Re-Introducing myself!
It has probably been more than two months since my last log. It's a shame, and that's why I have to admit it. I would not blame any of you if your reaction to this post is "who is he anyway!" or "Is he still alive???" I have met some of you in person, and some others became email-pals, And thus I know how interesting/informative this log system is.
Allow me to re-introduce myself, for those that are new, and those who forgot me. I go by Ashod (or Ashot, as they spell it in Armenia!) I moved on the 16th of August, 2000 after my first visit in summer 1999, as an LCO volunteer. I'm a third-year student at the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department (VT, as they call here.) I work for HPL Inc. (a software development company) as a programmer. Otherwise I travel in Armenia.
The reason I stopped logging is simple. I'm preoccupied by work (and studies... which just started.) Recently, HPL went public. In simple words, the company's shares are in NASDAQ's stock market (symbol HPLA) and anyone can be a shareholder. That came with our next major release (remember, we write programs, which are eventually released to the market.)
Summer in Armenia is quite busy. Yes, tourist from all over the world. Friends and relatives. Especially if you have Pan-Armenian games to attract some 5000 sportsmen + family and friends, not to mention the 1700 celebration (which I'm sure you've heard about.) My family came to visit me, and see the games. We had a great time. I wish I could write about what I did in the past 2 months, for the experience I had was amazing to say the list. I've seen a lot of new places that I have never been to... But I simple can't. I sure will tell you what I did today... It was interesting after all.
I read a log by "Nigol Zabelle" about 'tekhasmotor'. Well my friends, I happen to own a car... And I hate to say it, but didn't know the 'tekhasmotor time was due already when I found out about it! Khachig, my car had a 2000 sticket on the front windshield. For the past couple of month people (friends, mechanics....) have been mentioning stuff about 'tekhasmotor' and when I asked, they told be read on the sticker to know when your car 'tekhasmotor' is due. It turned out that the sticker didn't have any readable text on it (it was wiped out by the sun!)
It was when I got my first ticket. A week or 10 days ago, we were heading to Gor Mekhitarian's hamerk (concert.) (By the way, Gor is Lav Eli's Vocal and Lead Guitarist.) I sure had mom and sis. with me, I also had a couple of friends (3, to be accurate.) That made 6 of us, just one extra passenger if you ask the police. And the next thing was getting us pulled over. The policeman was very sharp. He told me I had an extra passenger in the front seat. I told him I had my mom visiting me for a couple of weeks, expecting him to understand that it wasn't about some young guys packed in a car... He didn't hear me, he added that I could have asked my friend to sit in the back, if I really had to take him/her with me. I gave him my papers and asked him what should I do next. This IS my first ticket EVER. He said where I should go to pay for the ticket, and started taking down my info from the drivers license. I asked how much that whole thing was gonna cost me, and he said "2000 dram." He gave a paper that said 'temprory driving permission" and took my license.
A week later (when family left) I went to get my ticket. It's a remote place on the way to Zevartnotz, the airport. I took a friend to help me out with the details... Locals know better. After waiting for 20 min. (It was the launch break.) The officer told me to go the next day, 10:30 to 11:00 AM !!! My friend told me I had to attend a 'Nist' I said OK (as if I knew what it was or what it meant even!) Sure enough, I was there 10:20 the next day... and there were at least 20 people before me... Went to the same window and gave the paper I had to the officer, took my name, and said wait outside (where the rest were.) I waited and waited... it was 11:05 when another officer came out and said whoever got a ticket for 'tekhasmotor' had to pay 8000 and won't get his papers back untill he passes 'tekhasmotor' That's when I thought they needed me to pass that thing before getting my papers... and I might end up paying that 8000 when they find out I didn't pass it already !!! I was annoyed quite a bit, to be honest. There were at least 70 people by now.
The guy repeated, making himself clear this time. He said, you people don't expect to get your licenses back without passing 'tekhasmotor' when the reason for your ticket is just that! My name was called among the ones that had tickets for other reasons... He said, now I welcome the ones I called their names inside, to the suppervisor's room. We all went in (about 15 or 20) and the rest went to pay the 8000 Drams. Now, I thought, it was time for 'Nist' The room was small, the chief officer of Yerevan traffic was sitting there, and another officer infront of him. We all walked in, and everybody found a place to sit or otherwise rest a part of him on. The guy who called our names came from a back door with some papers (our papers) and handed it to the guy infront of the supervisor. They started by telling us how they are expecing us to obey to the rules when driving and what the penalties were for getting tickets (you have a max number of 3 ticket's per year, then you have to get a new drivers license!) And then they would call our names and read out what each of us did. And the supervisor would give a penalty according to the ticket and the history of the driver.
I got out of there as soon as I payed the 2000 drams, which really was a 5 min. thing. I had to be at work already. I was thinking about 'tekhasmotor' and how I should get it done... when I got pulled over. I was so frustrated, I was late to work, just got my license back, I didn't have the best morning experience I could think of, and this guy pulls me over. Ughhh. He askes "do you have your papers." That's not what they usually ask. Not this way, and not the first thing! I said sure, in a "what do think" attitude. He said "I mean the tekhasmotor papers!!!"
I told him I was on my way to get it done, and that he was not helping me by stopping me. He said I had to get it done before 1st of September (something I had no idea about!) I told him if he let me go, his college will -probably- stop me... I have no way to go, I really have to get the tekhasmotor thing done. He was convinced... only because he knew me (it's a close by place to where I live) He said, I'll see if you're getting it done today. I then called my friend to ask him what I should do to get the tekhasmotor thing... he helped me... I went today to pay the money and everything... I was done in less than an hour and a half. I happen to read the word 'tekhasmotor' in russian, which is what originally the word is. It actually is TWO words, and it reads "Tex. Ocmotr" Where the 'x' is the 'kh' in russian. This really is the short version of what I experienced with the Yerevan Police Department in this short time!
It has probably been more than two months since my last log. It's a shame, and that's why I have to admit it. I would not blame any of you if your reaction to this post is "who is he anyway!" or "Is he still alive???" I have met some of you in person, and some others became email-pals, And thus I know how interesting/informative this log system is.
Allow me to re-introduce myself, for those that are new, and those who forgot me. I go by Ashod (or Ashot, as they spell it in Armenia!) I moved on the 16th of August, 2000 after my first visit in summer 1999, as an LCO volunteer. I'm a third-year student at the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department (VT, as they call here.) I work for HPL Inc. (a software development company) as a programmer. Otherwise I travel in Armenia.
The reason I stopped logging is simple. I'm preoccupied by work (and studies... which just started.) Recently, HPL went public. In simple words, the company's shares are in NASDAQ's stock market (symbol HPLA) and anyone can be a shareholder. That came with our next major release (remember, we write programs, which are eventually released to the market.)
Summer in Armenia is quite busy. Yes, tourist from all over the world. Friends and relatives. Especially if you have Pan-Armenian games to attract some 5000 sportsmen + family and friends, not to mention the 1700 celebration (which I'm sure you've heard about.) My family came to visit me, and see the games. We had a great time. I wish I could write about what I did in the past 2 months, for the experience I had was amazing to say the list. I've seen a lot of new places that I have never been to... But I simple can't. I sure will tell you what I did today... It was interesting after all.
I read a log by "Nigol Zabelle" about 'tekhasmotor'. Well my friends, I happen to own a car... And I hate to say it, but didn't know the 'tekhasmotor time was due already when I found out about it! Khachig, my car had a 2000 sticket on the front windshield. For the past couple of month people (friends, mechanics....) have been mentioning stuff about 'tekhasmotor' and when I asked, they told be read on the sticker to know when your car 'tekhasmotor' is due. It turned out that the sticker didn't have any readable text on it (it was wiped out by the sun!)
It was when I got my first ticket. A week or 10 days ago, we were heading to Gor Mekhitarian's hamerk (concert.) (By the way, Gor is Lav Eli's Vocal and Lead Guitarist.) I sure had mom and sis. with me, I also had a couple of friends (3, to be accurate.) That made 6 of us, just one extra passenger if you ask the police. And the next thing was getting us pulled over. The policeman was very sharp. He told me I had an extra passenger in the front seat. I told him I had my mom visiting me for a couple of weeks, expecting him to understand that it wasn't about some young guys packed in a car... He didn't hear me, he added that I could have asked my friend to sit in the back, if I really had to take him/her with me. I gave him my papers and asked him what should I do next. This IS my first ticket EVER. He said where I should go to pay for the ticket, and started taking down my info from the drivers license. I asked how much that whole thing was gonna cost me, and he said "2000 dram." He gave a paper that said 'temprory driving permission" and took my license.
A week later (when family left) I went to get my ticket. It's a remote place on the way to Zevartnotz, the airport. I took a friend to help me out with the details... Locals know better. After waiting for 20 min. (It was the launch break.) The officer told me to go the next day, 10:30 to 11:00 AM !!! My friend told me I had to attend a 'Nist' I said OK (as if I knew what it was or what it meant even!) Sure enough, I was there 10:20 the next day... and there were at least 20 people before me... Went to the same window and gave the paper I had to the officer, took my name, and said wait outside (where the rest were.) I waited and waited... it was 11:05 when another officer came out and said whoever got a ticket for 'tekhasmotor' had to pay 8000 and won't get his papers back untill he passes 'tekhasmotor' That's when I thought they needed me to pass that thing before getting my papers... and I might end up paying that 8000 when they find out I didn't pass it already !!! I was annoyed quite a bit, to be honest. There were at least 70 people by now.
The guy repeated, making himself clear this time. He said, you people don't expect to get your licenses back without passing 'tekhasmotor' when the reason for your ticket is just that! My name was called among the ones that had tickets for other reasons... He said, now I welcome the ones I called their names inside, to the suppervisor's room. We all went in (about 15 or 20) and the rest went to pay the 8000 Drams. Now, I thought, it was time for 'Nist' The room was small, the chief officer of Yerevan traffic was sitting there, and another officer infront of him. We all walked in, and everybody found a place to sit or otherwise rest a part of him on. The guy who called our names came from a back door with some papers (our papers) and handed it to the guy infront of the supervisor. They started by telling us how they are expecing us to obey to the rules when driving and what the penalties were for getting tickets (you have a max number of 3 ticket's per year, then you have to get a new drivers license!) And then they would call our names and read out what each of us did. And the supervisor would give a penalty according to the ticket and the history of the driver.
I got out of there as soon as I payed the 2000 drams, which really was a 5 min. thing. I had to be at work already. I was thinking about 'tekhasmotor' and how I should get it done... when I got pulled over. I was so frustrated, I was late to work, just got my license back, I didn't have the best morning experience I could think of, and this guy pulls me over. Ughhh. He askes "do you have your papers." That's not what they usually ask. Not this way, and not the first thing! I said sure, in a "what do think" attitude. He said "I mean the tekhasmotor papers!!!"
I told him I was on my way to get it done, and that he was not helping me by stopping me. He said I had to get it done before 1st of September (something I had no idea about!) I told him if he let me go, his college will -probably- stop me... I have no way to go, I really have to get the tekhasmotor thing done. He was convinced... only because he knew me (it's a close by place to where I live) He said, I'll see if you're getting it done today. I then called my friend to ask him what I should do to get the tekhasmotor thing... he helped me... I went today to pay the money and everything... I was done in less than an hour and a half. I happen to read the word 'tekhasmotor' in russian, which is what originally the word is. It actually is TWO words, and it reads "Tex. Ocmotr" Where the 'x' is the 'kh' in russian. This really is the short version of what I experienced with the Yerevan Police Department in this short time!
posted by Ashod at 10:40 PM
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