With the Help of the Church Roundtable They Presented Their Need

Now awaiting the verdict, these young gals placed on exhibition the stuff animals resting patiently in their laps. The fur laden are sold during village festivities/gatherings etc. I felt weird taking pictures during this, our first, field visit. This was me "shooting from the hips," so that it was less touristy...ugh. The raised pink elbow in the background is a girl preparing coffee. She spends much time volunteering at the community centers to help others with English and computers (she holds beauty in more ways than one). The region is essentially applying for more computers for the -if my calculations serve me faithfully- 1500 to 2000 residents.
Viel glueck!

Educating on Hip Hop. Where's a Peachey When You Need One

That's right my friends! MUSHROOM SOUP

















First Armenian exchange:
Change from the Marshutka (small van/bus) driver!



Village Life Tour: Envoy Hostel, Local duduk (instrument) maker








Byurakan Country side view (2 weeks ago)















Signing of the Lease. Like in America, immigrants (that's me!) are allowed to sign apartment leases for "years," while official residency status remains less official. I was told by the cell phone company that unless I was a "registered" resident I could not sign a contract with them... ah immigration policy, I swim in your intricacies!

Sorry to let the hip hop experts know that LD was giving a 101 on the differences between R&B, Rap, and Hip Hop. Being an optimist, I'm thinkin' it went well and am now enjoying the grumbles behind the sound of my typing. heh.

Lovin' the inviting American Green Card ads on the right panel of yahoo mail.

Misplacement Knows No Borders

The title of this entry will surely raise the blood pressure of a good few. Many apologies. Though, it does explain the reason this entry lacks the the visual portal into Yerevan that the first two so graciosly provided. In a nook, unbeknownst to myself, sits quietly a berry of a flash drive ripe with juicy pictures that are able to satiate the most profound of thirsts. That or, some local currently has the pleasure of perusing the jpgs of silly Mexikanka, thinking her the owner of a feline mill. I'll shorten this up for the more visually inclined.

Stevie massages the lobes and inner soul every night. For those of you who don't know, I happened upon a 3 album set of Mr. Wonder's '60s magic for just $1 at Savers. With the help of Babone-jan (endearing ending hyper-utilized in Farsi and Armenian meaning 'dear')and his vinyl digitizer, I have been able to listen to the crackling intro offered by the rpms that segway into the higher pitches of Stevie's youth...hence the title of the blog. Chipping away at the ceaseless unknowns.

The past week was my first of the intership, orientation. As one can imagine, the familiarization dance is as physically monotonous as that of any agency's. Easing the strain was what was happening mentally. The mind explosion wasn't only attribuable to the security briefing laden with information about landmines through the use of exotic accents. Nor was it caused by the picture of the gaping bleeding wound. *conformity for the majority warning* It was the uniforms sprinkled throughout the pictures and videos of the DVDs. Light blue hats and prints of the UN symbol on oversized t-shirts worn by those heading to field sites or wading through mobs. "I want one of those...," came through the windpipe, hopefully settling into the ether as it should.

Spanish to English translation was the first project that I was assigned. I had only just told my mother over the phone about the Spanish pop that made up a cool 10%of radio airtime and the interesting fact that a good portion of the Armenian young adults at the hostel with which I had conversed spoke of learning Spanish as their 3rd language. Quien sabia?! The travel books glanced over didn't mention this happy fact. And so I sat at my computer the majority of Wendesday and the first half of Thursday translating 23 slides of Spanish that laughed at the average maximum 30-words-per-screen-rule. Delighted to help I swooned over the me-specific thank you given by the boss in the email forwarded to the office with the transformed presentation attached. She beams...

If anyone asks, I'm out looking for an Armenian tutor and guitar.

DeconGESTing

Okay, so it's a bit inevitable, I'm accepting the fact that I will be waking up at what seems to be terribly early hours, but really, these are MY hours. I'm an early bird. I just forgot about the whole thing. I surrendered to the graduate student controlled-by-stress life, sleeping whenever I felt was most opportune. But alas, I take back what is mine - such a materialist - while in my new home by starting sleep at the lastest 9pm and awake at my own around 15 past 5am! Earlybird specials should be given to those who live the life ya know?

I'm off to the bank this morning. I'm excited because I'm heading to the tour company that's providing an apartment at $50/night. What am I? On Vacation? I think not, but it'll be a spot for me to freely live (lack of imposition on others)! Music, food, and showering without freaking out about the floor touching my toes. Nothing against these lovely hostel floors, it's just a thing for me. Unfortunately, the shower shoes, KEEN-almighties, vanished with two pairs of heeled ladies at some mysterious point between LA and Yerevan. Those bathing shoes had seen Costa Rican forests and Kazakhstani steppe. You will be missed.
Also, the spending will allow me relaxation of sorts while I go explore other options for living and a visit to a museum or two (Armenian Genocide and well, I want to walk to by the circus that has its own etched place on the map).

On the subject of "options for living," I need to thank the guts out of Gevorg.

The mornings are nice. I remember this. They're for the few. Bez the Rat Race...just for a minute, at least. It's a different type of living from that which requires the pushing of the body for one or two hours more. A pleading of sorts.
Descriptions provided by many (Always, forgive the unread)present it has a rebellion against the tyrannical body's want for rest. Similaryly, the body rebels against the pull of sleep with stomach's want for fruehstueck. But, when rested friends, this is when temples accept the start of something new, embraces it - runs to meet it with active eyelids.

There's a cute Russian speaking couple here. I refused (politely) breakfast. I just don't feel like getting into the habit of bread and cheese. The jam's great, but then it's just sugar. Hmmm, a Mexikanka getting diabetes outside the 3rd LARGEst city in the U.S., unnecessary. Me and Cheese...

Just realized I was over decongesting myself with Sudafed. What relief.

and Pictures are What they Got

Here are some splatterings of words put together. One is from the class blog, it's not an assignment, just a way for our classmates to keep in contact and other stuff is from personal journaling. Pictures of the city taken within a 6 block radius of the hostel. Just some snap shots to give you an idea. More to come with a tour or two. Bon Appetit.

Austin Bergstrom
Saying Goodbyes-->






09.Jan
After an extended stay in the states, one long enough to get myself some last games of American billiards in LA with an old college buddy (not the man you see above), I landed in Yerevan Saturday morning at 2am. It was colder in London (layover), maybe those of you with yahoo mail saw the news clip indicating its ridiculous weather.
My Russian was put to use immediately while buying the visa (beautiful UT letter not used). They were charging $45 or $39 if I paid in dram (armenian currency). Thank goodness I didn't have the 5-dollar bill necessary to pay Amerikanski style - this sent me to the currency exchange guy where I decided that breaking an American 10 was just plain silly, thus leading me to the discovery of inflated prices at the dollar level.
The number of taxicabers at the exit was a bit boggling considering the time. Through the thicket was my driver Rafayel with the sign that read, "UNHCR LESLIE DIAZ." I mouthed "eto ya" (it's me) with a smile and head nod that just barely held back the mounted excitement that had built up over the years spent preparing myself for that moment. Then it seems as though there have been buckets full of these moments that indicate that I am on THE path.

Rafayel was surprised at my choice to stay at a hostel, which made me wonder what past interns for this office have been like. I'm so glad I didn't arrive the day I had originally intended because it was the Armenian Christmas Day (Jan. 6th). It would have meant that chit chat with Rafayel would have not only been underscored with a bit of sleepiness, but also hatred. ha!



After a 3 hour catnap, I went out to get my bank business started as they are open until 2pm on Saturdays. I found out from the cell phone chip vendor lady that businesses that are not private are closed through the 10th of Jan. for the holiday. So, l3cli3 will wait until Monday to do the mad dance. heh.

10. Jan
Yesss. First day of complete and total vacation (no packing, saying goodbye, or waiting for a flight). Flamin' Hot Cheetos, plane-sized bottle of Cabernet, and Boston's More Than A Feeling. Justification for slovenly behavior at 6am: my business cannot take place until Monday and I'm adjusting to the new time zone. IT's the rule post holiday week in Armenia. Nothing until the 11th of January, god save the fascists. The antioxidants could help with the sniffling that still plagues my face. I figure it's all fate that these last remnants of nutrients are with me from the traveling to kick off this Sunday as care-free as possible. I'd head out to the 24-hour mart that's just down the block for some water, but it's dark and cold. I've got scrupples, it's only day 2. I know when to be alone and when not, wisdom granted by adulthood.

The worker of the hostel is up and watching a Russian movie down in the basement as I wait homogo-room for the internet to reboot. It's a shotty connection, "in and out" he says. I wonder if the condition of the connection has to do with purposeful misalignment to America's time, meaning it's a problem all over Armenia or if the guy just lacks interest enough to not try the old unplug-and-replug routine. It's amazingly that easy to make overseas communication difficult. I have become subject to the whims of this stranger that gave good marks on my Russian attempts because I equally lack the interest in questioning his integrity/intelligence by charading the faithful routine to connect me to loved ones. Let it be known that upon his exit stage right I'll be search-dogging every corner of this basement, thus initiating the coup. Cheetos plus wine equals Armenian Wheaties.

Bibles in this hostel are not hard to come by. Each bunk is fashioned with one. I wonder what will replace the living room Christmas trees after this week. Unsurprised if February is welcomed into each new year with x-mas decorations falling into their respectful boxes for their 10 month hibernation.

I have plans to try out their KFC tomorrow, later today. Pictured on their windows was a tasty looking fried chicken wrap and coke. While walking through the under passage of a square, of which there are many, I passed a food stand with good looking kabob [whope, guy just laid himself down on the couch, coup success rate dropped to 30%]. I don't want to move through food poisoning in the hostel, too many witnesses.


Good news: I have comfortably sustained through this past week partially due to the presence of my uniform. To the utmost, the same clothes have stayed on my body! I love uniforms...conformity for the majority warning...for those who know, outfit production takes some time. At this rate, it sadly means my brown/green pants will leave sooner than desired. Enough of the negative talk.

Oh Sunrise, show your face soon.