Նոր Տարի Շնորհավոր!

Nor Tari Schnorhavor!
Happy New Year!


So, while I am way to full and tired to write an actual blog, I would like to share the fallowing with you. The following is conversation which happened just a few minutes ago around our kitchen table...but let me set the scene for you first.

This morning the entire family got up and traveled over to my host mother's village, where we visited her oldest brothers house for New Year's festivities (we had visited her other brother's house yesterday). We were all dressed to the 9's and had a lot of fun as 15 of us crammed around one small table that was chalk full of horavats (bbq meat), salad (not the leafy kind, the mayo kind), fruit, and pickled veggies...oOo..and of course alcohol. We spent 2 hours eating and toasting and drinking and repeating it all over and over and over again. Then we danced. Then drunk people slept and we were driven home. My host sister and I immediately fell asleep (this being around 5 sometime)and were woken by my host mother right before dinner.

Since the big dining room table is set for company (as it must be for 3 or 4 days after New Year) we ate in the kitchen. I in my rumpled pajamas, complete with still in place excessive eye make-up sat next to my host mother who was still dressed nicely. Next to her sat my host dad, still a little tipsy. My host sister Lilit was next. She skipped the pj's part though before her nap and sat in her skewed dress, with crazy hair (magically her make-up was still perfect though), and lastly my tatik was on the other side.

Dolma, 3 day old cold chicken (totally normal, and will be served for 2 more days at least), and two types of salad were on the table...and we had some soda too.


Angie (host mom): Ararat, take another dolma, this is all that is left and we need to finish it

Ararat (host dad): No, I am full, I don't want it

Angie: It is fine, just have one more

Katie: snickers softly, since this is a running them in the family

Tat: Katie is laughing (with a smirk on her own face)

Angie: Well, Katie needs to take one more too. This is all I boiled, we need to eat it!

Katie (incredulous with her eyes wide): BUT this is my third!!!

Angie: You just take one more, I will take one, Ararat will, and Lilit

Lilit (host sister, also incredulous): What? But I didn't laugh!!

Angie: There are only a few left, one for me, and Katie, and Ararat, and Lilit (As she scoops them onto each person's plate). Ha, finished!

Ararat: Angie, (pointing at the still half full bowl of salad on the table), finish that salad, we need the bowl

All: (smirk, since this is something said quite often in my family at meal times)

Angie: No, it is fine, we will finish it tomorrow morning




I love it. This is my life, made just a little more full and tired during the New Year!


Happy New Year to you all, I hope you have an amazing year filled with happiness and love, surrounded by friends and family!


and PS: I pinkie-swear promise when all the celebrating quiets down I will write a real blog.