The Catholic Church That Wasn't

As I have relayed to several, the mother requested, before having left the states, that I find myself, in case of the ever-impending attack of the brain-slurping zombies (jokes mom, just jokes), a nice Armenian situated Catholic church. Images from Mierelles's scene in Blindness where the statues of the safe haven god-house have been blindfolded bloat the brain, and remind me that I was pulled closer to Moore than expected due to her heroine-ka self as it saved the dayS. Also, the connection with refugees and their plight strummed a string or two. Revelling in the tangent.

Upon walking into the boastless spiritual abode, I noticed eerie similarities between it and the 5 other Apostolic Armenian Churches around Hayastan (the proper/Armenian way of referring to Armenia). It's definitely a charmer as it perches with its one spire right in the center of a city block that hopes for less trample and more grass , reminisent of a small town's steeple, though made of red stone.

Most obvious elements indicating I wasn't truely fulfilling wishes de la madre: 1)the Curtain (that symbolizes the Lent (?)coming around, please consult your nearest wikipage or Envoy Tour), 2)a poll topped with a silver circle that when rotated back and forth clanks in the most musical of ways, and 3)the amount of traffic it was receiving. I thought to myself, "Well, there sure are a lot of Catholics in these parts." At that point, it was just another characteristic of Armenia that begs I call this place Little Mexico. heh. Will come back to that thought.

After consulting with 2 reliable sources, this place was indeed Apostolic Armenian. Nothing will be told to the person that gave me this information, why ruin their good thing? What does it matter what they believe? Can't imagine being turned away at the famous gates for that one. According to the informants, Gyumri is the only location that houses such a catholic sanctuary, which is about 1.5 hrs from Yerevan. Might not make the top of the list of things to do...unless of course the zombie factor is weighing in (jokes mom...).

Soooo, I spent valentine's day (apologies for even acknowledging the sheep's clothing marketeers use for "stimulating our economy" which rests heavily on the shoulders of the pure) with god, how bout you? ...

I also went to a dinner of an acquaintance who just got engaged to a person of which all I really know is that she's friendly on the introduction and handy in the kitchen, kudos. A couple of people's (not to be confused with a representative sample of Armenians) interpretation of v-day is more oriented toward the Woman, similar to America. Only, their's was so much so that they indicated the more Armenian and appropriate day for these types of sentiments was on March 8th - international Women's Day.

In the apartment all that was v-day was encompassed within the toasts sung to love, women, and the newly engaged and some paper plates and matching napkins doused in hearts and red hues. Tastefully done.Favorite part of the dinner: watching the faces of some nice girls being subjected to the explanations of why I feel so comfortable in Armenia after 5 weeks in my best 3rd-grade-level Russian.


We had fun accepting each other's offerings of not-so-put-ToGetHer Russian and English. It's true babi, Armenians
are wonderfully
accommodating.

Viva!

Birth Week

This is what it is to write with disappointment at the fingers. I feel the weight of every syllable with each move made to the space bar. Apologies for the absenteeism that has metamorphosed into the following verbosity. If only I kept up with recording words.

She says, "What an intership."

The first official 5 days without specific people (directors) in the office has proven to be busier (simplyfying English for the past month had me originally writing "more busy" before being coaxed by the Word -damn you microsoft- prompt) than one would think for an intern. We came into the office at such a great time because the field visits, post holidays, are many. Each unit needs to catch up with first-of-the-year reports while planning for the next 12 month scheduling.

Tsakhkadzor, a ski resort town, was our first work related venture into the wild (otherwise known as Away from the Fluorescent Lighting, heh). My surpervisor Susanna's middle name is Inclusivity. She knows how to utilize free labor and lobbied for the interns to accompany her on a 3-hour trip our second Friday at It. A journalist conference of sorts called upon UNHCR's presence. Part of Susanna's efforts are focused on mainstreaming Sex & Gender Based Violence (SGBV) issues had by the refugee population in Armenia. Her frustration stemmed from what she referred to as a difference in professions. She spoke of a style of journalism that doesn't allow for a direct translation of refugee life into publication for the masses. The investigative journaling wave has yet to be caught. Applaud or hum a negative tone as you wish, Americans can easily recite pros and cons to this phenomenon...reference Geraldo R.'s CV. I'm not dying to visit this town for reasons of amusement (skis, snow-rovers, make-shift sled device usage).
I was nurtured to delve into activities related to Hot. Damn you Mind, expand already. I instead fascinate over my wet-snow maneuvers. Sochi, Russia 2014, recognize.

Next outer-office experience was had with law clinic students' orientation to refugee protocol, 2-day seminar. A 101 in social work ambiguity is more like it. I do love how law brains tackle hurdles over the Gray. I posed as a person who had made it to Armenia via money collected by a wedding partner's family, cajoled into doing so after the nasty kidnapping of my Innocent. Viva Mex(h)ico! My feeback via microphone in front of the some 30 students to the 5-member group, which had mock interviewed me, most importantly praised their professional use of self through facial expressions that complimented my fear-of-situation. They are going places.

Army Day extravaganza, trip 3. We were obviously near Lake Sevan. It was such a winter sight, but for incredible photos see Envoy's facebook page (stop rolling your eyes, just go). We were with a UN Rep from Geneva that was assessing a village, completely populated by Armenian-Azeri refugees, in terms of their computer status (previous blog posting). This trip validated the fact that Microsoft is surely the devil incarnate. Their piecemeal distribution of programming really punches rural areas the world over in the gut. damn them, it & that. Partnerships with the entity in the future will without a doubt be necessary.

I'll tell you about my want for Whataburger after this Saturday morning Khash (see wikipedia's lovely write up) and vodka session with co-workers (dohpe!). It is powerful. Thank you for the cultural introduction. Please be kind to the learning curve necessary for this Mexikanka.

Armenian Sunny-D is less offensive to the throat cilia, it truly heals.