Things are going very well in Armenia. We’ve reached a milestone…we’re a little over halfway through pre-service training. We’ve got about 5 more weeks until we move to our permanent site. Our workload has gotten progressively bigger since we’ve been here. At first, we were able to focus mainly on the language; now we’re involved in organizing events, teaching lesson plans, and studying the Armenian education system. All of it is very fascinating and at the same time a bit overwhelming, but the Peace Corps does an amazing job helping us manage the time.
Last Friday we took our first language proficiency test. We were both told that our language skills are progressing well, but sometimes it feels a little slow. I have trouble with tenses. I can speak pretty well in the present tense, and the future tense is ok too, but the past is really giving me a difficult time. I’m learning how much we take communication for granted. At times, I struggle to verbalize the simplest words. But the struggle is definitely worth it when one of us is able to string together a full sentence that our host family can understand. It’s usually cause for a small celebration.
Here’s some big news...volunteer site announcements were a couple weeks ago and we finally know where we’ve been placed. I’m not sure if I should provide the specific location, but I will say that it’s a small city located in the northern part of the country. In fact, I am there right now. The Peace Corps lets us visit the site for a few days to meet our new host family and the counterparts that we’ll be working with. My suspicion about communication options was right; I should have much more reliable internet access in August once we move up here permanently.
Anyway, from what we’ve seen so far, I think we’re going to like our site placement. Our new host family is much different than our old one, but they are great. Even though we’re in a city, the landscape is very mountainous and the natural beauty of the area is equally, if not more impressive than our training village. However, there seems to be some pretty distinct differences between city and village life in Armenia. In our training village, everyone knows us, and it only took about a week for that to happen. It gives you a sense of belonging and security within a very short period of time. Here, I’m sure it will take much longer. But, the city is more accommodating in other ways…we’ll have running water 24 hours a day, there is a large market in walking distance from our house that is open all year round, and there are buses and taxis that leave from here to just about anywhere in the country.
Yesterday, Nicole and I met the English teachers that we’ll be working with. We won’t be in the same school together, so after some initial introductions, our counterparts took us to meet each of the school directors. This was one of the most nerve racking moments for us yet. But, overall, the day went pretty well. My school director was especially happy to see me. Lucky, I felt right at home with her. My counterpart does not speak much English, but that’s fine with me…I think I’ll have more opportunities to strengthen my Armenian that way. Nicole’s counterpart is pretty much fluent in English.
Well, I should probably stop rambling…here are a few scattered descriptions of things that we’ve done over the last few weeks that I think are worth mentioning. I tried to put the pictures that follow in the same order…
We visited Ejmiatzin…the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The first Armenian Church was built here in the fourth century…I think. It’s like the Armenian Vatican.
We went on a hike in a nearby village to a monastery built in the eleventh century. There are hundreds of monasteries like this one tucked away in remote forests or perched on top of rugged mountains. Apparently they were built like this in order to accommodate secluded monks and to provide pilgrimage opportunities for dedicated Christians.
Against my advice, Nicole befriended a homeless village dog. He follows us almost everywhere we go. Surprisingly, he behaves pretty well and Nicole really likes him. I’ve learned to like him too, although I think he might get us into trouble. The dog situation is much different here. When I run, he likes to follow me, which makes me a target for the all the other neighborhood dogs who want to eat him alive. He likes to hang out on my host family’s front porch, which I think they have mixed feelings about…as do I. Yesterday he brought home a cow’s head to chew on. Where he got a cow’s head, I have no idea, but I would have loved to see him running down the road with it. Luckily, my family didn’t seem to mind. I guess he’s an acceptable risk for now. I’m waiting for the day when he tries to eat one of my family’s chickens though…then my opinion might change. Anyway, his name is Sev Shoon (black dog), or Sevook (blackie).
We organized what I thought was a very successful Fourth of July party. This was a difficult undertaking. Things got a little stressful, but putting together a big party in America is stressful too. We didn’t have all the resources that we wanted, as you can probably tell from the “grilling” picture, but it all worked out in the end.
Last weekend, everyone in my village started dumping buckets of water on one another. We came to find out that it’s some kind of national holiday. Apparently it has something to do with purification. I think we both got hit with about 3 buckets each. If that’s not funny enough, it gets even better…later on, we found out that our village got the date wrong. The holiday is actually on July 19th. In fact, I think it was my 13-year old host brother that circulated the wrong information. But that’s ok; it just means that we can have another village-wide water war soon.
Ok, one more…this one I don’t have pictures for. A few weeks ago, my language teacher’s (I have two) came over to the house to visit with my family. My host father, who was a cook in the army, decided that something special should be prepared. My teachers had just eaten and so they objected several times, until they found out what he was cooking…sheep’s lung, kidney, heart, and throat. After discovering the menu, they gladly agreed to accept. Here’s my analysis: sheep’s lung, heart, and kidney are quite good…nice flavor, interesting texture. But, sheep’s throat is a different story…I probably shouldn’t go into the detail. In all seriousness, we’re being feed very well here. My host mother and father are both amazing cooks.
Well, I could continue on with dozens of stories, but I’ve got a lot to do today, so I’d better get going. I hope that everyone is doing well. Nicole and I are having the time of our lives, but we miss you all very much.
Hajoghootyoon (I like this word because I think it means goodbye and also good luck)
-Andy
Last Friday we took our first language proficiency test. We were both told that our language skills are progressing well, but sometimes it feels a little slow. I have trouble with tenses. I can speak pretty well in the present tense, and the future tense is ok too, but the past is really giving me a difficult time. I’m learning how much we take communication for granted. At times, I struggle to verbalize the simplest words. But the struggle is definitely worth it when one of us is able to string together a full sentence that our host family can understand. It’s usually cause for a small celebration.
Here’s some big news...volunteer site announcements were a couple weeks ago and we finally know where we’ve been placed. I’m not sure if I should provide the specific location, but I will say that it’s a small city located in the northern part of the country. In fact, I am there right now. The Peace Corps lets us visit the site for a few days to meet our new host family and the counterparts that we’ll be working with. My suspicion about communication options was right; I should have much more reliable internet access in August once we move up here permanently.
Anyway, from what we’ve seen so far, I think we’re going to like our site placement. Our new host family is much different than our old one, but they are great. Even though we’re in a city, the landscape is very mountainous and the natural beauty of the area is equally, if not more impressive than our training village. However, there seems to be some pretty distinct differences between city and village life in Armenia. In our training village, everyone knows us, and it only took about a week for that to happen. It gives you a sense of belonging and security within a very short period of time. Here, I’m sure it will take much longer. But, the city is more accommodating in other ways…we’ll have running water 24 hours a day, there is a large market in walking distance from our house that is open all year round, and there are buses and taxis that leave from here to just about anywhere in the country.
Yesterday, Nicole and I met the English teachers that we’ll be working with. We won’t be in the same school together, so after some initial introductions, our counterparts took us to meet each of the school directors. This was one of the most nerve racking moments for us yet. But, overall, the day went pretty well. My school director was especially happy to see me. Lucky, I felt right at home with her. My counterpart does not speak much English, but that’s fine with me…I think I’ll have more opportunities to strengthen my Armenian that way. Nicole’s counterpart is pretty much fluent in English.
Well, I should probably stop rambling…here are a few scattered descriptions of things that we’ve done over the last few weeks that I think are worth mentioning. I tried to put the pictures that follow in the same order…
We visited Ejmiatzin…the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The first Armenian Church was built here in the fourth century…I think. It’s like the Armenian Vatican.
We went on a hike in a nearby village to a monastery built in the eleventh century. There are hundreds of monasteries like this one tucked away in remote forests or perched on top of rugged mountains. Apparently they were built like this in order to accommodate secluded monks and to provide pilgrimage opportunities for dedicated Christians.
Against my advice, Nicole befriended a homeless village dog. He follows us almost everywhere we go. Surprisingly, he behaves pretty well and Nicole really likes him. I’ve learned to like him too, although I think he might get us into trouble. The dog situation is much different here. When I run, he likes to follow me, which makes me a target for the all the other neighborhood dogs who want to eat him alive. He likes to hang out on my host family’s front porch, which I think they have mixed feelings about…as do I. Yesterday he brought home a cow’s head to chew on. Where he got a cow’s head, I have no idea, but I would have loved to see him running down the road with it. Luckily, my family didn’t seem to mind. I guess he’s an acceptable risk for now. I’m waiting for the day when he tries to eat one of my family’s chickens though…then my opinion might change. Anyway, his name is Sev Shoon (black dog), or Sevook (blackie).
We organized what I thought was a very successful Fourth of July party. This was a difficult undertaking. Things got a little stressful, but putting together a big party in America is stressful too. We didn’t have all the resources that we wanted, as you can probably tell from the “grilling” picture, but it all worked out in the end.
Last weekend, everyone in my village started dumping buckets of water on one another. We came to find out that it’s some kind of national holiday. Apparently it has something to do with purification. I think we both got hit with about 3 buckets each. If that’s not funny enough, it gets even better…later on, we found out that our village got the date wrong. The holiday is actually on July 19th. In fact, I think it was my 13-year old host brother that circulated the wrong information. But that’s ok; it just means that we can have another village-wide water war soon.
Ok, one more…this one I don’t have pictures for. A few weeks ago, my language teacher’s (I have two) came over to the house to visit with my family. My host father, who was a cook in the army, decided that something special should be prepared. My teachers had just eaten and so they objected several times, until they found out what he was cooking…sheep’s lung, kidney, heart, and throat. After discovering the menu, they gladly agreed to accept. Here’s my analysis: sheep’s lung, heart, and kidney are quite good…nice flavor, interesting texture. But, sheep’s throat is a different story…I probably shouldn’t go into the detail. In all seriousness, we’re being feed very well here. My host mother and father are both amazing cooks.
Well, I could continue on with dozens of stories, but I’ve got a lot to do today, so I’d better get going. I hope that everyone is doing well. Nicole and I are having the time of our lives, but we miss you all very much.
Hajoghootyoon (I like this word because I think it means goodbye and also good luck)
-Andy
