5th Anniversary!
I came to the realization the other night that it was exactly 5 years and 5 days ago that I first moved to Armenia. Thus, I wanted to share a photo from my first month as a resident in Armenia (November 2001) that speaks for itself. For those who are not familiar with my story, I came... and went... and came and went and came and went and came and went and came... and stayed. Just like that.What's changed? Everything and nothing. Here's a top 10 list just for entertainment sake:
STILL THE SAME:
1. Water issues (at least in my flat)
2. Old school personal heater
3. Smokers everywhere I go >:(
4. Khorovadz still too salty
5. Baked goods still melt in my mouth
6. I walk everywhere :)
7. Crossing the street is like frogger the game (we don't always make it across)
8. Loitering
9. Scientifically parted hair
10. The medical system still sucks (sorry, had to bring it up)
ALL THAT'S CHANGED:
1. High speed internet
2. Cell phones (just found out I can SMS the US for 20 drams!!!)
3. SOOOOOOO many repats now
4. Real estate prices (yikes!)
5. My digital camera to capture all the beauty
6. AMAZING new arrival terminal at the airport (wow)
7. Business competition (or getting there)
8. Smiling faces (slowly... this includes customer service)
9. Non-smoking section at 2 restaurants that I know of (let the movement begin!!!)
10. I love my work :D
With that said, it's been a lovely journey and I cherish every minute I've spent in Armenia for the last five years. I hope to share more stories for another 50.
posted by Arsineh at 4:09 PM
12 Comments:
Congratulations with your 5th anniversary in Armenia :) I understand your feelings Arsineh.
Do you have any beautiful photos about Armenia you could share with others? Any address on the net to see them?
Glad to hear that there are many repats. I am seriously considering moving there after college/university.
hi arsineh -
i'm new to this blog (2 wks or so)
and i am enjoying it very much. nice to know such a blog exsists, and i have read some of your recent bloggings. i'm curious to know about...ALL THATS CHANGED: 10)I LOVE MY WORK - what is your occupation or work there ? and about...STILL THE SAME: 1) Water issues - what water issues are you having ?
Congrats on surviving 5 yrs of living in our Hayastan.
Vardan, not sure if you are being funny (as I mention my website regularly here). But in case you are serious, all my best photos, many of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora in North America, are on my website at www.digitalrailroad.net/arsineh.
Loveshayastan, correction, I haven't lived here for 5 years, this is just the 5th Anniversary of the 1st time I moved here, then I went back after 9 months, then visited a few times, then moved officially last May. But thanks.
Love my work... started a company with my friend/fellow blogger Niziblian doing PR/Communications/Marketing/Design. I mostly deal with the creative department.
Water issues... not enough hot water for my standards and low water pressure. I should clarify, that is my current situation. My apartment isn't equipt with the modern stuff, but there are many places that have been renovated to western standards and have wonderful water. It's not that hard to come by.
So people understand, many apartments are equipt with a big plastic box that stores water. When the water is on (since it's not 24 hours here), it fills up with cold water. It then has a heater that heats it up. In my opinion, this is a bacteria factory that is impossible to clean. Granted, this can be the case with most water tanks, but I just feel like these are a little less hygenic as they often have an open hole at the top that welcomes dust, dirt, etc. that builds up bacteria. I may be wrong, maybe the other tanks are worse. But I certainly would never drink the water, straight from the city pipes or from the tank.
Hey, so is that how you calculate anniversaries? :-) In my case this should be my 23rd Anniversary. Nice!
One thing that changed in the past few years, but now seems to be going backwards is stable supply of electricity. In the past month, my electricity goes off daily about 3+ times, sometimes for more than an hour each. And I'm supposedly living next to a developing high class community. How is it that a country that exports electricity to neighbouring countries have this problem I can not understand.
I too noticed people smiling more. Very very good point. High speed internet? Might wanna mention the price :-) Repats ... multiplying like rabbits.
I know, my anniversary celebration is a bit misleading. It's significant to me because that first move was responsible for the drastic change in direction for my life. Out of the last 5 years, I have actually spent a total of about 14 months collectively in Yerevan.
I'm soooooo used to power outages, so this is nothing to me. Get this. Living in one of the posh neighborhoods around DC where trees are ample as is security/protection of the "precious" people who live there, power outages were constant... fallen tree, etc. The second I heard the wind blow, I prepared all my power outage "stuff"... flashlight, turn off computers, etc. Sounds fun, eh?
High speed rates? Um... I'm not at liberty to disclose my internet arrangements. But the rates are outrageous indeed.
Arsineh -
if the conditions are not up to par for your standards, then why not leave ? why did you decide to come back & leave, and come back again only to now be in our Hayastan permanantly ? does USA not have anything promising to offer for you ?
Please dont take this response in a negative tone, its all positive tone. i am merely wanting to just understand your decision. I am thrilled to know you are living & contributing in Hayastan. YaY for Arsineh
YAAAY.. shnorhavor! :) Can I get a "rain check" for the celebration?? haha... as if we need a reason! :)
So.. I've noticed the smiley faces too... gives me a little tickle to see it :)
Another change: Nowadays, if you walk into any restaurant/cafe, you realize the majority of diners are locals... which is GREAT! (regardless of who sent who the money for the dinner) Just visit "Parvana" on any given night in the summer.... :)
Hey, Arsineh, what's the second place with a nonsmoking section (if the first is Artbridge)? My makeshift nonsmoking section is ordering to go!
Congratulations on the anniversary.
--Vincent
loveshayastan,
Thanks for being nice. It's not exactly how it seems. First of all, conditions will always be conditions. In the US, I struggled with conditions as well... strict policies, being over worked, not having passion for my work (I should note, this was not true at the ANCA. I LOVED working there).
The conditions I speak of are very easily resolved here. I will be moving into a new apartment very soon which will be extremely accomodating. Armenia has all I need tto live in my standards, I just haven't gotten into that situation yet. For example, I know work will not demand 12 hour days 7 days a week at one point in my life, but right now, I'm doing it to get there.
There's no need to leave Armenia, I just need to find the right corner of Armenia for me. :)
Shoosh, I'mmmmmmmm waaiiiiiitiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.
Square One has a new non-smoking upstairs section - though smoke travels upstairs, so, I dunno how this will work out, and Twinings has had a non-smoking room for many years now, I think it was the first in Armenia.
"Meghedi" cafe at the Opera has a non-smocking section too.
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