This has been an interesting week. On Monday I joined some visitors, Josh from Boston and Aram Hajian who was back from Armenia for a wedding. They rounded up some friends and we (the office folk) met up with them. It was nice to catch up with Hajian, as he reminded me that my 2.5 year plan to move to Armenia is down to 1.5 years. Well, I made myself a promise and I'm sticking to it, but I might have to stretch it half a year to 2 years from now. He seemed amused and impressed by all the specific planning. I have my reasons. :) Otherwise, I got my usual update on "things going on in Armenia" and my fill of political discussions on Armenia.
Yesterday I attended a Turkish hearing on the Hill. Nothing but a group of Turks testifying infront of a House Committee who's members already love Turkey. We had one friend on the committee who questioned them on the Armenia issue, and another who hammered them on Cyprus and the Kurds, to which they kept throwing the PKK at them. We sat with some Greeks and Cyriots in the crowd, so it was a nice little union of us. Otherwise, there was lots of talk about how Turkey didn't mean to disappoint the US, they are fixing their problems, but really, Turkey still loves the US and the US has lots to gain from being friends with Turkey, despite their horrific record of human rights abuse. At the point when Rep. McCotter questioned them on their relations with Armenia, I was videotapping with a tripod and all, I scanned over to the Turkish witnesses to tape their response, and to my surprise (not really), I find this Turkish photographer standing RIGHT infront of my camera and would not move. I had to pick up my entire set up and move to a different position which captured a different angle and provided us the PERFECT shot of the witnesses for publication. Despite his efforts to get in my way I came through in the end. Don't mess with me Turkish Photographer, I will get my shot! But oh they play dirty.
This weekend I will be attending an ARS function featuring the Armenian comedian Vahe Berberian. I am looking forward to this. I have a growing appreciation for Armenian comedians... I hear this one is really good.
I will also be attending a Democratic Presidential Debate this Saturday morning... looking forward to that as well. I will post updates.
Yesterday I attended a Turkish hearing on the Hill. Nothing but a group of Turks testifying infront of a House Committee who's members already love Turkey. We had one friend on the committee who questioned them on the Armenia issue, and another who hammered them on Cyprus and the Kurds, to which they kept throwing the PKK at them. We sat with some Greeks and Cyriots in the crowd, so it was a nice little union of us. Otherwise, there was lots of talk about how Turkey didn't mean to disappoint the US, they are fixing their problems, but really, Turkey still loves the US and the US has lots to gain from being friends with Turkey, despite their horrific record of human rights abuse. At the point when Rep. McCotter questioned them on their relations with Armenia, I was videotapping with a tripod and all, I scanned over to the Turkish witnesses to tape their response, and to my surprise (not really), I find this Turkish photographer standing RIGHT infront of my camera and would not move. I had to pick up my entire set up and move to a different position which captured a different angle and provided us the PERFECT shot of the witnesses for publication. Despite his efforts to get in my way I came through in the end. Don't mess with me Turkish Photographer, I will get my shot! But oh they play dirty.
This weekend I will be attending an ARS function featuring the Armenian comedian Vahe Berberian. I am looking forward to this. I have a growing appreciation for Armenian comedians... I hear this one is really good.
I will also be attending a Democratic Presidential Debate this Saturday morning... looking forward to that as well. I will post updates.
posted by Arsineh at 8:27 PM
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