Now that I have my head screwed back on I will share my first impressions of both countries. When I first got to Sydney my impression was how green and clean everything was and how full of life it appeared. My first day back to Yerevan, I noticed how bare the streets were and how grey everything was. The trees are just bare and there's hardly anyone on the streets no matter what time of day (that's my opinion anyway and I guess I'm not used to seasonal changes where the trees always stay green in Sydney).

Another big factor is the casualness in Australia where I am considered "normal", Raffi K. also mentioned this in a previous log. To give you an example when I was in Canberra I found myself saying g'day to passers by, I can't seem to do that here. I'm not saying it's wrong that the people stare at me here, I'm just saying I miss being casual, uninteresting and normal.

Also as Raffi K. mentioned I miss the IKEA's and hardware stores, its not impossible to find those items here, it's just difficult. Yes and I had missed the beaches but when I saw Ararat this morning on my way to work, I gasped as it looked incredibly beautiful. I had missed my flat in Yerevan and now that I've unpacked and cleaned up, it feels great being back. I also wanted to mention the warm welcome I received from everyone at my office and the AVC staff, they really are a great bunch of people.

Yeah I'm back! Again the trip took 42 hours. To give you an idea I went from Sydney to Melbourne, Singapore, Bahrain, London, then from London back to Georgia onto Armenia. Ok have to mention the weather, almost the whole time I was in Sydney it rained and it was terribly humid. Of course the whole time I was away, Armenia had great warm weather and it's now cold again. So much for the weather update however I did manage to get a couple of days at the beach in Sydney and soaked up some much needed vitamin D.

On my first day back (yesterday) I went to Orran with 2 volunteers from AVC, Gohar and Hratch who presented the project of "Clean Yerevan" to the street kids at the centre. This Saturday being the first Saturday of the month, we are cleaning up the streets of Yerevan again. So this time we decided to ask for volunteers at Orran and already 9 of the kids have put up their hand to clean the streets. We will meet them outside Armenia Hotel on Saturday and start cleaning, at the same time increasing the concept of volunteerism and keeping the city clean.

It's good to be back, I have a few letters, photos etc to distribute to Hayastantsis given to me from people from Sydney. A lot happening here and I feel totally recharged and ready for action. Also the legendary Raffi Meneshian is in town and it�s great to see him. G'day to all the readers, all for now.

I found this interesting article on RFE/RL today... to those of you considering getting a place in Armenia, what can I say but hurry up!

REALTORS SEE MORE BUOYANT MARKET AS HOUSING PRICES RISE

By Shakeh Avoyan

Housing prices in Yerevan soared by ten percent last month and will likely continue to growth in the months to come, the Armenian government agency registering real estate deals said on Monday. Officials there attributed the more buoyant market to an improved
macroeconomic situation and a greater influx of capital from Armenians working abroad.

"There is a fairly strong growth in the number of transactions that affect the whole market," said Arshak Khachatrian, a senior official at the government's Real Estate Registry. "Demand is definitely higher than supply at the moment. This is why we are witnessing a continuing increase in prices."

Figures released by the agency show that the number of real property transactions across Armenia increased by 17 percent last year. The number of apartment rents shot up by 50 percent, according to the government data.

Khachatrian said this year will see an acceleration of last year's trends. "We are predicting a 20-25 percent rise in prices in the first half of the year," he said.

Vartan Avagian of the private real estate agency Bars agreed, saying: "The rise in prices has been going on for about one and a half years. I think it will continue."

The Armenian housing market is still reeling from the Russian economic crisis of 1998. The flow of vital money remittances from Russia and other former Soviet republics practically dried up, pushing the prices down dramatically.

This week was 'Duruntez' also knows as 'Dyaruntarach'.
40 days after Christ was born, He was taken to the church on this day. Duruntez-Dyaruntarach is 'to go forward to meet Christ', an explanation given by the Armenian Church.
The way it's celebrated in Armenia has a zesty flavor to it.
Even when I was a kid, Armenians kept their Christmas tree decorated, and on Dyaruntarach took it out to street to burn. In later years this tradition died in Lebanon.
This week in Armenia couples joined hands and jumped over flames in their wedding costumes to get married in the church. A sight worth seeing.
Believers walked to church and lit candles and carried them all the way to their homes.
Once upon a time when we worshipped the fire we took our newborns, engaged and new weds to it for blessing and good fortune.
So, what conclusion should we draw?
That the Armenian Church is very wise?
That we are a strong people?
That we are struck in our old ways?
Or, all of the above:)

Hello, hello, hello.
We've been back for ten days now.
Wanted to share these news with you all.
Population of Armenia is more than three million and two hundred thousand!
In October each household answered a survey comprising of 32 questions. A way to figure out the ethno- socioeconomic layers/ structure of Armenia.
(Sample questions: the place you live in is it an apartment, or a house.
How many rooms?
What's the exterior like?
Are you satisfied with garbage removal system
What's your profession?
What's your income?
Do you have another source of income?�)
The preliminary result of the survey is the population number Three million and two hundred thousand and something�

Well I am still in California... the weather (which we seem to always have to mention, yet I still find interesting) is pretty nice. A bit cool at night, but often over 70f and supposedly going to hit 80 tomorrow. Woohoo! It is nice visiting family and friends. Did I mention I sold my condo here? Prices have just gone nuts, and I sold it in 2 weeks. So now I am homeless in LA.

So the good news is I have an interesting tentative job offer in Armenia... why do they always have to be interesting? Why never normal? I am waiting for the final offer to materialize, but I *think* it is just too interesting to pass up. Unfortunately as usual, it is only a couple of months of work and then I'd be unemployed again...

So now that I am back in California, what did I miss about America you ask? Well, I admit it, a car. I hate cars, its true, but sometimes having a nice, solid, reliable car on good roads is a fantastic feeling. What else? Not all the bazillion stores selling ridiculous things you don't need, but the biggies that make things so easy. Costco, Home Depot, the Walmart equivalents and IKEA. What other stores are needed in life? I guess thats about it. I miss the beach too, but it is winter anyways, so I don't get to "go" to the beach anyways. The other thing I miss is being normal, uninteresting. In Armenia, when someone meets an American-Armenia, they are almost surely interested in asking a bunch of often amusing, often personal, often excessive questions. If you are there as a tourist for a couple of weeks, this can be really cool, and make you feel in touch with people and with the homeland. But after years of living there, being asked yet again whether America or Armenia is "better" gets old.

So what do I miss about Armenia? Well my flat, first of all. Yes, it really feels like my home. It should after all that remonding I complained about ;-) There are sofas and the floors are fixed and everything is just just right. I miss walking around the streets of Yerevan, I miss weekend trips, I miss all my little eateries, and before I am killed, I miss my friends over there ;-) I would say I miss the fruits and veggies which are so good, but all they have in the winter is potatoes, onions, beets and cabbage. Then at various times during the winter they have carrots, celery, mandarins, persimmons and pomegranates. It is funny, I see tomatoes here priced at a dollar or more a pound and it seems sooo expensive... but actually you can buy tomatoes in Armenia during the winter for that same price. You just never do because it seems sinful to spend so much on something that costs under 5 cents a pound in the summer.

I made it; it only took 40 hours! I left Yerevan in minus something, got to London and it was plus 12! I thought what the hell this is heatwave, start taking the fleeces off. Unfortunately I didn't venture out cause by the time I checked my luggage in for the next leg of my flight, it was practically dark by 5pm and it was grey and overcast anyway. I was going to take one of those touristy bus trips into town, oh well maybe next time.

I watched 5 movies on the flight: Serendipity, Jump Tomorrow, The Score, America's Sweethearts and Enigma. Mind you this was ONLY between London and Singapore, I'm not going to tell you what I did between Singapore and Sydney, another 8 hours. I really do hate flying these distances, I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got to Sydney with no SLEEP. After London where it was 12 degrees, Singapore was 29 degrees and humid. Sunny Sydney was not sunny at all, it was humid and raining and it looks like the rain is here to stay for a couple of days. Although I did see the Harbour Bridge just before landing and what a site!

I saw my whole family on the first day (yesterday) and my best friend. What else is there to do? My first bite of a mango was great, hmmm. Oh the Aussie chocolate well yes. So today, since it's raining, I will take advantage and make a visit to the Doctor for an overall check up. This arvo (afternoon) I will catch up with a few friends. I will make a mental list of what I've missed during my absence of nine months, will keep you informed.