Where have I been?

It's been a very long time since I've posted, even longer since I've posted about life in Armenia. I attribute this to a few things: a) busy beyond comprehension, b) nothing new or interesting to say, and c) I'm out of the loop. Ever since my parents left in June, fixed friends in Yerevan started dropping like flies... my roommate, my close friends, one-by-one... started flocking to the US. Usually when that happens, a new crop comes in and fills the void. That didn't seem to happen this time. At least, not the same way. Instead, we hired more staff, and work became my life once again. Given the incredibly talented staff I have around me, this has become a good thing. Given the overload and constant piling up of projects, it has weighed down a bit, causing multiple all-nighters for far too long. But now that I have a second to breathe, reflecting back on the accomplishments can be a rewarding experience. I've mentioned before that Armenia's workforce is speeding up and it is starting to feel very similar to my days in the US, with more obstacles. Many of us came to Armenia hoping for the slower pace of life. I certainly hoped for it. It just doesn't exist anymore. But I definitely feel the rewards.

One of the recent projects we completed at Deem Communications is our first publication, Special Residency Status: 18 Tales from Armenian Repatriates. A collection of true short stories from 18 different Diasporans who live or have lived in Armenia, it's full of insane culture clashes that make you laugh and cry. Raffi Niziblian is completing his tour of Canada and the US (east coast) to publicize the book, but they will be available for sale at all Armenian retail stores throughout the US, Canada and Armenia.

Otherwise, I'm preparing for my first Christmas/New Years in Armenia. It will be my first away from my family, and Christmas is the one of very few times in the year when our family is ALL together, but I think there will be enough friends here who feel like family to fill the void. It has already snowed in Armenia and I'm hearing good ol' Sinatra and Louis Armstrong classics reminiscent of a New York Christmas, so people are starting to get into the spirit. We now have a balance of Diasporans and locals in the office, so some of the Lebanon guys started singing "Gaghand Baba" to the locals which turned into a sing-along. Strange that they don't have an Armenian version of that song here. They grew up learning the Russian Christmas songs.

And on deck, I am getting started on my first personal publication, My Nation: The Trails and Trials of an Armenian Repatriate, featuring photos from my entire life. More on this later, but you can expect a release date for May of 2008. I'll share the link when it's ready.