August 27, 2009
I’ve been at my site for almost 2 weeks now and I’m beginning to feel settled in. The first week or so was hard. This new host family is very nice, but also different from the one I lived with before. They are much quieter and have much less activity in the house. But they are very welcoming and have tried to make me feel at home.
Also, for the first time since arriving in Armenia, I really had nothing to do these last 2 weeks. There were no language classes or tech classes to study for. There were no central days or competencies to fill out. So I had a lot of time on my hands with little to do. Luckily there are other volunteers near here so we got together a few times. I also went down to the main town a few times to use the internet and do some shopping. There’s an American Corner here which has free internet usage. This is a place sponsored by the US Embassy and besides 2 computers, there’s a library with English language books, some magazines and movies. It’s also a place where we can hold meetings or clubs if we need to. And I’ve read about 4 books in the last two weeks, something I hadn’t been able to do since coming here.
I finally found a yarn shop in one of their “department stores.” These are really like flea markets, but are inside and there are two in Kapan. The yarn is from Turkey and pretty good, but there weren’t a lot of colors to choose from. Hopefully the woman understood me and is ordering some more skeins of the same two colors I bought. I started an afghan, since I’m sure I will need it in the winter. I’ve found that Anna and I, the host mother here, have talked more since I’ve started crocheting. She knits but is interested in what I’m making. They don’t make afghans here, since they have these horse blankets, which are very warm. I’m doing a wave pattern, since it was the only one I could remember off the top of my head. But anyway, it’s become a good way to initiate conversation, which is what I needed to do to help improve my language skills.
I’ve gone into the school a few times so far and have met most of the teachers. They are very welcoming, as is the school director. My counterpart, Taguhie, is a wonderful young woman and very easy to work with. We started to do some of the lesson plans yesterday and will do some more today. The school system here is very erratic. They are in the process of changing the books they use, but the teachers don’t know which grades will be affected until the books come, which they haven’t. They also had to make temporary registers for their classes, as the new registers also haven’t arrived yet. But I admire the commitment of these teachers and their enthusiasm for their students. Of course the school here is very small, some of the grades only have 2 students!
I have also arranged for a tutor for myself to help me continue to learn the language. She’s one of the teachers and doesn’t speak English. This should be interesting, but I’m hopeful that it will work well. Anna, the tutor, teaches first grade so is used to starting with beginners. We’ll start next week after both our schedules have been set.
I continue to be amazed by the women of Armenia. Anna, my host mother, works almost all day long around the house. On Saturday I helped her make lavash, the national bread here. Then in the afternoon we went blackberry picking. She will make jam, compote and wine from these. On Monday, she and her husband went to a farm and picked eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes all day and came back with kilos of each. She will can some of the tomatoes and will store the rest. There is no washing machine here, so she does the wash by hand, almost every day. In getting ready for winter, the women take the stuffing out of the mattress and blankets and wash it. This stuffing is mostly sheep’s wool. They rinse it in tubs and then lay it out on the ground, where they beat it with sticks and separate it to air it out and help it dry. Depending on how many beds there are in the house, this could take a week or two.
I have learned a lot so far and know there is much still for me to learn. I only hope that at the end of my service it somehow works out to be an even trade, that I have taught them as much as I have learned.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
August 10, 2009
Today was the end of our tech sessions, which is a relief. We presented our portfolios and had to hand in an electronic form of our presentation. Now I can concentrate on the language proficiency interview, which is tomorrow.
On Saturday we had a field trip to Garni, where there is an old pagan temple and a church nearby. The scenery was magnificent, almost overshadowing the buildings. It’s amazing to see these buildings that were built without today’s machinery. At the temple there was also a bath house, which had intricately designed mosaics in the floors.
Sunday afternoon I went into Yerevan, the capital city, with the two daughters-in-law who live in my house. One of them actually lives in Yerevan during the school year. We got off the bus right as it entered the city where there is a viewing area from which you can see the whole city. There are stairs that go down into the city. At regular intervals there are rest areas, that have gorgeous gardens and waterfalls in them. We had dinner at her mother’s house and then walked around the city. There is a lake in Yerevan, I think it’s manmade, and around that there’s some outdoor cafes and benches for sitting. Our final stop was Republic Square, which is a large gathering place in front of the Art Museum. There is a reflection pool in front of the museum which has fountains in it. At night, they play music over loudspeakers and the fountains have different lights in them and they synchronize the fountains spraying with the music. It was just beautiful. It reminded me of the fireworks they do in NY which are also synchronized with music. We sat at an outdoor café drinking beer while we watched the show. Since it was Sunday night, I was reminded of Music in the Park in Greensboro.
Sitting in that café last night, I couldn’t help but be amazed that I was actually in Armenia doing something as common as that. It is hard to forget that this is a very different place than America at times like that. I’m halfway around the world and yet I felt a very strong connection to my home city.
August 11, 2009
I passed my language proficiency interview today. What a relief. Not that I’m all that proficient in this language, but I can at least make myself understood for the most part. I can in to a store and buy what I need, I can call for a cab, and I can other things like that. I will definitely get a tutor when I get to my village because I really do want to be more proficient in Armenian. But for now I can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy my accomplishment. Everyone felt the same way today.
August 12, 2009
This morning some of us volunteers from my village got up to watch the sunrise come over the mountain. It was absolutely beautiful. It was also a bit sad to realize that in 2 days we will be moving to our new sites and not be together. While we are all glad to have training behind us, it’s bitter sweet because we will be scattered over the country.
Today was the end of our tech sessions, which is a relief. We presented our portfolios and had to hand in an electronic form of our presentation. Now I can concentrate on the language proficiency interview, which is tomorrow.
On Saturday we had a field trip to Garni, where there is an old pagan temple and a church nearby. The scenery was magnificent, almost overshadowing the buildings. It’s amazing to see these buildings that were built without today’s machinery. At the temple there was also a bath house, which had intricately designed mosaics in the floors.
Sunday afternoon I went into Yerevan, the capital city, with the two daughters-in-law who live in my house. One of them actually lives in Yerevan during the school year. We got off the bus right as it entered the city where there is a viewing area from which you can see the whole city. There are stairs that go down into the city. At regular intervals there are rest areas, that have gorgeous gardens and waterfalls in them. We had dinner at her mother’s house and then walked around the city. There is a lake in Yerevan, I think it’s manmade, and around that there’s some outdoor cafes and benches for sitting. Our final stop was Republic Square, which is a large gathering place in front of the Art Museum. There is a reflection pool in front of the museum which has fountains in it. At night, they play music over loudspeakers and the fountains have different lights in them and they synchronize the fountains spraying with the music. It was just beautiful. It reminded me of the fireworks they do in NY which are also synchronized with music. We sat at an outdoor café drinking beer while we watched the show. Since it was Sunday night, I was reminded of Music in the Park in Greensboro.
Sitting in that café last night, I couldn’t help but be amazed that I was actually in Armenia doing something as common as that. It is hard to forget that this is a very different place than America at times like that. I’m halfway around the world and yet I felt a very strong connection to my home city.
August 11, 2009
I passed my language proficiency interview today. What a relief. Not that I’m all that proficient in this language, but I can at least make myself understood for the most part. I can in to a store and buy what I need, I can call for a cab, and I can other things like that. I will definitely get a tutor when I get to my village because I really do want to be more proficient in Armenian. But for now I can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy my accomplishment. Everyone felt the same way today.
August 12, 2009
This morning some of us volunteers from my village got up to watch the sunrise come over the mountain. It was absolutely beautiful. It was also a bit sad to realize that in 2 days we will be moving to our new sites and not be together. While we are all glad to have training behind us, it’s bitter sweet because we will be scattered over the country.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 2, 2009
Yesterday the A16s (the group that has been here for a year) challenged us, the A17s,to a kickball game. The A16s are having their mid-service conference at a hotel not too far from our villages, so of course we accepted. About 25 out of the 45 of us went. We got to the field first and almost as soon as we did it started to drizzle. When the A16s arrived, after some general greetings and chit-chat, both groups gathered to plan our strategy. All of a sudden, the A16s stormed us with water balloons. The challenge was on! By the time we started to play it was raining, so the field was a bit slippery. I was chosen as coach and we won the coin toss ( which was actually a cell phone). The A16s scored first, in the second inning, but we soon overcame their one run. In the fourth inning the game was called because of rain (by that time a heavy rain, with thunder) and we won 5-1. It was a lot of fun, and of course we now have bragging rights.
That evening, the volunteers in my village gathered at our LCFs house to watch “Into the Wild.” It was a good movie, especially given what we’re doing and what we’ve each given up.
Today I went with Karena to visit her family in another town nearby. It was interesting to meet her family and spend the day there. Her brother is a stone cutter who does some beautiful work, especially on crosses. These crosses are a part of the national pride of Armenia and a real craft here. There’s a small chapel in the town that has one of his crosses in it. We walked there to see it and I’m glad we did. It was beautiful.
With just about a week left, I’ve started to organize my things for the upcoming move. It’s amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in such a short time. A lot of it is paperwork from the PC. But I’ve picked up some trinkets from different field trips we’ve gone on, as well. I image that two years from now it will be a real challenge to pack up.
August 4, 2009
This afternoon we went to an archaeological dig in our village. The mayor was instrumental in getting this dig started and he wanted us to see it before we leave for our permanent sites. It’s a burial ground from the Bronze Age, they think. They started the dig last year and have a 5 year plan. The tombs are circular and not very deep. They think that the bodies were cut up, before they were buried, which is why they are not deep. There is a big one, probably the chief’s and then a whole bunch of smaller ones around it. They are not sure if there was a village here, or if it was a gathering place of some sort. We may go back this weekend to actually do some work with them.
I will be closing this blog next week. Please go to my other blog:
suesadventuresabroad.blogspot.com
Yesterday the A16s (the group that has been here for a year) challenged us, the A17s,to a kickball game. The A16s are having their mid-service conference at a hotel not too far from our villages, so of course we accepted. About 25 out of the 45 of us went. We got to the field first and almost as soon as we did it started to drizzle. When the A16s arrived, after some general greetings and chit-chat, both groups gathered to plan our strategy. All of a sudden, the A16s stormed us with water balloons. The challenge was on! By the time we started to play it was raining, so the field was a bit slippery. I was chosen as coach and we won the coin toss ( which was actually a cell phone). The A16s scored first, in the second inning, but we soon overcame their one run. In the fourth inning the game was called because of rain (by that time a heavy rain, with thunder) and we won 5-1. It was a lot of fun, and of course we now have bragging rights.
That evening, the volunteers in my village gathered at our LCFs house to watch “Into the Wild.” It was a good movie, especially given what we’re doing and what we’ve each given up.
Today I went with Karena to visit her family in another town nearby. It was interesting to meet her family and spend the day there. Her brother is a stone cutter who does some beautiful work, especially on crosses. These crosses are a part of the national pride of Armenia and a real craft here. There’s a small chapel in the town that has one of his crosses in it. We walked there to see it and I’m glad we did. It was beautiful.
With just about a week left, I’ve started to organize my things for the upcoming move. It’s amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in such a short time. A lot of it is paperwork from the PC. But I’ve picked up some trinkets from different field trips we’ve gone on, as well. I image that two years from now it will be a real challenge to pack up.
August 4, 2009
This afternoon we went to an archaeological dig in our village. The mayor was instrumental in getting this dig started and he wanted us to see it before we leave for our permanent sites. It’s a burial ground from the Bronze Age, they think. They started the dig last year and have a 5 year plan. The tombs are circular and not very deep. They think that the bodies were cut up, before they were buried, which is why they are not deep. There is a big one, probably the chief’s and then a whole bunch of smaller ones around it. They are not sure if there was a village here, or if it was a gathering place of some sort. We may go back this weekend to actually do some work with them.
I will be closing this blog next week. Please go to my other blog:
suesadventuresabroad.blogspot.com
August 2, 2009
Yesterday the A16s (the group that has been here for a year) challenged us, the A17s,to a kickball game. The A16s are having their mid-service conference at a hotel not too far from our villages, so of course we accepted. About 25 out of the 45 of us went. We got to the field first and almost as soon as we did it started to drizzle. When the A16s arrived, after some general greetings and chit-chat, both groups gathered to plan our strategy. All of a sudden, the A16s stormed us with water balloons. The challenge was on! By the time we started to play it was raining, so the field was a bit slippery. I was chosen as coach and we won the coin toss ( which was actually a cell phone). The A16s scored first, in the second inning, but we soon overcame their one run. In the fourth inning the game was called because of rain (by that time a heavy rain, with thunder) and we won 5-1. It was a lot of fun, and of course we now have bragging rights.
That evening, the volunteers in my village gathered at our LCFs house to watch “Into the Wild.” It was a good movie, especially given what we’re doing and what we’ve each given up.
Today I went with Karena to visit her family in another town nearby. It was interesting to meet her family and spend the day there. Her brother is a stone cutter who does some beautiful work, especially on crosses. These crosses are a part of the national pride of Armenia and a real craft here. There’s a small chapel in the town that has one of his crosses in it. We walked there to see it and I’m glad we did. It was beautiful.
With just about a week left, I’ve started to organize my things for the upcoming move. It’s amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in such a short time. A lot of it is paperwork from the PC. But I’ve picked up some trinkets from different field trips we’ve gone on, as well. I image that two years from now it will be a real challenge to pack up.
August 4, 2009
This afternoon we went to an archaeological dig in our village. The mayor was instrumental in getting this dig started and he wanted us to see it before we leave for our permanent sites. It’s a burial ground from the Bronze Age, they think. They started the dig last year and have a 5 year plan. The tombs are circular and not very deep. They think that the bodies were cut up, before they were buried, which is why they are not deep. There is a big one, probably the chief’s and then a whole bunch of smaller ones around it. They are not sure if there was a village here, or if it was a gathering place of some sort. We may go back this weekend to actually do some work with them.
I will be closing this blog next week. Please go to my other blog:
suesadventuresabroad.blogspot.com
Yesterday the A16s (the group that has been here for a year) challenged us, the A17s,to a kickball game. The A16s are having their mid-service conference at a hotel not too far from our villages, so of course we accepted. About 25 out of the 45 of us went. We got to the field first and almost as soon as we did it started to drizzle. When the A16s arrived, after some general greetings and chit-chat, both groups gathered to plan our strategy. All of a sudden, the A16s stormed us with water balloons. The challenge was on! By the time we started to play it was raining, so the field was a bit slippery. I was chosen as coach and we won the coin toss ( which was actually a cell phone). The A16s scored first, in the second inning, but we soon overcame their one run. In the fourth inning the game was called because of rain (by that time a heavy rain, with thunder) and we won 5-1. It was a lot of fun, and of course we now have bragging rights.
That evening, the volunteers in my village gathered at our LCFs house to watch “Into the Wild.” It was a good movie, especially given what we’re doing and what we’ve each given up.
Today I went with Karena to visit her family in another town nearby. It was interesting to meet her family and spend the day there. Her brother is a stone cutter who does some beautiful work, especially on crosses. These crosses are a part of the national pride of Armenia and a real craft here. There’s a small chapel in the town that has one of his crosses in it. We walked there to see it and I’m glad we did. It was beautiful.
With just about a week left, I’ve started to organize my things for the upcoming move. It’s amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in such a short time. A lot of it is paperwork from the PC. But I’ve picked up some trinkets from different field trips we’ve gone on, as well. I image that two years from now it will be a real challenge to pack up.
August 4, 2009
This afternoon we went to an archaeological dig in our village. The mayor was instrumental in getting this dig started and he wanted us to see it before we leave for our permanent sites. It’s a burial ground from the Bronze Age, they think. They started the dig last year and have a 5 year plan. The tombs are circular and not very deep. They think that the bodies were cut up, before they were buried, which is why they are not deep. There is a big one, probably the chief’s and then a whole bunch of smaller ones around it. They are not sure if there was a village here, or if it was a gathering place of some sort. We may go back this weekend to actually do some work with them.
I will be closing this blog next week. Please go to my other blog:
suesadventuresabroad.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)