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