Arvest 2006 – 10 Year Anniversary on October 14, 2006 in Los Angeles

Arvest is an annual event in SoCal that showcases the talent of established and emerging Armenian artists worldwide. This year, celebrating their 10 year anniversary, the event “Merging of the Arts: Paris – LA” brings together the elegance and richness of the Parisian culture with the eclectic diversity of Los Angeles. Taking place at the Los Angeles Union Station, it promises to be a great fusion of art and culture.

This AGBU event will donate a portion of the exhibit proceeds to a program close to my heart, the Generation Next Mentorship. Generation Next does a fine job working with “At-Risk” middle school students in the Glendale and Pasadena school districts to guide the young learners towards productive and healthy lifestyles. My experience with AGBU events has been exceptional, with truly dedicated organizing committee’s and enthusiastic party goers, and I think this event will be no different.

If you are interested in attending please visit their website for more information: www.agbuypla.org. The deadline for early registration discounts is October 9, 2006.

And, there is no place like home...

Home for me is now Glendale. Well, at least the Glendale vicinity in a township called La Canada (pronounced La-Can-Yah-Dah) which is 10 minutes north of Glendale on the 210; meaning I am close enough to Zankou and Paradise Bakery to frequent it daily, though I won't. I end up back here after spending three years in New York City. Now I am living in a quaint little house with hand painted walls and a yard after going from one outrageously priced, sardine can sized apartment on ridiculous floors in walk-up buildings, to the next. But, hey, it was NYC. Now I finally get a good night's sleep and wake up to the chirping of birds and not car horns. This is likely one of the few times I will put "peaceful" and "Glendale" in the same sentence but that is how it feels right now. Hearing people speaking in Armenian has a soothing effect. Even the greatest City in the world couldn't measure up to what Tinseltown can offer me in this Little Armenia.

I am an American born Armenian mostly growing up in Los Angeles during a period of time where being Armenian was truly foreign. Most people didn't know "what" an Armenian was. I remember continually being asked where I was from because I looked “exotic” and people were rarely able to place “Armenians” let alone have heard of one. Now, we have a reputation. I am still anxiously waiting for the day I will be able to check off “Armenian” under ethnicity because I’m really sick of being in the “other” category or having to find the option that fits best.

The influx of Armenians became a whirlwind of great things setting the stepping stones to the uniqueness of our Diaspora that now has enough to document. From what I hear recently California State University at Los Angeles did a study. And, as I’ve been back for a few weeks now, taking a couple classes at Long Beach State I’m really in shock at how my class has referenced Armenians in the whole scheme of establishing social structure in the US…I mean, it makes sense, but it’s just never happened to me. And, yesterday a Peruvian girl in my class let ME know about an OC Armenian Festival that she is attending this weekend for fun.

I don’t think I have been able to go through a day without encountering Armenian on the streets. I heard a couple discussing changing the price ticket on a piece of furniture at Ross, two men sitting on a sale display swing set in front of Ralphs talking about life at 11:30 pm on a Sunday evening, in line at the AMC in Burbank laughing at someone’s rather odd haircut. We are quirky in our nuances and have some rather home grown personality traits but, it’s good to be here.

For anyone who wants to attend the OC Armenian Festival this is the website:

www.armenianfestival.org

I hope to be blogging from this Little Armenia about the in’s and out’s of life here through my streams of consciousness as I get to know this city all over again and the Armenians in it. It’s nice to be part of this online community as well:)

React, but first stop and then go…

I’m at the ENACT of Angers, a school for the “territorial civil servants”* like me, who are attending various training courses, and someone is playing on the piano of the “relaxation room” of the building. Shad hankisd mtnolort men e, and it’s really appreciable after the agitated re-entry I had since 2 weeks. But there is a but.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3232,36-816571,0.html
Here’s what we can read in today’s edition of “Le Monde”, the most famous French daily newspaper. A pure “seduction operation” fully encouraged by the hateful attitude of this newspaper that has been condemned by the past for having published a negationist hotvadz.
Hateful because “Le Monde” obviously ignores established facts like recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France, and dares support those “truths” of a big liar, while it’s not opening its columns so often and largely for Armenians issues.

All this happens as some little “stings” scratched Turkey this month.

On one hand : the Official Year of Armenia in France that has been launched 10 days ago by the meeting of the French and Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister in Paris. The same day, the Turkish Foreign Affairs was in France and he reminded that with the important population of Turks in France, France and Turkey should be careful of preventing troubles during this year.

This kind of troubles is not a pure idea of the spirit, France truly experienced the troubles mentioned by Gül, except that they were caused by Turks. Who is giving lessons ?
This past year, as many initiatives about new Armenian memorials or new wide public events talking about genocide were borning, we attended various oppositions, profanations and even demonstrations coming from Turks denying the genocide, more or less clearly guided by official Turkey’s representatives in France.
One of these most known events took place in Lyon, while during a demonstration of Turks against a new Armenian memorial on a famous place of the city, French youngs of another demonstration (nothing to do with Armenian issues) heard the big lies and reacted by saying it was denial, which wasn’t appreciated by the Turks…

Anyway, everything is as if after having arrived in France to escape from genocide, the Armenians of this country have now to bear the threats of the Turks. This is really infuriating but Armenians stood quiet. And all this cause a massive support of French deputies to vote a law that would do liable to penal continuations, the fact of denying the Armenian genocide.

Yes, it’s very sad for the freedom of expression… the same law exists about the Shoah here though, so why not for all genocides ? Anyway, this is a long debate, and the only point I wanted to say was that this year’s events made it sense to vote the same law for Armenians, to avoid the same kind of troubles. The law was 100% sure to pass last 18th of May, but our dear President Chirac gave instructions to the president of the Assembly for delaying the debate about this point of the day’s agenda, and all constitutional means were used to do so… Sad for democracy also !
Official Year of Armenia in France ok, but if Chirac is in Armenia soon, just remind him of the 18th of May

Before the launching of the Official Year of Armenia, the other reverse of fortune that Turkey lived was when the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) voted on the Eurlings report on "Turkey's progress towards accession" and its 343 amendments. It doesn’t really arrange Turkey’s business and now they are pressuring against it, as they know well how to do so. http://www.eafjd.org/menu.php3?lang=en

Ecco, sometimes, looks like it really make sense to do piracy, like only the ones who dare can gain something. That can be partially inspiring… tanpis if it is naïve but let’s challenge that the daring strategy can also be done honestly, with dignity and more intelligently.
It’s something that I learnt during my little battles of those last weeks : the frontal opposition is not always the most effective, one can win more by operating more skilfully. Still learning !


Ciao !


*it’s the yahoo translation, hope that it’s the correct expression! Pleaaase excuse my English, sometimes it can be really hard to deal with !

Armenian Passport

Ok, so a few years ago I finally applied for the Armenian residency passport (which is basically a 10 yr visa type of thing)... and I did receive it (for a modest fee of $350).

In the winter of 2005/6, my purse was stolen in Armenia, and as it happens... my Armenian passport was in there. Replacing everything else in my purse was not that big of a deal (credit cards, driver's license, U.S. passport, etc.) but when it came to getting a new Armenian passport--- it was OF COURSE a different story! :)

So, the first thing I did upon my return is to call the Armenian Consulate in L.A., where a Baron Hagop informed me that there is no replacement policy, and indeed I had to pay $400 (since the price increased in the past few years) for a brand spankin' new passport, for which I had to write a new essay about my life (in "untoonvadz" Armenian) and submit 8 pictures - and then wait 6 months. Obviously, Baron Hagop didn't make much sense to me..... So I got online and went to the Armenia Diaspora website and emailed them asking what I needed to do in my situation. I got a response from Baron Tigran saying all I needed to do is take 2 pictures to Ovir with 75,000 drams. Now THAAAAT made sense!

While I was in Armenia this summer, I went to Ovir with my pictures and drams and was told I needed a police report to prove it was stolen. It somewhat made sense, so I went to the police department where my report was filed. After 2 hours of standing around, being sent from one detective's office to the next, I finally found Inspector Armen, who is the one in charge of my case. He said he cannot find my paperwork... he pretended to open a few files on his computer, and told me I'd have to come back. So on and so forth.... needless to say, I never got the paper from the police department, and Ovir-dude Baron Sukyasyan was NOT convinced that my passport was indeed stolen. (Ummm, why would I lie? just to have a backup copy??? weirdos!!!)

Since I'm back, I decided to give the Consulate here another try. Nope... they told me that it would take 6-8 months, and I'd have to pay $400 again. She suggested giving a "magharish" to Ovir and the police ... (gee thanks, like I couldn't come up with that). If I'm gonna give $$$ to this and that person, I might as well pay the $400!!!

Now I understand why it's important to know people who are important... and who can help you get things done with ONE phone call.

But hey, this is our country... and even though the rules (or lack of rules) don't make sense sometimes --- we gotta love it! :)

TSUH! :)~

Yassassss !

Guess where this is ? Church of Ayios Nikolaos, near the little town of Kanakari, on the island of Naxos, in the Cyclades, Greece, Europe, Planet Earth etc… :o)

And where those pomegranates are from ? In the butterflies valley, south of Parikia, island of Paros, still in the Cyclades…

After a too long time I get to see again the so missed and beloved Mediterranean Sea, from new angles. I didn’t realise how much I missed it until I saw its specific coloured horizon again. So thanks God I had fully breathe the eternal SEA-SUN cure (and also Wind – MELTENIA!) during 2 weeks discovering and bathing in some Cycladic islands :
- The very gay “village” of Mykonos (for those interested : the antic reputation is all true, you can go have fun there ;o) )
- The humble beautiful Paros where the peaceful Lefkes charmed us before feeling a very strange good moment in the cathedral of Naoussa at the sunset light… - The quiet big Naxos and its goats on the mountainous roads surrounded by Sea,
- And the astonishing dark cliffs of Santorini on the Caldera.

After swimming, diving and walking, and swimming again and again I’m still surprised of this simple thing : we’re really tiny little things but we can do FAR much bigger things !!!
So of course, I really liked these Greek holidays (even if my banker isn’t so happy !) Above the sea, there are also some nice similarities with Armenian features. Armenia may not have Mediterranean Sea… but Greece is simply not Armenia. Sorry if it sounds totally stupid, but this is exactly what I felt on last day of this trip : a good place to be, but not feel as good as Armenia… even if I had known more Greek than yassas, calimera, calispera, calinikta, efaristo and parakalo ! lol

Anyway, I finally landed in the luminous Paris last night and get back to real life preoccupations today (papers and other things to arrange). Fortunately with no work today I could begin to settle those less shiny questions… Work begins tomorrow, and as usual I don’t really care of what I’ll find - each thing in its time. Many letters and news also arrived about future Armenian-linked events, so more news for you coming soon ;o)
Apart from that, summer seem to have now really come back here for ending the season with dignity, let’s enjoy it :o)

And just a last glance on Santorini's Caldera view, to finish in dreamy meditations :o)

Efaristo…


ps : sorry for the numerous links, but I just didn’t manage to download the pics tonight :op

Plans and Various Cali News

I'm back in L.A. again. It's only been a short while that I've been back, so there isn't too much to report. I guess the headlines would be as follows : 1) 2 jobs, 2) currently undergoing my regular 4 month testing of health, and 3) I've finally made a FINAL decision to move to Armenia in June of 2007!

Since my jobs are not anything spectacular (although, I'm still looking for a couple of students to tutor a few times a week), and since my testing isn't complete yet and I have no results to talk about (although, I'm hoping for the best).... let's start with #3--- MY MOVE.

I know a few people (cough--raffi k, derhova--cough) always say "ya ya ya" when I say I'm moving... but this time, it's for real! It's happening, not only because I say so, but because I actually have a PLAN!!! This "planning" is soooo refreshing for me, as I haven't been planning anything in my life in the past few years--just sort of riding the wave. And so, it feels so great to be back behind the wheel now. :)

So, people are asking--- "geez, what is her big plan".... (drumroll please) I plan to open a pre-school in Hayasdan with one of my friends!!!! I can't believe I hadn't come up with this idea yet, but I'm absolutely stoked about it! We are currently working on brainstorming and putting all our ideas on paper, and into a proposal type thing.... and will soon be looking for donors. From the little research we did in Armenia, we believe we can have our pre-school up and running by September 2007!!! We hope to make it grow into a full blown school in the future.... I'm very excited, and am more than anxious to begin working on this.

As far as what's going on in LA.... last week, I saw the Little Armenia play at Fountain Theatre (in Little Armenia). Basically, it was about the lives of regular Armenians living in Little Armenia. I have to say that the performances were quite good (especially since some of the actors weren't even Armenian, but you couldn't tell). The only thing I was disappointed about was one of the storylines in the play. It dealt with the daughter of the family dating (and later marrying) an "odar". Of course it showed the initial unacceptance of the family, but I didn't like how over the course of the play, the family accepted the odar Iceland-atsi. I know this is a played-out topic, but I found it ironic that it was happening even in our "little armenia". The play brought up many issues.... mixed marriages, racism vs. nationalism, stereotyping, etc. Overall, I liked it... I'm glad I went to see it.... and then had falafel at Falafel Arax :) haha

I'm sad to report that a couple of young Armenian guys (ages 22) were killed in an accident last weekend-- drunk driving -- but NO, this time the other car was responsible... not them. Very sad... so many young lives being lost lately.... I think back to the last year or two, and the number of young people I know who have passed on are so many, I would need 3 hands to count them all! So sad..... My condolences to their families and friends....

Well... this is pretty much IT for now... Charles Aznavour concert coming up this month! As well as my AYF chapter's 10th year Anniversary next weekend....

TSUH! :)~

Here Comes The Arev...(It´s Alright!!!)

Pneumonia, Diploma and more!!!
I missed you a lot sirelee anasoonner!!!

Well, where to begin?

I ended one of the hardest projects of my life, that was to finish the career of International Public Law in the University of Buenos Aires. It has been rough years but I struggled like a beast so it's over and now it's time to cellebrate.

It was 5th July the day I passed my last exam, and the day that my brother and my friends poured on me lots of weird things (cement, sand, vinagre, oil, eggs, gunpowder!!!) to cellebrate. I knew that was going to happen, so before they came, I drunk 2 litres of Irish beer, so I really don't remember a thing about those moments... Here it is a picture of that day speaking drunk to my Mayrig at the University...

After that big moment of my life I entered into one of the deepest "breathing crisis" ever. I had a strange type of pneumonia, so strong that I had to stay 15 days in bed. Even I am not recovered at 100%, I'm trying to do my best to reach my pole position, heheh...

Well, now speak about culture and all that kind of Sarmas and Dolmas.

For those who like International Politics and the hypocrite UN and the forums about the future of our suffered planet, the ATGHO, is organizing a symposia in Yerevan next October. Check out the web site, it seems interesting. At least this kind of events are nice to be done in our old Erepuni, always if they are honest and clean on their objetives.

For those who like poetry and specially symbolic and esoteric poetry, I discoreved another little diamond of the Armenian Culture: Hrand Nazariantz , he was born in Constantinople in 1886 and died in Bari, Italy in 1962. He founded many magazines in Bolis, and he continued a brilliant career in Italy, where he also founded a little town called Nor Arax. Awesome, huh!?
Here you have a Gensakragan article about Nazariantz's life, and here some of his works in spanish.

You know amigos, I always have been interested in what is the occult and the esoterism. And I really find it incredible when other Armenians find interesting this topics, too. At least I think spiritualism is not only Christianism...

Music, Music, Music...oh yes, I was musician also, I didn't forget about it.
If the stars bless my way, I will be entering into the recording Studio last days of September with Los Armenios, I think this material will hit the Armenian Diaspora with power of melodic chords and pure Armenian Tradition.
About my lead band, HaShiSh, we came back to the shows, we are playing as much as we can, and I think the pneumonia came for being playing, studying, bakering with my dad, and all the crap united!!!

Check out this video of us HaShiSh Alive.


For Raffí and Aram...That is what an Argentinean-Armenian does in the home of Napoleon.

Kevork Power Gardening Naked Three Weeks Ago at Napoleon's Palace.

Bye bye!!!

Here Comes...THE SUN!!!