Dear Family and Friends,
I hope all of you are doing spectacular! Three days shy of one month of being in Armenia I have to say, life in Yerevan is of utmost beauty! I would characterize the culture to be one filled with abundant love, respect and connectedness. Citizens walk the streets free spirited and welcome the opportunity to say hello. In my eyes, the children are the most beautiful. I cannot pass by a single infant or child without being compelled to stop and say hello. Their Armenian eyes, naivety, beauty, and presence in their own homeland all accumulate to captivate me. March 8th was Women’s Day, a holiday when the entire country acknowledges women. Streets were filled with women of all ages carrying flowers.

I have acclimated to the point where some already call me Yerevantsi; the young men who run the supermarket downstairs from my apartment call me “mer Nayirin” (our Niary), as does the landlord of my apartment. I have found the men to be real gentlemen; e.g., if I cannot carry heavy grocery bags up 25 stairs to my apartment, one of the young gentlemen will leave his work to bring it up for me. The women tend to be more on the submissive side; however, the younger women can be quite achievement oriented.

And last but not least, I have made a number of new friends. This past Saturday night, I was invited to a house party by a friend of a friend who moved to Yerevan from New York. The party consisted of about 40 “pure” Armenians. By “pure” I mean love for the culture. There were not only local Armenians but many Armenians from the Diaspora who have relocated to Armenia. Majority were successful young professionals who have started their own company here. For example, one young man from England and his father have established a large construction company, a couple of young men from America have successfully opened a chain of restaurants, and another young man from England has his own art study in Yerevan.

These young Armenian professionals from the Diaspora spoke of so much love for Armenia that I have been left in complete awe. Almost all of them bet that I would not return to the states! I smiled with glee!! One of the men made a long heartfelt toast to all Armenian women. Definitely a very touching speech! After a quick picture, yet another toast was made to the prediction that within 12 years, 50% of the Diaspora Armenians would relocate to their native homeland!!!

Until next time….