Kyle’s Journey in Armenia

Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. When not recalling Willy Wonka quotes, I’ve found myself surprisingly busy lately, which is quite the contrast, to say, the entire winter. I’ll start from the top – the bathrooms. Yes, they’re still building them, and thankfully, they’ll be done pretty soon! Right now we have a completion date set for June 20th, with a party soon after. There are several crews working on them now. Here are some updated pictures:

Certainly a lot better than the old ones! They really are very nice and the school and the community are very proud of the work being done so far. Otherwise, things in Noyemberyan are going well. I am doing a computer camp next week (much like last year’s camp) but with more of a focus on the Internet, correct web site design techniques, and fun things to engage the children with computers (Google Earth, putting music on their cell phones, and “cool” Armenian and English language web sites).

In my free time I’ve been all over the place. Two weeks ago, I visited some friends in Yeghegnadzor (where I celebrated my birthday last year) and had a great time. Yeghegnadzor is located near a big gorge and also produces some of Armenia’s best grapes (and hence, best wine). We spent a day relaxing by their river, which was refreshingly void of dead animals and trash, and talked with the local cow herders. The next day I ventured back to Yerevan to welcome the new volunteers, the A-16 group!

Unfortunately, due to some flight changes, we could not organize the same early-morning welcome as in years past. Instead, we surprised them the next morning at the local community center with cheers and some skits about Armenia. From their POV:

While the introductions were brief, they seem to be full of energy, and I’m really enjoying reading their blogs. It’s so interesting to hear about the things that surprise them, and it really makes me feel “old” being here – nothing really shocks me anymore. Oh well…

After returning to Noyemberyan, I spent the first three days running around fixing an Internet problem, but on Thursday I was able to relax and went to the forest for an all-day bar-b-que with my friends from the Koghb Art School. It was nice being with a group of young people who I can really call friends, and who have taught me so much about Armenia’s culture, youth, gender roles, art, dashi dushi dancing, and horovats cooking technique. They let me take over the reigns as lead horovats-er, and the results weren’t half bad. Friends and family, get excited for Armenian bar-b-que when you come to visit me in Dallas!

Clockwise from top-left: the finished bar-b-que, posing by the river, fun with Duct tape, and homemade Bache ball!! They have to learn how to have an American bar-b-que sometime.

Unfortunately I hit the road again this weekend for Vanadzor, which was full of meetings Friday, Saturday and Sunday Fortunately, I was able to visit my training village of Bazum and my old host family, which was nice. It’s almost strange being back, and it really shows how the two years have passed. People age, my host brother (who was in Russia while I lived there) is now married, and they’ve remodeled most of the house. We’re able to communicate using actual Armenian words instead of convoluted hand gestures, but unfortunately one of the last things we had to talk about was saying goodbye.

It’s after weekends like this that I wonder where the two years have gone… but I’m glad I’m going strong until the very end, with the computer camp, as well as a “Green Camp” (environmental camp), International Outreach Camp (which is now fully funded!), and seeing the tourist sites I couldn’t fit in the last two years. Oh, and an American-Armenian wedding between a female PCV and male Armenian this weekend! With only one month until I leave Noyemberyan and six weeks until I leave Armenia, these last adventures should be every bit as interesting as the first two year’s. Wish me luck!

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