Me again.... So Friday wasn't as bad as I thought. Like many other Armenian communities, ours also has an Armenian Community Center. Hmmm..maybe there are people out there who don't quite know what that is. Well we call it the "agoomp" (club) and I guess it's a place where Armenians can basically hang out. Well in my opinion, that's one of the main purposes, but nowadays they're used for organizations like the AYF or the HMEM to use as their community base. Meetings take place there, parties take place there, forums take place there....ours even has a pool and there are swimming lessons in the summer! :) So, the past 2 months, the "agoomp" committee has started something new. Every first Friday of the month, they have a "Family Dinner". Last night was the 2nd one. Since our agoomp is small, it could take a maximum of 100 or so people, but last night it was PACKED! There were all sorts of different kinds of foods (all donated) and even live entertainment! So that's where I was last night...."Family Dinner Night" at the agoomp. hahaha
Ohhh...it's just about 8:30am and I need to start heading out to school. Saturday classes aren't as bad as I thought, once I'm past the whole waking up part. Plans for today? Christmas decorations!!! When I get back from school, i'm gonna start taking out all the Christmas stuff....lights - definitely not looking forward to those.
Yesterday I received a couple of emails from people who read the log, and know me. It's interesting to know that sometimes what I write is what other people think too. I'm thinking, that's probably one of the main reasons for having the log. So I'm not the only person anxiously awaiting graduation so that I could start a new life in an old place. Just one more thought before I leave... The other day I was talking to someone who has moved here from Hayasdan, oh about 35 years ago. He was asking me questions about my trips to Hayasdan, and then proceeded to tell me about his own experiences. I was telling him that when I was in Hayasdan, I never felt "I soooooo belong here" anywhere else I'd ever been! Being there was like this big calmness in me...kind of like.. "ahhh, I've arrived". I think that's the only way to explain it. I'm sure some people out there know what I'm talking about. But this man was telling me how he felt that way about going to Russia. And honestly, I was confused. I was thinking..."But he's not Russian....he's Armenian..I don't get it" And then I automatically remembered this "marshotni" (taxi-van) driver who asked me..."Why do you guys come here? You live in the best place on earth....and you come to this hell-hole!!!" Wow.....what could I answer to this older Armenian, who has just MISSED IT! I said....."But I'm Armenian....Ararat is here...Echmiadzin is here...Abovian St. is here.... How could that compare to ANYTHING that could possibly exist anywhere in the world. America isn't "all-that", but that's something you'll find out when you get there." It was weird because, I wished I could tell him more. I wished I could tell him about this feeling of "being lost". In LA, I don't feel American....I'm soooo Armenian. But when I went to Armenia....I didn't really fit in there either.....so where do i go? In my Chicano Studies class, the professor introduced me to the ONE word which describes ALL of these feelings.... "NEPANTLA". It's a word that the indegenous Indians came up with...and it basically means.."being in the middle". We're not American (although technically we are), but we're not totally Armenian (belonging to hayasdan). I'm sure that A LOT of Armenians out there, especially the new generations feel this more than anything! Who knows....unfortunately, we might be a minority. Uh-oh....I'm gonna be late! Have a great weekend everybody! TSUH :)