HWS News
3 July 2025 Fulbright-Hays Award Immerses Students in Georgian Culture
A seven-week summer program takes students to Georgia where homestays, language study and personal research provide contrast to the U.S. and deepen learning.
This summer, HWS students are discovering the unique opportunity offered by a seven-week program in Georgia–-a country small in size but vast in cultural, political, linguistic and geographic diversity.
Led by Associate Professor and Chair of Russian Area Studies David Galloway P’23 and Associate Professor of Economics Keoka Grayson, the intensive seminar includes language instruction and cultural immersion, based in the city of Kutaisi in central-western Georgia. Students not only study the Georgian language--a rare and ancient tongue spoken by approximately four million people--but also live with host families, engage in weekly excursions and participate in community life.
The seminar, “Modern Georgia: Politics, Economy, Culture,” which runs through July, is funded by the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad, a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Russian Area Studies Program applied for the grant, the eighth of a series first awarded to HWS in 2005. Beyond HWS, the cohort includes students from Syracuse, Rochester and other institutions.
For Kelly Howe ’26, a forward on the Herons ice hockey team, the short-term program works well with her academic and athletics schedules. “As an international relations major, I have been waiting for an opportunity to be abroad,” says Howe, noting she intends to continue research that she began last summer on knowledge production and how stories are told.
Georgia
During weekend excursions, the students will experience Georgia’s layered regional identities through traditional winemaking in Kakheti to the ancient churches of Mtskheta.
“One of our goals, especially with Georgia, given the diversity of different landscapes in such a small country, is to get students to see the country,” Galloway says. “They’ll see the Upper Caucasus mountains, the Black Sea coast, the capital city Tbilisi, the south, the east—it gives them a full perspective on how geography influences culture and tradition.”
Galloway says the program prioritizes Georgian language learning as a demonstration of respect. “There’s this assumption in international programs that unless you're reaching fluency, it's not worth the effort,” says Galloway. “But we see language learning as a signal of cultural appreciation. Even learning a few phrases communicates that you value the people and their identity. And with three hours of language class each weekdays, students will learn much more than a few phrases: the intensive instruction covers much of what is needed to hold their own in basic conversation with Georgians.”
Grayson points out that in Georgia, language reflects the country’s politics and culture. Common expressions in Georgian, even in simple greetings, convey the country’s experience, she says. “Hello” stems from the word “victory,” for example, and shows how wishing someone victory is a sign of solidarity. “Good morning” literally means “morning of peace.” It too reflects the country’s political challenges.
At the end of the program, students will present projects to their host families, teachers and university leaders in Kutaisi. “We want the students to give something back,” says Galloway. “It’s not about perfection; it’s about sincere engagement.”
Ultimately, the HWS summer program in Georgia offers more than scenic views or academic credits—it cultivates humility, curiosity and cross-cultural understanding, he says.
“In a world where travel can sometimes feel extractive,” Galloway reflects, “This [program] is about reciprocity. It’s about meeting people on their terms, learning their language, and showing that we value who they are.”
Top: Students gather for a picture in front of the Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi, Georgia.
