Boston, MA: First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone out there. Here in Boston there are plenty of Armenian cultural events to attend during the Holidays. As one of the oldest Armenian communities in the U.S., Boston is a great place to be an Armenian. Plenty of churches, markets, cultural centers, and one great camp that all claim the name of being Armenian. It's one of the reasons I moved from Chicago to Boston about 12 years ago. There is something for everyone here. One of my favorite parts of the Boston area is Watertown, with its multiple Armenian markets and churches to gaze at. You can walk down Mt. Auburn street and visit Massis Bakery, Sevan Bakery, Kay's Market, ACME TV for some great tunes (including "Yeraz") or head over to the Hairenik Building or the Baykar building. It's truly feels like home. I recently had the pleasure of showing around a couple of friends of mine (Raffi Kojian and Zabel Artinian) the 'hood. I grow to appreciate Watertown even more after each visit.

Walking down the streets of Watertown also conjures up other emotions. Well... pride for one. About 85 years ago, Watertown was built from the sweat of Armenian immigrants just having lost their entire families to the Genocide. As they worked hard doing menial jobs at first, they came together as a community having shared a common horror. As the mid century arrived , a wave of American patriotism continued (WW II) here in this area. Armenian families were challenged to name their kids Armenian names and thus assimilation continued. However after all these years, the people of the Boston Armenian community have a strong identity, although many don't speak the language. They go to church functions, Bingo, Armenian schools, Camp Hayastan, etc... All to preserve their identity. Once that Armenian identity is formed, what then? How does one convey it to their community, their odar friends, to Hayastansi's? It's interesting and disturbing all in one.

At this stage of the game, we have an independent Armenia that is evolving. Clearly there are needs that the people and country are desparate for. Before independence, we as a community gave blindly to Armenian causes within our Diaspora in order to mantain our identity. Since the Soviet Union was a closed country, there was little opportunity to help out. Once independence hit in 1991, the floodgates opened and we were free to directly assist Armenia. For a time, Diasporans gave money. Some were burned by scams perpetrated by people in Armenia that took money and supplies and enriched themselves. It was a byproduct of the Soviet era. As time passed, Diasporans learned their lesson and stopped giving money to Armenian organizations blindly without knowing exactly where the money was going. Now, people generally give money to individuals they can trust and make sure things are given directly to the people of Armenia.

There are many good people in Armenia doing great work for the people there and for themselves, frankly. I always question why it is that I choose to lead an Armenian life here in the States. Then I question why I don't do more for Armenia directly. After all, a little goes such a long way. The average monthly salary is about $40 a month in Armenia if they have jobs. People are freezing over there this winter. These are people that once had jobs, professions, dreams, families, and hope. No longer. Armenia is indeed a much better place to live for the average person compared to 5 -8 years ago. There is development that is going on and things are continually improving. Still people need help over there and we as a diaspora are so capable it to them. So, why don't we do more?

The next time we pour millions into renovating churches by putting gold on the dome or raising money for new churches we don't need to be build here in the States, think again and ask yourself, "Can't the money be better spent?" Let's see, freshen up a dome on a church for a couple million or feed families and set up a proper infrastructure in Armenia for people who are struggling for the same money. I pick the latter. I'm sure God would understand...

'Twas the night before Christmas..... well almost. One night before the night before Christmas. Hehe...confused yet? Well, this is me, coming back with some ideas and some new thoughts. After my last log, I realized how dramatic I was, and I am so happy for that! If someone can tell their friends about their new shirt with as much enthusiasm....well, then I could express my disappointment and disgust the same way. I'm also glad, because since then, people have written to me about how "they had no idea" or "it's about time".

Some of the ideas that I've come up with include : 1) A week long segment on Armenian TV about the Youth of Today. These segments will not only explain issues like drugs and alcohol, it will provide parents with the background they need to actually talk to their kids. The segments will show regular teen-life (a new scene for some parents)..and also will have testimonials from adolescents who partake in such activities. There might be experts, and youth group leaders like myself. This is my idea....let's see where it gets.
2) The next thing I'd like to do, is somehow have a community forum, where the Armenian public will decide together what actions to take. (what an idea....Armenians working together...WOAH!) During this forum we could even come to an understanding that as Armenian adults, we should feel responsible for ALL our youth, and not just our own kids. If you see my kid smoking somewhere - feel free to tell him to put it out! Imagine what this creates....a unified community. And, think of how much more supervision that adds! It's incredible!

Well those are just 2 of my ideas.... hopefully others will start brainstorming too.

Now, that was an update on that.....
Let's talk a little about the Christmas rush. What's funny about the next couple of days is how Armenians do or don't celebrate Christmas of the 25th. In my family, we never missed the oppportunity to have another family get-together with lots of food. So we celebrate the 25th, New Years, ANDDDD Armenian Christmas Eve. Hehehe...that's a lot of partying in just a couple of weeks. But as the years have gone by, and we have all gotten older....it seems as though those traditions have been lost. It's actually a shame. Now more than anything, we need to have them - mainly because we are all so busy with our regular every day lives, we rarely see each other. Having something big like this really helps everyone get up to speed on each other's lives. Sooooooo....this year, we decided to do something about it. On Tuesday (christmas day), we are all getting together for an ALL-DAY BASH! :) EXCITING!!!!

Alright my friends....out gonna go back to work..... Merry Christmas to you all! :) TSUH!

At this moment, I'm extremely emotional. I don't know what's happening with the moon or whatever some people think affects our emotions..... My thoughts...

I know that I've written about drugs and the youth before., but this time it's a bit different. I just witnessed something that ignited such fire within me....it's hard to describe. It's not entirely rare that there is a death in the Armenian community. Often times it involves a young person....one who was doing something s/he should not have been doing - and no one knew. Drunk driving? Drugs? Sex? Do u think there are Armenians between the ages of 13 and 17 who drive while drinking (or after drinking)??? If you said NO, then you need to put your head under a faucet that's pouring COLD water....so u can WAKE UP! Do u think there are Armenians b/w the ages of 13 and 17 who smoke out (meaning do drugs) or even smoke??? If you said NO, then I'd like u to walk out in a very busy street where cars may hit you from every side....so u can WAKE UP!!! Do u think that Armenian girls b/w the ages of 13 and 17 do not get pregnant? If you think they don't, then please....pour a bottle of hot sauce down ur throat...so u can WAKE UP!!!
Overhearing adolescent boys talking about how they hid beer bottles in their pants while being pulled over by a cop, is not something easy. Seeing boys smoking, when they are barely old enough to see a PG-13 movie is not easy either. Watching girls who left their homes with clothes that are supposed to be supplements to other clothing (and not be worn alone) is not easy in the least bit.

I am very very very disappointed in each and every Armenian parent who let their children get involved in all of these things. Providing your son or daughter with clothes on their back, food to eat, a nice car, and spending money are NOT the only responsibilities of a parent. I am 21 years old, and yet I feel burdened by all of this. I wanted to call each and every teenager's parents and tell them exactly what their children are involved in. But then.....if a parent allowed it to get THIS far, what is the guarantee that they will know how to correct it after this - and not make it worse!!?? Even in the infamous 12-step alcoholism program, the first step is to ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM.... I'm not a psychologist, nor am I a therapist. I am a young Armenian who sees something VERY wrong with all of the above mentioned REALITIES...... This time, I am also the one need of answers... HOW DO WE FIX THIS!?? The problem is so huge, that no one wants to take it on! It's difficult to not have answers. How do you teach parents how to be parents? You can't. But you can update parents. I'll be thinking of ways to do this.

As the days and weeks pass by, I see a GREATER need for Armenian involvement in Anti-Drug propaganda and education within our own youth and communities. Before we assumed, "Oh, this kid is Armenian....they are good kids." But now there is no such thing. Everyone is at risk for alcoholism, everyone is at risk for addiction to drugs, and everyone is curious about sex, anyone can die in a drunk driving accident and anyone can overdose on anything. There is no specific formula for the specific "type" of people who get involved in this.... peer pressure? trend? the "in" thing? the accessability? the availability? ......

I plan to do something.....not quite sure what. If you have ideas, would like to help, or have resources I can use..... please feel free to contact me at ShooshigAvakian@hotmail.com

They are our future..... and they are being sucked in. They need us.

TSUH!
p.s. - woah....argentina! Basterma gertsootsek as joghovoortin. It makes the LA Riots look like a day at Disneyland! I wish you luck my friends.... - And one question Juan....why did the people start making noise with casseroles? As far as i know casserole is something u eat..... ???

ARGENTINAZO!!!

I am sorry about this logs but this is part of the planet earth´s reality...

President De la Rua resigned...and now the parliament will choose a new president. This new president must call for new elections on the future three months. On the other hand, the economy is changing. The devaluation of the Peso will bring us many changes. We used to have a change of 1 Peso = 1 Dollar and now it will be 1 Dollar = 1.4 Pesos.... The total of deaths have reached the number of 23!!! The streets of the MICROCENTRO (the main part of the center of Buenos Aires) is totally destroyed in terms of shops and banks. Lots of vandals and other kind of non-tolerant organizations burned a Mc. Donald´s (Its time to leave RONALD!!! hehe) and plundered many banks. Not only that but immigrants from PERU took advantage to plunder and steal many supermarkets of the zone.
This ARGENTINAZO started last Wednesday at night and it will be grabbed in the memory of all Argentineans forever. The spontaneous reaction of the people began after the last TV speech of De la Rua. Thousands of persons took a Casserole and started to make noise whit them. It has been called THE CACEROLAZO (CASSEROLEASO). ;-)
Meanwhile the Armenians are calm, waiting for good news.
Arten Gagan Baban dkegh lurer perav mezi ais ankam. Housank te Erek Mokere 6 Hunvar@ urish desag nverner p@ré Argentinatsineru hamar.


Chauuuu
PS: I thank Raffi Kojian for giving me this important space in this historical times we are living here.
If your relative lives in Argentina, PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL!!!

BLACK CHRISTMAS IN ARGENTINA

State of siege, plundered supermarkets, social chaos and more...


How can i begin??? I´ve telling about the agony of our economy...well...its dead!!! On December 19th the Argentinean population got tired, stood up and went to tell the government to leave. The low and part of the middle class went to plunder supermarkets. The police started a brutal suppression against the claimers. Lots of thieves took advantage of those who were just plundering for food. They stole not only the basic food to eat but wine, champagne, electric equipments, etc. At night all Argentineans were waiting for the speech of our (I think EX)-president Fernando De la Rua. At 10 p.m. he talked "via TV" to the crowd. The speech was awful, unfriendly, ambiguous. In conclusion, a SHAME!!! He is playing dumb because his blind eyes are not seeing the hunger of the people. This vicious circle that is poverty is the principal illness of Argentina. But the cure could be the politicians that , pity for us, are CORRUPT!
The Economy Minister wanted to leave the country (Domingo Cavallo, his wife is armenian SONIA ABRAZIAN) but he couldn´t. The Argentineans want De la Rua to leave his charge as a president but they don´t want a replace for the same. The change must be radical, mainly the economic aspect. Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Río Negro and many provinces more are in total chaos. 16 persons have died because the suppression of the Police and the Security Army. (Red Christmas). Now the PLAZA DE MAYO (the main park near the government building) is being filled up of claimers that want a peaceful change of the policy of this country.
We were used to feel December as a "happy and joyful" month but these days we feel that we are like in Afghanistan. My father told me "Half part of my life I´ve been living in State of Siege", so I realized that we didn´t learn about our mistakes.


On the other hand, I feel great about what Eurnekian would do whit the Zvartnots Airport. Aram Yanekian (Drtad Takavor!!!) sent me an e-mail of armenpress telling about Eurnekian and the buy of the Armenian Airport. So a Diasporan will buy the Armenian Airport!!! That´s great!!!. He is the boss of the Argentinean airports and i can confirm the airports in Argentina have improved a lot during the current year. I hate the Zvartnots airport, its a close box, full of cigarette smoke and it has no technology. I think the airport must be one of the most important places of a country. Why? Because when you travel the airport becomes the first and the last impression of that country.
Well, Armenians and Argentineans will be "NEARER" now and maybe argentino-armos could be able to escape easier to Yerevan if the Social Chaos in Argentina keeps on going.

Awwwwww...White Christmas!!! I've never actually seen one of those ya know.... So the whole connection people make between snow and christmas is actually beyond me. It does NOT snow in LA. Sure, there's places like "Mountain High" or "Mammoth" where the elevation is high enough for it to snow a little and modern technology is added to nature (actually the fake snow is what people ski or snowboard on). Snow during Christmas - I'm assuming it's a whole different atmosphere. I look forward to future winters in Hayasdan..not only will I be experiencing snow during the holidays, I'd be in Hayasdan!!! Can't get any better than that....

So you ask where has Shoosh been these past couple of days? Wellllll.....I thought I'd give you guys a break, cause I realized that my last log was half a book! :) Now you guys know that I'm actually a very talkative person. I don't mean to write so much...it just comes. And the fact that I'm a very fast typer doesn't help the situation. :) hee hee

Quick Overview:
--Weather is clear, yet COLD (at least for LA).
--Finals are over... (sorry Raffi N.--I feel ur pain man! Papers suck....and so does Global Warming)
--Holiday rush has now started....shoppers beware!
--I'm only 5.5 months away from being in Hayasdan. (lol)

Here's something cool I'd like to share with everyone. Lots of people know about it already, but just in case.... Armenians Connect. It's a website where you can post your picture and information and have your friends (or randomites) leave you messages. It's actually really cool, cause what if you don't feel like writing someone an email, and it wouldn't be cool if you wrote just ONE LINE.....welllllll you get on ArmosConnect (that's what I call it) and just leave them a line on their page. Of course there's some scary people out there, and also those who think they are God's gift to the world..... "To each his own". Just be careful, cause I've known people who get stuck in the world of ArmosConnect, and coming back to the real world is difficult. One profile leads to another, to another, to another.....it's an endless search for who knows what. :)

I don't really know what issue to tackle today, so I think I'm going to give my brain the time-off it very much deserves. It doesn't help that I very very badly cut my left thumb. Don't ask how.....I'm a dummy. :) So I'll give the cut a break too and just go read. Ahhhhhhhhhh the joy of outside-unrequired reading......

:) TSUH!
Hahahaha....Raffi N. - "women to control men".....do i sense some sarcasm? :)
Juan -- "right on man" !!
Ara M. -- Khash? Yukkkkhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lol Tooti oghi? Yummmmmmmmm

WAKE UP...
Well that was quite a nap. I've been hibernating and trying to finish my #%^! papers. I have asked for an extension from all of my courses... guess what I will be doing this Christmas!
OK Shushan, this is for you! Since you like to talk about the weather so much... well... how can I describe the weather in Montreal best... hmmm... it's beginning to look a lot .... no-no... it's more like... Iiiiiii'm dreaming of a WHITE Christmas.... yep! Snow. We got about 15 cm of snow during this week. It's great. Puts you right in the holiday spirit. You can understand this Juan... right? (just for your info, only 3 cm have remained, thanks to global warming).
Here's a topic, Global Warming. Some Canadians think it's great that we have less cold and less snow. I say, if you want less cold and less snow, why don't you just move to LA or Argentina. Global warming has consequences too. Here's a cute story, this fall was pretty weird. We had warm, then cold started... then it was summer again. Poor birds dodn't know if they should migrate or not! Anyhow, the story is not about birds but frogs. Yes frogs. When the weather warmed up, these frogs thought it was time to reproduce and lay their eggs... ts-ts-ts! poor baby froggies are now frozen. Guess what all those happy canadians are gonna get next summer... lots and lots of insects (mosuitos, flies, etc) See the eco-system works its wonders. When over-joined consumer society pushes the limits of nature... nature will fight back!
Ok, so the eco-system has created frogs to control insects and owls to control mice... and women to control men! (hihihi)
When summer comes and these happy (warmer winter) Canadians start feeling that there are too many insects around, they'll BUY some products to get rid of them. Unknowingly they are yet again disrupting nature by emitting all kinds of chemicals in the air.
So, bottom line, when will we get it right? when will nations and governments stand up to the neo-liberal capitalists to tell them ENOUGH? Why won't all those who have signed the Kyoto agreement come together and put economic sanctions on Bush? How come 20% of the world population living in the Europe and North America uses more than 80% of the natural resources of the world? Why is it that these same nations have SHIT LOAD of garbage that they need to dump elsewhere? When is the Fu--ing (pardon the language) youth of this world gonna fight back and demand their rights for a better world?
As you can see, I am a bit angry... just a bit huh?
Inchvor eh, I should go back to writing my papers. The weather is nice, we live in a democratic country... what else do I care about?

ARMENISMO

Well, Argentina is going to explode and is preparing its conversion to be the new province of the USA. Why?? Just because we are going to DOLARIZATE our economy...hehe, yes, we are going to use dollars instead of pesos. Why do not use trams also?? Ohhhhhhhhkh...Ok...
I listened today a song of a group called CHEMICAL BROTHERS, i like the name of that band. I am telling this because i think, in this world, there are a lot of Chemical Brothers hanging around. This is the case of Slavic Stepanian from Tiflis (Tibibiliisiislsisili, coff coff, sorry, Tbilisi) and Ruben Dorumian from Argentina. Ruben Dorumian is the greatest teacher of Armenian theater in Buenos Aires. I know him very well cause he had been my Armenian theater teacher two years of my Secondary School (1997-1998). We did lots of plays, he taugh us how to play in Armenian, how to pronunce words in Armenian, how to act like an Armenian. In 1998, we did a play called PICNIC, "which tells us about the horrors of war. By the eyes of child he shows absurdity of destroying human by human." The author of that play is Fernando Arrabal so Ruben Dorumian had to translate it to Armenian. Today i still have all the photos of that play in an album, we spent great times. There is the coincidence, CASUALITY!??! noooooo, CAUUUUSALITIES?!?!?! yeeeeessss...
I was surfing in the net when i stopped at the city of Tblisi...our legendary and VASPOURAGAN (NOBLE) TIFLISSSS (RAFFI; ASHOUGH DJIVAN; SAYAT NOVA; all them from TIFLIS) http://amtheater.gq.nu/ The Petros Adamian Tblisi State Armenian Drama Theatre and its director Slavic Stepanian played PICNIC, too!!! And not only that but the played at the same MONTH AND YEAR WE DID!!!!!!!! NOVEMBER 1998!!!!! So....Asdvadz kide...
That´s ARMENISMO...armenians thinking and acting claiming peace for this...(round at the moment) Planet Earth...


PS.MIASNAGANOOTYOON SHOOSH, i liked that one!!!
WHERE R THE RAFFIES????
zzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZzzzz <---------MIDNIGHT...INSOMNIAC (ganach or, green day)
Sorry About my PreCilician English...

I made a boo boo.....it's not the LA mayor...it's Glendale's mayor...Gus Gomez :) oops

Thursday seems like it was months ago!!! Well, just to relieve everyone out there...YES finals AREEEE over! :) All in all, I did ok. I didn't do spectacularly well, which I guess I could've had I spent even more time studying.....but the point is that I walk away this semester a more learned person. (or so I believe) I'll be taking a winter intersession course (which cost me $500!!!) in Music. It supposedly teaches "music for children"......nayink inch eh..... So it's Saturday morning 9am, and I'm awake when I could be sleeping in...I don't get it!

Since I started logging, I think today is the first day when speaking about the weather is justified! The weather if ABSOLUTELY beautiful!!! Even though it rained yesterday, towards the evening these winds came out of no where....and right now there's not one cloud in the sky. It's sunny and bright, and windy (but still cold...high 50's). Hey...for a Southern Californian 50 is freezing!!! :) So today is a NICE day to go to the Getty Museum (I hope it worked!). If anyone of you readers come to L.A. one day, definitely make the Getty on your list of "Must See-s". On a day like this, you can see the most beautiful view of Los Angeles. Allllllll the way to Catalina Island. It's absolutely exquisite! Ok, there's my little plug for LA......

The past couple of days have been interesting. Something that's in LA news right now is the following: There's a petition going around, actually which has already collected enough signatures, asking for the removal of the City Mayor. Ya.....so I was asking myself...woah..how come? Well..I hope you guys are sitting down. Get this-----all of this is going on, because the Mayor said that the flag would be lowered for the observance of the Armenian Genocide on April 24. This is the reason. I'm serious. No joke. Ok, the first thing that comes to my mind is..."how stupid". And after that childish first reaction, I start trying to rationalize it.... If you're in America right now..after Sept. 11, I'm sure you noticed the high number of American flags..EVERYWHERE!!! Everyone has them on their cars, whether it's a flag hanging in the car, a bumper sticker, or one of those "moda"-s of putting a plastic poled flag that sticks to ur car window. Stores have them hanging, buildings drape them, girls are wearing shirts with the flag all over it...heck, Destiny's Child wore flag outfits, I'm talkin jeans made of stars and stripes....and I've saved the "best" for last...girls get the American flag painted on their toe. "It's cute" they say. Putting a flag that represents so much on your toe is not "cute" in my opinion.....it's disrespectful. So all of a sudden, people look at you, or your car and if you don't have your flag displayed where it can be seen they're thinking...."Hmmmmm how come THISSSSS guy doesn't have a flag!??" So is putting up a little flag showing how American you are?? Silly. Very silly.
Now getting back to the April 24 issue and the mayor.... I want each one of the signers of that petition to look around their homes and workplaces and notice at their disrespectful display of the American flag, and THENNNNNN tell me that it is inappropriate to lower the flag for the victims of a forgotten Genocide.

You wanna hear about another SILLY yet disgusting issue in the local Armenian community? Well I hope you're ready for this one.... Ok, so if people don't know, there is a 24-hour Armenian channel in the Glendale/Burbank/La Crescenta area (and I don't know specific details about where else). It's actually been a while that we've had this service. Although I don't receive it at my house, I VERY often watch programming on "55" while I'm at my cousin's or aunt's house. Anyways, the channel gives news (both from here and from Armenia), educational programming, informative segments about life in Hayasdan-the army - the people - the government - specific cities - specific "temker" - comedy shows - live shows - etc. They have Armenian gameshows, and Armenian cartoons and puppet shows for children. They have a music show - where they play Armenian music videos. It's actually a great channel - if ANYTHING, it's Armenian in the home!! I have to admit that there is an excess of commercials, some of which I don't approve of (saying "buy a BMW, cause life with a beamer is GREAT" ..... very superficial ....very "American"). The point is...Armenian programming has come a LONNGGGG way since the days of having Armenian one hour on saturdays and 2 hours on sundays. Back then, it was great cause it was all we had.....but look at what we get now! So you're thinking....."ok shoosh, where's the problem?" .... HUH! There are people in the community who have forgotten the idea of "MIYASNAGANOOTYOON" - very simply....UNITY. And this is the one thing that will eventually (asdvadz chuneh) bring the decline of Armenians. Instead of supporting the programming available now, and coming up with productive ways to make a BETTER.....Armenians in the community have hired lawyers and such, to take the institution responsible for the channel to court!!! They are suing an employee of the Cable company (an Armenian) for supposedly manipulating agreements, and giving the channel to this group or that group..... I swear if you read the article, it's so confusing that you'll just think...."how stupid" (I'm saying this a lot lately!). This man...the one who started the suit apparently needs a crash course of what his role as an Armenian is, rather than a greedy person who disregards the rest of his community and goes after someone for something (or nothing) that is a PLUS for everyone else. If his allegations are true.... then this guy needs to ask, "Doesn't the end justify the means in this case?" .... We have quality Armenian programming in Armenian homes where MAYBE, just MAYBEEEE Armenian youth, while passing through the kitchen would hear Armenian, or watch an Armenian music video, or see sceneries from Hayasdan, or even see fellow youth speaking about an issue s/he knows about on the live show.... Either way, I believe this man has lost sight of something very important to all Armenians, especially the Diaspora... he lost his sense of "One for all, All for one" -----translations ==> "I do something for the betterment of the whole, andI take what the whole provides to better myself". Not only is he not helping the Armenian community, he is hurting himself. One day, I hope, people like this will realize, had they focused their energies towards CONTRIBUTION rather than DESTRUCTION, Hayasdan would not be where it is today. But then I guess this also goes to all those officials working for the government in Hayasdan who "take take take" ..and then take some more. They live in buildings where their neighbors live day to day, providing for their families, and yet they themselves eat everyday with the money that belongs to the whole. The individual who shared the $$$ allocated to fixing the roads of Armenia, the guy who takes bribes so he won't report a business who doesn't pay taxes, the one who cons his neighbors out of lots of money promising a better day..... HOW DO THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT???

Chem kider...

Haha...Raffi K., maybe one of the reasons why there are lotsa hits on the page is cause I tell everyone I come across to come check out the logs. How awesome it is that there are people from around the world writing about being Armenian....and their communities. (Word of mouth works wonders!) And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's doing that.... so maybe that's one reason.

So Juan, hahahaha, now we know!!!!! If a guy smells like basterma and skhdor...then there is a MUCH MUCH deeper meaning! hahaha.... hmmmmmmmmm do I know anyone who constantly smells like basterma? Maybe he's trying to say something!? hahaha I'll keep that one in mind.

Ok, I hope everyone has an incredible Saturday and Sunday wherever u might be! :)
TSUH losits! :)

Asdvadz kezi havidenagan geank da harkavor BASTERMA!!!At the middle 60´ the festivals of the CENTRO ARMENIO (Hai Guetron) were famous. Great Armenian folk bands and another local artists used to play music for the youth to dance.
The guy who told me this now is about 65 years old. He told that in those festivals there was an "innocent" girl. That girl was very deep in love whit this guy. She was like "obsessive" about him and about her feeling about him. But the man told me he was not interested at all in this girl. So I asked. -Baron, How did you managed to get rid of her??? He answered me something very useful for many similar situations like this. He told me that before the last festival he saw this girl, he ate lots of Basterma Sandwiches so when he invited her to dance Cheek to Cheek, this girl got a total intoxication. The moral of this story is that
"The love for basterma sandwiches can break everything!!".

I AM VERY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW DRTAD RAPES KAYANEH!!!...Wow...
Real Love Story...
This story made me cry...My father´s parents (my great parents, ohhhhh) were from Aintab so at the bakery many Aintabtsies used to come and buy some spicy lehmayouns of Skhdor. At 1920-1925 when kemal atatürk (he does not deserve capital letters) arrived at Cilicia lots of Aintabtsies went to Aleppo and then to France, USA or , to the arse of the world (that´s the way we auto-call our country) ARGENTINA!...
At the Palermo district were most of armenians of Argentina started a new life, there were two Aintabtsi brothers that were nice guys, hard workers and good citizens. We have to take into account that not all the armenians were mind closed at the first time. Why am i telling you this? Because this story is the result of the mix of cultures. One of this brother was very handsome...very very very handsome.(he was like a cilician James Dean, hehehe) At the neighborhood girls used to get crazy about his eyes. But he was quite shy. An Argentinian girl, maybe Spanish or italian origin, was in love whit this Aintabtsi. Her heartbeats sounded like a Dhol (or maybe like a Dumbeg, because this is a cilician story, not Caucasian, hehe) when he used to appear at the streets of Palermo. He knew about her love, but he could not to anything at the time because...SHE WAS NOT ARMENIAN!!! Tragic, very tragic, sniff sniff... But this is not the end of our cilicialicialicialician story.
Months passed away. The mailbox of the aintabtsi was receiving one letter per week. The letters were written in pure and clean Armenian. They were letters of love!!! THE ARGENTINEAN GIRL LEARNED ARMENIAN TO WIN THE HEART OF THE AINTABTSI!!! Well, the Palermo district had one of the first mixed marriages between Armenians and local Argentineans. There was something in common, both the Armenian and , the spanish or italian, were scaping from the oppression of their homeland.(inmigrants)
Sorry about my URARTIAN english,
Juan Augustus Abadjianussssss

PS: Raffi , i am interested in the video, i have videos of my dance group too...keep in touchchchchch...

Boston, MA: TARC A few things I've thought about this week. First, I am happy that TARC has finally been disbanded. Clearly, the Armenia delegation was misguided. What has bothered me more is that the Armenian Assembly has decided to put their interests above the rest of the Armenian Community with the 907 issue in addition to promoting TARC via Van Krikorian. Look, I've never met the guy so I have no personal axe to grind and I think that the Assembly generally does good work. But, they blew it here and should be accountable. It's not like we have time to waste on these issues. If we've learned anything at all, it's that working together is the greater force than working individually on Genocide recognition or on anything for that matter. I have no problem laying blame on the four Armenians who continued this charade via TARC. I do not believe that taking a neutral stance on these types of issues is the way to go in the Armenian Community. TARC was destructive from the beginning and should have been stopped. Dialogue with Turkey is somewhat important (although can someone tell me why?), but only after a couple issues are resolved. How about the Genocide for starters. I strongly recommend the members of TARC's Armenian delegation apologize via a press release to the Armenian Commuinty worldwide. In fact, I think we should demand it.

The Egoyan Issue I think that the noise being made over "Ararat", Egoyan's upcoming movie on the Genocide is a non-issue. It was probably anticipated by Egoyan and the distributors that have chosen to carry it. For example, Harvey Weinstein of Miramax (owned by Disney) would have never picked up this movie if there was even the slightest doubt that they could not beat any legal proceedings by Turkish lobbyists. I have no worries and can't wait to see the movie. As the Turkish lobby will eventually find out, controversy puts people in the seats of movie theaters. The more the merrier. By the way, I am a big Egoyan fan and recommend "Family Viewing". It's my favorite film by him.

The Gor "Yeraz" CD and where to buy it Ah yes, where to buy this absolute gem of a CD. We have an exclusive and prestigious on-line retailer offering "Yeraz" right now at CD Baby You can click on this link or simply click on the ad banner above. It will take you to the GOR CD Baby page and they'll take care of the order. They ship anywhere in the world and are great to deal with. It will hit stores worldwide this spring and summer after we choose the distributor that offers us the best deal. We have some suitors to put it into HMV, Tower, Borders, Virgin Mega Stores, etc... but we're waiting to see who is going to represent us the best way. For the price of a dinner out, you can own a piece of quality modern Armenian culture and have it directly sent to your home. I am shameless with the promotion, I know, but you have got to hear this CD. It is truly amazing...

Wow....today was a LONG.. let me stress that.. L-O-N-G day! I just got home from school (9:30pm) and i was there a little over 12 hours! But I feel like I accomplished a lot....so that's what matters. Like, Raffi N. I also read articles about the "Ararat" issue. Actually when I first found out that such a movie had been made and would premiere in March, I was sooooooooo happy!!! I remembered when i was younger and Schindler's List came out...and I found out that the screenwriter was Armenian (Micheal Zeitlan I believe) I was kind of disappointed. How come he had chosen to write about the Holocaust rather than his own history? But to this day I remain uninformed about his life/background... my fault I guess. But when I learned that Egoyan had made this movie "Ararat" ....I was relieved!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! But of course.... it never fails.... The Turkish government once again sticks their nose into the progess of the Armenian people - covering up their horrific deeds. Is it a coincidence that TARC is shut down??? I think not. If people don't know---here is some very vital info for you........ The Turkish government spends millions in America (imagine where else) on propaganda and such. Just one of the ways they get into the everyday lives of the American public is marketing products that are made in Turkey. If you've ever tried to buy a bathrobe...you know what I mean!!! Notice that EVERY bathrobe is made in Turkey??!! (I was FINALLY able to find ones that are made in the USA....even though they aren't the cutest ones out there :) That's nothing.... if you live in Southern California, and have gone grocery shopping at your local Armenian store, then you have for sure seen the numerous products shelved there, which are ALSO made in Turkey. And....Armenians buy them!!! Banana Republic has leather jackets made there, Victoria's Secrets has their robes made there, Macy's carries some clothing made there......and that's just the beginning. So what do we do about this?????
Well.....here's something that the youth has started... the "United Human Rights Coalition". Yup. This group is after "human rights violators" . Since their launch, the UHRC has been going around and passing out little fact cards to shoppers. Facts about human rights violations committeed in Turkey.....not a 100 yrs ago...TODAY!!! The point is to EDUCATE! Educate the public about the products they are buying...the products they are endorsing..... Educate the public about human rights. See, it's hard for Americans to even picture violations like that. Why? Well, look at us. Look at the way we live. We were devastated by Sept. 11.....when there are countries on the other side of the world that experience that on a weekly basis!! War is not something that happens here....human rights violations like the ones we teach don't happen here - and trying to imagine all of that while juggling work, school, family, and other responsibilities is just a big EXTRA. So here's something NEW that's being done to battle the propaganda......who knows, it might be the beginning of a new revolution! :)

So what do i say about the movie issue? "BAYKAR BAYKAR MINCHEV VERCH" - on that note...kisher paree :) TSUH!

One more entry about the weather? OK... it's a lovely day here in downtown Montreal. The high today was 5 with a minimum low of -3 tonight. Clear skies to be covered by clouds with a possibility of showers.
Now that the weather is out of the way, I'd like to draw your attention on an interesting situation that is starting to develop between Canadian film production company, Hollywood and Turkey. As some of you may know, the Canadian-Armenian film maker, Atom Egoyan has completed his film about an Armenian family living through the genocide. By the way, one of the main characters is Chales Aznavour (no need for introductions there). The interesting development is that Turkey is preparing a law suit against Atom's company and Hollywood's Miramax Production that is the distributor of this film. They are trying to ban the film from showing before it is actually released next fall. They say that they already know that the content will have hate propaganda against Turkey.
I am very fascinated by this denialist machine that always seems to have enough funding and power to persuade communities that the genocide never took place. This same machine was successful in banning the export of the film Mayrig, as many of you may have heard about. This film was done by Henri Verneuil (French -Armenian film maker) in the late 80's. Although Montreal has a large french market, the film never made it here and it was close to impossible trying to get an original video copy. The main actors were Claudia Cardinal and Omar Sharif, 2 very big names in the film industry. I am hoping that Canada will by-pass all the Turkish opposition and will allow this film to be shown as expected. If not, I think the Armenian community will do something about it... will they?
I have started becoming very sceptical about the Hye Tad office in Canada. They are not modernising their approach and are still practicing the same strategy since the early nineties. For instance, do you still hold a passive demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy and demand all sorts of stuff? "we want our lands! Turkey out of Armenia! we demand Justice! We demand our lands....." and on and on! Do you still have local AYF chapters reading Armenian poems and ARF leaders giving long winded speaches that fall on deaf ears? Well, that's what happens every April 24 in Ottawa (that's the capital city for those who don't know... and God know there rae many of you! :o)
Inch vor eh! I think I am dragging this for now... I will reorganise my thoughts and come back with this issue on another log.
As for the other issue, that of the film called Ararat, I will keep you posted with the developments.

BtW, where can I get a copy of the GOR CD, I see the ad on the site, Raffi talks about it, even John Hues mentioned it to me during his visit to Montreal... sounds like a real winner
Yalla, ciao

PS: Juan, I am also in the Montreal dance group. We went from Folk to classic (Aram Kachaturian) to modern Armenian (Ara Gevorkian and T'hol). Our last performance was in September. Guess what th etheme was... 1700 anniversary of the church... very modern show where King Drtad almost rapes the virgin Kayaneh... There is a video if you are interested!

Ooremn......3 down.....3 to go! It's funny how people are during finals. My phone doesn't ring, and hardly anyone IM's. Everyone is in their world....studying, or writing, or reading, or maybe catching up on sleep. The other day, I was sitting outside in the quad at school, and i noticed this girl walking through the quad. She was a normal, typical female student....so why did she catch my attention?? Well, she was on her cell phone (mobile) and was just blabbing away-loud- about her horrible day. I mean, it's not like I was eavesdropping on her conversation. Apparently she didn't even notice that there were people around. It was as if she was just in her own world....talking away. I mean, her day seemed like a real drag from what I heard ...but it was fascinating to me how oblivious she was to the world around her.

So you're thinking..."geez shoosh, why do we care?" ......Well hold on....i have a point (i hope). The way this girl was walking around not noticing the reality of everyone else around her seemed very similar to some spoorkahye's lives. I'm not quite sure that the people who read this log are necessarily these spoorkahyes, but i'm sure you know a couple Armenians like this.
While I was growing up, the "hot topic" was ARTSAKH. During the years of the Artsakhian Azadakragan Sharjoom, the Armenian Community was reactivated....they had a mission....they had a goal. All of a sudden, all fundraisers were to raise money for Artsakh. Art became focused on Artsakh. We read articles and wrote our reflections.....all about Artsakh. Well, it was during Navasartian Games (July 4th Weekend - HMEM games) that our youth group had set up an information booth, and we were also selling t-shirts to help in the fundraising. I remember, a woman in her mid 30's came up to the table and asked us what we were selling. Of course we explained to her who we were and why we were selling these shirts....but the lady looked confused. She asked, "Who is Artsakh?" .................I kid you not. So, I equate her to the cell-phone-girl. How could an Armenian living in the same community as I was, not know what Artsakh was (at least that it was a WHAT and not a WHO).....how could she not know what our fellow Armenians were struggling against? This was frustrating for me. She was oblivious to her "Armenian-ness". Oblivious to the world around her....well at least the world that was obviously not influenced by her Armenianism.

Here is the sad part....there are more like that lady. In high school, my history teacher devoted an entire MONTH to teaching us about the Jewish Holocaust. So, of course, I raised my hand and asked Mr. Keyes why we weren't learning about the Armenian Genocide? He paused...and said in a very matter of fact tone..."Well, would you like to do that for us?" WOW...he was giving me an opportunity to talk to my peers about the Genocide..... Do I even need to tell u that I grabbed this opportunity? :) But here is the story..... There was another Armenian in that class with me. The teacher decided to give both of us the responsibility, so I got together with this guy. It turns out, that this guy didn't really know anything about the Genocide. When I showed him all the pictures, and literature, and facts....he was shocked! He had no idea!

These are just TWO of the people I've come across over the years. I guess this log is going to be a call out to everyone..... EDUCATE!!! EDUCATE!!! EDUCATE!!! How can I stress the importance of this.... The 2 people I wrote about above are not like those Armenians who live in communities where they are maybe 1 of 5 families or something. These are Armenians who live in the second largest Armenian community outside Hayasdan! They are surrounded by Armenian newspapers, Armenian TV, Books, Produce stores, recording studios, and evens like the Navasartian Games. I see that as totally different from the person who lives in, I don't know....some mid-east state. They are not surrounded by the culture.

But, there's a flip side to the 2 stories above. Sometimes, situation has it in such a way where someone doesn't get the opportunity or the encouragement to know about their history. My theory is....it's inevitable. In their search for self, they will one day find out who they are and where they came from....and most importantly-why they are there. It's what they do with that knowledge afterwards that matters.

I've always thought....being Armenian is not easy. We have this immense responsibility of knowing our past and working towards our future...not just as individuals - but as a nation. It's like there is this constant battle. There is this "unrest" deep deep within us....which we can't always identify. We feel out of place in our communities.... we've created our own "oasis"-es. Someone once asked me..."If you were gonna be born once more, would you choose to be Armenian?" -- Wow.....such a difficult question!!! Do I want to be Shooshig Avakian or would I rather be Sandra Smith who didn't have to worry about a Hayasdan or a Genocide, or ancestral lands, or Artsakh, or the homeless Armenians, or the fate of the church, ...etc. I know my answer :) Think about yours!

This log was a bunch of incoherent thoughts....spits of my brain i guess! (ew) :) Incomplete...i'm debating on deleting it...but I spent time typing it...u might as well read my jumbled thoughts. I guess today was a "SHOOSHIG UNPLUGGED" entry. Just an example of how unorganized the rest of my brain is....as opposed to the files of "geography, speech, chicano studies, english, history....." etc. Or maybe just proof that I need sleep! :) (oh ya....the weather is cold and windy....hahaha) TSUH!

Opa Opa da Bouzoukia!!! Just listening Greek music. (sometimes Sayat Nova is boring) Well, today i decided to tell you about a page which is the cybercenter of the Armenian community of Buenos Aires. It is the www.armeniosonline.com.ar and it contains lots of information not only for Argentineans but for any Armenian or not Armenian who talks Spanish. The important point in the page is the Chat. There, the Armenian of Buenos Aires are always discussing, making encounters, talking about romance, etc. The chat has an average of 15 to 20 persons at midnight. Another interesting page is the www.nairi.com.ar about the main BARAKHUMP here in Buenos Aires (i belong to that group!!!, jeje) It´s a page full of history about one of the most important Armenian folk groups of South America. (There are other two groups Masis and Kayané, who are nice too.) The humidity of Buenos Aires is still killing us, its getting really hot. That´s why we don´t eat Basterma Omelettes at this season.
Gue Desnevink Sireli Spiurka-hayer...
Juan Augustus Abadjianus.
(Sorry about my Precambrian english)

Parev!!! Verat Dzaki Arev!!! How u doing guys??? Here in Argentina all is getting hot. Our economy is falling down nd so armenians as merchants are getting mad. There are no super events. The KAGHUT is tranquil. Something to take into account is the Chorus Mesrob Mashdots of liturgical songs, they will perform medieval songs next Saturday 15th. Two weeks ago the AGBU showed the PAradjanov´s Nran Kuine and the youth of the same institution launched the new number of the magazine GENERACION 3 (Erort Serunt). Sundays are good to go out, meet whit friends, play some soccer and eat Shish Kebab in one of the two armenian clubs at Buenos Aires. Armenians are planning their vacations, but maybe this year the distance to travel for vacation will be short as the economy continues a long agony.
Shenorhagal em Raffí, your brain is refreshing armenia again!!!
(Sorry about my precambrian english)
Juan Augusto Abadjian

Hello... again?
I'll try and do better than my last message. It won't be that difficult since all it said was... "hello"!
Ok, perhaps I should start by introducing myself. My name is (as you may have read above) Raffi Niziblian. Yes, I know what you are thinking... too many Raffi's to keep track of! How do you think we feel? I work for Scouts Canada in Montreal, Quebec. I've got a BA in communication studies and am now in the process of completing a diploma in community economic development. I live with the two best people of the female gender, my wife Lara and my 17 month old daughter Amassia. I have been to Armenia 3 times (1988, 1999 and 2001). I met Raffi Kojian and Zabel during an LCO campaign in 1999. Which I must say was one of the best experiences in my life. Lara and I are now working on settling in Armenia in the near future. I want to thank Raffi K. for giving me the opportunity to voice my thoughts and share some ideas with the readers of this log.
Speaking of names, I would like to start by say a few words about naming Armenian children. Although this topic had been an issue for me for a while, it only started becoming more apparent when we were going to have our own baby. Everyone was concerned about what the name would be. It's funny how everyone also thought that their name would be best suited for our baby. Some said that we should name him or her (since we didn't know the sex at the time) after one of our grandparents or parents... How unoriginal!
Why would I want my sons name to be Levon like my dad or Ara like Lara's? Why shouldn't my baby have his/her own identity? That's exactly what we did. Lara and I were aware of the fact that there are both anglophones and francophones (these words exist in the Canadian English dictionary) in Montreal. Hence, the name should be easily pronounced in either of the languages. Naming her an English or French name like Kathy or Suzy (Jack or Peter for boy) was OUT OF THE QUESTION. I think the caps indicate how I feel about that issue. Let me explain. There are very pretty names and quite original in the Armenian culture. Who says that we should limit ourselves to Harout, Raffi, Tamar or Mari? Well, one of the ways we tried to be original was to start looking in the history books... then we looked at names of new Armenian role models... al the end we took a look at the Amenian map. Aaaah, Amassia! That sounded great, a delicate yet proud name for an Diaspora Armenian.
So why then do most of my friends feel that they have to make it easier for the average Canadian or American by naming thier sons John and Marc or their Daughters Jennifer or Jessica? If people could say Mitsumi Takahashi (she is a News anchor woman) or Arnold Swartzenager, then why can't they say Ashot or Anush?
Well, hope I have given some people food for thought as I have received some from the other logs. Thanks Shushig and Raffi M for your great hints and ideas...

Break # 23049203949 from studying for finals: First of all.... I need a tutorial on how to use this function of "putting in the link"...cause look how easy Raffi did it....i must've missed something! :) Well, i'll catch on sooner or later..... (let's hope!)

Ok, I noticed something today. Everyone talks about the weather in their logs.....so here is the weather forecast for LA today... It's nice! haha :) No j/k.... Last night we had this storm....wow....thunder and lightening and everything! And of courseeee it never fails...it starts POURING when i need to get to my car to come home. I bet everyone is thinking... "yaaaaaaaaaaaa that happens to me too!" . :)

Well let's see, today I discovered something new.... (here goes nothing!) ... www.demkradio.com. It's an online radio station...but so much more! They tell you what song is playing, and from what album - you even have the option of buying it right there! Now people are going to think i'm putting in a plug...but honestly, I think it's so important what these people are doing. The more "accessible" we make our culture (in this case music) to the youth, the chances are higher that they will pass that torch on. This weekend I had the opportunity to hear an Armenian writer speak about Armenian Culture. It was very interesting to hear him say how important the Armenian language is, as part of the components of our culture. One thing he said that made me think was the following: He said that it was OKAY for youth to prefer to speak a different language other than Armenian, because it's what comes naturally to them. BUT, he said that language is one of the bricks in our "wall of culture". If you take ONE brick out from a foundation....the building is not guaranteed to stand for very long. Language is the same. Removing language from our culture makes it less sturdy, and that's when total assimilation kicks in. He also talked about "AZK" - "Nation". He compared the nation of Armenians to America. He said that America is not an "azk"....it's just a collection of people. He defined an "azk" as a group who has the same language, religion, history, literature, etc....and if you live in America, all you have to do is take a look around you and you'll see that America thrives on the very opposite---diversity. So, losing language from our culture, the Armenian culture would mean a lot more than "someone now speaking Armenian".

Wow....now that I think of it...that is a lot to think about. I always believed that for someone to be "Armenian" it wasn't necessary for them to know the language. Sure, it's a plus, but we have to be realistic right? Well, now that he has put it THAT way.....i'm thinking again. Reflecting on my own views...one of the main reasons I wanted to become an Armenian teacher is probably what that author was talking about. I want to pass on the passion I have for Armenian, whether it's history or literature or art...to AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE! I look at the Armenian books that students today use, and I say to myself..."how could THISSSS compare to the books this kid reads in english?" ....truth is....it can't.
On the flip side, I know MANY MANY Armenians who know how to read, write, speak Armenian perfectly well....yet does that make them Armenian? What about those who don't know much more than "parev"....but are enthusiastic and contributing members to their Armenian communities? Are they LESS Armenian for not knowing the language? Definitely not!!!

I don't have the answers.....nor do I think I ever will. I only wish those who were telling me last summer in Armenia, ("Why would you EVER come live here when you could live in America!?) .... I wish they could read these logs and possibly, for one second, imagine what it's like to be Spyoorkahye.
(back to the books....) :) TSUH!

Boston, MA: After reading Shooshig's latest logs, I decided to check out the Arlex wish list to see what that was all about. I know many people that work at Arlex (a law firm) in Yerevan, Armenia and noticed their outstanding work first hand while visiting Armenia in May of 2001. Started by Diasporan Armenians and now consisting of a blend of Armenian residents and diasporan Armenians, the law firm is a model of excellence in what can be achieved when resources are directly focused on Armenia. I am interested in supporting the Hover Choir due to my interest in music and the arts. However, the general fund sounds like a great place to start in making a donation. I have decided that instead of spending money giving gifts to friends and family this year, I will instead write all of my loved ones a card and tell them that I have send a donation to the Arlex Wish List in their name. I feel kind of funny giving people gifts they really don't need. Instead, I'd rather spend my money toward a worthy Armenia cause. The Arlex Wish List, I assure you, is a great idea due to the fact that I know the money is going to go where it should... directly to the people.

The "Yeraz" CD is continuing to turn heads in the Armenian and non- Armenian press. I was contacted by the local NPR affiliate in Fairbanks, Alaska interested in featuring "Yeraz" in his regular world music program. It has also been chosen as a "Critics Pick" on the CD Baby world music section of their website. In addition, Pomegranate Music has been contacted by a number of distributors ready to pick up our label for nationwide distribution here in the U.S. and in Europe. It's really interesting to see how non- Armenians have been taken by Gor's music. Recently, there was an article written about Gor and his debut CD on ArmeniaWeek.com by Lawrence Ritter. While I have been deeply interested in Gor's lyrics and style of music, I learned through that article about the meaning of one of the songs, Gechdod Btzer (Stigma). I was shocked as to how Gor has decided to tackle such a taboo subject in Armenian society.

I am torn whether to visit Armenia during my Winter Break from my MBA program. I have about six weeks and want to take a three week trip to Yerevan to check up on some artists I am scouting as well as solidifying some upcoming projects for the label. Right now, we have Lav Elie up on the board as our next release, featuring the music of a very talented musician named Mher Manoukian. The genre is Armenian Rock and progessive in its sound and feel. Anyone from Hayastan knows who Lav Elie is and should be happy to know that they are currently working on their debut worldwide CD for Pomegranate Music. I'll keep you posted on the recording process and how "Yeraz" is doing on the charts.

I'll try to talk a little more about the local Armenian community in Boston, MA next time. I've lived here 12+ years after moving from Chicago in 1989. It's a fascinating scene as far as Armenian stuff goes. More next time...

http://www.arlex.am/wishlist.htm I give up.....copy/paste! :)

Oops....let's try this again..... here's the link...http://www.arlex.am/wishlist.htm I hope it worked this time!

"Sunday Sunday"...oh wait....i think the song is for Monday.....oh well :) Sunday mornings are always so calm...and the weather today in LA is so beautiful it kind of makes me regret I have to be indoors studying. (This is break #1....1 of probably millions..haha..u know how it is!). This morning, I heard my dad flipping through channels on the TV, and of course the Armenian Channel came up (not the 24-hr one we have in S. Cali, cause my neighborhood can't get it....go figure!)....and they were showing some religious person (pardon the lack of correct terminology) giving some sort of sermon.......on the tv.......on a sunday......in between commercials for Armenian bakeries and barahanteses (dances). Am i the only person who thinks this is-----uhhhhh.....WEIRD? Fine, i get the idea...they want to at least reach the people who don't go to church on Sundays, but rather are opting to watch Armenian TV. I guess in THAT sense, it may be a good idea. But does it really "replace" or is it as effective as actually attending church...the whole atmosphere of it all...? Look what has been started in Armenia.....the Diaspora should model this!!! ------> Go down to #3....the "Catechism Program". (in the mean time, if you'd like to help with the wishlist....that would be awesome!)

Youth Today: You know what's funny? Armenian adults think that young Armenians are these adolescents living in little bubbles not affected by drugs, STD's, gangs, violence, media, alcoholism, etc. WAKE UP CALL!!!!! There are DOZENS of young Armenians who .....YES, use drugs.....YES are in gangs.... YES have some form of alcoholism ....YES engage in premarital sex... What makes ALLLLL of this maybe a trillion times worse, is the fact that the Armenian community just chooses to not deal with it. Sure, there are a couple of people who come out and talk about it, and try to do something....but it's not long before they're "hushed". Well guess what---not talking about it, and not DEALING with it is what makes everything A LOT worse! Some people have the attitude that it's just a phase. Phase? No. Addictions are not phases.
So why am i writing about this? I guess because I'd like everyone who reads this to actually see it in writing. Maybe it'll trigger something in SOMEONE's head... Maybe a parent will look at their teenager a little closer to determine what s/he is really up to. Maybe they'll even talk to them about it. Armenians are not immune to worldly problems. Sure, we love to think that we are "different", but as the years have passed....we are becomming a lot less "different" than everyone else out there. Armenian children are also growing up watching the same TV, listening to the same music, playing the same video games, buying the same clothes, going to the same hang-outs, etc. as other youth. We are just like everyone else...especially those of us born here.
This is just one of the things that need to be dealt with in the Armenian communities in the diaspora....at least in mine. Take a look at your community.... and choose to make a difference! TSUH :)

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 :)

I'm here to dilute the number of American spiurkahay on the log.....so here goes.......half Armenian, half northern-irish and I live in England, studying for a masters in Electronic Engineering at Cambridge University. Having read the logs for a few months, I'm now understanding how hard it is to write them!

I've just spent my second summer in Hayastan working for two months and having an amazing time out there meeting lots of fantastic people and enjoying the life and surroundings. I actually went on one of Raffi and Ashod's adventures into the Lori outback, and an illegal excursion into Georgia.......spectacular scenary, really hospitable villagers and really amusing!

Prior to this recent summer, I had been to Hayastan once for five weeks the previous summer and had travelled extensively around most of it, including a most memorable trip to Artsakh with a short-arse (actually, I think they all are...) egyptian Armenian, Razmig, who won't be reading this anyway! Having no knowledge of the language I spent some time at the AUA (American University of Armenia) learning the basics, and am now supposedly quite funny to listen to and even funnier to look at as I'm half Armenian but look very very English...

I'm going to try and get Raffi to post some of my photos of Hayastan this past summer.

Wow....it's Friday already! TGIF!!! Or not? I'm not sure yet....friday usually means i'm running around from one place to another and by the end Friday I'm just glad the darn day is over! :) So let me tell you part of th reason why Friday's are hectic... Ever since I was 16, I've been an Assistant to the Youth Group leader at AYF Juniors Meetings, which are held Fridays 6-8pm. It's actually been a great learning experience for me (che vor I'm gonna be a teacher). (by the way: this is just ONE of the things I've managed to get myself into and i guess in a way addicted to...You'll find out the rest eventually! And then you'll be thinking "When does this girl have time to do this stuff!!??" I wonder that EVERYDAY!) So that's what I do on Fridays... every week we have an educational during the meeting. Last week I talked about ANC, and had arranged for my friend Naiery who works at the ANC office, to bring some folding work for the kids to do. Haha...maybe it wasn't that great of an idea to have them fold the bulletins (it was kind of hard getting them folded straight) but after learning what ANC is and what they do...folding to the kids was like.. "Wow, I did something too!" Which is the point....you could be doing the little-est, most "insignificant" thing, but in the bigger scheme of things, you were a link in the big chain. It's great!
Last week, I spent 2-3 days reading a lot of material I printed from the internet about Hampig Sassounian. Actually....I might post my findings here so that everyone could read it (after all I didn't read all that for no reason). I find it ironic that Raffi just posted Soghomon Tehlirian's trial, because one of the things I read was this THICK synopsis of Hampig's 1995 Appeal Hearing. I feel I know so much more now... Awareness is important! I'll tell you guys about this a little later.
So i've been wondering....WHO READS THIS??? and also, i wonder about the impressions they get of this 21 year old spyoorkahye... Hehe...maybe i'll find out some day! That would be cute...if one day I meet someone and they say, "Heyyyy I used to read your logs on cilicia!!"....wow, they'd know A LOT more about me than I'd know about them! :)
Yesterday I received the packet from the Grad School I'm planning on applying to. What will i study? I'm thinking of going for the 3-yr plan to get my PhD in Education Technology. Big decision huh..... That means 1) not moving to Hayasdan for at least another 3 years... 2) having a $40,000 loan by the time I'm done... 3) not moving to Hayasdan for another 3 yrs. You can see which is of more concern to me. I'll apply....see what happens. Anyways, I feel like I'm babbling....I better go have my coffee and start this day. Tomorrow the studying begins for finals. :| Definitely not looking forward to that. TSUH :)

Alright, now that I know that what I'm writing is showing.....Here we go!!!
OK, I'm Shooshig Avakian and i'm from Los Angeles...actually La Crescenta, California. I'm a senior at Cal State University Northridge majoring in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Armenian. I'm originally a Glendale-tsi (born and raised) which I guess makes me Amerigahye. :) I'm very excited to be part of this log...maybe some people might like/dislike what i say sometimes, but hey..i'm the logger...u're the reader :) j/k

Like Raffi M. I'm also in the middle of finals, but I'm looking forward to the end of next week which will bring WINTER BREAK!!! yay! Let's see....I've been to Hayasdan a total of 3 times. The first time was in 1997. That year I participated in the AYF's Youth Corps Program (see www.ayfwr.org for info) and I stayed in the village of Ashan in Artsakh for 6 weeks and helped rebuild a school into a camp for the scouts. Then I participated in the Youth Jamboree at Lake Sevan for 2 weeks. Those 8 weeks in Artsakh and Hayasdan changed my life forever.... After 97, I've returned to Hayasdan in 2000 and 2001. My conclusion is: I would not want to live anywhere else in the world other than Hayasdan. (more to come on this)

I know that compared to Hayasdan or even the East Coast the "freezing" weather here is like a normal spring day there. But never-the-less, it's COLD outside... Alright, i'm off to school! TSUH

Hi, my name is Raffi Meneshian from Boston, MA. I am currently an MBA candidate at the University of Massachusetts at Boston and the owner of Pomegranate Music, a world and classical music label. I was kindly asked to participate in the newly created "Life in the Armenian Diaspora" log here at cilicia.com by Raffi Kojian. I look forward to contributing to this log and hope I may have something to say that may interest some of you.

Since I am in the middle of finals in addition to promoting Pomegranate Music's first release- "Yeraz" by Gor Mkhitarian, I will probably be MIA for a week or so until things settle down. However, in the meantime, please check out some sound samples of "Yeraz" by clicking on the ad banner at the top of the page. Purchase copies for friends and family for the holidays if you would like.

The creation of Pomegranate Music came after visiting Armenia this past May and meeting numerous talented musicians who did not have a venue to display their enormous talent. While current trends in recorded Armenian music tend to favor Rabiz, syth based pop, and stuff put out by Nune, Aram Assatrian, and Tata, I felt that new artists and a fresh approach to Armenian music was needed via Pomegranate Music recordings. Thus, it will be the goal of Pomegranate Music to present world premier recordings of classical Armenian works, contemporary acoustic-based Armenian rock and pop, jazz, and experimental music to general listeners globally while maintaining a high standard of packaging and design for all of our CD's. Musicians featured on Pomegranate Music will all be residents of Armenia, with all recordings being done in Armenia. Our CD's will eventually be featured at all name brand music stores around the country in places like Tower, HMV, Virgin, and Borders all with the "Recorded in Armenia" stamp on each and every disc.

So, I'd better sign off and get back to work here. In the meantime, I hope you have the chance to consider investing in Armenia's future in music by supporting local Armenian musicians and enjoy some groundbreaking and world-class music via Pomegranate Music recordings. Hey, I ain't too proud to beg...

Note to readers: because diasporan loggers are all over the world, the standard time I have used for their logs shows the time in ARMENIA (GMT +4). So to figure out what time it is where they are (or even day) you will have to do little calculation.

Hmmm...let's see if shoosh knows what she's doing! ...here goes nothing!

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