I just read Shooshig's last log and I completely understand what she is going through. When I met her just over a month ago I could sense how much she really loved this country. Before my move here, I heard so many ignorant comments from people, and most of them made it clear to me that they could never live here. To each is own.
When Madlene mentioned (in her last log) that she feels far removed from her friends back in the States, I understood her, but yet felt as though I have that very same problem here in Armenia as well.
We all live here for different reasons. I know that my reasons make up a huge part in my life, and it's quite difficult for me to create a new social life here when I can't really relate to others and their reasons for being here. Plus I try to avoid getting close to people who seem to be here "temporarily". Some are here just because they have good paying jobs, some are here for an inexpensive education, some are here because they love their Armenian roots (yet don't want to have anything to do with locals), and some are here because they love their Armenian roots and enjoy mingling with locals.
The current expatriation/repatriation period that Armenia is going through is quite different than what happened in the 40's and 60's. Local Armenians are free to leave, and as we all know - most do with great pleasure, and now there are Diaspora Armenians living here from all over the world. The sad reality is that the majority of the Diaspora Armenians (a.k.a. expatriates) are very much separated from each other. (Mostly due to culture clashes and/or all the stereotypes we Armenians have created ... the Lebanese-Armenians are such..., the American-Armenians are so..., the Persian-Armenians are very..., and so on, and so on.)
In any case, Shoosh, hurry up and get here. I know you'll do a lot of positive things for this country. To everyone else, moving to Armenia, especially Yerevan, is not much of a big deal these days. It all depends on your outlook and expectations.
On another note, I just found out a couple of families from Toronto are moving here before the summer. There is also a retired Armenian couple that, coincidentally, will be moving into my building. Bravo again to the Torontonians!
Last night, after the concert, I had dinner at the new Italian restaurant in the Marriott called Cucina (the restaurant Raffi recently mentioned). The prices are a little higher than those of Rossini's in Yerevan Hotel, but the service, food and atmosphere were quite pleasant. Slowly, but surely, Yerevan is having some really decent restaurants.
Tonight I saw the Kurdish film Vodka Lemon which was based in Armenia. The film has been showing at a number of international film festivals since last year. Very nice movie, very real, the comedic parts were great and luckily (for Armenia's sake) the movie wasn't too political. The film is in Armenian, Kurdish, Russian and French (all mixed into this one version), but the English subtitles were completely wrong (not grammatically, but the translations). Anyway, I wish it all the success.
When Madlene mentioned (in her last log) that she feels far removed from her friends back in the States, I understood her, but yet felt as though I have that very same problem here in Armenia as well.
We all live here for different reasons. I know that my reasons make up a huge part in my life, and it's quite difficult for me to create a new social life here when I can't really relate to others and their reasons for being here. Plus I try to avoid getting close to people who seem to be here "temporarily". Some are here just because they have good paying jobs, some are here for an inexpensive education, some are here because they love their Armenian roots (yet don't want to have anything to do with locals), and some are here because they love their Armenian roots and enjoy mingling with locals.
The current expatriation/repatriation period that Armenia is going through is quite different than what happened in the 40's and 60's. Local Armenians are free to leave, and as we all know - most do with great pleasure, and now there are Diaspora Armenians living here from all over the world. The sad reality is that the majority of the Diaspora Armenians (a.k.a. expatriates) are very much separated from each other. (Mostly due to culture clashes and/or all the stereotypes we Armenians have created ... the Lebanese-Armenians are such..., the American-Armenians are so..., the Persian-Armenians are very..., and so on, and so on.)
In any case, Shoosh, hurry up and get here. I know you'll do a lot of positive things for this country. To everyone else, moving to Armenia, especially Yerevan, is not much of a big deal these days. It all depends on your outlook and expectations.
On another note, I just found out a couple of families from Toronto are moving here before the summer. There is also a retired Armenian couple that, coincidentally, will be moving into my building. Bravo again to the Torontonians!
Last night, after the concert, I had dinner at the new Italian restaurant in the Marriott called Cucina (the restaurant Raffi recently mentioned). The prices are a little higher than those of Rossini's in Yerevan Hotel, but the service, food and atmosphere were quite pleasant. Slowly, but surely, Yerevan is having some really decent restaurants.
Tonight I saw the Kurdish film Vodka Lemon which was based in Armenia. The film has been showing at a number of international film festivals since last year. Very nice movie, very real, the comedic parts were great and luckily (for Armenia's sake) the movie wasn't too political. The film is in Armenian, Kurdish, Russian and French (all mixed into this one version), but the English subtitles were completely wrong (not grammatically, but the translations). Anyway, I wish it all the success.
posted by Der Hova at 2:17 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home