Ara, Carol and I arrived at Erebouni Airport in half-slumber and waited for the helicopter to prepare for take-off. We were the only three passengers and we were waiting quite a while when an older man told us that the weather in Sissian was not safe but gave us hope that it might give in the next hour or so and we should keep waiting. While we waited in this desserted airport Ara and I talked with an older lady who was one of the few employees left. She spoke of a hustling and bustling Erebouni Airport with daily flights to anywhere in the Soviet Union... ahhh the Soviet Union, the glorified lover who went away.
As hours passed and Sissian's weather forecast did not change we hopped in a taxi towards the Bus Depot hoping to catch a late Marshotni to Artsakh instead. What we came across was a private car towards Stepanakert waiting for three more passengers. So Dza Dza Yurik-our driver, the three of us and a wonderful 20 year old young man by the name of Lernik climbed into a newly imported 06 from Russia. The road to Artsakh was wonderful as we gazed at the mountains who are beginning to put on their new Fall outfits and spotted caves our ancestors used to call home.
It was very painful to come across what we did next, a horrible accident. The Armenian van, the Yeraz, had flipped over and two bleeding men were lying on each side of the road. There were only three people who had reached the scene before us and we immediately pulled over and Carol ran towards the two men to check their conditions. Carol, an Emergency Medecine Physician was working on the two men while the rest of us were hailing down any car that could drive to Sissian, the nearest town for help.
The ambulance was called however we felt helpless in the process. It was wise not to move the men but felt we were losing them in the process. One seemed to be in better condition however we could not gage whether there was internal bleeding or not. The other was in horrible condition and we could feel and hear his last breathe. A bus from the village these two men were from passed by and stopped. Family and friends of these two men now surrounded them in tears and our presence became awkward. We decided to rush to the nearest city and make sure the ambulance was on its way. At the military post in Sissian, we asked if they knew about the accident and they convinced us the ambulance was rushing over. The rest of the ride was somber as we all looked at eachother in amazement and kept repeating that " sa mek orva ashkhar eh" (see this world as one day). On our drive back today we stopped at the same post to check on the two men. One had died and the other is in critical condition. Please join us in praying for them and their families.
Artsakh itself was a mix of emotions. Having Carol was wonderful because Ara and I could see it again through the eyes of someone who has come to Artsakh for the first time. I saw Stepanakert in a way I had not seen it before. We went to the first day of school and saw happy young adults passing out flowers to their teachers and cheering and complaining about their new schedules. We were warmly greeted by a wonderful modern woman, Dr. Manoush, who was full of energy and spirit. The life we saw among the rubble and war torn buildings reinstated the faith in people, in our people.
Needless to say, Ara was the perfect host and we have many inside jokes and were a great trio. Perhaps I have written too long and Ara can continue with some of our stories from this weekend. Today is Artsakh's Independence Day and I know he had plans to spend it with friends.
As a funny side note, Stepanakert's main hotel is a true gem. Carol and I got a double for 6 dollars total for our last night in Artsakh. The bathroom was at the end of the hall for the entire floor and was a BYOTP (bring your own toilet paper). We giggled and had fun roughing it but when Russian Pop-Music woke us up at 8 something in the morning we glared at eachother and asked, "who listens to this stuff this early in the morning?". It seems that a fancy shmancy car with a system was waiting downstairs for a guest, and its owner, a young man with cool shades, was blasting his favorite song while waiting. Needless to say we sang along in the best Russian we could have and makhteled one another a Baree Louys.
As hours passed and Sissian's weather forecast did not change we hopped in a taxi towards the Bus Depot hoping to catch a late Marshotni to Artsakh instead. What we came across was a private car towards Stepanakert waiting for three more passengers. So Dza Dza Yurik-our driver, the three of us and a wonderful 20 year old young man by the name of Lernik climbed into a newly imported 06 from Russia. The road to Artsakh was wonderful as we gazed at the mountains who are beginning to put on their new Fall outfits and spotted caves our ancestors used to call home.
It was very painful to come across what we did next, a horrible accident. The Armenian van, the Yeraz, had flipped over and two bleeding men were lying on each side of the road. There were only three people who had reached the scene before us and we immediately pulled over and Carol ran towards the two men to check their conditions. Carol, an Emergency Medecine Physician was working on the two men while the rest of us were hailing down any car that could drive to Sissian, the nearest town for help.
The ambulance was called however we felt helpless in the process. It was wise not to move the men but felt we were losing them in the process. One seemed to be in better condition however we could not gage whether there was internal bleeding or not. The other was in horrible condition and we could feel and hear his last breathe. A bus from the village these two men were from passed by and stopped. Family and friends of these two men now surrounded them in tears and our presence became awkward. We decided to rush to the nearest city and make sure the ambulance was on its way. At the military post in Sissian, we asked if they knew about the accident and they convinced us the ambulance was rushing over. The rest of the ride was somber as we all looked at eachother in amazement and kept repeating that " sa mek orva ashkhar eh" (see this world as one day). On our drive back today we stopped at the same post to check on the two men. One had died and the other is in critical condition. Please join us in praying for them and their families.
Artsakh itself was a mix of emotions. Having Carol was wonderful because Ara and I could see it again through the eyes of someone who has come to Artsakh for the first time. I saw Stepanakert in a way I had not seen it before. We went to the first day of school and saw happy young adults passing out flowers to their teachers and cheering and complaining about their new schedules. We were warmly greeted by a wonderful modern woman, Dr. Manoush, who was full of energy and spirit. The life we saw among the rubble and war torn buildings reinstated the faith in people, in our people.
Needless to say, Ara was the perfect host and we have many inside jokes and were a great trio. Perhaps I have written too long and Ara can continue with some of our stories from this weekend. Today is Artsakh's Independence Day and I know he had plans to spend it with friends.
As a funny side note, Stepanakert's main hotel is a true gem. Carol and I got a double for 6 dollars total for our last night in Artsakh. The bathroom was at the end of the hall for the entire floor and was a BYOTP (bring your own toilet paper). We giggled and had fun roughing it but when Russian Pop-Music woke us up at 8 something in the morning we glared at eachother and asked, "who listens to this stuff this early in the morning?". It seems that a fancy shmancy car with a system was waiting downstairs for a guest, and its owner, a young man with cool shades, was blasting his favorite song while waiting. Needless to say we sang along in the best Russian we could have and makhteled one another a Baree Louys.
posted by Madlene at 9:21 PM
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