Oh boy, where do I even begin? I'm sure by now some of you have heard about the events that transpired this weekend in Yerevan through Facebook. I usually write on Sundays but as with most things of a serious nature, one needs some time to process and reflect.
On Saturday night, three of my fellow A21s were struck by a drunk driver while crossing the street in Yerevan. I'll spare the details since it's not my news to give publicly like this, but they were all seriously injured. Keeping them in your thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.
They were flown to Istanbul after they were stabilized and will fly on to America to receive further treatment. We are not sure if or when they'll be able to return.
Many volunteers gathered in Yerevan to say goodbyes and to be with each other in this time. We were a close nit group before this but this event really cemented that. We are not just "government issued friends" as we joke. We are not ever just site mates, just warden group members or just coworkers. In this lifestyle we've chosen that is filled with unpredictability, uncertainty, loneliness and confusion we are each other's support. We are each other's family. We are each other's lifelines. So when one of us (or three of us) hurt, we all hurt. I can't tell how many times I heard in the past few days "They're my brothers" and "I love them." I said it as well.
I'm sure this sounds cliche and typical, but it's so true. The first day we arrived in Armenia, the staff remarked how close we already were. They waited for us at the airport and were staggered to catch the Americans as they came out of customs. But instead they saw us walk out as 1 group, not as individuals. They said we were the only group ever to come out like that. We had known each other for 2 days and we were already united and bonded.
So as we sit still in Yerevan and at our respective sites and try to work around the gap in our group we remember our dear friends, valued coworkers and trusted extended family. Hopefully they will all be able to recover completely and quickly. I'd love to see them again here, but hopefully we can make our paths cross again in the future sometime.
On Saturday night, three of my fellow A21s were struck by a drunk driver while crossing the street in Yerevan. I'll spare the details since it's not my news to give publicly like this, but they were all seriously injured. Keeping them in your thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.
They were flown to Istanbul after they were stabilized and will fly on to America to receive further treatment. We are not sure if or when they'll be able to return.
Many volunteers gathered in Yerevan to say goodbyes and to be with each other in this time. We were a close nit group before this but this event really cemented that. We are not just "government issued friends" as we joke. We are not ever just site mates, just warden group members or just coworkers. In this lifestyle we've chosen that is filled with unpredictability, uncertainty, loneliness and confusion we are each other's support. We are each other's family. We are each other's lifelines. So when one of us (or three of us) hurt, we all hurt. I can't tell how many times I heard in the past few days "They're my brothers" and "I love them." I said it as well.
I'm sure this sounds cliche and typical, but it's so true. The first day we arrived in Armenia, the staff remarked how close we already were. They waited for us at the airport and were staggered to catch the Americans as they came out of customs. But instead they saw us walk out as 1 group, not as individuals. They said we were the only group ever to come out like that. We had known each other for 2 days and we were already united and bonded.
So as we sit still in Yerevan and at our respective sites and try to work around the gap in our group we remember our dear friends, valued coworkers and trusted extended family. Hopefully they will all be able to recover completely and quickly. I'd love to see them again here, but hopefully we can make our paths cross again in the future sometime.