Smoking and Armenia

Smoking is a popular pastime in Armenia. So you can imagine how suprised I was when recently a law was passed prohibiting smoking in public buildings including government institutions, health centers, and schools. On Friday I excitingly walked in to the Ministry of Education and Science. (They have recently implemented a passport required for entry rule... so if anyone is considering visiting the Minister, do make sure you take your passport). As I rode the Soviet elevator up to the sixth floor, I was greeted in a huge puff of smoke. I knew it was too good to be true!

Since I'm on the topic of cigarettes... I was crossing the street a few days ago when the window of a new mercedes rolled down. The driver very plainly threw out his empty pack of smokes while he was stuck at the light. Being in a somewhat annoyed mood anyways, I decided to walk to the car, pick up the smokes, and throw them back into the car. Though the owner thought/thinks I'm crazy, hopefully something sparked in his head that he shouldn't litter... okay maybe a little too optimistic. But I do urge all of you visting Armenia to do similar things. People here just don't realize their actions are wrong unless they are shamed! That's my opinion anyway.