I haven’t returned to Gyumri in 8 years. That was my first visit to Armenia. Through a sister-city exchange program, I traveled to Gyumri for two weeks during the miserable times of 1994 at the age of 16. I suppose I’ve always had a fear that it would look exactly the same as it did 8 years ago… buildings still crumbling, domigs everywhere, no improvement whatsoever. I guess I was wrong for the most part. Yes, people are still living in domigs, there is still rubble, but you need to look for it to find it. International organizations seem to have done a good job covering it up, I guess. I don’t know what lies beneath the flashy construction and smiling faces, but it sure isn’t the same Gyumri I remember.

I’m slowly but surely preparing to return to the States… as I type this, I’m attempting to open Monster.com on the very slow internet that has been giving us problems all week. I already prepared my resume, have my apartment, as I logged before, and I’m receiving more e-mails from friends and family asking for a concrete date that I arrive to prepare festivities. All the while, I’m wondering how on earth I’m going to be able to finish a meal without a nice cup of Armenian soorj after my dinners. What on earth will I do at nights, as here I have grown so accustomed to dinner out every night with friends. The thought of watching TV at night frightens me.

But what a summer it has been. 6 months of ups and downs, truly finding a niche in Armenia. Laying out a foundation here seems to be the smartest thing I done, so now I have one foot in the door. A move to Armenia doesn’t seem so out of reach anymore.

I have named my friend Samuel the official “Repatriate Recruitment Agency,” but I think perhaps on my return to Armenia, I might begin the US branch to make sure I have people moving with me when I’m ready. Soon enough, Sam!