25!! HALF OF FIFTY!! A QUARTER OF A CENTURY!!

It was my 25^th birthday a few days ago and for the first time EVER I actually did feel old. I know, I know… I’m still young and look like a teenager blah blah blah, but seriously, I’ve never actually felt like “whoa, years are passing by and I’m not a kid anymore.” Seeing these young 18-20 year old mothers in my village either pregnant, or already walking around with their second child makes me first think “WOW they’re young!” and then “oh my gosh, I want one!”…. THIS IS KIND OF FREAKING ME OUT!!

Ok ok, but besides all of this, I just wanted to write a post about this past week and how it really showed me the connections I’ve made here in Armenia and how truly valuable they are.

Friday. I was taken out to a fancy dinner at the Marriot Hotel by two fellow Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), Meghan and Lauren. They had so much going on that day and had to take a train to Tbilisi, Georgia that same night, but no matter what, they wanted to spend time with me and take me out for an early birthday dinner. But neither the fancy hotel restaurant nor the fact that they took out time for me was what was special about this night.  We spent most of our night complimenting and encouraging each other, sharing about how we personally thought we have grown in the past two years and how we thought the other has grown as well. It was the most uplifting and inspiring conversation... to know that other people can understand you so well, even though we don’t meet every day or have conversations all the time… AHHH!! It was just such a great night and I learned so much about myself through these two girls and was able to really see how this experience has made me a more easy-going, extroverted, wiser, happier, and better person! J

Left: Lauren and I on the way to Armenia! On a train in Venice.
Middle: the sweet gifts and letters from both the Meg & Lauren.
Right: Meghan! Like always, having great conversations everywhere.

A treat from the restaurant. It was perfect. They sang me an 'opera' happy birthday. 

Saturday. I spent the whole day at a hostel in Yerevan with my PCV friend Kate and we made cheesecake, popcorn, and mimosas, ordered pizza, and downloaded about five different movies we decided to watch. We had a good relaxing “birthday lounge day” and it was perfect. What topped it all off??? The cleaning lady at the hostel gave me a birthday gift the next morning! She told me it was just “a little something,” and then hugged and kissed me and wished me “all the blessings of this world.” Every time I come to this hostel I have nice conversations with her and every so often I have some extra apples or apricots or cookies or candies in my bag that I share with her, but I never thought I meant enough to her for her to give me a gift. I love to love and to be loved and to know that my love is seen and reciprocated unto others! How good is He, right?!

Sunday. Sunny Sunday! I got to go to church service for the first time in a very long time and it was just so good to sit, listen, worship, and praise with others around you doing the same. That was my Sunday highlight and I was so grateful I got to stay in Yerevan long enough to attend. YAY!

Monday. I went to my first host family’s house and got to see my host brother again after he spent eight months in Russia. Not only is he one of my favorite men in Armenia, but he truly acts like my older brother and will do anything to make sure I’m safe and happy. But I don’t want to talk about this for “Monday.” Him coming home from Russia was only a small perk compared to the gift I got from my host grandfather. My host grandpa had a heart attack ten years ago and ever since hasn’t been able to do anything. He’s blind, can’t speak cause half of his body doesn’t function, and sits on the couch all day. My host grandmother has been taking care of him for TEN YEARS! One of the strongest women I have ever known. Anyways, I love my host gpa in a way I can’t explain. We can’t have conversations and he doesn’t even know what I look like, but when I come over I always sit with him, hold his hand, and let him touch my hair because that’s one of the ways he recognizes others. My host gma can understand or guess what he says most of the time and usually he always asks the same questions, but this time it was different. My host gma tells me that lately he’s been asking where “that girl” was and if she’s doing okay (he can’t say my name, and neither can she actually!! Haha). This time I was sitting right next to him and he asked her again, “Where is that girl? What is she doing? Is she eating?” My host gma tells me what he asked and I respond to him saying “I’m here! I am good and am working in my village. And I eat all the time!” He touches my face and asks something, I look at my host gma and she translates, “do you have money?,” I turn to him and say “yes! I am okay. I have enough money,” but I guess he didn’t believe me and starts reaching for something in his sweater pocket. My host gma looks shocked and tells me he hasn’t reached for that pocket in more than five years and then goes to help him. She takes out what’s in the pocket, asks him what he wants her to do with it, and he waves at her motioning that he wants her to give it to me. It was money! He has kept 2,000 Drams in his pocket for more than 5+ years and he wanted to give one of those bills to me! Right at this moment my host father comes in, sees what is happening and says, “what?! I always try asking grandpa to give me money for cigarettes but he never does! He doesn’t give anyone money and has kept that money for almost ten years!” … CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?! I have a 1,000 Dram bill in my wallet from a man who has been keeping it in his pocket for ten years. I almost cried. I actually don’t know how I kept myself together and didn’t cry. We may not be able to have a conversation, he may not be able to see me, and he may not know my name, but I am “that girl” to him, and I have never been happier in my life to be regarded without a name. TRUE LOVE!

Tuesday. My birthday. It was simple and not special, but SO SPECIAL. A day I’ll never forget. My host family has recently had many financial issues. They closed down their tiny shop, had to get loans for their son’s wedding, their other son didn’t find work in Russia, and their daughter recently got engaged meaning a lot of gifts and jewelry had to be bought. Basically they’re scavenging to survive and put food on the table, WHICH IS WHY I didn’t want to stay over on my birthday to make them feel like they have to do something for me, but they wouldn’t let me leave any earlier and basically kept me captive haha. Anyways, throughout the day I hear them talking about money here and there, bringing a few things from the market, and then my host mom and sister start making “dolma” for dinner that night… my favorite! Later that evening all seven of us, my host mother, father, brothers, sister, and gma, gathered around the small table and my host mom looks at me and says, “Andrea jan, our table might be small and not so special, but our hearts are big and we prepared everything out of love for you.” Are you breathless?? I mean… I felt like I ran out of air and was punched real hard in the face, but in a good way! AHHHH my heart stopped for a little as I took in the most humble and loving words this truly amazing family had for me. I don’t know what I’ll do when I have to leave in five months. I might actually get physically sick from separation…

From my first week in Armenia 'til now, this has been my family... always there for me, always treating me like their real daughter, and always giving no matter what their circumstances. Their love is just so overwhelming!

Wednesday. I came back to my village and went straight to my friend Anna’s house. She’s been wanting me to come over for days and I missed her and her family! As soon as I open the door, I get a kiss from Anna, a kiss from her mom, a kiss from her dad, and then a kiss from her brother AND THEN they pull me into the kitchen and I see a big pizza and a cake with a lit candle. Anna, her mom, and her brother had been preparing the pizza all day and were waiting for me to come so we could eat it together. Her dad comes in, says some nice things, and then scolds me for not coming over every day! Haha. I slept over that night to make sure I didn’t get another scolding from the whole family for not coming over more often! J They want me to live with them haha I love them.

 

Cake. Pizza. Gifts! Sleepover. Girls :) 

Left picture is of us on the first day we met almost 2 years ago at a conference introducing volunteers to their counterparts. Right picture was taken less than a month ago at their house in our village with Alla (in the middle) five months pregnant and living in Russia now!

How can anyone forget a birthday like this…

My community, family, friends, and kids here are engraved in me forever and I bet you every conversation I have with someone from here on until I die will most likely have a “when I was in Armenia…”