In a lot of ways, I would consider myself lucky. Since passing through several different schools, homes, cities and states when I was younger, the moves have stopped. I’ve been blessed with great friends, a great education and a wonderful family, all in the great, and static, state of Missouri. However, after my years of good fortune, it’s time for one last move that might be the most heartbreaking of them all.
Armenia is a tough country, but the people here are amazingly resilient. In the past 100 years, they’ve survived through genocide, several political revolutions, a major earthquake, the breakup of the USSR, the subsequent corruption during the privatization phase, a major war with their neighbors, and presently an economic blockade around 80% of their borders. And to think I had it tough with a new fourth grade?
My current host family is no different. Our family, and generations before them, lived in Noyemberian for decades through the political and economic turmoil. Moreover, in the past 20 years, my host grandfather lost his job as a dentist, our town was invaded by Azerbaijan, my host father was killed in the same war, and during the rebuilding effort, my host mother lost her NGO (which supported families like hers) to government corruption. But they stuck it out in Noyemberian, through it all.
Today they reached their breaking point, and are leaving for Yerevan, the capital, for a chance at jobs, a chance at stability, and the security of their children’s futures. I have moved into a new host family, who is great and who I’ll write more about later, but once again saying goodbye to new friends. In the past few months these goodbyes have been overwhelming. Friends, administratively separated friends], and family in the states were tough, but now some of my best friends in Armenia, both fellow volunteers and host families who’ve become my family, are saying goodbye, too.
It’s enough to make me want to push forward, stay here for two years, and really make a difference in Noyemberian. I’ve realized the instability of my relationships here are quite the microcosm for all of Armenia. You never know if your friends, your family, your job, your city or your country will be here tomorrow. Armenia is a tough place to live, with little money and few jobs, no matter how much this blog may sugarcoat it. I can only hope that my goodbye, two years from now, will be met with a renewed Armenian spirit and the same good fortune that I left behind in America only two months ago.
On a positive note, my birthday went really well, thanks for all of those who left notes and sent me cards. Thank you notes are on the way, albeit a bit slowly ;). I will update more on the birthday party, and the new host family, later this week. Until then, perhaps just wish my host family luck and include them in your prayers. Godspeed…
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