So we decided to apply for the 10 year special residency visa. This was right during the first round of elections in Armenia. The application asked that we write a letter to the President… to the President? How odd, we thought. Does he really read our letters? Anyhow, we waited to see who we should address the letter to. As you know we had to wait longer than expected. Anyhow, we wrote the letters and off to Ottawa I went to deliver our applications. That’s mine and my family’s. The Consul greeted us. Although I was about 30minutes late because I took a right turn instead of a left somewhere, He had waited for me to just about closing time. I, unfortunately had an icy greeting. He was very dry and unfriendly. Then when I asked to see the Ambassador, he said that he was busy at the moment (note: I have met with the Ambassador on many occasions before). I thought that it would have been nice to see the Ambassador, Ara Papian during this time when I was applying for this visa. I don’t know, it would have made the applicant (in this case, me) feel more welcomed and encouraged to apply. Don’t get me wrong, I was not mistreated, but a friendlier ambiance would encourage more people to deal with the Embassy. The reason we are applying is that we hope to eventually work and live there. I have been dreaming of this possibility since Armenia had become independent. And here we are taking the first steps to make that dream come true.
By the way, as soon as the second round elections were over in Armenia, provincial elections started in Quebec. Of course we hear less about it because of the war, but a new right wing party has received too much attention for my taste. I am sure they won’t win, but they become the opposition and that’s a no-no for Quebec as it had always been a province with a somewhat social-democrat program regarding healthcare, education and so on.
On another note, anti-Bush and anti-war (not necessarily anti-American) resentment has been growing in Canada. Especially since the US Ambassador to Canada made a threatening speech to a group of business people in Toronto about how we should change our attitude and support the US since it is in “danger”. There have been demonstrations almost every other day. Some are very large and passive other are small and more aggressive. Nothing like the San Fransisco ones though. Some American Armenians are upset at Armenia’s stance on this issue. They are saying that Armenia doesn’t care about them… what about the Iraqi-Armenians who could lose lives and all of what they have worked for for decades?
Lav, kich m’n al hayerenov. Ays verchers “Armenian Forum” ‘sdatsa yev shad hedakrkragan niuter gan. Shad gu havnim ays “magazine”-u. Yete chek pajanortakrvadz… yeghek!