Traveling through Georgia was a deeply transformative experience for me. Before this trip, I often felt angry about having been born in Turkey and witnessing the state the country has come to; I used to see it as one of the worst places to live. However, after visiting Georgia, I found myself feeling strangely grateful for not being a young Georgian.

It is an intensely religious country, dominated by rigid social norms - sexuality, for instance, is a complete taboo.

One of the most surprising things I noticed was that nearly all the young men my age had shaved their heads down to a number three cut. I felt like I was in the military. I asked around and did some research: there’s a strong cultural belief that men must appear clean, serious, and tough. Since this haircut is also low-maintenance and inexpensive, it has become a norm. They all looked eerily alike - it was both unsettling and deeply sad.

Strangely, despite everything, women in this country seemed to enjoy more freedom in certain ways. Of course, there are still pervasive ideas about women needing to be “pure” and “virtuous.” It’s pitiful. Women also desire, they also seek connection. The repression of this across so many countries only serves to accelerate moral decay.

Most women are housewives, and men are the breadwinners. A student cannot study independently without financial support from their parents - or without working themselves. Even if they do work, the maximum they can earn is around $90 per month. 90 dollars! Because many start working at a very young age, most cannot speak English.

A large part of the country lives in poverty. Even traveling just to experience culture is a luxury for many Georgian youth. I learned all of this from a young man I spoke with for half an hour in the street. And I realized - 

even dreaming is a matter of class.