This is Hayastan...
So 2 weeks have passed since I've been in Armenia... My parents just left this morning, and so I'll have a little more free time on my hands. I have to say that my parents' initial reaction to Armenia was... "This is it?????" and as the days passed and we went around to different places (outside of Yerevan), I saw them connecting more and more. I remembered my first trip here, and although I had somewhat of a good time, the culture shock and everything else I went through didn't leave a positive impression on me. But I came back.... And I know that my parents will be back too. They purchased a home here (which I will be housesitting.. hehehe), and are thinking of starting some sort of business. They are definitely connected... Mission Accomplished! :)
The AYF Youth Corps group arrived a couple of days ago, and they've been touring since they got here. They will be leaving to their jobsite on Saturday (Vayk), and will spend 4-5 weeks repairing a Youth Center for Vayk and its surrounding villages. They are a great bunch and seem to be doing quite well!
As for me, I've been trying to make a decision about staying in Armenia this time around. Since my parents' house won't be ready until next summer, I'm contemplating whether it would be better to return to LA at summer's end, and come back when the house is ready so that I can atleast live rent-free. Seeing as how rent will be almost half my salary, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to come back later. It'll also give me an opportunity to decide whether I'd like to continue my education out here. On the other hand, people always tell me... there is always going to be something to go back for... and if you're going to move, you just have to do it, just like that! I'm not sure... Maybe I'll just flip a coin and decide that way! :)
Hayasdan has changed... what am I saying, it's ALWAYS changing! When I first got here, I was saying.. "wow, where are all the tourists?" but the truth is that I don't really notice them because a lot of the people in the city are starting to blend in with us.. (perhaps it is the opposite? hahaha) Let me just say that the fact that neon green is BACK into fashion (since 97) is quite scary... but we shall ride that out, as with the pointy shoes that all the men are wearing nowadays. What's up with those?
I realized that even though my apartment is in the city, on Toumanian close to Khanjian, they cut our water during the day and in the night. I'd like to understand the logic of that. If there are meters, and people are paying according to how much they use, what is the point of cutting the water? (Anyone have a clue??) If it's water preservation, please.... where is the logic of cutting it at night when you can't flush the toilet? How many people are going to turn on their faucets and leave them on? No one! I just don't get it.
The city is soooo dusty, in fact I tried not taking Claritin for 2 days and I thought I was going to have a hernia(sp?) from all the sneezing! :) So I'll stick to the Claritin for now.
K, time to go out in the heat!!! Over a 100 degrees almost everyday this week! If this is July, what's August going to be like!?
TSUH :)~
The AYF Youth Corps group arrived a couple of days ago, and they've been touring since they got here. They will be leaving to their jobsite on Saturday (Vayk), and will spend 4-5 weeks repairing a Youth Center for Vayk and its surrounding villages. They are a great bunch and seem to be doing quite well!
As for me, I've been trying to make a decision about staying in Armenia this time around. Since my parents' house won't be ready until next summer, I'm contemplating whether it would be better to return to LA at summer's end, and come back when the house is ready so that I can atleast live rent-free. Seeing as how rent will be almost half my salary, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to come back later. It'll also give me an opportunity to decide whether I'd like to continue my education out here. On the other hand, people always tell me... there is always going to be something to go back for... and if you're going to move, you just have to do it, just like that! I'm not sure... Maybe I'll just flip a coin and decide that way! :)
Hayasdan has changed... what am I saying, it's ALWAYS changing! When I first got here, I was saying.. "wow, where are all the tourists?" but the truth is that I don't really notice them because a lot of the people in the city are starting to blend in with us.. (perhaps it is the opposite? hahaha) Let me just say that the fact that neon green is BACK into fashion (since 97) is quite scary... but we shall ride that out, as with the pointy shoes that all the men are wearing nowadays. What's up with those?
I realized that even though my apartment is in the city, on Toumanian close to Khanjian, they cut our water during the day and in the night. I'd like to understand the logic of that. If there are meters, and people are paying according to how much they use, what is the point of cutting the water? (Anyone have a clue??) If it's water preservation, please.... where is the logic of cutting it at night when you can't flush the toilet? How many people are going to turn on their faucets and leave them on? No one! I just don't get it.
The city is soooo dusty, in fact I tried not taking Claritin for 2 days and I thought I was going to have a hernia(sp?) from all the sneezing! :) So I'll stick to the Claritin for now.
K, time to go out in the heat!!! Over a 100 degrees almost everyday this week! If this is July, what's August going to be like!?
TSUH :)~
posted by shooosh at 11:18 AM
26 Comments:
Shooosh, going back and forth, LA > Hayastan > LA ......... waste of time if you ask me.
The pointy shoes ... DAMN IT ... I've mentioned it in my logs ... it's the "in-thing" in many parts of Europe ... but North American's are not used to seeing it so much ... especially you Americans. LOL!!!!!!
Enough is enough, you are NOT leaving Armenia this time.
PS: I've got pointy shoes too, but I guess you didn't see them in my shoe collection the last time you were over.
I think whenever people go to Armenia for the first time and have a bad first impression (including me... talk about culture shock... a spoiled 16 year old in Gyumri for 2 weeks in 1994) is a result of specific expectations of what Armenia would be like. It's also usually those people who turn around and fall in love with Armenia, developing serious cases of addiction/obsession with the country (guilty again).
Wondering what happened with Raffi Niziblian and his nice family? Are they still living in Armenia or did they move back to Canada?
Still in Canada... but he is very quiet these days.
You mean still in Armenia, right? :)
Shoosh remember the pointy brown shoes I bought in Armenia this winter???? What a waste! I've tried wearing them out here and the reactions I've gotten just prove Harout's right! The US is NOT ready for Hayastan style pointy shoes yet : (
Sorry, yes, still in Armenia. The weather in DC is very muggy and has fogged everything, including my brain.
On Armenia shoes, I bought a funky set of shoes (not pointy, rather more European-casual-trendy) in Armenia last year and whenever I wear them in the US, I get a million compliments on them here because America is so slow on European trends. I love shoe shopping in Yerevan! So how is it with all these great shoes available, the women still torture their feet with those painful heels? And who are they marketing to... other than me, since they can ALWAYS count on me.
Aren't women's shoes with heels so out of style now? At least that's what I noticed in Paris and Sweden.
But now when I think about it, I recall seeing some flat shoes here as well, though no one really wears them just yet.
I just can't picture the girls here transforming their shoe wardrobes that quickly. At least not until they find themselves jobs where they have to run around all day, but then again, with regards to clothing, you never know what to expect from the girls here.
By the way, hope he doesn't mind me posting this, but YES RAFFI NIZIBLIAN IS STILL IN ARMENIA.
I bumped into him somewhere the other day, thinking he was a customer, and he said, "No, I work here." (Won't say where it is ... it might be private ... but seems like a really good job. ;-)
Another note:
the trademark hair has been chopped off!!!
Thinking he was a customer, and he said, "No, I work here." that's too funny. DerHova is Nizib working at Square One?
HAHA! No! I can't picture him in a Square One uniform.
NOOOOOOOOOO NOT THE HAIR RAFFI!!!!!!!! Oh how you've grown old. :( I'm sad for you, Raffi.
I hate heels. They remind me of work. I wish they were out of style everywhere. But that's what I'm saying... they sell flat casual shoes all over Yerevan, but no locals wear them. Who's buying them... other than me?
Der Hova, I must say I don't agree on the pointy shoes being in style elsewhere. I was in Prague for over a week last month, and it was PACKED with tourists from around the world... I did not see pointy shoes, until I got to the departure gate for Yerevan. Yukh... like court jesters... and the women's heels hurt my feet just looking at them.
Shoosh - let me know if you're staying, and I'll move you to the repat page :-) Funny I bumped into you four times in the past 2 days... that's a lot even for Yerevan!
ps. it's true, there's always something you can go back for... if you want to be here, just stay!
Raff... you need to stop following me!!! lol wat da!
Lor.. I told you those shoes were not even in fashion in HAYASDAN, let alone US.. lol they're weird!
DerHova... you have pointy shoes? lol lol lol lol lol ....
Ars... THE best shoe store is in Gomidas, and it's called Tarson! I bought white FLAT sandals there for 5000drams yesterday!
p.s. - the dollar being 430 is really messing up my math skills! 500 was so easy!
Guys, I knew you were American, but this much? TRAVEL EUROPE DAMN IT! And you will get exposed to some broader fashions. Or better yet, to keep costs low, just go up to my birthplace, Toronto. LOL!
Raff, Europe is not Prague, and I did not say they wear it ALL OVER Europe. Smarty. Check out Scandinavia and Italy for starters, and you will see.
Constantly criticizing and attacking the local guys for wearing those shoes has become a little too much. Why not talk about the dress pants and dress shirts? :-) Even in 40c weather? Cool thing is, I finally see more shorts ... ON LOCALS. I remember my aunt once telling me when they just moved here about 15 years ago, women used to criticize her for wearing pants. LOL!
wait wait.... is no one concerned about the headband skirts???? Shoosh what shoes do they pair with those because I know flip flops haven't made it into the acceptable footwear category yet.
Shut up, you know my scary Armenia pointy heels are HOT!!! : )
HOT??? lol noooo, they are more like BURNED-verchatsadz! lol
Ok, Harout...lav we understand you think the pointy shoes are cool. lol Don't try to justify it by saying yevroba is wearing it... so if yevroba wore clown outfits, menk al bidi unenk? lol (such a mom line).
Lor... flip flops haven't made it, but i'm proud to say flats have! YAY!
Naw Shooosh jan, I just think we should focus on other things rather than judging the guys on their shoes. Let it be. (I get annoyed by us arrogant Spyurqs that come here and repeat the same things over and over again ... "They don't know how to drive", "No one has manners", "There's too much dust in this city", "The toilets are disgusting", "The guys are ugly", etc. etc.)
Just think, when Hayastancis head over to LA and see guys wearing jeans and shirts quite a few sizes WAY too big. What actually looks better? The formal wear or the "taptpadzutiun"?
By the way, Torontonians always say, "If I jump off the CN Tower are you going to too?" A little extreme, compared to clown outfits.
L O L !
Some people here cannot afford simple pair of shoes never mind pointed ones !!!
As for the food and other areas it is a great place to be, we are biased but what the hell. If we donot praise the improvements seen who will !
Keep logging guys we enjoy reading them.
p.s. I am only here for a 2 week holiday with my family. Back again next year again and again and again...
Kevork
Actually, I think Hayastansi drivers are MUCH better drivers than Americans. Those guys know their cars better than anyone. And the guys are definitely not ugly. Yerevan is filled with handsome men.
Armenians are always full of extreme opinions.
I agree with Arsineh, Hayastanci's definitely know how to drive. They are much more alert than North American drivers. I LOVE driving in Armenia! It's like a video game.
American drivers are just SHEEP following lines and lights! BOOOOORRRRRIIINNNNNGGGGGG
All Armos are CHIEFS! no indians here!!! (even on the road)
As for the Hayastanci guys being handsome.. VERY TRUE! And Der Hova... you're so right about fashion in the states... I'd rather see pointy shoes than some guy's boxers revealing his ass cause his pants are hanging down, like they're full of @$#(. EW.
shoosh jan keep writing and i will keep reading and enjoyoing the back and forth conversations. I guess this is the era of the new Armenians from all over the World . Just don not forget that Armenia is spelled one way and no matter which part of this world we are and what type of shoes we wear we are the same and we are called Armenians.
Lori Jan
if you feel good wearing those shoes, than do so and wear them proudly because they are made in Armenia
Kevork
I am proud of you. Keep going to Armenian year after year , may be it will grow on you and you will wear your pants the proper way.
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