Welcome Spring!

Well, today is March 1st, and in Armenia, that is the official first day of Spring. Ironically, of course, it is the coldest day we have had here in weeks, but oh well, this is Armenia! I am sitting here by my wood stove again, after weeks of being free of it's chains.

As Summer quickly approaches, I have become insanely busy over the last few weeks. I was in Yerevan for this weekend to work on the curriculum of the computer camps that some of the PCVs are going to offer this year, and we had what you would call a 'working lunch' and 'working dinner' at 2 restaurants. I had and amazing, out-of-this-world ceaser salad at the first restaurant, complete with real dressing and spinach. I could have eaten 5 of them, but they were a bit on the pricey side. Over this first meal, we worked out budgets and basic information. Then we moved on to Champion's Sports Bar, so we could use their free wifi, and worked for a few more hours on our plans. Oh, and I ate some fantastic spring rolls. yum!

Friday night, a bunch of us went out dancing, it was really a great time. It was nice to hang out with volunteers that I don't usually see. We got home late, and I slept until 10 on Saturday morning. I would have slept longer, but David decided it was time to get up, and ripped to covers away.

On Saturday, we started our meeting off ordering some burritos and nachos from Taco Maco, and new Mexican place that just opened up. We all love it because it is cheap and authentic. We split into 2 groups to work on our specific curriculum. We decided to focus on 2 main topics: Photoshop and Web design. Since I really don't know much about either, I worked with the Web design group and helped them with making their curriculum kid friendly but adding in games, etc. In the end, we have our curriculum complete, and even have a rough schedule for all of the camps laid out. The meetings were far more productive then I ever imagined they would be.

On Saturday, a few of us went to Sevan for the night. Boy oh boy, is it cold there. Beautiful, yes, but cold! There was still a significant amount of ice on the ground, which we haven't seen for a while in Dilijan. It still amazes me how close we can be, but with a climate so completely different. Sunday morning Hayley (another PCV) made us crepes with blackberry syrup. I could have eaten 8 of them. It was so delicious. The blackberries came frozen, but were so delicious and such a change from all the dried fruit we are having now, that they tasted like heaven. After breakfast, it was time for us to pack up and catch a ride to Dilijan.

As I mentioned before, I am taking a lead in the Green Camps that are happening this year, well, things have been kind of sticky lately (due to funding) and we had a meeting with about 5 other volunteers to work out some details and get everyone on the same page. We talked about the sustainability (or lack thereof) of the current GC program, organizational issues, and PC involvement. After getting all the volunteers on the same page (mostly), a representative of Green Tavush (www.greentavush.org) came and we talked everything out. Let's just say there was some serious chain smoking going on, but we got it all worked out (again, mostly) and plan on having a 2 day meeting in Ijevan next weekend to hammer everything out. Everyone just cross your fingers that we can make it all work out. Green Tavush is a great NGO, and Green Camps are a big part of the fun EE and other PCVs have every summer. Plus, it gets kids from villages interested in environmental issues world wide.

I am excited to announce that on March 21st, my flights to Dubai and Egypt will be officially booked. We will spend 10 days in Egypt, with one day in Dubai on either side of that. If anyone has any tips on places to go or things to see, let me know. Interestingly enough, another PCV has told us to use our Armenian when we are at the markets in Egypt. Apparently, when you speak English you get hounded, and they understand when you really want something or not, which seriously hinders your ability to negotiate! good tip, and one I plan on using!

Oh, and while at the IT meeting, something really interesting came up, and I started to think about it more. I had not realized how much I had changed my actions to fit into the social norms here. Don't worry Mum, it is not like I am waiting hand and foot on men or anything, but I do act far differently then I expected. Before Armenia, I walked down the street with my head up, looking at everyone and everything. Here, I noticed that I walk with my head down a lot of the time, avoiding eye contact with men on the street. That hit me hard, if you had asked me before coming here if that would have been acceptable, I would have answered no, no questions asked. But it is something that snuck up on me, and something I will be working on. Also, in America, if I was walking down a street and saw a group of 4 or 5 teenage boys loitering on the sidewalk, I would have just walked by them. Here, I go into the street or cross to the other side all together. I have never had such a bias against one group of people in my life. While not all Armenian men fit into this category (I have met some great guys), I find myself disliking most men here between 16 and 30. Like I said, not all of them by a long shot, but the majority of those I have interacted with are obnoxious and disrespectful. I don't think they are bad people, but man. I think it has something to do with the fact that most of them are unemployed. Like America (but on a totally different scale) Armenia is facing insanely high unemployment rates. A lot of men go to Russia for work. So these boys sit around all day with nothing to do, nothing. The gender role thing also plays a key role. While most kids here are spoiled (they are the LIFE of the family), boys are often treated like princes, they bring hope for the family in the future. Sisters are expected to take care of their brothers, whether it be getting them a drink or other similar things. Also, blatant staring at girls is accepted here without comment. Groups of men here will literally stare to the point where they crane their necks, and it is regarded as ok. There is a lot that I have had to adjust to here, and this is the one that issue I just can't seem to overcome. Even in the schools or clubs, when an older boy walks in, his word rules. All decisions will refer back to him (especially over me, the young female teacher) and he is loved and respected by everyone around him (including other teachers). It is insane, and hard sometimes for me to overcome in my classes.

I don't really know where I want to go with all of this, but it is something that I wanted to share. Now, I am going to go eat. My host mother is made my favorite soup (chicken and rice) and I am going to eat one big, hefty bowl of it. With bread. yumm!

Aunt Carol-Ann and Carolyn : HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!