Is society dumbening? I wonder if 50 years ago it was as acceptable to not know who the current vice president is. Now it gets you on the Jay Leno show. Well, good for him, at least he makes fun of these people. This is definitely a time in society that accepts stupidity, but if the people want stupid, let them have it. But I sure don't want to stick around to see where it takes them.

Anyway, things are looking more bleak these days on the job front, but the good news is that I'm making plans. After years of denying the web design field, shunning it away and forever banning it from my list of to dos, I've decided to learn HTML. I'm told it's easy, but the dreamweaver instruction book with have me think otherwise. That book seems convinced that it's easier to learn if I have no idea what it's talking about. What's with the revelation you ask? For years everyone suggested going into web and before they can finish their sentence, I always cut them off to say, "No, I don't want to design websites, I only print." "But Arsineh, the internet is the way of the future, there is such a demand, that's where the money is!" Those are all the reason that turn me off. When you love your job, statements like "that's where the money is" don't mean anything. So I didn't learn. But I did have a revelation. All these plans for moving to Armenia, creating a life for myself in the freelance design world, they are all good and fun, but how do I get there? It's time to accept that designing web is the best solution. I can have clients across the world, it won't matter. I can make better money, sure. Why not... if it get's me to Armenia, what's the harm in wanting more money? So the decision is made. I'll do what it takes, even web design. So if anyone needs a web designer, call me up in a few months, I'll be highly proficient by then... I hope!

So did you know that tea is more caffinated than coffee? (and it's easier on your tummy too) Well, all that iced tea and then "chay" was not a good idea, because I have to wake up in 5.5 hours, and yet I'm still awake. This isn't going to be pretty tomorrow. This weekend was a busy one. We're going to be selling our house soon, so you know what that means. We have to start cleaning all the stuff that's lying around, so the house looks "bigger"... are we creating an optical illusion or what? Well, this meant I had to empty my closet and box stuff up and take them to storage. It also meant I had to go through all my books (I think I have Barnes and Nobles in my room) and decide what I wouldn't need for about 6 months. Now THAAAAT was difficult. Needless to say, I'm very attached to my books and I will still be working on this project during this week.

As for the rest of the weekend, it was spent doing laundry and ironing. I don't understand why my brother insists on wearing button-down shirts instead of t-shirts. I think that he should be the one ironing them...maybe then he'll begin liking t-shirts a lot more. Hmmmmmmm.

I decided to start reading "Zartonk" (by Malkhas) again. A year and a half ago I started it, and I've gotten to the end of the 2nd book, but unfortunately, now I have messed up all the stories in my head and must start from the WAY beginning so I know who's who and what's what. Maybe this time, I'll keep a reading log so in the event I can't keep reading again, all I'd have to do is look at my notes. I have this idea.... I wanna start an Armenian Book Club. You know, how people read the same book within a given time, and then come together to discuss the book...maybe even have the author present (if they're alive)... only I wanna do this with Armenian books! Think of how awesome that would be... so even if you were to just watch or listen to the "show", then you'd have knowledge about the book and the author and the ideology.

TSUH for now.... :)~~

The highlight of my week seems to be my parking discovery. It turns out the parking garage accross the street offers $75/month for parking between 4pm and 9am. Some may be laughing at how ripped off I got, but only the ones who don't know Beacon Hill. I believe normal monthly rates for all day parking any day could reach $285/month. Now who's laughing? ME! Now that the cool air has already frozen my ears numb after one day of taking the train and bus, I am a happier woman knowing I don't have to wait standing in the snow for 30 minutes for the 71 bus to roll around. I did the public transport commute long enough years ago. I'm so sad that this is the only interesting thing to talk about this week... Maybe I'll travel soon again!

Another Monday.... just 6 more weeks of school left and I will be DONE.... D-O-N-E... finished... verchatsadz.. (i think you get it). So my life for the past 2 weeks has been quite dull. I've mostly been in bed reading textbooks, watching the horrible TV programming that Arsineh was just talking about, or surfing the net (lots of useless info has crammed up my brain). Yes, I had the pleasure of having tonsilitis. Lovely... just lovely. The amount of pain it caused didn't quite matter as much as the fact that I DID NOT TALK for an entire 2 weeks. This had not happened since I was 15 months old.... so you can imagine how happy my family was! haha! But I feel much better now, and I'm starting to realize that maybe I am going to work on creating a bubble around me so that I don't get all these germs that kids keep passing on to me like candy. So that was that...

During this whole time when I wasn't able to speak, I was also trying to put my Fulbright application in order. Yes, I'm applying for a Fulbright scholarship to research in Armenia for 10 months. Let's see what happens. With being sick, and my advisor wanting my application package 10 days earlier than expected, I think I did a pretty good job of putting something together. I mean, if I get it.. I get it.... if not.... we'll just move right along to other possibilities.

There's really not much else going on except for midterms (ahhhh, very sad that these will be my last mid terms of my undergrad career...NOT). I'm excited that in November all of my cousins are flying in to San Francisco so we can go to my sister's senior recital at the conservatory. It's a big deal for her, all these people are coming from all over just to hear her perform. She's even doing a few Armenian pieces! This weekend my cousin celebrated her birthday with a bunch of friends at this club downtown called "The Mayan". The entire place has a Mayan theme, so that was very interesting. The main club area plays salsa, and there's a hip-hop room and I didn't quite figure out what the other room was, but there were some other options to salsa. The evening was great, but I couldn't help wondering what a HUGE club with an Armenian theme would be like..right here in L.A. (Hmmmm...somebody should steal my idea and do it!)

I watched the ARARAT trailer, and I'm planning to be one of the MANY MANY people who bombard the theatres the weekend of Nov. 15 to see it... maybe even see it twice or three times. From what I saw..... well..... I'll just write about it after I see the entire thing. But now the logs of others who have already seen it started to make a lot more sense to me.

I'm off to school...
TSUH! :)~

So I was freshening up for my next photo shoot when I realized my blush was all wrong. I went berzerk. What is this with the "model-like" Arsineh business? Thanks for the flattering words, guys! For those who may not know me well, this is a contradiction to my character. I'm the last person to be concerned about blush. It's my "natural beauty" that makes me model like! :) Kidding.

I woke up this morning to something that particularly disturbed me. Aside from the fact that my roommate must have accidentally set the alarm on the stereo that blasted FNX (a heavy metal radio station in Boston) playing System of a Down at 8 in the morning (remember I'm unemployed), there was something else that troubled me. By the way, System on the radio is never a way to wake up. I love them, but come on. Anyway, after the song was over, I heard the DJs talking about a new TV show. Apparently there is a new show coming out soon that showcases musicians competing with each other. Seems harmless, right? Not quite. The musicians are prisoners. Not only that, they are incarcerated for murder. Now these violent criminals are being exploited for marketing schemes and rating boosts by network idiots who lost the meaning of responsible programming long ago. The reason it's drawing attention is that a woman whose daughter was killed by one of those musicians was sifting through channels and saw her daughter's killer on TV.

I know I've rambled on before about America and how the societal standards are going down the tubes right now, but this is just the icing on the cake. I got into a discussion a few days ago about the death penalty with someone and how I am completely against it, but the problem is that this country has no concept of punishment for a crime. Any benefits the prisoners get, the excuse given is that it's a rehabilitation technique. Anyone see "Oz" lately? They have cable, gyms, music, drugs, anything a prisoner could want, except voting rights. BIG deal, most of the country doesn't even vote anyway. Given the lack of sensibility of the prison system, I'm starting to think I might change my mind and say fry 'em. Hell, if they are going to get a better chance at stardom and success in prison than my talented next-door neighbors who work their butts off for a break, fry 'em instead. I never spoke strongly about any of this, because really, who am I to talk, I've never been to prison (knock on wood), but this proves my point right here. They are waving it right in our faces, how can we not see.

I'm not trying to be the over sensitive adult waving my finger at kids telling them they're crazy and demanding censorship of every inch of skin they wave on television, even though there is plenty to censor. I am raging against the network executives for not practicing moral responsibility in a society that is already struggling. I'm calling on the generations that will follow to outrage against these sleazy greed driven jerks for exploitation of the market. Anything to get the ratings, right? I just don't want to change my mind about the death penalty. I would like to believe that it is still NOT the best solution.

Every once in a while, I like to read up on the other logs and just take in the diversity from other diasporans. I must admit that Raffi Niziblian's Montreal is a gem of a place to visit and even live. When I was in my "what am I going to do in life" phase a couple of years back after hitting the age of thirty, it was repeated trips to Montreal that got me on track and focused. I rented a place in Point Claire, Quebec for a few weeks and studied for the GMAT for grad school. At night I wandered the streets of Montreal hitting movie theaters, clubs, cafe's, etc. I really appreciated the sophisication and depth of the people there as well as the myriad of options culturally. It's also no secret that Montreal has the world's best Armenian community hands down. If you haven't been there, make it a point to go sometime. Especially if you live in North America and are in need of a European experience.


My meeting with the "model-like" Arsineh K. and noted photo journalist Garo Lachinian went very well the other day as we prepare to start production on Pomegranate's third CD release entited "Quake" by the band BAMBIR. This is a very different Pomegranate production in that we are taking an already published album and re-releasing it. The Pomegranate Music makeover will take place adding 24 pages of linter notes, translated lyrics, and photos. The 1999 release of this album did not attract much attention. I learned about the band and album through my friend Gor Mkhtitarian in Armenia. After one listen, I was pretty stunned as to what I heard and thought it fell into the Pomegranate Music model of what we are trying to do- namely promote and market new Armenian talent from Armenia in a mainstream and professional manner. All music must be recorded in Armenia from local musicians. You'll be hearing a lot more of these guys a few months from now. They're from Gumri and are in their late 40's in age. While the music has been recorded and just recently remastered, creating the CD booklet is the longest part of the CD production process. I am lucky to have the talents of Arsineh K. and Garo Lachinian helping out on this end of the Atlantic.

I saw P.T. Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love" last night. Great movie from the director of "Boogie Nights" and " Magnolia".

Armenia’s not the only place getting visitors.
Last weekend, Montreal as hopping with tourist. Most of the ones I met were Armenians from the US. It was Columbus Day there and it was the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. First to arrive was my Hokoor (paternal aunt) from Verginia on Thursday. Then on Friday I met the “model-like” Arsineh … yes, yes, the cilicia logger. It was nice putting a face to the name and words that she writes.
Saturday we were spoiled by Nune’s performance… does this woman have a voice or what! I also saw about a dozen or so Sayat Nova dancers (they were wearing a T-shirt with SNDC on it which gave them away)… not that they were trying to hide. It’s a good thing that they were there too. They put some life in the audience. In my end of the hall, I thought I was the only one clapping. I am really frustrated with these Armenians who come to a “POP” music concert and act as if they were at a Gomidas quartet performance. They all loved the show as they asked for 2 encores… but as soon as Nune started to sing, they all sat down again from their standing ovations and listened carefully… babam, buy the album and listen to the words at home… here you have to dance and clap and have FUN!
There was at least another person who was having fun… Amassia (2 yrs)! We had convinced her that Nune was an Armenian Princess and she had to dance when Nune would sing… and she did! She is too adorable. Her favorite song, of course, is NUNE! She also sings with Tata’s dzaghigner and ztakh ach ztakh. (Varanta (3mnth) was there too).
Lat night I attended The Greek Ambassador’s book reading at Université de Montréal. Bought the book, will read it and give you some impressions. From what I heard him read, it sounds quite fascinating. It’s called the Caucuses Chronicles.
Tonight, Lara and I went to a youth forum with the guest speaker being Father Shnorh from LA. Very articulate and real person. Loved his style. I wish more clergymen start adopting a personal style and become closed to the people and not only stay on the alter. However, I missed Hrayr Hawk’s vernissage (by the way, this is a French word associated to art/gallery openings). Hawk has produced a beautiful 2003 agenda full of photos of his works since the beginning of his career. Will attend tomorrow. Oh, yes, Tomorrow I will drive to Toronto (6 hours) for a baptism. Will meet a few friends there, hopefully! I know the Armenian Medical Association is having a Barahantess that costs $150/ticket tomorrow… sorry, can’t afford.
I am choreographing a fashion show for the ARS (Laval). Sylva (Siramark Fashions) has designed 13 theatrical costumes inspired by Armenian historical and mythical characters (Anahid, Akhtamar, Mayr Hayastan, Angakhutyun). They are very nice and creative pieces. Very talented lady.
The best news I have is that I will be in Armenia very soon. On Nov. 6th to be exact. Can’t wait! My squash partner (and cousin) is not impressed. The only problem is that this will be the longest I have been away from my girls and I know I will miss them very much.
I think this has been a long and full log. I should stop now.

Still no luck with the job market. I feel like a student again living off of the bare minimum, buying the special deals of cheap Shampoo and Conditioner packs and avoiding my car so I don't have to pay for gas. Oh, it's not that bad, really. I get to take public transportation again. I forgot how entertaining that was. I was on the bus today and some girl sat next to me and started complimenting my rings... product of Vernisage, of course. Last week, I was sitting at the bus stop and a model scout asked me to go in for a modelling audition. But I felt a little silly taking a modelling offer after all these years of bashing the entire industry. Hypocrisy doesn't suit me. But I wont say I wasn't flattered. :)

Anyway, through all the glum hoplessness of the American economy, I'm finding sanity outlets. I'm now listening to the Hover CD I designed with Pomegranate Music and I'm so pleased with the outcome. I just got recommended by a friend to design Datevik Hovannesian's CD. I'm also getting started on the next Pomegranate CD, of which I will be working with Garo Lachinian, a photographer, to design the cover. It's definitely inspiring working with so many talents. So it's hard not to smile through all this when I still consider myself lucky. Hell, I even have my own office with a fancy computer and nicely painted light blue walls... the AYF office. I may not be getting paid much, but it's a place to hang my hat where there's high speed internet and privacy. Yipee!

I will confess I'm a little concerned for my parents. For those of you in Armenia who may not be up on the latest news in America... I know how you all avoid watching CNN. The "sniper" shootings in the Washington area have now killed what, 9 people? It is all happening in my parents' back yard. Can't say I'm not scared. I was talking to my father the other day and told him to walk zig zag everywhere and to pump gas with his back to the station (tips they've been giving on the news to avoid getting shot). I suppose my parents are grown up, they know how to handle themselves. They are so cute, though.

Let the bone chilling cold begin. I just dusted off my winter coats and I'm ready for frigid air. It's not freezing yet, but the symptoms are surfacing. I had to wear gloves yesterday. GLOVES!

So I went to Montreal last weekend, what a pleasure. It wasn't my first time, but the first time doesn't count because I went with my family when I was 13 and we spent maybe a day there, only to see the Olympic stadium. I doubt we even stepped foot in the city. 12 years later, I jumped on an opportunity. As I said before, I was connected with someone in Boston who I knew, but couldn't remember, likewise the other way. Well, when we finally met, we remembered each other. His name is Noubar. Not only that, but as I was telling a story about Armenia, he remembered having the same conversation with me while we were at the bar at AYF Olympics. Strange world. So I was a little late picking him up. I was at a meeting that ran late. Then I had a hard time finding his place in Harvard Square (He is from LA studying at Harvard Law), but finally found him. Only, he just remembered he had to hand in a paper of some sort. Then we realized neither of us knew how to get there. Hopped on MapQuest to get directions. Then he realized it would probably be a good idea to try to get a hotel reservation for him and his buddies driving up from Washington, DC (more LA boys that moved to the East Coast and Apo Niziblian, Raffi's brother). That took a while, but we finally got the engine started. Well, who can start a 5 hour drive without a cup of coffee. Keep in mind, we scheduled to leave at 6pm on a Friday night. It is now 8pm. He was a little hungry, so we drove to the best pizza place in town down the street. Well, there is no parking in Harvard Square, but we did manage to find open space right infront of the pizza joint for permit parking only. How could it hurt to park for 5 minutes, right? Ran in, got some pizza, and stepped outside. "Dude, where's my car?" It wasn't just a movie to me that night. My car vanished! 5 MINUTES!!! Towed away. We called the number on the sign and found my car in a lot. Not without my coffee, though. We got in a cab and grabbed my car. This is at about 9pm now. Back on track... well, with a detour. We got lost. You would think that I've been living in the Boston area for 5-6 years now, I'd know my way to a major highway. No dice. We ended up back in downtown Boston where I managed to find my way back to I-93. NOW we were on our way.

It was a nice drive up. It's always easier with people who react well under such circumstances. It all added to the adventure of the trip. We arrived in Montreal at 3am and found a hotel right on Crescent Street. I thought I went to Spring Break in Miami or to Mardi Gras, there were people shouting and screaming drunken ramblings up and down the street. What a spirit. I ended up staying with my dear friend Perouz.

The rest of the weekend, there was a relaxed tone. We went to eat all over, visited Old Montreal, called up some friends, had plenty of coffee. I finally got to meet Raffi Niziblian and his wife and daughter. What a great family. Cutest baby, too. Almost as cute as I once was. :) Funny enough, Raffi and I had the same idea for starting a sort of service in Armenia to help set Diasporans up in Armenia with jobs n such. I hope he gets the chance to do it. Good luck Raffi! I also got a chance to see my friend Lalai, meet others that I met once before at functions in the US. Lots of familiar faces, and very welcoming as well. I loved that the people I met didn't seem cold, curious, fake or dull. They were all very full of life and comfortable with me. These days in these communities, you can't find that very easily.

On the way back, the adventures continued. I went to breakfast with the boys and Noubar and I were back on our way to Boston. Silly us to think it would be just that easy. We stopped at the boarder thinking it would be a short wait. It was a parking lot. We had the doors open, music going, seats down. People got out of their cars and started walking around. Next thing I know, Someone walked up to the side of my car and asked, "So how many Armenians are there in Virginia?" My car is hard to miss. There are 5 bumper stickers Armenian related and my plates are still from Virginia. I started laughing. Then he asked which one of us dances with Sayat Nova Dance Company. That would be me again. It turns out he used to be in Sayat Nova back in 1985. ARMENIANS EVERYWHERE!!!! He said it would be a good hour wait. We didn't believe him. Noubar started joking that night would fall before we got to the border (which would have been 3 hourse later). We popped open the trunk, he grabbed his laptop to find entertainment. Turns out he downloaded the movie "Legally Blonde" just before the trip. So we sat and watched the entire movie. It was so appropriate for the occasion, for a movie about and LA girl going to Harvard Law... Noubar's exact story... except that he wasn't blonde or ditzy, but the social comparisons made for good laughs.

3 hours later, we got to the border. I should have known they would ask why I had an empty suitcase in the trunk... My apartment is so small there is no storage space, so I store my luggage in the trunk. Other than that, passing the border was fairly easy. We continued only to miss the first rest stop... which we NEEDED at that point. What the hell, I got to the entrance ramp and decided to drive backwards on the ramp to get to Micky Ds. It's a good thing I did it when I did, because a minute later, I saw a police car driving up that same ramp. This was a ride of many close calls. The rest of the way was smooth sailing. We got back to Boston around midnight. Back to the routine. The movie was hilarious!

ARGENTINA IN CRISIS, THE COMMUNITY PROGRESSING


I have lots of things to tell you!!!
From these southern lans armenian-argentineans are getting ready for what is going to be the first "Working days on Armenian Culture" on next October 18th and 19th. This workshop have a unique aim: to unify points of view to teach armenian in relation to the Republic of Armenia. All the institutions are taking part of this event, the non-institutional groups too. The idea borned when Ms. Rosita Youssefian went to the Armenia Diaspora Conference. At the time she came back, Carlos Hassassian, the most important journalist of the armenian community of Argentina got the idea to make this project, that will get closer local armenians with the Mother Republic.
What´s more about education and culture, the TADRON Cultural Center of Hamazkaín is presenting an interesting play called Son Palomas (They are doves). The play looks for a prevention of any kind of genocides. In the same building, a week ago started the three-month course of armenian history, from the ancient era up to present days. The course is lead by the Professor Rostom Apikian Malian, a young man that teaches armenian history in some armenian schools of Buenos Aires.
Last but not least about the educational aspect i tell you with proud that the ARDZRUNÍ Armenian School of the Bajo Flores quarter has inaugurated two new classrooms. One of them was built in memory of a well known armenian of the ARF called Tateós "TATO" Topalian, a diasporan soldier of the community. Well, i said with proud because the otherone is in memory of my grandparents, Kevork and Archaluís Abadjian, a way to give back something that community gave us first: a place to receive education. Ardzruní school is in a mid-low class quarter that needs help so it was the properly place to give support...
Now yess!!!! On the other hand an anniversary had been celebrated some weeks ago. The kahaná Mr. Arsham Bozoian came from Egypt in 1962 and since then he is serving to our community. Happy 40 years to Mr. Der Hair Bozoian, Master of the Armenian School and Church of Vicente Lopez. Sadly, the Mekhitarians suffered the lost of Kevork Balian priest, a man who leaded the Buenos Aires Mekhitarian school for many years.
Next 21st October, the Third Generation Magazine of the AGBU of Buenos Aires will be ready to be read. The next day 22th two members of the youth organization plus the older members are travelling to New York to assist to the AGBU Worlf Annual Meeting. This new magazine has hot articles as the problems of the geographical preserved zones in armenia, specially the lake sevan, an article about Ataturk an its relation with converted jews and the armenian genocide, interviews with argentinean diasporans living in other cities (not Buenos Aires) inside Argentina, and many more!!!
Homenetmenagans are doing party. They enjoyed the Navasartian games of South America where Uruguayans, Brazilians and Argentineans have lots of fun together. Eating an african donner and kicking a soccer ball!!!
To end what i suppose its my longest log (it will never repeat this long, hehehe) i recommend you to read something i founded deeply interesting. It was some months ago when i was reading the armenian newspaper called YERKIR where i read that armenia for the first time in its history has consecrated the first Great Lodge of Armenia of Free and Accepted Masons. So then i started to investigate relationships between armenians and freemasonry and i found that there are some in Argentina too. The page belongs to the URARTU LODGE N° 442, with english contents as well...impressing
ARMENIANS...WORKING ANTS OF THIS WORLD!!!

Greece-Armenia football 16/10/02

Well, I'm in London again. fourth business trip to the UK for the last 8 month. The only thing which makes me happy here is that I have a number of good friends from Armenia studing here and a small hospitable Armenian community with a very nice church, reminding Haghpat's bell-tower.

What I look forward to is seeing Greece-Armenia football game (Group6, Euro 2004). As far as I know it starts at 20:00 Athens time, so will be translated by Armenian TV (H1 or Armenia, not sure yet) at 21:00 or 22:00. Currently trying to find a place where me with a bunch of Armenians would be able to watch that game.

Greece is a good team with a strong character. This game will be difficult as they have lost 0:2 in the Ukraine (12/10/02) and will be willing to get 3 points from this game. It's twice as difficult to play in Athens where the team will be supported heavily by fans. Hope Oscar Lopez managed to combine a good team and create strong spirit and readiness to fight till the end . At least this happened in the last game, second half of it, when Armenians scored twice, with a goal was on the last minute, bringing to 2:2 with Ukraine.

Would like to wish all of us a victory! HAYASTAN HUP TUR!!!

In my down time, I have surfed the web looking at various stuff. One of the things I have been anxious to see is some sort of preview on Ararat. I went to the Miramax website and no luck. I searched some other sites, no luck. Finally, I've been able to track down a link to a 1 minute preview. Here it is http://www.commeaucinema.com/bandeannonces/ararat/qt/ararat.mov

It looks good and convincing. As a long time Egoyan fan, this movie should be interesting from several angles. Obviously the first movie made with a Genocide theme is monumental. But, I am also interested in how well the story is told. I think Egoyan slipped with Felicia's Journey. It wasn't so much his filmmaking as much it was the choice of how to end the movie. There was a lot to like about Exotica as well, but again the ending just didn't hit home for me. After several viewings of the Sweet Hereafter, I began to appreciate the little things that he is good at. My personal favorite Egoyan movie is the rarely seen "Family Viewing". "Next of Kin" is also up there as well. Those are my two favorite Egoyan films to date. Calendar comes in third with "Speaking Parts" fourth. Exotica, Sweet Hereafter, and Felicia's Journey round it out in order. There were some shorts of his that I especially have liked and only seen once at a film festival at the Harvard Film Archives in Cambridge several years back. The one on Montreal was my favorite along with the one about the father and son selling the house. I'd like to see Krapp's Last Tape soon. The one on Bach was fantastic. Don Mkellar is one of my favorite actors. See Last Night if you get a chance.

What I have noticed with films and music in general is that when given the absolute minimum of resources to work with, the better the idea or product. I have enjoyed every Egoyan movie on some level and I consider him as one of the great filmmakers of out time. He hasn't quite sold out and I like that. It's rare. However 'Ararat' turns out (I've heard it's quite good from my friends in Armenia that are film buffs and have a critical eye), Egoyan should be applauded and appreciated for what he has given us- a forum to exhale. I urge us all to drum up as much PR for this movie as possible and consider it a crusade to bring people from outside our community to see it.

As if we needed any more challenges, rumor has it that the Turkish lobby has enlisted to Jewish Diaspora in America to help use their influence in Hollywood to limit the number of theaters "Ararat" will be shown in. And we thought the Israeli silence on the Armenian Genocide was despicable...

Exciting times indeed. I have too much on my plate, but better that than nothing at all. Aside from work and my MBA program, the good news is that the "Armenian Voices" CD by the Hover Chamber Choir of Armenia will be at my doorstep by noon tomorrow from our Canadian manufacturers. The culmination of one years work on this CD from volunteers and professionals alike around the globe finally has come to fruition tomorrow. The official release date is November 5, 2002, but you can actually pre-order it for a discounted rate until then at this site www.cdbaby.com/cd/hover/Sorry to be so saleman-like about this, but, I really believe that this is one of the best choir performances on a CD in a long time. Hover is really, really good. Award winning good.

On November 17, 2002, I will be speaking at the Sheraton Commander Hotel in Cambridge, MA on the Armenian Music industry and related stuff. It's sponsored by the Armenian Network of Boston. Come on by and say hello. Jason Demerjian of Armenian Volunteer Corp will also be speaking during the same event. My parents are currently new Armenian Volunteer Corp members and will be leaving Yerevan Monday to go to Gyumri for one year. They're having a rewarding experience. My dad is 66 and my mom is 55. You're never too old...

Right now, all of us involved in the "Yeraz" CD project are hoping for a nomination to the Armenian Music Awards in Glendale, CA on November 24, 2002. It's a well produced event lead by Peter Bahlawanian of AMFA. The event has grown into a legitimate awards ceremony featuring Armenian performers from all over the world. Last year it was hosted by a pretty funny guy named Kev Orkian. I saw the awards show on video tape and thought it was a blast.

I plan on being in Armenia sometime around the end of the year for a few weeks for some R & R. If anyone is heading over around the same time, drop me a line.

I am not homeless, not a gypsy, not transcontinental, not a world traveller, not an "adventurist", none of those things any longer. I finally have a home. And now that I'm settled in, I don't feel too perky about it. Sadly, I am still emotionally in Armenia. There you have it... almost two months since I returned to the US and I'm still thinking about my trips to Kharabagh, the Watermelon I'm missing out on, the sound of the duduk in the background while I shop at Vernisage. Life in Beacon Hill is fine, but it's not Armenia. It's funny, I have all the greatest restaurants just below me, all the convenience in the world (except for a damn parking spot), and yet, I'm not satisfied. I suppose it could be said that everybody these days is in a slum of some sort, with the horrible economy, the paranoia, uncertainty... Something is definitely wrong these days. At least once there was hope on people's faces for something better. Now there isn't even that anymore. I think a Hayastansi once said that to me actually, but rather describing the situation in Armenia years after independence. Interesting.

Well, I'm sucking it up. I'm going to Montreal this weekend... I think... to visit my good friend Perouz, whom I met in Armenia during my 6 month excursion. That should be interesting since I'll be driving someone that I met, but can't remember, but I know I know him, but I don't know where from, but I heard he was in town. Apparently, he feels the same about me. Can't remember me, but knows he should know me. This is an essence of the Armenian community here. Don't we all know each other, really?

On a bright note, I received word from Raffi Meneshian (who has not logged in a while... come on Raffi, get with it) that the next Pomegranate produced CD "Hover" will be in from the printers tomorrow. This is something to sing and dance about. Montreal, here I come!

Here’s something you can’t do in Armenia… YET!
This weekend Lara and I had a few friends over. It was actually an experiment that worked out great. We had a mock-UN social at our place. I’ll explain. I have a writer friend Robert, who is an English speaking Canadian. His girlfriend is a new immigrant from Italy. She is a curator for the Canadian Center of Architecture (preparing an exhibition on India). Another friend, Christianna, is PhD student in communications from the Caribbean and she married an MSF doctor from Belgium. There were also the 2 Egyptian sisters who had studied in France. One worked as a consultant for NGO in international development issues and the other was a Canadian Forces Captain (or something). My Indian friend didn’t show up neither did the Cuban-Armenian and his wife the French Canadian. No problem.
I can honestly say that we had an amazing time talking about everything from culture to politics from religion to ski resorts from India to Armenia to the “great” American Leader… needless to say that all this was done over many bottles of wine and lots and lots of food.
Montreal is such a great city for that. People here don’t lose their heritage. They are still very attached to their culture and are truly proud of it. Languages, accents and diversity are praised in this city. This is something I will miss when I am settled one day in Armenia. I know some of you are saying well our city too has lots or immigrants and restaurants from different cultures of the world, but I think Montreal has a tolerance for more than ethnic food and visual differences. I think it enjoys the political and historic baggage. It does not force assimilation like most cities in France and the US.

Changing the subject: I missed Piliguian’s presentation on System of a Down… There was also a dance performance on Saturday… missed it too.
I will not miss Nune’s concert this weekend though… however (this really sucks) I will miss out on the opening of Ararat. All of the loggers, I think, have talked about having seen it and reviewed it and so on… I, as a Canadian will get to see much much later then anticipated. OK, here’s that story. I had agreed to attend a baptism in Toronto (6 hour drive). But who knew that Atom would release this film over the same weekend… hmph!
Off for some squash later. Can any of the loggers in Armenia find out if there is a squash court in Armenia please?

I can’t wait for this summer… Armenia here I come!

PS: Ara… what picture are you talking about?

What a surreal experience... I went to see Nune perform for the first time ever.... in Washington DC. Not only in Washington, but at my old High School. I haven't stepped foot in that school for 8 years, and there I was going back to see Nune sing on the same stage that I saw my friends perform in Peter Pan. Everywhere I looked I remembered moments from high school, sadly bad memories out-weighed the good. I didn't enjoy my high school years, probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was known as the "strange ethnic Armenian girl that was too different to be cool." But many years later, I observed Nune dancing all over the same stage. We had an AYF meeting in DC that weekend, so there were a good 50 people in town that went to the show together. We sat in a section on the side up front together and I think Nune liked us. Most of the audience was pretty reserved, clapped when songs were over, but didn't make a scene like us. She kept coming over to our section to sing to us, but apparently wanted to go the extra step to show her appreciation. She jumped off stage and walked over to us, grabbing our hands and asking us all to dance. Next thing you know, there is a big crowd of 50 people in front dancing and Nune in the middle. In that same room, I remember school assembies wasting my time. Surreal indeed.

I received another bit of bad news yesterday that is particularly devastating to me. Years ago, I organized a huge photo archiving project for the AYF office. We had stacks of photos, unlabelled, all over the place, no order whatsoever. It took me months and even years to identify, label, file and organize these photos, along with buying albums and filing system to organize them in. Since then, we have systematically photographed our events and filed them accordingly. Apparently at the AYF Olympics last month, the hotel was so outraged at the damage that our guests had done to the hotel, they cleaned out one of the rooms being used for storage... the same room our photo archives were being stored in. Straight into the dumpster. The hotel has done many illegal things with our group, probably thinking they could get away with it because we are a measly non-profit youth group that can't handle taking on a big hotel. They added unauthorized 100 charges to EVERYONE's credit cards that had an ian at the end of their name who stayed in the hotel that weekend and blamed it on us. This would be the Radisson hotel and the Scanticon hotel connected to it in Philadelphia. Feel free to take my advise in boycotting them. I've never seen such a massive corporate business handle their business so unprofessionally and illegally in such a blatant and public manner. The AYF will be starting a huge photo collection campaign soon to restore our archives. If there are AYFers reading this, please feel free to call the AYF office for more information. I hate to sound like a commercial, but it's not for me. It's much more personal.

Sorry i am not logging, exams, exams, exams...
Next week you will have some juicy news from armenians from argentinaaaaa...

Yesterday went alone to see Ararat movie in Moscow at Rolan cinema. I went to an earlier one at 18:30 there were only 20 people sitting of whom 70% were Armenians ... At the same time I know that all tickets were sold for previous Saturday and Sunday. What can I say about the film? ... I'm still thunderstruck ... I felt like if I'm on the place of Raffi .... I went through his phsycological labirints and dilemmas ...(some of my views are different from his and I'm not Diasporan Armenian but at the same time I'm MARASHlyan!) ... a lot of things to think over ... film works as a shock-maschine stimulating people to thing over and over again of what they've seen, look though a multi-layer (in terms of time, contraversial feelings, etc) prism on past, present and future of themselves and their identificaton with their NATION! It's pitty that I can't explain what I feel in English, as well as Armenian. Russian is the language which is the most convinient for me and that's my tragedy ... still need to think it over! I will definitely see that film again and again, but missing certain parts ... as I will not be able to survive them again ... my fists were aching after the film and ... it will be too much of mazohism to look over again some of the films' episodes ... absence of cold brains and long-term view, feeling of one nation, confirmed by ideology together with a patologically black and white mythologized view on the world - are one of the major characteristis of our nation for many and many centuries. ... I will write more of my feelings later ... now I'm not ready to do that ... just will say that after the movie was over ... I went out to the street, walking in a cold rain with an open coat completely switched off from the surrounding for 15 minutes in Moscow darkness ... feeling deep pain and at the same time great strengh, energy and willingness to revenge in a clever way, believeing even more desperately that I have a special and very important meaning in my life ... but first of all ... I need to think over again on who I am and where we are now ...

Armenians Armenians wherever I go! Can't get away from them. Nor do I want to really. Those who know me know it isn't my personality to be anywhere that has no community. But wow, I can't run from them. Even in traffic court!

So here's the story. Way back when, I got into an accident... about a year ago. A woman was double parked with her hazard lights in a two lane road divided by a double yellow. I had to cross over the double yellow to get around her and she smashed right into me as I'm pulling around. The cop comes and said I was probably right, but I get the citation anyway because I cross over the sacred double yellow line. What is this, Alice in Wonderland? So I had to pay $20 and then get my car fixed. Big deal, I did and I took off for Armenia around that time. Well, I came back to the US and stayed in Boston for a while, only to be hit again by a drunk driver... hit and run. I'm fuming, but what do I do? He was long gone and I was so shook up, I just went home. The next week, I get pulled over for speeding. Alright, fine. I got clocked for 51 in a 30. It shouldn't have been 30 anyway. So the officer takes my license and registration and goes back to his car where he sits for about a half an hour. Next thing I know, I see back up coming in. I'm thinking, 'what is it about little ol' me, all 110 pounds, that this guy thinks he needs to call back up?' So both officers approach my car from both sides, one taking a look at the big fat dent in the side from the stupid drunk driver from the previous week. The other one comes to my window and says, "Ma'am, could you please shut off your engine and step out of the car?" I said, "not likely until I'm told why." He said I was driving with a suspended license which is a criminal offense. After arguing for a while, the guy gave me a citation and said that he couldn't assess me an amount because it was a criminal offense, so I would have to go to court automatically. Son of a... Then he called and said that I had to pay for the tow truck to take my car where I need it to go. $82. I go straight to the RMV after this to take it up with them. Apparently, they reveived my payment for the $20 citation late and added a late fee. Well, they sent the notice to my old address and I was in Armenian so how the hell am I suppose to know. Then they sent a notice saying my licesne was suspended to my old address. They said I owe them $90 and I can have my license reactivated. I said HELL no. So after putting a few RMV workers through misery, I found a sympathetic officer who said the RMV would take the blame, would erase any old charges and reactivate my license. Goes to show what a cute little smile can do for you.

If only it ended there. So the next step was to find out when I had to go to court. Keep in mind, I had a plane ticket scheduled for Armenia only a couple weeks later. I called the RMV, the Court House, the RMV and the Court House again and got the run around until a sweet lady on the phone at the court house told me what to do. I went down there and requested a hearing myself, and she promised she would get it scheduled in September. She also promised to send the notice within the week to whatever address I gave her. Well, I gave her an address where I would be checking the mail that week. It didn't come. So I go to Armenia thinking it would be September anyway and I could just pick up the notice when I got back. A month later, I got an e-mail from a friend at that address... "Ars, you have a notice saying you have to be in court on May 30th. Isn't that next week? Aren't you in Armenia? My parents sent three letters to those people requesting a hearing in September because I was in Armenia. They rescheduled it for July 30th first and THEN October 1st. So finally, after all that heartache, I go in with a folder full of documentation, receipts, copies of the citations, proof that the RMV made the mistake. I'm sitting patiently, and in walks Jano Avedissian with his mother. It figures in Waltham District Court House I would find one Armenian I know in traffic court. Not only that, there were maybe 30 people there, at least 5 were Armenian... Demerjian, Der Vartanian, Raffi something, you name it, ians all over that court. Are Armenians bad drivers?

So I was the last called up. I thought it was because my case was so difficult. I go up prepared to make my case. The dude says, "what do you have to say about the speeding charge?" I said, "I admit to speeding, I take blame for that." He said some mumbo jumbo I didn't understand, said I owe $75 for speeding and then I was dismissed. I asked about the other offense and he said that charge was dismissed and joked that if I'd like for another charge he can think of one to add. I said no thank you. A year.... a year of headache and misery... arguing with my parents from Armenia on the few phone calls we had, and after all the preparation I made to defend myself, he doesn't even care, just let's me go. All because one person at the RMV forgot to process my citation on time.

Well, I certainly do not speed anymore and I may just have to find a job that revolves around not being on the road during rush hour, 'cause the way those maniacs drive, God forbid I get into another accident, I can't take it anymore! Knock on wood!

And yes, he butchered my name in court.

Armenia Expo 2002

One word... incredible!!! I don't know what the other "critics" are saying about the Expo, but in my opinion it was fascinating! To see all those products coming from Armenia, gives me a little tingle! This year there were many new products...one of them being the bags of frozen fruits and vegetables grown in Armenia. So now, you could make khorovadz eggplants that came from Armenia believe it or not! There were the usuals, ice cream, cheese, canned fish, flooring, Hovananian homes, lingerie, shoes, candy, preserves, cigarettes, arts & crafts, juices, sodas, ...but what seemed to be present in GREAT abundance was of course-----ALCOHOL! Allllllllllllll kinds of wines and vodkas and cognacs... hehehe and yes, there was taste testing going on everywhere! Now, compared to last year it was way more crowded, so I guess the word had gotten out! Either that or the place was a lot smaller, I'm not quite sure.. all I know is that we were elbow to elbow with people in there trying to see all the interesting products.

Although I think it's GREAT that we are having all these products coming in from Armenia and of course it's even greater that they are all being made by Armenians living in Armenia, thus ensuring that they all have jobs... but I can't help to wonder that if we have all these things that remind us of our homeland... is it going to encourage or discourage people from actually planning on going there. I mean, is it going to make the average Serop say, "What do I need to go to hayasdan for? I have all those great things right here!", ORRRR is Serop going to say, "Wow, look, I had forgotten about all the riches of living in Armenia" and want to go there whether it's just for a visit or a move. And SECOND....I see that these great products are already normal sites in our Armenian stores, but what kind of marketing is being done in order to sell them?? I've said it before and I'll say it again, America is all about marketing! You could have a product that doesn't even work, but if your marketing is good... you'll be a millionaire! So, I'm saying, there needs to be some sort of project that goes along with the importing of goods.....marketing of goods.

Ok, other than the Expo, I guess everyone's complaining about the 90 degrees weather in September actually got somewhere, cause this week has been COLD! We had rain and clouds and stuff, which is awesome for the fires burning not too far from us. So now we all got out our sweaters and are loving the "cold wave". (I know that compared to other places this is not even considered chilly, but hey--we're southern californians...give us a break!)

TSUH! :)~
p.s. - Arsineh... the whole dance thing.... WOW---I know exactly what you're talking about. It's kinda sick at how many dances we have here... not just the organizations, but the ASA's too! It's preposterous!

After more than five months of waiting in limbo, my brother finally got his work permit to work in the USA. He left yesterday for Washington. He’ll be working for the ANCA. I think this job will fit him like a glove. If any of you know Apo, you’ll know what I mean.
Anyhow, on Saturday we had a farewell party for him at a friend’s house. Her name is Peruz and she had spent a great part of the summer in Armenia and Lebanon. As she was showing me pictures I saw many of my friends and some of the loggers. I saw Madlene with her brown, curley hair (I’ve always known her as a blond). Raffi K and Zabel looked great too. Apparently you guys had a blast this summer. Pictures don’t lie.
In Montreal the weather is crazy. It was 12 C today and will be 28 tomorrow.
In the Armenian scene much is happening here. The Hamazkayin literary committee has put a great and inovative program for this fall. For instance, on October 4, a young Journalist (S. Piliguian) will be presenting A System of a Down through videos & CDs and on Oct. 18-19 there will be a photo-exhibition - presentation of the photo-album & art-agenda of Hrair Hawk Khatcherian. My favorite is the Video presentation of an ethnographic study by a young 21 year old member of her study of Kessab & its youth & also the wedding ceremony (rituals). I also heard that very within the next weeks the Echmiadzin Prelacy is hosting a 2 day seminar at McGill University in conjuction with its Religion Department. The topic of course is the Armenian Church.
As for me, I got my first real bruise from squash today… now I know why they call this game squash ! I have a big blue in the middle of my face right on my nose. I received a raquette in my face… but I won the match… all five games ! Do they have squash in Armenia ?
I don’t know if I mentionned this, but I am working on the LCO summer campaigns for next year. I would like to bring in some new and fun ideas. Any suggestions ?