Moving to Armenia
Hi everyone. So this is officially my first blog! I guess I should introduce myself... my name is Tamar (actually Tamara but I go by Tamar), I am from Sacramento, California and I will be moving to Armenia this week! I decided to write one installment before actually moving just because the pre-move might be interesting. For example, this trip will be my fourth time traveling to Armenia, so it seems pointless to keep buying entrance visas, especially since I'll be staying this time :) However, I didn't look into getting my Armenian 10-year passport soon enough, so I'll be getting the 4-month visa at first and then applying for my passport upon arrival in Hayastan. This is kind of complicated in light of the newly-passed Dual Citizenship law, but according to the people with whom I've inquired, the law hasn't taken effect yet so I should just pursue the passport instead.
Anyway, I am heading to Armenia to help coordinate the first AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern Program. It will run from the end of June through the beginning of August. After the program, I'll be bumming around the rest of August, and then begin working on the final two classes of my masters degree in International Affairs. The classes are an internship and an independent study, so I'll be looking for an internship as soon as I step foot in Armenia, and I'll also be designing a study of some of the current conditions in the country. After the semester is over, I'll be looking for a more permanent job. Admittedly, it's not all pinned down yet, but hopefully I will manage to get things situated soon after arriving.
While the school issue is making me a bit nervous, I am excitedly anticipating the start of my journey as a repatriate in Armenia. This move has been in the works from some time... in fact, I think I have deep down wanted to move to Armenia ever since my 4-month stint as a Birthright Armenia/Armenian Volunteer Corps volunteer in 2005. The truth is that, having spent those months falling in love with life in the homeland, I really never wanted to leave. But I came back to the US to do my masters at the New School in New York City. Constantly studying Armenia and the Caucasus region at school helped keep me connected to Hayastan, as did a fundraising project I undertook in the past two years.
Really, much of my energy and efforts of these past few years have brought me to this moment... to finally be able to feel free and confident enough to make the decision to move to Armenia. I am maybe 5% apprehensive, and the rest just incredibly excited and happy to be making this move!!! I'm looking forward to meeting the many other repatriates in whose footsteps I am following... see you soon!
Anyway, I am heading to Armenia to help coordinate the first AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern Program. It will run from the end of June through the beginning of August. After the program, I'll be bumming around the rest of August, and then begin working on the final two classes of my masters degree in International Affairs. The classes are an internship and an independent study, so I'll be looking for an internship as soon as I step foot in Armenia, and I'll also be designing a study of some of the current conditions in the country. After the semester is over, I'll be looking for a more permanent job. Admittedly, it's not all pinned down yet, but hopefully I will manage to get things situated soon after arriving.
While the school issue is making me a bit nervous, I am excitedly anticipating the start of my journey as a repatriate in Armenia. This move has been in the works from some time... in fact, I think I have deep down wanted to move to Armenia ever since my 4-month stint as a Birthright Armenia/Armenian Volunteer Corps volunteer in 2005. The truth is that, having spent those months falling in love with life in the homeland, I really never wanted to leave. But I came back to the US to do my masters at the New School in New York City. Constantly studying Armenia and the Caucasus region at school helped keep me connected to Hayastan, as did a fundraising project I undertook in the past two years.
Really, much of my energy and efforts of these past few years have brought me to this moment... to finally be able to feel free and confident enough to make the decision to move to Armenia. I am maybe 5% apprehensive, and the rest just incredibly excited and happy to be making this move!!! I'm looking forward to meeting the many other repatriates in whose footsteps I am following... see you soon!
posted by Tamar at 11:42 AM
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