I see I'm not the only one who has been slow to log. There is a lot of transition here in DC. I officially ended my work at the ANCA (except for the endless volunteering that I promise to continue) and started working at my new job last week. It's a HUGE change going from everything Armenian all day all night to a 9-5 straight up design work with other designers, and then do the Armenian thing on the side. Well, it was time.

But, this is an Armenian log and I must discuss related matters. Last week was the 3rd Annual AIPRG Conference on Armenia, held at the World Bank in Washington, DC. It was a loaded conference with discussions ranging from poverty, agriculture, and health care to change by information technology, border politics, and trade. I was particularly interested in the session on human trafficking. You don't hear much about it and there aren't too many appropriate forums for the issue to be raised, but this was a good one. Linda Grigorian shared her extensive research on the subject and did great work tackling an issue that seems to be Armenia's dirty little secret.

Another hot topic that stirred a lot of debate was border politics and trade. Asbed Kotchikian presented his arguement for being open to trade with Turkey. Obviously there was a lot of arguement against him, and I tend to agree. Though I think it's healthy to be open-minded to everything when it comes to Armenia, and not to take things too personally, I personally think trade with Turkey is not an option at this moment, aside from the fact that they are the ones who choose to blockade us, so it really isn't in our hands. Good subject to open debate on the issue, though.

Well, photos are up at my website: www.digitalrailroad.net/Arsineh, and you might want to take a look at the AIPRG website: www.armpolicyresearch.org. It's worth the reading time.

Otherwise, this weekend, Birthright Armenia has been touring the coast offering a forum for internship programs to present themselves. It seems to have stirred up some great interest in going to Armenia among the youth. The one in DC is tomorrow.

Anyway, back to work!

Shnorhavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Dznoont!
( I know... I'm late... )

So it's been a busy month! This week is my first week back from a VERY quick 2-week trip to Armenia during my Christmas holiday. It was my shortest trip to Hayasdan yet... but of course worth it. It seems after I returned, my stomach took a while to catch up... but it's finally back too. :)

There have been so many different things I've been doing... I don't know quite where to begin. First of all, before I left to Armenia we had started a project of collecting warm clothing to take to Hayasdan for families who literally have nothing. The project was very successful and we were able to provide for almost 40 families. We also had brand new hats and gloves donated from a Girls' scout troop in New Jersey, which we gave to the kids at the Mangadoon (in Zeytun).

A group of friends put together over 100 goodie-bags for kids, which we took to different places. The kids loved the little erasers, pencils, crayons, etc. we had in there. Something small... just to lift their spirits.

I also started a pen-pal project with my students and students in Armenia. I hope it continues, and when my students go on their senior trip to Armenia, they will be able to meet their pen-pals.

Well, needless to say that getting back into the groove of everything after being in Hayasdan is a little difficult.

Something new that we did... We had another clothes drive, where people donated over 20 boxes full of clothes and we are now collecting donations to ship them. This works especially well with children's clothing, since kids grow out of clothes REALLY fast... so they're all practically new. There were even adult clothes that had the tags still on them!

Alright, well that's about it for now.. I promise to log more often.

TSUH! :)~

Be Nice at Venice: Padus-Araxes Course of Armenian Language, torrents of Wisdom, unforgettable experience...

Garodalí log addicts!!! I missed you, sorry I couldn't log before but I was quite busy, so now I take advantage of this month, January, when Buenos Aires gets calm, but hot as an oven...

Last August one of my dreams came true: To visit Venice and learn (reforce in my case) the Armenian language. The association PADUS-ARAXES lead by the great Professor Boghos H. Levon Zekyan, since 1985 during august joins Armenian from all the world to attend intensive course of Armenian language, its history and culture.

I will retell a common day of this intensive course.

I used to wake up early, about 7 a.m. , brush my teeth, prepare my classbook, dress myself comfortably (Venice is too hot during August) and take a little breakfast. Then run to the Vaporetto Station, walking down the venecian streets, stairs up or stairs down, speaking Armenian while you see the beauty of the city from the boat.
The first class started at 8 am, we had our TATAR (BREAK) to coffee or smoke or whatever at 9.20 am, then again inside the University (Ca' Foscari) up to 1.30 pm, The Teachers were not the same for every class, it depended on the level you were attending for the course. I must admit that the team of Teachers was superb, they were very kind people, true charisma to teach and be your friend at the same time. They were the sweet voice French-Armenian singer Rosine Tachdjian, the wise and experienced American-Armenian Professor Raffi Setian, the charismatic story teller Baron Yervant Manok (French Armenian, borned in Bolis), one of the most Armenian fire-spirits I have ever met (like the Golden Mother Anahit), literature Professor, Oriort Salpy Kasparian from Haleb, the famous artist, sculptor, Lebanese origin but living in Italy, Movses Guloyan (MOSSIG!!!) and the eminence, Professor Boghos Zekyan, (our garodalí Hayr Levon). But this cultural machine wouldn't work properly without the help of two great persons: secretary Daniela Reato, a sweet woman who organizes all about the papers and activities of the course (and someone I cant forget, she was borned on 31st july, like me ;-) and.......The great, the unique, the super... HAYG !!! Hayg helped the teachers, mostly the president of the Association Hayr Levon, to keep all the activities, extra-activites in complete order. He was like the alma mater of the group of students, helped us in all our inquiries, and joined us in all our crazy nights of Armenian joy!!!

It was like a big puzzle of Armenian, all them from different places, all together, all to learn the language of our father Mashdotz...
Try to imagine that in a patio of Venice a bunch of young men and women were united, hand by hand, dancing our antique circle dances, or singing our sweet eternal melodies.
During three weeks, we lived a kind of brotherhood between the students and the teachers, a brotherhood that everyone that had been there will never forget. I will tell you more about the students each in other log. Because not only attending to this course, but most of the teachers and lots of the students too have an active life in their respective communities.

About Venice, what can I say??? REPLACE THE ASPHALT WITH BLUE MEDITERRANEAN WATER!!!, just that!!! The you'll see, that there are still some magic places in this world.

We have been doing also extra-activities, but sure this must be retold in others logs as well. I can't describe Sourp Ghazar Island in two paragraphs,as other Armenian treasures of Venice.


Here in Buenos Aires a tragedy happened, a discoteque got burned, 200 ppl died, mostly adolescents...Big pezevengner in this country, as in many others...What can we do??? The fedayin spirit will return one day!!! Be ready ! ! !

Mishd Badrasd

Juanig

Shnorhavor Nor Dari Yev Sourp Dznount!!!

Well well well, it has been an eventful Christmas season. Christmas itself was wonderful. I spent it with my family... parents, aunt and uncle, sister and husband, cousin and fiancé, and cousin and husband. I'm happy to say I am a proud owner of many things I wanted, particularly a "Family Guy" DVD with select episodes from all the seasons. And I also now have my very own Chiahead and Chiadonkey. Thanks Nouneh! My sister and her husband got me shoelaces to replace the ones her husband jacked from my sneakers a few months ago and denies to this day. Thanks for that guys!

It was a GREAT Christmas, but soon over as I drove up to Boston on the 26th for AYF Convention. If there was any doubt how much I love the AYF, my drive up will attribute to it... 12 hours alone through miserable snow going under 40 mph for the last 6 hours. But it was all worth it because it was my last of 11 conventions and it was productive. I'm sure the next generation will do bigger and better things.

And on the road again, back to New Jersey where my sister and her husband live. New Years and its Eve were simply 48 hours to act like a complete goof with my sister. We sat and watched hours of Gillmore Girls (not bad... very witty) and then went to my cousin's in Long Island to spend a relaxed New Years Eve in jeans and with a small group of friends.

Only to be led back to DC the next day, just in time to prepare for my photo exhibit on the 2nd. Hamazkayin in DC organized a wonderful combined event with a Kennedy Center performance by Zulal and a photo exhibit by myself at the reception. It was truly a culture evening. The Ambassador was there... good times.



And now I'm down to my last week at the ANCA office. I'm sad to say I am leaving the ANCA staff to continue with my own career. It's been a good 2 years, but design is calling my name. Thank God I'm still in the area so I can go volunteer whenever I want. Anyway, many thanks to this wonderful family of Hai Tahd activists who taught me so much and made me feel part of a greater cause.