For the first time since coming to Armenia, I needed a wire transfer to get some cash... I usually just use the ATM. Wiring was such a harrowing experience, requiring the help of two relatives, and numerous phone calls. This is of course not a complicated procedure and I know people who have done the same thing instantly, but my bank (which I usually like) exhibited exceptional incompetence. It reminds me that "customer service" and employee competence may be better in America, but they sure are not guaranteed. What should have taken half an hour instead took two days with them literally calling me TWO DAYS after filling out the form themselves (and saying it was complete) to ask for additional information, like the address of the bank in Armenia! I was ready to tear my hair out, as the reason I needed to wire the money was because I was in a RUSH. Beginning with my attempts to do this online myself (wire transfer function became unavailable for 3 days), it took 7 days for the money to head out of my account there... now I just hope it actually makes it to Armenia ;-)

For those of you who have been following the news, Turkey just made HUGE reforms yesterday that the nationalists are going to try to overturn. If they stick it will truly be a HUGE step forward towards a more civilized Turkey. Also if they stick it will be very hard in the future to reverse that kind of progress. Aside from the highly publicized abolishment of the death penalty in peacetime (I don't know why the EU doesn't let countries decide this issue for themselves) they removed the ban on the Kurdish language, AND removed the restrictions on minority communities like the Armenians, Greeks and Jews. I have not had a chance to read more about this in greater detail, but I am looking forward to it. The churches should be allowed to aquire new property, to repair what they have, etc, etc... if anyone finds a detailed article outlining the specifics I would love to see it. The Turks have claimed that Armenians were allowed to live as equals, but with Armenians not allowed to build school, or attend the ones they have, or repair churches, etc, it was such a blatant lie that it reminds you of genocide revisionists.

Today we go to Ashtarak for a bbq and picnic. It will be nice to get out of the HOT city... yesterday at Vernissage we were melting away.