exchanges

There are a couple of things that when found in bulk on the street quickly break a heart. One of those is eggs. There is just absolutely nothing to do with old eggs, especially when you are about 8 months away from Easter. This lack of purpose multiplied by 100+ just makes for a funny SMS from the roommate, 'Any ideas on how to use 200 trash eggs?'

Recently, there has been a little more work than was initially required in the informal exchange that began between myself and a local, who will be referred to as S.Vet. I spent the morning cracking what turned out to be about 100+ old eggs down the sink. This was less about evidence ridding, but rather about safety for animals that might dig into a seemingly innocent mountain of eggs. I remember buying a batch of old eggs at the outside market... not good.

It started with an interest in 1) 'downcycling' for different projects (i.e. chipped mirror turned into mosaic pieces) and 2) the 'reusing' process for glass bottles. Noticing that people picked bottles out of the trash called for this house to start separating bottles into another plastic bag from the regular trash. This was to ease the work load - sanitarily so - for the people who took to digging through each unsorted neighborhood trash bin.

A side note on being Green in Armenia: Sure, there's no official recycling program in Armenia, but there is a system. [ oct. 23rd correction - scratch that. approximately a month after this post, i saw two bins in the gentron (downtown) area on the way to who knows where for the collection of plastic bottles !! ] The consumer driven society that is promoted by the powers that be, allows for homeless, jobless people, or those just strapped for cash to find glass gold in trash bins. Bars have a similar system in that they keep empty bottles for the supplying companies to pick up when they make their rounds. As far as i know, coke bottles go for 50 dram ($.13). I had unintentionally made about 350 dram when i decided not to throw out my collected bottles at work and returned them to the cafeteria... So, some things get recycled, achem - 'reused' .

The local that began to receive our bags of empty bottles ($$) was chosen because they usually had a pack of dogs around them and helped trash cats get their food - they had a philanthropic bone, so i connected. just another case of like connected with like. (so the cycle continues...such a product of society! hmm)

And now yes, i often find myself chickling at what has become the resultant home life adjustment to S.Vet "Freegan's" only means of showing gratitude or feeling as though the score is settled. 'Trash' is commonly used as an adjective to distinguish between items in the house. If it is 'trash' something or other, special care is taken if it is used. Also, it has been interesting to watch the acclimation of an Armenian friend to the idea that "not all things trash bound are necessarily bad." For those of you less familiar with this idea please see your way to the following New York Times article that describes 'extreme recycling' by 'Freegans': http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/garden/21freegan.html?pagewanted=all

Coincidentally, the intensity of exchange with S.Vet increased just as the new roommate arrived. ha! Yes, come live in the house and here is some quirk to go with your welcoming.

The neighbors have no doubt noticed my interactions with S.Vet. and as a matter of fact, yesterday i had my first verbal warning from an older lady walking with her grandson. 'Asis jan,' (Dear baby) she began with a concerned scowl on her face...

Viva!