life in armenia is different today. on my way to work the streets were empty. i did not have to dodge the numerous marshotnis that usually creep up on you while you are driving; apparently public transportation is down. i do not want to be lethargic but i cannot help but feel absolute dissapointment for a government that is doing too little and uncertainty about an opposition that i cannot bring myself to trust.
my day is filled with events that will put me on the roller coaster we all seem to be riding here. first i will visit a western style center for learning where i will see armenia's future getting a wonderful education in agro-business. since i have visited before, and have seen what a good job they are doing at the agro-business teaching center... i am assuming once again i will be lifted and ispired. (inspired but without the n makes it ispired ispirian style)
shortly thereafter i have a meeting with a parliamentarian and thus will be going to the parliament building; where i am assuming i might get dissapointed. although the parliamentarian i am meeting is very nice, and rather honest... the mood of the parliament is more constricting than anything else. the souls of the deceased have not been laid to rest... you can almost feel the heaviness in the building. one of my dearest and most favorite people here in armenia is the wife of a parliamentarian killed on october 27th. the strength that she has acquired and the passion that she uses to fight for change (in her own role as principal of a school) is ispiring... and the only light at the end of the tunnel for me when i have to think about that fall day, when our parliament was splashed all over the international news network... with scenes of blood and murder.
in the evening i have an opening of an art show to attend. i am assuming i will be lifted once again. after the art show i will come home to watch the news... i pray that this will not bring me down... i pray that the news will GENUINLY hold truth that will bring me up...
having said all of this... and letting you all in on my deepest thoughts feelings and emotions this morning... i must say that i am very fortunate to live here. this may sound weird to you. i spent the last few hundred words complaining about all that is wrong here... but i am fortunate to be here. i am grateful i am here during this hard time. perhaps it is like visiting someone at the hospital and being by their side. i am proud to be here by armenia's side. perhaps i keep thinking of my friends all over the world who love this country but are far removed right now... and perhaps they are frantically searching the internet for up to the minute news about the country... but i have the news here in my heart...
the news is that we are going through a tough time. a lot of this has to do with the government... a lot of this is because the opposition has not left us with much hope that they can help. the news is that one of my assistants slept over our house last night... because i would be able to drop her off at school this morning... and it seemed her only way of getting an education today. the news is that i am happy that people are mobilizing... but i wish that there was a reason i believed in... and an infrastructure that would support their freedom of speech and the right to assemble. the news is that today armenia will see a big rally ... the outcome may bring us one step closer or one step farther from democracy, i hope everyone keeps us (as residents of this country, and as a nation) in their prayers.
as for me, as down as i seem right now... in essence i agree with winston churchill: "I am an optimist. It does not seem to much use being anything else."
my day is filled with events that will put me on the roller coaster we all seem to be riding here. first i will visit a western style center for learning where i will see armenia's future getting a wonderful education in agro-business. since i have visited before, and have seen what a good job they are doing at the agro-business teaching center... i am assuming once again i will be lifted and ispired. (inspired but without the n makes it ispired ispirian style)
shortly thereafter i have a meeting with a parliamentarian and thus will be going to the parliament building; where i am assuming i might get dissapointed. although the parliamentarian i am meeting is very nice, and rather honest... the mood of the parliament is more constricting than anything else. the souls of the deceased have not been laid to rest... you can almost feel the heaviness in the building. one of my dearest and most favorite people here in armenia is the wife of a parliamentarian killed on october 27th. the strength that she has acquired and the passion that she uses to fight for change (in her own role as principal of a school) is ispiring... and the only light at the end of the tunnel for me when i have to think about that fall day, when our parliament was splashed all over the international news network... with scenes of blood and murder.
in the evening i have an opening of an art show to attend. i am assuming i will be lifted once again. after the art show i will come home to watch the news... i pray that this will not bring me down... i pray that the news will GENUINLY hold truth that will bring me up...
having said all of this... and letting you all in on my deepest thoughts feelings and emotions this morning... i must say that i am very fortunate to live here. this may sound weird to you. i spent the last few hundred words complaining about all that is wrong here... but i am fortunate to be here. i am grateful i am here during this hard time. perhaps it is like visiting someone at the hospital and being by their side. i am proud to be here by armenia's side. perhaps i keep thinking of my friends all over the world who love this country but are far removed right now... and perhaps they are frantically searching the internet for up to the minute news about the country... but i have the news here in my heart...
the news is that we are going through a tough time. a lot of this has to do with the government... a lot of this is because the opposition has not left us with much hope that they can help. the news is that one of my assistants slept over our house last night... because i would be able to drop her off at school this morning... and it seemed her only way of getting an education today. the news is that i am happy that people are mobilizing... but i wish that there was a reason i believed in... and an infrastructure that would support their freedom of speech and the right to assemble. the news is that today armenia will see a big rally ... the outcome may bring us one step closer or one step farther from democracy, i hope everyone keeps us (as residents of this country, and as a nation) in their prayers.
as for me, as down as i seem right now... in essence i agree with winston churchill: "I am an optimist. It does not seem to much use being anything else."
posted by Madlene at 10:54 AM
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