Adrineh wrote a thoughtful and interesting blog about some mixed feelings being a repat in Armenia.  The local vs. diasporan thing, the privileged vs. those without.  I think most repats/expats moving to Armenia must go through this process in some form or another, and everyone must figure out what works for them.

I’ve been in and out of Armenia for many years now.  When I first arrived, I came without any real expectations or many preconceived notions.  The only information I was armed with were many warnings from Diasporans to be really really careful.  Armenia was full of thieves and a mafia that might kill me!!  Well, aside from the thief of a taxi driver that dropped me off that first day, I am hard pressed to think of any other examples of being ripped off in all the years I’ve been here.  As far as mafia and safety goes, that may be even more laughable, since I never felt safer in my entire life and the only mafia is the one that runs the whole country.  They don’t bother with little people – as long as you don’t try to import sugar, oil, or some other commodity one of them has claimed as their own. Read more »