Saturday, June 27, 2009

Placement
I found out last Wednesday that I will be in Vachagan, which is a small village right outside of Kapan, a city in the south. The school where I will be teaching has only 50 students and 16 teachers, which is a pretty good ratio. The plan for the future is for the high school students to go to Kapan for school, and the village school will only go up to 8th grade. I will be the first Peace Corps volunteer in this village and they have been waiting 4 years for an English teacher (TEFL). No pressure there!
The village is about the same size as the one I’m in now, which is what I wanted. I feel very safe in this village. It doesn’t take long for everybody to know you. I’ve only been here 4 weeks and I already feel very much a part of this village. But the good thing is that I’m within walking distance of Kapan, which has internet cafes.
My new host family consists of a mother, father and 3 young boys. The boys are 4, 10 and 12 years old. The father is a volunteer community leader and the mother doesn’t work outside the house. But after spending time here, I know that the mother works very hard.
My counterpart is a 28 year old woman and has been at the school since 2005. From what I’ve heard, she’s supposed to be very nice and good to work with. I’ll soon find out. I’ll go for a site visit in the beginning of July for 4 days.
On Wednesday there were a lot of current Peace Corps volunteers who came to Charentsavan to wish us luck in our placements. There are 12 of us going to the region I’ll be in, with Shannon being in Kapan. There were about 10 current volunteers there on Wednesday to greet and welcome us. It was nice to spend some time talking with them and finding out something about the area. I’m excited to go and really get started with being a Peace Corps volunteer.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The past week has been very busy besides our language lessons. We went to Charentsavan last Tuesday, which we do once a week. It’s when all the A17s gather from the six different villages they have us living in. During our sessions in Charentsavan we learn about Armenian culture, safety and security issues, health issues, and other Peace Corps related things. It’s a good time to catch up with the other volunteers who are in the different villages.

On Wednesday afternoon we had our Tech session, which was about lesson plans and the Peace Corps’ outline for lesson plans. A couple from a village in the south gave a demonstration. That night all the volunteers from my village and some from the other villages came to my host family’s house for a party. There were probably 25 or so who came. The women in the house had made cakes and cookies and the volunteers brought some beverages. It was fun. We danced, ate and just enjoyed being with one another.

Thursday afternoon we had team building, which is aimed at the 8 of us in this village becoming more cohesive as a group. It consisted of some trust games, a quest to get our “totem” and some sharing about how we handle certain situations. The 8 of us in this village get along really well, so we did well with the trust games and getting our totem.

Friday afternoon was actually free time so some of us decided to hike up the mountain behind the school building. It was a bit higher than I thought it was and although a bit strenuous, I’m glad I did it. The view from the top was magnificent. We were able to see for miles around and actually saw a village behind us that we didn’t know was there. We might hike there one day. I’m sorry I didn’t have my camera, but I’ll definitely go back up. The air is so clean and clear it’s invigorating. We could see where the cows had grazed and the paths they took getting up the side of the mountains. I’m glad now that I had begun hiking this past year.

Saturday afternoon we went again to Charentsavan for a cultural session. It was on art, music and dance. Armenians are very proud of their heritage and love to show it off. We didn’t spend too much time on the art, but rather focused on the music and dance. At first we listened to the traditional music of Armenia and then to the more modern music. When it came time for the dance session, we were actually taught some of the traditional steps. It’s mostly round dances, with fairly simple steps, until they speed it up. But it was fun and good exercise. Of course in the villages, they don’t do the traditional dance, rather a more relaxed dance with a lot of hand motions. After the cultural session we explored a bit of Charentsavan and then most of us met for dinner at an outdoor café. Again it was nice to sit around with all the other volunteers and compare notes on our experiences so far. We all are extremely pleased with our host families.

Sunday was the first day since coming to my village that we didn’t have language lessons. So it was nice to spend the day with my host family, especially they were making lavash, which is the national bread of Armenia. But it is a very long process to make lavash. Ellia made the dough in the morning. She mixed loaves and covered them to let them set for about 2 hours. In the meantime, she prepared the “oven” for the baking. Actually the oven is a sunken pit with the sides covered in ceramic type substance. It is about 4 feet deep and 2 feet around. The ashes from the last time it was used have to be removed, and then a new fire started. When the oven and dough are ready, Kareena and Ellia start the next step. Kareena rolls each loaf of dough out into a thin circle. Ellia then works the dough like the pizza men do, by throwing it from hand to hand until it is about20-24 inches long. It is then placed on a form, sprinkled with a little water and then slapped onto the side of the oven. It only takes about 2-3 minutes to cook, then it is removed and laid out to cool off. I even got a few chances to throw the dough, and believe me it’s not as easy as it looks. When most of the dough was cooked, Ellia sliced potatoes, salted them and slapped them on the sides of the oven to cook. She also put some dough around eggs and cooked them in the oven. It’s amazing to watch these women work. They never really stop and they put everything to use. Nothing is wasted here.

I gave my host family Uno when I first came, and it’s the best thing I could have done. The first few days we must have played each night for about 2 hours. It was great for me because it helped me with the numbers and colors. The two children still play almost every night and every now and then their mother or grandmother will join them. Unfortunately I don’t have the time anymore because of all the homework I have. But occasionally I will play checkers with them, at least that doesn’t take as long as Uno.

The house I’m living in only has running water for 4 hours in the morning and sometimes for another 2 hours or so in the afternoon. The water is supposed to come on at 8, but sometimes it’s on by 7, and other times it’s not on until 9. So it’s hard to plan on a shower. Most mornings I take a bucket shower, which means I have to heat up the water on the stove, then carry the bucket into the bathroom and wash. But at least I have water and I’ve been able to take a real shower once. It’s not too bad and I’ve actually gotten used to the bucket shower. It’s amazing what you can get used to if you have no other options.

I’m beginning to understand more of the language, at least when the people speak slowly. But even when they are talking among themselves I can pick up more and more words. But it’s very tiring trying to understand all day long when they are speaking in a foreign language. I need to practice my speaking more and am making more of an effort to do so. Kareen and Ellia are very patient with me and so is Maggie, the 10 year old. I am determined to master this, or at least have a passing proficiency of this language.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I realized on Saturday that the above entry didn’t post. I don’t think I waited long enough, I forget that the internet here is very slow. I will try again tomorrow.

Saturday I went into Charentsavan with 6 others from my village and we joined about 30 from the other villages. It was nice to have a free day in the city and just walk around. Unfortunately, it started to rain, so we went to Bella Café, which is an outdoor place that has tent-like structures over its tables. Each village is planning a July 4th celebration, so we talked about that and began pricing some of the things we’ll need, like hot dogs and hamburgers. The meat won’t be that hard to find, but the rolls may be another story. I think my village is going to have a picnic by a river and plan some games for the kids.

We met the mayor of our village today. He’s quite an interesting man. Before becoming mayor, which he’s been since 1996, he fought in the army in the 1980s, prepared to take his comprehensives and write his dissertation for his doctorate (which he didn’t get a chance to do), and is presently heading up a group that will do an excavation in this village. He wanted to make sure that we were all comfortable in his village and had what we needed. He is also working on getting 24/7 running water for each household, which is something that will be greatly appreciated. I hope my new home is in as nice a place as this village

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

First Week in Armenia

Monday, June 8, 2009

Our first three days in Armenia were spent in a hotel in a resort area north of the capital, Yerevan. These days were our introduction to what the next 12 weeks are going to be like. We had sessions on safety and security, health, core and sector tech, cross-cultural concerns, and of course language. We also had some free time to get to know one another. On Wednesday we were introduced to our host families and went home with them, after a short welcoming ceremony. The 47 of us were divided up into 6 villages around the main town of Charentsavan.

I am in Karashamb, a village of about 200 families, with a very nice host family, which consists of grandparents, son and daughter-in-law and a granddaughter and grandson. All 8 of us volunteers in Karashamb are in the teaching program, called TEFL. While technically there are only 6 in my host family, there always seems to be visitors in and out of the house, some of whom stay overnight. I feel right at home here. The house is large, with 4 bedrooms upstairs, plus a kitchen, bathroom and sitting area. On the main floor there is another bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and large pantry. It is a very nice and comfortable.

My family raises chickens, pigs, and cows. I have already learned to milk a cow! They also have a large vegetable garden and fruit trees. I imagine in the summer there will be a constant supply of fresh vegetables and fruits. Apricots are a big fruit here, and there is always apricot jam on the table, plus apricot juice and compote. Thank goodness I like apricots.

The women here work very hard. They make all the bread and lavash (a flat bread), plus the jam, compote, cheese, milk, and butter. Gareen, the daughter-in-law, is teaching me little by little how to make different things. The other day I learned how they make their cheese, which was a surprisingly simple process.

The food has been very good. Besides salad, there’s a lot of potato dishes and some meat. I’m not even sure what meat I’ve been eating, but it tastes good and so far I haven’t had any ill effects from it.

We have language lessons everyday for 4 hours. It’s a bit intense, but I know it’s the best way to learn. I’m beginning to understand more of what my family is saying, and we do less charades when trying to communicate. Thankfully the two children have learned some English in school, so they help me a lot. I am so glad that I started to learn the language before coming here, otherwise I would feel totally overwhelmed. It is very tiring trying to understand a foreign language all the time. I probably spend about 4 to 5 hours a day studying. Thankfully I only have to be at an advanced beginner level in order to be sworn in, which will happen August 13. In speaking to some of the volunteers who have been here for a year or more, they didn’t really speak the language until Nov. or so. And, once we leave the training village, we can get a tutor, which I will definitely get.

Today I met with the person who is in charge of placing us in the village/town where we’ll be for the next two years. I had heard that they usually place older volunteers in the larger towns or cities, but I really like being in a small village, so I told her that I feel very safe here and would like to be in a small village or town. I won’t know until two weeks from now where I’ll be, but I think she understood my reasoning.

Tomorrow we are all meeting in Charentsavan for a large group session. It’ll be nice to see everyone and find out how they are all doing. Some of the PC volunteers from a village next to us came over last week and we had an impromptu dance party at Kyle’s house. It was fun and my host family has invited them over for this Wednesday. Last Saturday we also went to another village to celebrate one of the volunteer’s birthday. Getting there was an adventure, since some of the host families had volunteered to drive us. They have small cars here and we fit 14 of us, plus the driver and one other passenger in three cars. It was a little cramped, but we got there and had a lot of fun. Traveling here in Armenia is always an adventure, since not a lot of people have cars, and those who do teMonday, June 8, 2009

Our first three days in Armenia were spent in a hotel in a resort area north of the capital, Yerevan. These days were our introduction to what the next 12 weeks are going to be like. We had sessions on safety and security, health, core and sector tech, cross-cultural concerns, and of course language. We also had some free time to get to know one another. On Wednesday we were introduced to our host families and went home with them, after a short welcoming ceremony. The 47 of us were divided up into 6 villages around the main town of Charentsavan.

I am in Karashamb, a village of about 200 families, with a very nice host family, which consists of grandparents, son and daughter-in-law and a granddaughter and grandson. All 8 of us volunteers in Karashamb are in the teaching program, called TEFL. While technically there are only 6 in my host family, there always seems to be visitors in and out of the house, some of whom stay overnight. I feel right at home here. The house is large, with 4 bedrooms upstairs, plus a kitchen, bathroom and sitting area. On the main floor there is another bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and large pantry. It is a very nice and comfortable.

My family raises chickens, pigs, and cows. I have already learned to milk a cow! They also have a large vegetable garden and fruit trees. I imagine in the summer there will be a constant supply of fresh vegetables and fruits. Apricots are a big fruit here, and there is always apricot jam on the table, plus apricot juice and compote. Thank goodness I like apricots.

The women here work very hard. They make all the bread and lavash (a flat bread), plus the jam, compote, cheese, milk, and butter. Gareen, the daughter-in-law, is teaching me little by little how to make different things. The other day I learned how they make their cheese, which was a surprisingly simple process.

The food has been very good. Besides salad, there’s a lot of potato dishes and some meat. I’m not even sure what meat I’ve been eating, but it tastes good and so far I haven’t had any ill effects from it.

We have language lessons everyday for 4 hours. It’s a bit intense, but I know it’s the best way to learn. I’m beginning to understand more of what my family is saying, and we do less charades when trying to communicate. Thankfully the two children have learned some English in school, so they help me a lot. I am so glad that I started to learn the language before coming here, otherwise I would feel totally overwhelmed. It is very tiring trying to understand a foreign language all the time. I probably spend about 4 to 5 hours a day studying. Thankfully I only have to be at an advanced beginner level in order to be sworn in, which will happen August 13. In speaking to some of the volunteers who have been here for a year or more, they didn’t really speak the language until Nov. or so. And, once we leave the training village, we can get a tutor, which I will definitely get.

Today I met with the person who is in charge of placing us in the village/town where we’ll be for the next two years. I had heard that they usually place older volunteers in the larger towns or cities, but I really like being in a small village, so I told her that I feel very safe here and would like to be in a small village or town. I won’t know until two weeks from now where I’ll be, but I think she understood my reasoning.

Tomorrow we are all meeting in Charentsavan for a large group session. It’ll be nice to see everyone and find out how they are all doing. Some of the PC volunteers from a village next to us came over last week and we had an impromptu dance party at Kyle’s house. It was fun and my host family has invited them over for this Wednesday. Last Saturday we also went to another village to celebrate one of the volunteer’s birthday. Getting there was an adventure, since some of the host families had volunteered to drive us. They have small cars here and we fit 14 of us, plus the driver and one other passenger in three cars. It was a little cramped, but we got there and to jam in as many people as possible.