Outside of Georgia’s big cities, English and Russian aren’t always spoken. If you’ve ever dared to venture away from the tourist path, then you’ll probably have encountered the issue of not being able to communicate with the people you meet. Being unable to tell people exactly what you need can often be frustrating, but you should take it instead as an exciting challenge that won’t necessarily hinder your experience with new people! Modern technologies like Google Translate are sometimes great in this regard, but languages like Georgian are poorly translated and often only result in frustration. Should you wish to take the leap into strange communication territory, the Where.ge team has prepared our 6 tips for you on how to have not just a basic conversation, but to stay on the safe side when you can’t use speech.

1. Use your hands.

People sometimes recognize what you mean if you can mime it. Try describing what you mean using your hands and sometimes other body parts. If you want to try wine, mime opening a bottle and drinking from a glass. If you want to go horse-riding, pretend to be riding a horse.

2. Sometimes words are the same, just with a different accent.

If you can’t get the word across with hand movements, try saying it slowly, in a Georgian accent and adding ‘ee’ on the end.

3. Don’t overload people with words.

Work out what the key words of the sentence are and only use those. There’s nothing worse than a strange foreigner talking at you with a stream of uninterpretable sound and you’re sure to lose their concentration doing so. For example, instead of saying ‘I need to find an ATM’, try saying ‘I…ATM,’ and throw some mimes in there of using your bank card. You’ll be amazed how effective this is.

4. Speak slowly and clearly.

There’s always a chance that they will understand some of what you are saying, but if you say it too quickly then that chance is lost. Put emphasis on important words and it will increase engagement.

5. Giving example answers to a question you would like to ask can help.

If you are asking how old someone is, try saying ‘I am (age),’ while making the number with your fingers. Then point to them for their answer. This has never failed us.

6. Don’t take the answer that you are expecting to hear.

Often, people will say ‘yes’ or smile and nod at what you say. This is because they are being polite, when really, they have no idea what you’ve said. Be wary of this, especially when asking directions!

Most importantly with these points, see it as a fun part of your adventure. You’ll be surprised at how much you can talk about without common language and before long you’ll realize you have learned enough to begin speaking. Going off the beaten track where tourists don’t usually go does have its advantages: you’ll meet real local people and their families, try their homemade food and wine, and get the chance to discover the ‘real’ Georgia.