Me at the airport in DC with all of my
PC luggage. Some volunteers took luggage
in their bags for those who were over weight (in luggage).
I was OK. My daughter Katy helped me pack and weigh
everything in Boston the day before we left :-)
Early morning at 5:30 a.m., sunrise in Yerevan on
August 28th in Zvartnots VII Century Temple. I am
the second on the left in the first row. I played my violin/fiddle
here for the first time in Armenia at sunrise as we explored this
archeological site.
We spent the first four days after arrival at a post-Soviet resort just north of Yerevan. Here we had basically semi western accommodations. Resort meaning a small hotel room and a cafeteria style place to eat. The food was western/Armenian. We were all so exhausted after the two days of travel with no sleep and had trouble staying awake through all of the training sessions there which were eight hours a day. We were placed in small clusters of five to seven which we would remain in for the duration of training for our language and cultural training. Twenty-five of us are TEFL/Teaching English as a Foreign Language volunteers and thirteen of us are CYD/Community Youth Development volunteers.
After the four days at the resort we moved to our host family homes near Artashot Armenia where we would stay for the next eleven weeks. My village was called Berkanush.
My host family was with an artistic musical family. Arev (54) and Surik (58) and their remaining daughter at home - Mariam (22). Arev has been a stay at home mom but is a pharmacist, Surik a sculptor and artist and Mariam a law student at Yerevan University.
Outside kitchen in back of house where all cooking
is done April through mid November.
View of back yard, garden, fruit trees and old wine
cask which was used to store wine in years gone by.
Canning tomatoes outside over gas burner. Can
see laundry hanging. No clothes driers in Armenia.
Arev with canned vegetables for winter.
This is an Armenian tradition. She canned
seemed hundreds of jars.
Mariam and Arev at the metro in Yerevan
on our first trip to Yerevan together.
Surik at work in back of house. He makes
signs for most of the stores in Artashat, sculpts
grave stones and sculptures for the town. He also
plays jazz trumpet and loves Louis Armstrong.
Family dinner at Arev and Surik's daughter and
son-in-law's home in Yerevan. I am holding the
new German Shepard puppy standing between Mariam
and Arev.
PC took us on field trips during our training. This is
the temple at Garni built in I A.D.
This is Geghard Monastery IV-XIII Centuries A.D.
Our language classroom in the Mayor's House or
town hall. Hasmik is our teacher. She teaches at
a university in Yerevan when not at PST with us.
studied four hours a day, six days a week for 12 weeks.
Looks like kindergarten, doesn't it? We now have the
language of 3 year olds . . ..
Friday nights all summer in Yerevan there is
Armenian folk dancing in Republic Square at
the fountains. PC took us one night and we all
danced with the Armenian young people. It was
magical.
This is site announcement day when we heard where
we would be placed in Armenia. I am on the far left
with the blue jacket around my waist. However, I am not
going to that village. I am now in the city of Hrazdan in
the middle of Armenia.
We had an American baby shower for Satanik, our other
language instructor. She is in the pink scarf. Normally
here there is no celebration until 40 days after a baby's
birth so this shower at 8 months pregnant was very
unusual for the Armenian PC staff. Two other volunteers
in this picture with me.
Me on last day with host family in Berkanush
out back with our cat Maggie. I believe I am
the first person to ever hold Maggie. Pets here are
only outside and not a part of the family like our pets.
I loved Maggie. Maggie is a he, five years old and not
neutered. But he is oh so loving and loved being held
and petted. I miss him.
Arev and Surik at my swearing-in
ceremony in Yerevan. We all became
a family. I will visit them often as they
are only about 70 miles away. Christmas
and birthdays are coming up . . . .
And so I made it through PST. Some volunteers say it is the most difficult time of PC service. I can now speak enough Armenian to make myself understood wherever I go. I know the cultural norms. I know our safety and security plan . . . we had a consolidation drill. I have had my share of GI upset, fear, loneliness and thoughts of returning home to the United States. But, I am still here and starting now in Hrazdan on my real Peace Corps service teaching English in School # 14 in Hrazdan, grades 3-8.
As instructed by PC I must conclude with: The above is solely the thoughts and opinions of Lorrie Wilkes and in no way represents the Peace Corps or United States Government.
