after singing

I was ready to reach into my purse when i heard the upbeat vocal melody coming from the other side of the subway car. When i peered into the center, to my right i saw her over-sunned small face accented with oil-laden bangs. Her nightgown hung on her body like a table drape for her active mouth on display.

Her hand wasn't extended in the way that asked for compensation for her cool work. When she noticed i wasn't looking away like others she became nervous and began singing to the wagon window, to herself. One of the ladies sitting facing me maintained her reaction that could either be described as disgust or dismay to the "unfortunate" situation of the oblivious.

How everyday people in this area think of mental health issues is not something i've looked into. There is this singer; the lady that travels from trash bin to trash bin with her two, sometimes three, dogs; the man in maybe his late 60s whose eyes are peculiarly close together that often jovially chats with those at the moment who care to have the patience; the lady in the blue shirt with shoulder-length black hair on the street that often talks angrily to the invisible someone there, and all the others that i haven't noticed. The details that i have chosen to type to you are, of course, based on stereotypes about people without homes or people with mental health issues.

One could think, if reading the descriptions out of context, that i'm writing of random people on the street, as they are actually less descriptive than our ignorantly bliss selves would like to admit. We'd much rather settle with the reasoning that it's just not "normal" to be picking through trash bins [unless you are of course part of the group that CHOOSES to dumpster dive for political/environmental reasons]. This scenario of course is mirrored on streets America over. I am unfortunately, without background knowledge of the Armenian fight for Rights for those with mental health/housing issues. As such, advocacy, aka understanding what Armenian "normal" is, will remain a bit stunted. No metro vigilantism for me, especially not until i've the language down, or residency secured - ugh, straps just got tighter.


And maybe the straps are black leather?... If they are it's because they were picked up from Highland Metalfest 2010 at the Puppet Theater. There were 8 bands: Aprigon, Divahar, Ayas, Psychometria [very impressed], Blood Inheritance, Azhirock, dismorial, Horse the Band. The bands were from Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Iran, and America [Horse the Band, the headliner]. Lovely to see the different styles. Eyes rolled a bit when i was told by a friend that she was told, "It's just as weird as any other place," by a Horse the Band member when she was asking what brought them to Armenia. yeah, thanks for the information.

Favorite parts of the fest: #1 - at the end when the main organizer, maybe 25 yrs old, screamed into the mic after giving his thanks to all who helped make it possible, "Support the SCEEEENE!" yes, brother, yes. #2 - metal backup singers. Though none had in-unison routines, i was appreciative. Note: they were all women, which kept with traditional gender roles found in the States as well. One of the two sets read from music sheets their opera-esque parts [it was awkward to watch them wait for 15 minutes on stage until the band leader finally decided to play a song that required their participation. heh.]

Saw Sameba Cathedral this time around in Tbilisi. This thing is so huge, no wonder it took almost 10 years to get it looking this way. When inside it's more sparse than i would have imagined. This possibly means that another $100,000 later it will be "complete."

My answer to the Armenian border [Georgian border] guard's question "You're going to tour around Armenian for four months?" was, "Well, i'm also working/volunteering at two organizations. I've got to go to the Ovir," to which he approvingly nodded and said, "Welcome, have a good time." "Ovir" i learned yesterday is actually a Russian abbreviation о.в.и.р. [pronounced Ov-eer in Armenian/English] standing for the office of registration something or other...

I just received a letter from one of the organizations that i can present to the Ovir for a temporary residents card [1 year] ! ! ! ! So, i will soon become an official resident until June 2011. dust, settle.

I had no idea Storkville really existed - that this, is where all the babies come from. Did i mention, for those of you who have never lived in America that these 200 lb looking nests would be destroyed for 'public health' reasons [against safety codes]. There are an average of 3 to 4 storks PER nest, achem, twig mansions. And in some parts they are on EVERY telephone post. heh. !

Also, I may have bed bugs. The new temporary German roommate will help me figure it out tonight with a plate and hot water...

Viva!