One Year in Armenia

This weekend marks one year that we have been in Armenia. It sure has gone quickly, for the most part. But oh, how we miss our families and friends! That's the hard part. Actually, trying to do the work we were sent here to do is the hard part. Oh, I don't know. It's ALL hard sometimes!

So this has been a big month! I turned 62 on May 4 (it's just a number, right?). It was a truly amazing day. Every kid in school seemed to know it was my birthday, and the kids in each of my classes (plus a few that I didn't teach that day) all sang Happy Birthday to me--in English! I had so many flowers and presents from the kids and teachers that we needed two trips to get them all home. We had a cake at school, one of my English clubs showed up at the house with a complete party (balloons, presents, home-made cake, brandy, singing and dancing), and then a friends/neighbors party in the evening! What a wonderful celebration it was! Here are a few pictures from the day. Two cakes, my 10th form's blackboard decorations, one of my English clubs leaving after the party, and a perfect rainbow!









Compost Pile

May 6 and 7 I went with a group of PC volunteers to a Biointensive Gardening Workshop in Syunik Marz (about 8 hours away). We learned how to "double-dig" beds for planting, and how to make a compost pile that won't attract animals (a one cubic meter lasagna of twigs, weathered hay, fresh greens and dirt). We worked hard and finished three 30 ft. x 5 ft. beds. And even got potatoes planted in one of them! Bonus--a nice garden fork for our school garden.

Double Digging


May 8 was the National Poetry Recitation Contest in Hrazdan. More than 1000 kids in 6th through 11th grades had competed throughout the country learning a variety English language poems. Our local competition sent its top 6 students and each did an excellent job reciting their poems. Unfortunately, none of them placed in the national competition. But just wait until next year!!

On May 14 we traveled with a group of 15 PCVs and some family members to visit two of the most famous monasteries in Armenia--Khor Virap and Noravank. The first is right on the border with Turkey, and it was a little unnerving to see the guard towers protecting the border. It is famous because St. Gregory the Illuminator was held captive in a dungeon there for 12 or so years. We were able to go down into the pit where he was held, which was really interesting. The second (Noravank) is in a canyon a few hours south of Yerevan and sits on top of a rock face. Absolutely stunning location.


Noravank

Noravank

Khor Virap

Khor Virap

Fred and I also celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary on May 25. Another milestone for sure. We have been tested this year in so many, many ways, and I'm glad we have gotten through it--together. But that's what marriage is all about. You stick with it and with each other when it's easy, and even when it's not. So we celebrated by going to one of the only restaurants in town. The food was really, really delicious, even though we were the only people in the restaurant!

May 26th was the last day of school for this year. A fun-filled day with lots of activities. There is something special that happens for the 9th grade students, sort of like a graduation. I haven't really figured it out yet. I took the time that I was in class to play games with the kids and take a few pictures. In the "posed" pictures nearly none of them smiled. But when I asked them to wave at the camera, the smiles came out. I love these children. Here are just a few of the pictures I took.


4th Graders

6th Graders

Now we're trying to figure out how to spend our summer. I will be walking across Armenia with the Border2Border group of Peace Corps volunteers. The walk starts on June 4 and our northern group will cover around 165 miles in two weeks. Fred will take the Foreign Service Test on Saturday June 4, the first step in being able to apply for a state department job. Here's hoping he does really well! Then we will have English clubs with our kids, and Fred is going to be involved in two camps--one for boys and one for international students. And we also hope to go to Istanbul before the summer is out, and to see some of Armenia. We've got around 40 days of vacation to use before next June, so we've got to get busy!!

That's all for now. We hope you are all well. We miss you more than we can say.