It was my 25th 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.
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| 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. |
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| 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…
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| 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.
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| Cake. Pizza. Gifts! Sleepover. Girls :) |
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| 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…”
