and say that this will probably be my last post from Armenia. 15 days left, and it is really much scarier then I ever thought it would be.
First, a quick recap of the last 2 months. MY PARENTS CAME TO VISIT!! Yup yup! It was amazing. Just how excited was I, you ask? Well, first let me describe the arrivals area of the Zvartnots airport. It is about the size of a small, mom-and-pop grocery story and is a big empty room with double doors connecting it to customs or whatever. Wrapping around these double doors are glass walls, where all of the waiting friends and family gather. As I stood there, smoshed against the glass, a small Armenian girl (no joke-she was probably two) was beside me with her grandmother. They were waiting for the girl's mother. The SECOND that the little girls mom walked through the doors and the little girl saw her through the glass, she bust out sobbing. Actually sobbing, I am talking full on screaming and crying and trying to run away from her grandmother towards the opening in the glass to meet her mom. I, being already close to tears and freaking out Armenians by bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet, promised myself I wouldn't do that when I saw my parents...let me tell you, it was a close call. I cried, they cried and I pushed through a bunch of Armenians and quite honestly stopped them right on that 'security line' to hug them about 5 times each. It was fantastic!
The trip only got better from there : ) We spent time in Dilijan with my host family, and despite being woken up WELL before I wanted to be to translate, it was great. I was really happy to finally have my two families meet. The parents were also able to meet the old host family in Karenis, where we were treated to a great day of khorovats down by the river. It was the typical village experience, and a highlight of their trip for sure. Mom got a kick out of finally meeting the kids that she always sent presents to (and who quite honestly kept me sane during the harder times) and dad loved the drinking, fun loving, and big family atmosphere of the khorovats itself. In Martuni they got a taste of the 'PCV' life, when they stayed with me at another volunteers apartment. I made dinner from scratch (lasagna, yum) and everyone had a good time just kicking around. Even though the volunteer we stayed with has an amazing apartment by our standards, mom and dad were kind of shocked with the living conditions. Pretty sure dad thought he might die, and mom just started cracking up laughing as she laid down to go to sleep...in a state of disbelief!
After 10 days (way too short a time) I had to put them back on the plane. It was sad. I might have cried. They did get to take a whole big suitcase back for me though, and experienced the Armenian bribery system first hand when they wanted to check a 3rd bag at the airport.
Since then, things have been winding down. I finally had a chance to go down south (way WAY down south) and visit another volunteer in Meghri, and we for sure took the opportunity to drive along the Iranian border for a few minutes. That was pretty cool, you could see a village on the other side..the difference in architecture was interesting! On the same trip I got to ride the WORLD'S LONGEST TRAMWAY..yup. Be jealous. The tramways is the easiest way to get to Tatev, one of the prettiest monasteries in Armenia.
Today was my big goodbye khorovats with all of the teachers from the art school. Let me tell you, it was an incredible time. We went a little ways down the road to this 'basetka' or gazebo. Of course, it wasn't just a gazebo, but a whole picnic area complete with covered tables and swing. One of the guys from school had traveled out in the morning to reserve it for us! Soon enough (there were about 10 women there) the tables were set and the men were cooking the meat (pork-yum!). One of the woman had brought her two little boys, and we entertained ourselves with the Armenian version of dodge ball (way better then the normal version, FYI)until everything was all cooked. Vodka flowed throughout the meal, and toasts were said to all of us, and our lives, and to my journey back to America. I must have reassured them 10 times that I would never forget them...even gave a toast that involved me remembering them always and keeping them in my heart. Dancing followed after dinner, and finally a group of us took a short hike up to Jutavank, a small monastery on the outskirts of Dilijan that I had never been to. I walked with another woman and two of the male teachers, I lead the way. One of the men kept telling the other one to get ahead of me, because in Armenia a man is always in the front and back. The other woman got a kick out of it when I 'clicked' my disapproval at him and told him that he was crazy. Finally, around 9 (after 8 hours in the woods) I took a taxi home with a few of the teachers...it was really sad to say goodbye, knowing that there were some people there that I will probably never see again.
I have to get used to that though, only 15 days left...I picked up what is proably the last batch of letters from Mem today (well, honestly, the neighbor picked them up and brought them to me)and tomorrow I leave for my last two nights of visiting my old host family in Karenis. That is going to suck. Bad. Then off to 4th of July in Sevan and one last Green Camp before I come home for a few days before saying goodbye to my host family here. Ugh, I can't even think about that.
My microphone is broken, so phone calls home are going to probably not happen, which is just as well...since I will be there soon enough and have to focus on everyone here...
I want to thank all of you for sharing these two years with me. Dealing with the good days (that hopefully far outnumbered) the bad days. Thanks especially to my mem, for those weekly letters that got me through a lot of those bad days; and my mom and dad for always being there to make me pull myself together (and sending me amazing packages); and Gramp and Gramp and Phyllis, for always making me smile when we were on the phone...and to all of you for the support you have given me just by reading my infrequent and usually scatterbrained ramblings.
I guess I will see you on the flipside.
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