This past week went by pretty quickly. Actually I sometimes catch myself wondering when the last time it was that I wrote a blog. It is getting harder and harder to find time to write a blog. Although it doesn’t take that long to write one, it is still something that I need to sit down and do. For better or worse, time is becoming a hot commodity for me. Actually, I recently watched one of Chris Rock’s stand up acts and he talks about this exact situation. He says that there is a difference between a job and a career.A career, time is always valuable; you never have enough of it. Its 5 o’clock before you know it and you have to stay late and come in early to do what you want to do. However, a job, once you get there, you look at your watch and when you think that two hours has gone by, its only been ten. I remember when I worked at The GAP or when I sold cell phones for Christmas vacation jobs. I remember looking at my watch and seeing that I still had 7 hours and 45 minutes left before I could leave. However now, I start my work, and there is still so much to do, the days are literally flying by. I hope by reading all this, you are understanding that I still love my time here and I try and cherish every minute of it.
So, this is why time has been flying by. Last week was pretty good. I met with my counterpart and we planned our lesson plan out for our class on Friday and again, she didn’t let me teach anything and I just sat there even though half of the class time was supposed to me mine. Its alright, because this upcoming Friday I am going to force my way in there and will stop her. Yup, I have already decided that. This Friday’s curriculum will be about dental hygiene. My toothbrush and floss will be ready.
Saturday was great. I slept in (an extra hour) and then just hung around the house and helped my host mom dig up the yard trying to find something. What exactly, I don’t know, but we were moving massive rocks and stuff out of the way. If you had just come across us digging in the yard, you would think both of us were crazy because the yard looked like pictures of the Moon. That night, I went into Martuni and hung out with my friends there for a while. Then on Sunday, Hector and I went into Yerevan. We got there super early. Probably because the Marshutni driver had to pee or something. We were flying down the road.
As an aside, there is a detour because the lake overflows sometimes near Sevan, another city. Anyway, while we were on this dirt detour road, the kid in front of me starting yarking (throwing up). It was great. I told Hector that it reminded me of the time my family and I were in Africa and we were on this road. I was 5. We were in this van that had seats on the sides and then a bench seat in the very back. So there was an aisle down the center and I was in the center with either parent to the left and right of me. Anyway, we are driving and out of nowhere... projectile vomit. I clearly remember that and now, looking back on it, I must have been one hell of a kid because that stuff got everywhere. So, thanks to that kid that was sitting in front of me, this memory came to mind...
Anyway, we got to Yerevan really early and Hector and I went to our favorite shwarma place (shwarma is a wrap with pork or chicken, sauce, veggies,etc.) Anyway, they are less than a dollar each and it is a cheap way to get full, and that is exactly what we did. We met up with Ashley and we walked around the city. We bought a pumpkin for Ashley to carve and we met up with Michael and others as well as my LCF, Anahit. It was fun walking around with everyone. We went to a cafe and we chatted a while. Then afterwards, we walked around because I wanted this “something.” Now, I can’t tell you what it is because I am going to surprise my parents with this awesome-ness. Yeah, that’s right, you have to wait another 2 years upon my arrival to see what it is. Ha.
Anyway, afterwards, Hector, Ashley, Mike and I went to this Italian Restaurant. It was a bit pricey but it tasted just like Italian food did in Italy. It was really really good so it was worth every dram. (don’t worry, it was like 6 dollars, but to me thats like 50). We went back to Ashley’s house (because she is nice enough to let us crash at her place) and we just hung out.
The next day was awesome. First off, unlike Korea, Armenia observes Day light savings time. That totally threw me off on Sunday and it did the same for Monday. I had other work to do on Monday so I was in Yerevan. First thing in the morning, we went to the Indian Embassy to get our visas. They were more than nice there. The lady knew about Peace Corps Volunteers and knew we lived in the villages. She said it was too early for the visa application process, but after we told her what we did, she said she would make an exception. Also, when we didn’t have passport sized pictures, she called an embassy driver to take us to a place to get it done and then brought us back. It was great. It took a little longer than I hoped but I still got all my work done. Oh, another little funny tidbit. I was the first one to finish my application so I was waiting outside for about 15 minutes. During my little waiting period outside, the Indian Ambassador came outside and it was just him and myself just standing there. He was waiting for the car to come around and pick him up. We literally just stared at each other for 5 min. I mean, what do you say to the Ambassdor of India to Armenia? I just smiled like a moron and half-assed a hello.
Afterwards, work began. I had meetings all that afternoon to meet with the organizations for the HIV/AIDS project that Im doing. It was insane. The taxi drivers didn’t know where anything was. I was late to about every meeting, but everyone understood and still met with me. UMCOR, my first meeting, kept me for an hour and a half. One of the ladies I will be working with had her birthday so I ate cake and drank coffee with them for a while. Talk about super nice. Counterpart International were really helpful too. They gave me some really good contacts, people that when I tried to meet them, didn’t respond to my emails but now, by referral, they do want to meet with me. Great. The Armenian Red Cross were having budget cuts in the area of HIV/AIDS but said they would support in any way they could. And lastly the American Council. The director was a Peace Corps volunteer three years ago and basically said that she would help in any way she could. She also gave me a lot of great insight to people I should contact and different programs and so so much more. It was a great day. I was exhausted and passed out on the marshutni ride home but I was really excited about everything. I was so glad to be home. Im getting to the part now where I don’t like sleeping anywhere else except for in my own bed. Even being in the village. I start to miss it when I am away for too long. The city is starting to drive me crazy. There is so much to do in so little time in Yerevan and it is just so much more busy compared to here that it starts to get to me.
Also, yesterday, all the volunteers in the Martuni area met with the police chief so that he knew us and could better give us support if we needed it. Ill tell you what, Peace Corps does a good job to make you feel safe, even though we are in a country that really doesn’t have much crime anyway. But it was great. Hector asked a lot of questions about snow plows and problems associated with snow. He lives in a village that is kind out out there and from what we have heard, we probably won’t be seeing him until March when it starts snowing. Im sure he will be fine. It was just funny because the Police Chief people were making fun of him saying “good luck out there” and laughing at his questions.
This weekend is Halloween. I was going to go up to Berd, a city in the North but I didn’t realize how far away it was and how expensive it would be for me to head up there. So I will be having my own little party.
I guess that’s about it. It seemed like it was yesterday when I was talking about the soccer game we went to, but now its already almost November. Geez. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well. I guess being five months in, I can say that I miss you all. Sweet.
Brandon, Happy Birthday this Friday. If you actually read this, let me know. Also, Jeremy, did you return from your backpacking trip? Did a bear eat your food? I hope you have learned by now.
Oh, speaking of camping, a Giardia update. It has now been three weeks and no symptoms.
Until next time...
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