become a specialist with goals and challenges. I get a sense of my contribution and involvement in the project. So, I agreed to relocate in order to deepen and concentrate on my work, and get more experience. As a bonus, I got the chance to explore a whole new country and get away from winter.” 

As Olga admits, she doesn’t have much experience working in different teams, so she needs to be near her colleagues: “We are a friendly and highly professional team. It’s a pleasure to work with everyone, to know that your colleagues will help you 100% and teach you if you don’t know something essential. Our environment is as favorable as possible, just like life here in Georgia. I’m really glad to be a part of CoinsPaid Media.” 

The company arranged a flight for Olga and has been assisting with accommodation funding throughout the year. Recently, there have been difficulties with banking services in Belarus and Russia due to sanctions, but the company has enough options to find a convenient way for its employees to receive their salaries. 

“We have a new rubric on YouTube where we talk about how different countries treat cryptocurrencies. It’s called Crypto Pilgrims. The first episode is dedicated to Georgia, in which you can find answers to all your potential questions. Crypto wallets are used everywhere here, and crypto ATMs are located in stores. By the way, the Central Bank of Georgia recently announced the preparation of a legislative framework to regulate crypto. Everything is convenient and comfortable to use.”

Overall Impression 

“What I can share from culture shocks is that people don’t care about traffic rules in Tbilisi. If you need to cross the road urgently at any point, just go ahead. No one cares, and everyone makes the whole world wait for them. I feel kind of awkward standing at traffic signals and waiting for the light to turn green. I never thought I would feel uncomfortable about it.” 

More than anything, as Olga shares, she likes the local environment and the friendliness of all the people around her. 

“Nature is probably the first thing that pleases me right away: the mountains, the sea nearby, the mild winter. My second passion is food. Khachapuri is what I live for, I guess,” laughs Olga. “I like the cultural heritage of Georgia. I think people here are very patriotic and attached to their roots and history. When I lived in Belarus, I didn’t know my neighbors. I lived in the same house for 11 years, but I had no idea who lived in the next-door apartment. Here, in Tbilisi, my neighbors visit each other with great regularity. Everyone knows one another, chatting, sharing pies and goodies. They often gather on benches and spend time together in the yard. For the most part, it seems that the locals are more laid-back and positive. I’m talking mostly about the older generation. If we refer to young people in Minsk, for instance, they spend their time going to cafes, bars, clubs, and parties. However, the older generation has its own vibe. For example, in Tbilisi, when you go into a cafe you’ll see wine flowing like water and hear long Georgian toasts. Everyone is rejoicing and laughing. I mean, you could be a total stranger, and you’ll still be given a warm welcome. The people here are very hospitable to everyone, they take their time and enjoy life.” 

What to Be Prepared for When Coming to Georgia? 

Due to what’s going on in the world, there are more thorough security inspections at the entrance, and border guards require proof that you’re going to work. Documents proving your employment and the availability of your company’s office in Georgia, work invitations, rental confirmation or hotel reservations may come in handy. Be prepared that at the border, you will be asked uncomfortable questions related to the situation of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, especially if you have a Russian passport or are flying from a country that expresses support for such actions. Olga moved in September 2021, so there were no particular problems at the border. Just like there were no difficulties with opening a bank account, renting a house or obtaining medical services. 

“If we talk about various services and how they operate, Tbilisi has them all: food delivery 24/7, cabs, laundry, banking and other things. Upon arrival, I recommend going to the bank and setting up a local bank account. It is quite difficult to do this now if you don’t have documents confirming that you work for a Georgian employer. If weather conditions are good, you can connect to the Internet at home quickly. I would like to point out that in the city there are sometimes problems with the Internet, mobile communication and light. There are mountains all around, so you just have to get used to it.” 

According to Olga, the city is adapted to the fact that there are a lot of IT specialists, freelancers, and those working in-house. That’s why there are a lot of co-working spaces here. You can find them downtown and a little further away, both paid and free. Even some co-working spaces are created by hotels or cafes. 

“I should mention that many people, due to the situation in the world, don’t like this flow of people moving in. The locals are frustrated with prices going up. Professionals paid 2-3 times higher or even more than the average person in Tbilisi are moving to Georgia. Prices, based on all of these events, are extremely high both for apartments and groceries etc. I recently saw a post on social media: a restaurant in Batumi placed an announcement on the front door, saying if you come with your computer to work, you can spend an hour or less inside. In other words, don’t use this place to work without ordering food from the kitchen, because you’re just taking up space, outlets, and Wi-Fi.”

What About Vaccinations? 

The country is now preparing for summer and expects an even larger influx of tourists than usual. There was a curfew in Tbilisi last year due to the pandemic, but now it has been canceled. The country is open. To enter, you need to provide a PCR or a vaccination certificate. The government has recently eliminated the use of masks in the streets, but mask-wearing in public places remains. 

“There used to be a list of requirements: you had to be in the country for three months without leaving, or you had to have a sole proprietorship opened in the country. Those were the conditions for vaccinating non-residents of the country. Now anyone can get the vaccine, whether they live here or not. You don’t even need to make an online appointment, you simply call the national hospital and ask what hours you can come in and get your shot. Pfizer is usually the vaccine they give here. You ask about the hours and come in with your passport, that’s it.” 

Tips for Visitors: Where to Go, What to See 

Within a few months of living in Tbilisi, Olga discovered her own favorite places. For example, the Old Town: “I like walking all the way from Rustaveli Avenue to the Old Town, which I absolutely adore. If I need a distraction or a moment to myself, I always choose the same route. It has everything: first of all, interesting sights, and secondly, simply stunning streets, with old houses complete with carved balconies. I enjoy this atmosphere. There’s also the famous TV Tower in Tbilisi. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t look as pretty up close as it does from afar. As for the mountainous locations outside of Tbilisi, there’s Kazbegi. It’s not very far – you can take the day and drive to Ananuri, Gudauri, the Arch of Friendship on the Georgian Military Road, and Kazbegi. You will remember the sights for the rest of your life.” 

There are open positions available at CoinsPaid Media. If you’re looking for a job, you can check out the full list of specialists we’re currently recruiting at: https://jobs.eu.lever.co/coinspaid?department=&team=CoinsPaid%20Media