As the headline might suggest, the past 7 days have been anything but calm around here, which explains why it’s taken me so long to post again. First, thank you everyone for the kind feedback about the Koghb Art School website. They really do appreciate you looking at their work and the compliments you’ve extended.
But now, let’s rewind a week to last Saturday, the date of the 2nd annual National Armenian Spelling Bee! We had our local bee in early April, and the winning student from each grade (7th-11th) qualified for the national competition. I was really proud of all of them, as they put in a great effort and studied hard for the bee. I was especially surprised at our two boys (who, generally as a gender, aren’t overly excited about education in this country) that met us nearly every day in the week leading up to the bee. We knew it would be a good trip!
Like most road trips in Armenia, this one began by leaving early in the morning in a stuffy mini-bus to the town of Hrazdan, which is famous for its cement factory (yes, it’s as beautiful as it sounds). We had a great road trip there and back, and sang a lot of Armenian songs in between spelling words. Here are some pictures of the competition:
Our kids did well, and we had one student (Sergey, 10th grade) finish in 3rd place! Personally, it was a great experience, and I felt like one of those proud sports parents cheering our kids on (and secretly wishing for the others to misspell their words). While we couldn’t all be champions, we worked hard and tried our best, which is the best lesson of all, right?? (Insert your awww’s, here)
Sunday was spent recovering, because Monday we were celebrating the Mexican (and American Universities’) holiday of Cinco de Mayo! With our English club, we have tried to go one further than just teaching “American culture” by explaining that Americans unofficially recognize many nationalities’ holidays because our country is so diverse. We had success with Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day, so we decided to pull out all the stops with Cinco de Mayo. Alex, Kevin and I prepared a Mexican feast complete with homemade chips, salsa, and 5 lbs of taco bar! The meal itself received rave reviews…
But what’s Cinco de Mayo without two of the greatest things to come out of Mexico: tequila and pinatas?! Answer, it’s not… because these two go surprisingly well hand-in-hand. After dinner, I put my four year college education to good use and demonstrated the proper way to do a tequila shot – licking the salt, taking the drink, and eating the lemon. Afterward, the students (who were all over 21, don’t worry) gave it a try… twice… and were surprisingly ok with it. We have video of this all, but it’s best left archived for now…
After loosening up, we turned on the Enrique Iglasius (we didn’t have much for Latin music) and attached the pinatas! Earlier in the week, Kevin and I taught the students how to paper miche, and we made several interesting pinatas, including a heart, a globe (with our homes marked off), and our favorite, the “Art School chicken” with Alex’s adoring face taped to the front:
We danced the night away, which made it especially difficult for Alex and I to wake up the next morning to go to our Close of Service Conference in Yerevan. Yes, I said Close of Service, which, if translated correctly, means I’m leaving Armenia in two short months (July 21 to be exact) and will be living in Dallas by the end of August (with a train trip across Russia to China for the Olympics in between).
The conference itself was nice, and was a good opportunity for reflection, and most importantly to spend a last time with my group’s volunteers who will begin to trickle out to the foreign service, grad schools and their parents’ couches over the next few months. It was definitely bittersweet, as I’ve made so many great friends in these two years, although I have great people to come home to as well1
Aside from the introspective sessions and touching slide shows, we went to two banquets, one held by the US Charge d’ Affairs Joseph Pennington (for those that don’t know, he’s the highest ranking American diplomat at our embassy, since we don’t have an ambassador still), and the other held by our Country Director, Lee Lacy. Both were amazing, with good food (cheeseburgers!!), ping pong, and were a lot of fun. Thank you again for your hospitality Mr. Pennington, Lee, and the American Taxpayers (that’s you!).
Are you tired of reading yet? Almost done! Friday morning I left Yerevan for the bus station, back to reality in Noyemberyan. With a few hours to kill before my bus, my friends and I stopped in at a new restaurant accross the street, at least hoping for a free bathroom (the one at the station costs 50 whole dram, and should be condemned). My eyes lit up immediately – and here’s why:
Yes, a buffet. In Armenia. An Armenian buffet. Our world-renouned American gluttony has finally stretched world-wide, and I celebrated by spooning out all of the pig kidneys I could eat. It’s amazing how everything, especially my pig kidneys, taste better spooned out underneath a sneeze guard. After this, I know it will be smooth sailing from here on out. I just wish the bus ride had been the same way…
Finally, happy Mothers’ Day, Mom (and all the others out there)! Also, congratulations to Truman State class of 2008 and their most beautiful graduate, Sara Barnes! I love you so much and thank you for your support these last two years. 🙂
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One Response:
May 15th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Great pinatas…I’m still trying to figure out the chicken, though. Looked like fun.
I’ll pass on the buffet!