My fascination for the Caucasus region began on my first journey to Georgia as an SRAS student in 2022. The atmosphere immediately drew me in, and the day trip to Svaneti was enough of a glimpse of the mountains for me to know that this area was a hiker’s paradise.
Fast forward another year – I was graduating from UNC Chapel Hill with a double major: a B.S. in Political Science and a B.A. in Music. I had my 65 liter backpack packed by the door, ready to spend 3 months traveling and hiking through the Caucasus, one month in each country. I remember how excited and nervous I was as the plane approached Baku, Azerbaijan on the far eastern edge of the Caucasus. To be honest, I knew barely anything about Azerbaijan at the time. For the first couple days in the city, I helped my hostel staff assemble new furniture, mostly for the fun of it and to become better friends with the staff. We made shashlik barbeque in the evenings. I then had my first multi-day hike on the Transcaucasian Trail in the northern Guba and Gusar regions, and I’ll never forget the gorgeous scenery, peaceful remoteness, and the villagers’ kindness. One babushka that I met along the way knit me a pair of slippers, and more than two years later I still wear them. This hike was also where I randomly met Meagan Neal, Executive Director of the Transcaucasian Trail (TCT) Project. We’re still friends to this day, and I’m also very happy to be part of the TCT Hiker’s Board where we advise hikers venturing out onto the trail. I also wrote about my treks through the Caucasus mountains for SRAS in hopes of inspiring others to embark on similar adventures.
After my 2023 summer exploring the Caucasus, I abandoned all ideas of “settling down” and spent the next 6 months on the road, traveling across many countries in North Africa and Europe. My goal was to gain first-hand knowledge (“real education” so to speak) of the world and people’s lifestyles. On top of that, I did not quite feel at home in the US. My Bulgarian heritage, love for small and walkable cities, and preference for a slower pace of life were constantly pulling at me. I wanted to find a lifestyle and a place where I felt at home, so I kept traveling until I felt satisfied.
Some memories I formed along the way included helping a family renovate their home in the Swiss countryside, enjoying a sandwich while watching a majestic sunset from atop Romanian mountains, volunteering at an animal shelter in Tunisia, sleeping under the stars in the Moroccan desert, trying Dutch stroopwafels for the first time, and forming many lasting friendships. I believe my journey and goals were successful in the end – home is the place where your heart belongs, and it seems I may have found more than one. For hiking, my home will always be the Caucasus, particularly Armenia. At the same time, I have formed the most friendships and fallen in love with the charming cities in The Netherlands, which I have visited almost 10 times in the past two years.
I lived in Sofia, Bulgaria for the remainder of 2024 with my grandparents. My parents immigrated to the US before I was born, but I still visited my grandparents and relatives over summers and winter holiday breaks as a child. I sometimes wonder if this was the reason I did not feel quite at home in the US. It felt like part of me, my culture and heritage, was so far away. 2024 was the most extended period of time I stayed in Sofia. I was able to engage in holidays that I hadn’t before, explore new parts of the country on my own, and actually “live” in Sofia.
I took time the summer of 2024 to work at a language camp in Switzerland, which was my first job post-graduation. After that, I started my current position with SRAS as Outreach Coordinator while still living in Sofia, and it felt like a dream come true. I love working with students, networking, and traveling – and with this job, I get to do it all. I spend a lot of time on the road, visiting college campuses for study abroad fairs, meeting students in classes, and checking in with SRAS partners and friends across the US.
Study abroad is hugely impactful, opens doors, and creates memories. It means a lot to be a part of that journey for other students and to introduce them to incredible parts of the world and opportunities to learn and grow personally.
Over the summer of 2025, I spent time with SRAS students studying in Latvia, Poland, Georgia, and Armenia, and for program travel in Azerbaijan. Nothing made me happier than seeing students smile, learn, and engage in new cultures. One of my favorite memories was when our tour guide’s mother taught the Crossroads students how to make local Azerbaijani qutab (filled flatbread) and then wouldn’t let us leave the house until our hands were full of fresh fruits and cookies. Often I see students abroad whose classes I had visited on my US university trips, or I see past SRAS students in the US and how excited they are to tell their fellow classmates about their time abroad. My US geography has certainly improved with how many university campuses I have visited!
I have also continued to explore the TCT trail network in the Caucasus. During July 2025, I hiked in the remote Gegham Mountain Range, which was my most grueling undertaking to date. The Caucasus Mountains have become synonymous with nostalgia for me, and every time I return to the region I search for new ways to challenge myself on the trail. Working with SRAS has allowed me to keep my passion for hiking and exploring alive, and to then share my journey with our students!
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