Yes eem Anoush Hayastani....
I'm in Armenia! Can somebody help me understand why none of the Russian crew members aboard Aeroflot or at the airport in Moscow smile? I noticed blatant expressions of annoyance and disgust when they encountered travelers who didn't speak any Russian. Did I miss something? Is it pre-requisite to know Russian to fly Russian airlines and through Russia's airports? Stewardesses would speak to me in Russian and then roll their eyes at me when I responded in English.
While standing in the transit/transfer line at the airport in Russia I was somehow managed to always be one of the last people in the line since these folks don't believe in lining up and just walk up and randomly join the line somewhere in the middle.
Since I've been here I've had a few amazing experiences. The first occurred while I was in the car with my father. We were driving around near Ara Ler and he started telling me a story of how he once saw an eagle circling in the sky swoop down and pick up a snake from the field below and fly up grasping the snake in its talons. I expressed some regret that he didn't have his camera handy to capture the moment. About five minutes later I almost couldn't find my words when I looked over to my right and saw an eagle flying overhead with a snake gripped in it's talons! Luckily I had my camera handy and I was able to capture the moment! My father and I were a tad spooked by what had just happened, but then again things like this happen in Armenia!
We also revisited Komitasi Ayki and there is a new museum there that was opened last summer.
A few days ago a few of my friends and I went to the Armenia vs. Portugal soccer game. Television broadcasts had advised people to arrive an hour early but that was useless since the stadium staff (aka soldiers and police officers) had absolutely no clue about effective crowd control measures. On the contrary all they were doing was creating havoc. For over an hour we were stuck in a mob getting pushed and shoved with people shouting at each other. Let me just say that not only was I afraid we were going to get trampled and killed I was embarrassed because numerous non-Armenian tourists simply gave up and turned back. I couldn't believe they were witnessing our people acting like such savages. I can understand how ridiculous the organization of the event was but why must the people lose all order and act like wild animals? Thank goodness for the one tall guy near us who kept shouting at people to come to their senses and not push and shove to avoid a stampede which might cause deaths. I admit it I was scared! I was shaking, my nerves were shot and at one point I couldn't help it anymore I was crying because my right arm almost got torn off when my entire body was being shoved forward while my arm was being shoved backward! Even at that point when I was yelling "tevus..akh tevus" the stinky men around me didn't even exhibit one ounce of chivalry or sensitivity and instead of trying to ensure my safety they just kept pushing and shoving. LOVELY! I can't say I was too proud of my people at that point.... on the contrary I was pained! (pun intended!)
Once we got to our seats I had to kick some kids out of our seats which I had no problem doing. I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't argue with me or put up a fight and I'm really glad they didn't or else I would have just sat on them! The crowd was roaring, whistling, shouting, chanting, there were horns, drums, singers, fights...you name it! What really perplexed me was how people were chomping on seeds. How did they manage to hold on to their seeds through the mob scene? The game itself was pretty good and ended in a tie. The Armenian players were playing their hearts out.... rumor has it they had been offered some monetary incentives
Yesterday was my friend Noushig's last day here before returning back to the States. I didn't want to say good bye so I hung out with her at her hotel until we both were exhausted and almost falling asleep. While we were sitting in the lobby of her hotel in walked a man who I made eye contact with and I turned to Noushig and our friend Norair and I said "I think that was Arkady Ghoukasian" and they didn't believe me until they saw him walk by again, this time being escorted by secret service agent/ bodyguard people! I would like to report that he is a very good looking man in person. Pictures and television don't do him justice!
The best part of my trip so far was last night when I went over to my father's house for dinner and he asked me if I wanted to play backgammon. I agreed reluctantly since he always kicks my ass and I hadn't played in over a year. We played best out of 5 and he was up when I somehow beat him with a mars!!!! He was livid! He couldn't believe I beat him for the first time ever and in Armenia at that! I will be boasting about this FOREVER!
While standing in the transit/transfer line at the airport in Russia I was somehow managed to always be one of the last people in the line since these folks don't believe in lining up and just walk up and randomly join the line somewhere in the middle.
Since I've been here I've had a few amazing experiences. The first occurred while I was in the car with my father. We were driving around near Ara Ler and he started telling me a story of how he once saw an eagle circling in the sky swoop down and pick up a snake from the field below and fly up grasping the snake in its talons. I expressed some regret that he didn't have his camera handy to capture the moment. About five minutes later I almost couldn't find my words when I looked over to my right and saw an eagle flying overhead with a snake gripped in it's talons! Luckily I had my camera handy and I was able to capture the moment! My father and I were a tad spooked by what had just happened, but then again things like this happen in Armenia!
We also revisited Komitasi Ayki and there is a new museum there that was opened last summer.
A few days ago a few of my friends and I went to the Armenia vs. Portugal soccer game. Television broadcasts had advised people to arrive an hour early but that was useless since the stadium staff (aka soldiers and police officers) had absolutely no clue about effective crowd control measures. On the contrary all they were doing was creating havoc. For over an hour we were stuck in a mob getting pushed and shoved with people shouting at each other. Let me just say that not only was I afraid we were going to get trampled and killed I was embarrassed because numerous non-Armenian tourists simply gave up and turned back. I couldn't believe they were witnessing our people acting like such savages. I can understand how ridiculous the organization of the event was but why must the people lose all order and act like wild animals? Thank goodness for the one tall guy near us who kept shouting at people to come to their senses and not push and shove to avoid a stampede which might cause deaths. I admit it I was scared! I was shaking, my nerves were shot and at one point I couldn't help it anymore I was crying because my right arm almost got torn off when my entire body was being shoved forward while my arm was being shoved backward! Even at that point when I was yelling "tevus..akh tevus" the stinky men around me didn't even exhibit one ounce of chivalry or sensitivity and instead of trying to ensure my safety they just kept pushing and shoving. LOVELY! I can't say I was too proud of my people at that point.... on the contrary I was pained! (pun intended!)
Once we got to our seats I had to kick some kids out of our seats which I had no problem doing. I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't argue with me or put up a fight and I'm really glad they didn't or else I would have just sat on them! The crowd was roaring, whistling, shouting, chanting, there were horns, drums, singers, fights...you name it! What really perplexed me was how people were chomping on seeds. How did they manage to hold on to their seeds through the mob scene? The game itself was pretty good and ended in a tie. The Armenian players were playing their hearts out.... rumor has it they had been offered some monetary incentives
Yesterday was my friend Noushig's last day here before returning back to the States. I didn't want to say good bye so I hung out with her at her hotel until we both were exhausted and almost falling asleep. While we were sitting in the lobby of her hotel in walked a man who I made eye contact with and I turned to Noushig and our friend Norair and I said "I think that was Arkady Ghoukasian" and they didn't believe me until they saw him walk by again, this time being escorted by secret service agent/ bodyguard people! I would like to report that he is a very good looking man in person. Pictures and television don't do him justice!
The best part of my trip so far was last night when I went over to my father's house for dinner and he asked me if I wanted to play backgammon. I agreed reluctantly since he always kicks my ass and I hadn't played in over a year. We played best out of 5 and he was up when I somehow beat him with a mars!!!! He was livid! He couldn't believe I beat him for the first time ever and in Armenia at that! I will be boasting about this FOREVER!
posted by LORI at 10:40 AM
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AREVAHAM PARN EM SIRUM ! ! !
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