Kez is the Armenian word for "half." So why is the title of this post? Because I reached the halfway point of my service and sailed past it. Time has flown by so quickly I briefly looked at the halfway point as it sailed by and I drowned again in my sea of fun, business and laughter. So what have I missed writing about? If this blog was just for me, I'd write about my elation over buying an electronic fan. It's the closest I've gotten to air conditioning here and this purchase certainly has transformed my days. But I know you guys don't care.
So… after Border to Border I returned to Noyemberyan for 1 week. Just enough time to settle back into my routine and see some of my friends before taking off again with my big backpack for 2 1/2 weeks. My first stop was Yerevan for the annual Hadjo Madjo party. Each year before the departing group heads back to America or their next adventure, there is a big final farewell. The A20's farewell was held on July 5th and it was wonderful. There were tears, much laughter and way too many beers. It was a fitting farewell for these people I've only known for a year but who became wonderful friends who have given us so much guidance.
So… after Border to Border I returned to Noyemberyan for 1 week. Just enough time to settle back into my routine and see some of my friends before taking off again with my big backpack for 2 1/2 weeks. My first stop was Yerevan for the annual Hadjo Madjo party. Each year before the departing group heads back to America or their next adventure, there is a big final farewell. The A20's farewell was held on July 5th and it was wonderful. There were tears, much laughter and way too many beers. It was a fitting farewell for these people I've only known for a year but who became wonderful friends who have given us so much guidance.
Many of those people you won't see on my blog since they'll be leaving. It was a fitting farewell though. The following day we took off to a small town called Aghveran. Aghveran is where we first came after arriving in country so it was fitting that we went there to celebrate our half way mark.
We attended a 5 day conference where we talked about our goals, our accomplishments and what struggles we're trying to overcome. It was a really amazing time of reflection, but sad at the same point. I dreamed about Peace Corps for years before I signed up. Now, I only have 1 year left. Right now my life is really defined by my job. I am a Peace Corps volunteer through and through, but in 1 year I won't be anymore. I'll need to rely on what I learn here to establish a new identity. It really took all week to let that sink in. I didn't take any photos but I hope you believe me when I say it was just beautiful.
After getting back from this conference we went back to Yerevan for my friend Janessa's birthday. While I was there I picked up a new pair of glasses, which I've already broken unfortunately, and got an unfortunate haircut. (I NEED YOU LYDIA!!!)
We attended a 5 day conference where we talked about our goals, our accomplishments and what struggles we're trying to overcome. It was a really amazing time of reflection, but sad at the same point. I dreamed about Peace Corps for years before I signed up. Now, I only have 1 year left. Right now my life is really defined by my job. I am a Peace Corps volunteer through and through, but in 1 year I won't be anymore. I'll need to rely on what I learn here to establish a new identity. It really took all week to let that sink in. I didn't take any photos but I hope you believe me when I say it was just beautiful.
After getting back from this conference we went back to Yerevan for my friend Janessa's birthday. While I was there I picked up a new pair of glasses, which I've already broken unfortunately, and got an unfortunate haircut. (I NEED YOU LYDIA!!!)
About 10 minutes after this photo was taken I met up with Andrea Yu, an A20, and we departed for Dilijan. Dilijan is a larger town in southern Tavush known for it's beauty and distinct architecture. While most of Armenia still has a very "Soviet" feel, Dilijan feels like you've walked into Switzerland. It's wonderful. I wasn't there to admire the beautify though. I was there to work. Below is where Dilijan is, just so you have some idea of what I'm talking about. I live above the M16 sign in the northern center of the map, for reference.
Both Andrea and I had signed up with work with Bekkah Bernheim at a camp for children with disabilities. It was an exhausting week but so so wonderful. We worked 10-5 each day with the kids, helped with games, snacks, lunch, cleaning, crafts and just about everything else.
In Armenia, if a family has a disabled child they're often hidden and shamed. There are few resources for them and the family has no real options for care. But Dilijan is one of the few places really working to change this and this camp is one of the ways they're doing it. It was just remarkable to work with these kids and learn all their personalities. I could write an entire blog post about it and I really wish I had but there's one girl in particular I want to talk about.
This is Nelly. Despite having physical and mental disabilities, she was the happiest child I've ever met! She was always smiling and laughing. She rarely talked and when she did it was hard to understand, but as Bekkah warned me, she knew a lot more than she let on. For example, Andrea had her iPhone out and was taking photos. Nelly motioned that she wanted to see it so Andrea leaned in closely and let he look at the photos. She grabbed the phone and started sliding her finger across the screen to great amusement. As soon as she thought we weren't looking, she looked around and held the phone slowly over the edge of her chair. Thinking she was going to drop it all the adults gasped and lunged. She just laughed and said "safe." It was hilarious.
Another day when we did face painting she got a cat face. I didn't get anything. She pointed to my face and started meowing. I asked her if she wanted me to be a cat. In response, she picked up a marker and gestured towards my face. Close enough, right?
Another day when we did face painting she got a cat face. I didn't get anything. She pointed to my face and started meowing. I asked her if she wanted me to be a cat. In response, she picked up a marker and gestured towards my face. Close enough, right?
I stayed at the camp for about 6 days before finally heading back to tend to my responsibilities in Noyemberyan. It was so good to be home! We have two project proposals due at the end of July so I spent most of the week with my director finalizing those and getting back to normal. Now it is the first weekend back in Noyemberyan almost all summer and I enjoyed every second of it! I got to meet a volunteer who served in Noyemberyan 4 years ago and celebrate Vartivar.
Vartivar is my absolutely favorite holiday. It's better than Christmas, New Years and Halloween put together. It's essentially a nationwide water fight. Of course it has more serious origins of baptism, fertility and the washing away of sin, but it's basically a day where you get to douse the ones you love in water from head to toe. Since it's been 90+ degrees out lately, it was perfect! Bella, Louiza and I drenched each other multiple times over the course of the day through water balloons, bottles, glasses and huge buckets of water. More people joined in at the end of the day and I have no doubt our laughter was heard on the other side of town. It happened at every house across the country. Why don't we do this in America??
Vartivar is my absolutely favorite holiday. It's better than Christmas, New Years and Halloween put together. It's essentially a nationwide water fight. Of course it has more serious origins of baptism, fertility and the washing away of sin, but it's basically a day where you get to douse the ones you love in water from head to toe. Since it's been 90+ degrees out lately, it was perfect! Bella, Louiza and I drenched each other multiple times over the course of the day through water balloons, bottles, glasses and huge buckets of water. More people joined in at the end of the day and I have no doubt our laughter was heard on the other side of town. It happened at every house across the country. Why don't we do this in America??
So after a great day filled with fun, I'm exhausted and am about to put this computer down and head to bed. I will be much better with blogging from now on, I promise, and will update with more regularity. Since I won't be traveling as much (but still have one more trip) I'll have more regular access to my computer and will probably be doing more as well. The next few weeks will be busy, but so fun.
I'll be falling asleep tonight to the thought, "I have the best job in the entire world!"
I'll be falling asleep tonight to the thought, "I have the best job in the entire world!"