June 19, 2012 (Tuesday)

My older brother was supposed to leave tonight but he missed his flight somehow! I couldn’t understand the full story, but he’s still here! Haha I told him God didn’t want him to go cause then I would have zero brothers, meaning zero chauffeurs, meaning not so much a “princess status” anymore… right?! Also, my sister and I can do less things because we’re not really allowed to go to a lot of places without one of our brothers… just because it’s a “rule” with the family and because it’s “safer” as well. I can say I agree and disagree, but it definitely was a lot more fun having brothers taking me places and always telling me they’ll beat up any man who calls me out in the streets HAHA

My family. Left to Right: Garageen, Mom, Pop, Gaeraum, Me, Tateek, Gayane

June 18, 2012 (Monday)

My baby rabbit is getting so big! I’m excited. He’s MINE and the whole family knows it. They always ask me how “Pbo-pbo” is doing hehe J

I just found out both my brothers might leave me in a day or two! They both don’t want to go but in order to make money for the family, themselves, and their future families they have to because Armenia doesn’t provide enough job opportunities. Imagine how difficult it must be. They’re so used to having their mother and sister take care of all their household needs and now they have to go to Russia alone and work every single day in rough conditions. I think I’m sad FOR them and not so much because they’re leaving. I might not see them for a year! Crazy how this is a very common/normal thing for the boys of these families… sad. Makes me sad. I think I already got so attached to this family and I’m worried for the upcoming month to come when I have to leave them to go to my permanent site, which BY THE WAY I find out this upcoming Monday! AHHH Peace Corps tells me where I’ll be for the next two years! Like I said, this training is intense, but a sort of vacation compared to what we most likely will be placed in for the next two years. I will let you know ASAP!

First and only real picture with my older brother before he left

June 17, 2012 (Sunday)

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! Sorry I have to miss out on your birthday, father’s day, and anniversary! Haha Sad L

Called my “America dad” to wish him a good day and he told me it looks like I’m on vacation and not Peace Corps, which is sort of true… for now haha but he’s not lying! It is kind of true!

Anyways, I can’t believe I’m going into my fourth week! Almost our one-month anniversary in Armenia! It feels like it’s been super slow and super fast all at once. I can’t believe I’m in the state I am now after only three weeks. It’s crazy! How does one get to know a language like this and become a part of a community like this in such a short period of time?!

For example, I went to the market with my mom and brother today and everyone was asking my mother who I was because we were clinging arms everywhere and I could converse with her and understand what was going on so I obviously wasn’t just a tourist. Her answer to all their questions was “she’s my daughter.” I loved it. Everything about it was so heart warming to me. The way she always made sure I was clung on to her, the way my brother went back and forth from us to the car so that we didn’t have to carry much, and just everything in general … I’ll cry if they place me too far away from this family after training. Armenia is small but BIG! It would suck to live so far from them!

They don’t have liquid gas gas, they have actual air gas gas! Their car runs on the air gas?? Everyone has to get out of the car, the car has to be completely turned off, and the “gas” (or whatever it is) goes in through the trunk of the car in this little tube. It takes a long time too, but apparently it’s really cheap and goes for a long time.

My Sunday surprise this week was apple crumble! I bought ingredients from the market and Kate and I made baked a delicious (super sweet ><) apple crumble! They don’t have brown sugar in Armenia so that’s why it was way too sweet, but it didn’t turn out so bad and I bought ice cream to go with it so it went pretty well. I really hate watching people eat food I make haha I need to marry a man who will cook for me cause I can eat anything, I just can’t stand eating my own food in front of others… it’s weird, I know.

June 16, 2012 (Saturday)

OUR PAVEMENT IS FINISHED! “VAERCH!” It’s amazing what the men here can do, especially compared to the men in America. I think after living in Armenia for two years my standards will be so much higher of men than it used to. I think I’ll expect men to be too handy dandy… way beyond “American man standards” haha

Anyways, COWS SCARE THE POOPERS OUT OF ME! When they’re far away I’m super interested and it looks cool, but when they’re anywhere close to me I get spooked and feel like they’re going to charge. That’s another video I have to show you!  

I went to a couple villages over to the city of Abovian by the bus system they have here and ended up going to a café with some other Peace Corps volunteers with my brother and two of his Armenian girl friends. Afterwards we headed out to this famous church with some amazing craftwork. Apparently this really rich Armenian guy’s daughter is going to get married in it in a few months so they’re fixing it up. When we got there it was closed but my brother talked with the security guard and since we were Americans he let us in and was more than happy to spend time with us “Americans” haha . IT WAS GORGEOUS. I love everything about this country. I can’t say enough how lucky I’ve been and I can’t wait for this training service to be over in another two months and finally start my two years of service here in Armenia.