Beauty and Art Know no Time Frame

Cascade building which houses the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan, Armenia

It’s never too late to take in beauty and realize the talents of others in this world.  The occasion occurred this past weekend for David and me when we were in Yerevan with a few hours of unscheduled time to spend.  We chose to visit the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, a breathtaking structure housed within the Cascade, a building conceived by Armenian architect, Alexander Tamanyan . Deterioration of the building took place during the years of economic struggle in Armenia, but in 2002, Mr. Gerard Cafesjian established the Cafesjian Museum Foundation which restored the Cascade and is now continuing to transform it into one of the world’s preeminent centers for the arts.  During our cultural training for the Peace Corps in 2011, David and I visited the Cascade and its outdoor gardens. We witnessed the artistry of Armenian dancers who first displayed then taught their native dance routines to tourists and locals alike. Here during our first summer in Armenia, we were introduced to the beauty of native Armenian dress and culturally distinct footwork and music.  We, along with many other Peace Corps volunteers and casual participants, joined in the lines and circles of novice dancers and tried our hand at some of these dances even though we stumbled and ended up laughing our way to the sidelines, out of breath and totally confused with the intricacies of our new country’s complex choreography.

Tower of exquisite Swarovski crystals

Glass piece which changes colors as one views it

         Today we did not see this type of display of Armenian’s performing art but would, instead, see the art work of glass artists and contemporary creators from various countries including our own, and we viewed depictions of history and historical figures of which we’ve read much.  Armenian historical figures such as Tumanyan, Mashtots, and others, were portrayed in massive murals and stone statues.  Alongside them were contemporary creations of stunning Swarovski crystal and murano glass.  Above our heads were the breathtaking glass flowers of Dale Chihuly, and greeting us in the first gallery was a wall of these exquisite  creations projecting their colorful beauty upon us.   Having seen similar displays in Las Vegas on the ceiling of the Bellagio Casino made this opportunity to view Chihuly’s work up close even more impressive.

Stunning crystal art piece at Cafesjian Center for the Arts

                                                                                    

           As we proceeded from floor to floor, indoors and out, and viewing each level’s galleries, we were impressed with the professionalism in which the museum was both arranged and managed.   Nowhere in this country have we seen quite the level of attention to detail and eclectic display of fine works of contemporary art intermingled with historic presentations. Impressive ,too, is the fact that the majority of exhibitions presented in the Cafesjian Center for the Arts are derived from the private collection of its main benefactor,  Mr. Gerard Cafesjian   The offerings themselves mirrored the diverse  mix of viewers and art enthusiasts.. In our presence were young couples spending an unseasonably warm February afternoon with a loved one, to young children being introduced to a new visual experience, to older patrons  individually and jointly absorbing the beauty before them. Inside and outside offered visual stimulation as we viewed the wide spectrum of man’s creative efforts in an Armenian garden setting overlooking the city we have grown to enjoy.  Here in Yerevan one can become refreshed and gain a different perspective of a country in which our day- to- day work is oft times frustrating and seemingly non-productive. Here we can become re-charged, have a chance to contemplate new approaches to our daily work, and return to our work ready to try something different or attempt to re-direct our energies in a more efficient way for the limited time we have left as Peace Corps volunteers. Spending time in such a setting frees ones’ thoughts thus allowing refocus and some measure of change in direction. Clearing the cob webs and constant thoughts of challenge and hurdles ahead promotes improved mental health and a renewed desire to be a better volunteer.

David viewing the city of Yerevan, Armenia from atop the Cascade

                                                                           

              As we step outside the Cafesjian  Center for the Arts, we are at the summit of the Cascade where  hazy but breath-taking views of the entire city  may be enjoyed. From this vantage point one realizes a  panoramic look at Yerevan  which will be even more inspiring in the spring when the gardens begin to green- up and the decorative, stone fountains are flowing with water again.   Randomly situated below us are the sculptures and whimsical, sometimes controversial art pieces provided by traveling exhibions or Mr. Cafesjian’s own collection.. They are strategically interspersed among historic statues of Armenian intellectual figures in the country’s history.   People are wandering leisurely about the area which is bordered on each side by shops and restaurants. Overlooking the park-like setting are apartments and offices with to-die-for views before them. One can only imagine the maneuvering involved as occupants of those buildings vie for offices and bedrooms facing this oasis within the city. It is a place to come for respite, relaxation, and beauty. It is a place in which one seeks a view from above or a park bench on the ground level.

Famous Armenian historical figure, Tamanyan, greets visitors to the Cascade  

                                                               Though we’ve known of the Cafesjian area for much of our time in Armenia, we’ve never had  the time or made the effort to explore it, aside from the dance experience mentioned above.  Fortunately, we followed the lead of others who suggested such a visit.  It is never too late to seek beauty and to enjoy it with a loved one, David.   We’ll continue the exploration of this jewel within the city of Yerevan as we look to expand our horizons through concert attendance within the same building.  What better way to further learn about a country of which we knew little 2 years ago, than to spend quality time experiencing its cultural treasures. 

         May each of you discover a place of beauty in your city where you may gain respite and a change of perspective. It is never too late.       Judy

BOOKS : This week in Armenia

Books and Dilijan

BOOKS  at the college

Student using new textbook, ENGLISH UNLIMITED , at Dilijan State College

The English classes at my college now have actual textbooks for use in class----for the first time ever. Thanks to funds granted to my Peace Corps Small Project Assistance proposal, each student can hold, read and study a new book in class.    

Bookshelves in new English Classroom where old and new books are found

 The grant, supported by US AID, is significant because up until now, students relied upon blotchy, dim copies of text/exercises from an old Soviet Union style books in which English was taught in the Russian style. Now students see bright, colored, contemporary pictures and clearly printed English texts based upon current age-appropriate subjects.  Will it make a difference in their language learning?  My Armenian team teacher and I certainly hope so, and we’ve already seen sparks of interest in students who up until now were reluctant to do anything in class. A few of the better students have asked to study separately with me during class because they are more proficient in English than others in their class and see the new books as being a way to move ahead even further if studied with a native English speaker. My team teacher and I are trying several ways of meeting these students’ needs while also trying to teach the students with more limited knowledge. This is a challenge all of the Peace Corps TEFL volunteers must face in a country where English is not consistently taught to younger students.

One negative though is our inability to find a CD player needed to play the accompanying audio discs.  Electronic devices of all kinds are very expensive here. Plus, technology has moved past the CD players I recall from earlier years. MP3 plays, iPods, cell phones, etc. now provide the link to music instead of CD players. Stores in Dilijan do not sell CD players and those in Yerevan are out of our price range. So you say---use a computer. Great idea! But we do not have a computer in our English classroom nor do we have electricity.  Ironically, my English classroom sits between 2 computer classrooms but equipment in those rooms is not permitted to be moved. Even so, it is great to have new books, and we use the CD scripts as dialogues with the students being asked to read rather than listen to the CD’s we can’t play.  Not perfect but not bad either!

In addition, a renewed student interest is occurring in checking out books from our small collection of graded readers. We tried to purchase a variety of subjects as well as reading levels.  Rarely assigned book reports and poor English level proficiency has limited this activity, so to see a few names on our check-out list is heartening.

BOOKs  in the town…………………..

Entrance to Dilijan, Armenia's new library

Dilijan’s long-awaited new library recently opened its doors. Housed on one floor of a renovated building in the heart of the town, the library shares space with an English learning Center operated by the American University in Armenia, and a high teach computer center operated by  >>>>>>>>>>>. The English learning center offers classes for adults wishing to learn English and the computer center offers amazing computer lessons for students ages 12-17 years. The self-paced computer classes are absolutely FREE after the student pays a nominal, refundable damage deposit. Within 2 weeks, the center already has 200 students eager to learn advanced computer skills and use of all types of computer technology unavailable anywhere else in Dilijan. What a wonderful way for students to spend their free time and what a boost to their chances of getting jobs later on.



Sign on wall outside of new library which is sponsored by the Central Bank of Armenia



Though the collection of Armenian, Russian, and English books is small in the library, everything is new….. no musty-smelling, faded-paged, book-mite eaten books from the 70’s. The library itself is bright, welcoming and sparkling. The staff is eager to have many patrons and is open to any new ideas of how to use their facilities. One of the students Dave and I tutor is a smart, university bound high school senior. She has already learned  new skills of how to secure a library card, check books in and out , pay attention to renewal and return dates, and knows the difference between to borrow a book and to lend one. Astrik will probably read ALL the books in the English section of the library and increase her vocabulary accordingly.                

BOOKS: a personal note…………………………….



New English textbooks and old text focused on poetry, both in my classroom at Dilijan State College



As I was straightening the bookshelves in our new classroom, taking inventory, adding new books and materials, etc., I ran across a small book which was on shelves before I came to the college as an English teacher.  I had never noticed it before.  Written in 1973, the book ….and a time to teach poetry  caught my eye even though we do not teach much about poetry in my classes. I opened the book to find a foreword written by Adrian W. McClaren, English Consultant for the Southeast Area of Memphis City Schools in 1973.  Memphis, TN., and the nearby area was David and my home for most of our adult life.  I took the book to our apartment to show David of this connection with our past.   Mentioned in the foreword were names we both recognized. Alan Ford was a graphic arts specialist, computer whiz and teacher in the early 70’s at the school where I was a school nurse. He helped me with numerous visual aids for health education classes I taught at his school.  Dave recognized the name of Mrs. Dorothy McGinnis who was his art teacher at White Station High School in Memphis in 1954. There he made a fish-shaped cutting board under the tutelage of Mrs. McGinnis. That very cutting board has been used by David and me over the years and is now in a storage unit awaiting our return to cooking in the U. S.  Mrs. McGinnis’s efforts live on through that piece of art work as well as through the little book I found by accident.       

I was so surprised to find a book written in Memphis, TN., and now on the bookshelf in my classroom in Armenia half the way around the world.   It’s amazing how a small connection through one book can bring back so many memories and briefly tie two vastly different worlds together.   As one gets older the adage “it’s a small world after all” truly has renewed meaning.

May your large world become smaller as you learn of other places in the world, and may books be a continued part of your life, as they are of  David’s and mine.  Hard cover, soft cover, electronic, it doesn’t matter!

Judy with students reading from new textbooks at Dilijan State College

Happy Reading!    wherever you are.                   

Joys ,Regrets and a Great Vacation

Lucky  welcomed us to our son's home in Las Vegas .

        We just recently returned to snowy, cold Armenia from a 4- week vacation which included a glorious week in warm, sunny Costa Rica with son, Chris, and his amazing wife, Dottie.  We returned to the U. S. with them and enjoyed another week in Las Vegas soaking up the nice weather and the warm hospitality offered by Chris, Dottie and new puppy, Lucky.  Getting to see the movies, “Lincoln”,” Les Miserables”, and “The Hobbit” in 3-D were fun, but the best cultural event was attendance at the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestras  concert in the Smith Performing Arts Center, a gorgeous new facility recently opened to rave comments in the city.   We’d highly recommend any visitors to Las Vegas to check out the cultural offerings at the Smith Center because they vary widely and appeal to many tastes.   Next on our agenda was a rondevous with Dave’s sister and her husband in Flagstaff, AZ, a lovely mountain town where we’d been before. Though near the Grand Canyon, we chose to be lazy instead of tackling the crowds on a short weekend and just enjoyed being together again.   The 2 Dave’s did take one good hike while E. O. (Ellen) and I visited an intriguing historic house and afterwards enjoyed some shopping.   Then back to Las Vegas for a few days before flying to Nashville to rondevous with daughter, Flora, and proceeding together to visit my 96 year- old father and 3 sisters who live in the area of his home in Clarksville, TN. 

      

David, daughter Flora and my 96 year old father

            Joys and regrets become evident with family visits after over a year. Joy occurs when everyone is healthy and doing what their lives call for at the present.   Even my father, at 96, continues to live alone, care for his basic needs and keep up with current events as he has done for years.  True, as he always says, “I may not be here when you get back again”, but one must not dwell on that subject for too long. Life is known to offer expected and unexpected turns in our journeys down its path.



It was fun to see my niece’s little girls growing up into beautiful, inquisitive, involved young women with so much potential ahead of them.  Unlike the girls and women of Armenia, Gracie and Livvy have a wide-open field of opportunities to pursue as they mature, and based upon observation, they will go at life whole-heartedly and with confidence. Dave’s sister continues with her life as she approaches her 40^th anniversary as a nurse in various roles at Aspen (CO) General Hospital.  Although not planning retirement right away, she is already an icon for the nursing profession as she is the last nurse in her institution to wear her nursing school cap and a white uniform complete with white hose and shoes------no scrubs for E. O.!    As a retired nurse myself, I know how hard she works and how much of herself she gives to her work and her patients. A final joy came as Dave and I visited with an elderly aunt.   Aunt Mary Nola has been our most faithful snail-mail correspondent during Peace Corps service.  She is curious and interested in where we are, what we are doing and seeing, and what we’ll do next.  She relishes and saves all of my letters, postcards, and momentos and showed me the old Compton’s Encyclopedia from which she gained information about Armenia.  I promptly promised to send her more updated reading material which would reflect Armenia as a free and independent Republic, not the country of which she read which was ruled by the Soviet Union. Though affected with arthritis and the care of an ill husband, she laughs and jokes readily and has wonderful stories to tell about her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of which there are many. She is a joy to know.

 Beautiful snow fall soon after our return to Dilijan

       Regrets occur, too, after such a trip…regrets at not being there to see the new baby born into my nephew’s family, sadness at not being able to attend my sister’s funeral which occurred the week we moved to our site in Dilijan, regrets for not being more helpful to my sisters in the attention they give my father although they seem to be doing fine with the added responsibility of frequent checking on him, grocery shopping and doctor’s appointments on days when they must work. And there are regrets for not having more time with our daughter, for not being able to visit our grandson, for not contacting several people who’ve been such faithful supporters during Dave and my Peace Corps service, and regrets for not being able to tell more people about Peace Corps and its work.  (A humorous regret is that of not buying more peanut butter while in the US.  We thought we had a stable source here in Armenia but voila! we could  not find ANY when we returned to that store and others!)

                                                          

Small market owner who knows us and greets us every day. She is an example of the joyous people we have met in our town

A few neighborhood children who were glad to see us return to Dilijan

             

 Joys and regrets are a part of life and they balance each other so that we stay focused on what is most important.  Too much emphasis on regret smothers the positives which inspire joy. Dave and I have a mere 7 months left of our Peace Corps service, a short time considering how long we had wanted to do this and how long the process became to actually become invited Peace Corps trainees.  There is really not time to dwell upon regrets.  Joy greeted us at our doorstep when we returned this week.  2 young neighborhood boys were immediately at our gate asking to help us with our bags and luggage. They were glad to see us and wanted to know about America.  These 2 children as well as countless other neighbors, friends, students and colleagues provide the joy of association with persons from another culture and another country.  We plan to leave Armenia with joy-filled hearts which come from knowing them. We will strive to complete our time in Armenia in such a way that there will not be too many regrets for things we did not or could not do.  Let’s hope we can accomplish that goal.      Judy and Dave

The Day the World was Supposed to End

Today is December 26 , 2012, but this blog was written on Friday, December 21, the day the world was supposed to end.  Here’s the story as written on that day………….

    It is Friday, December 21, 2012 at 10 am and Dave and I are in the Moscow, Russia, airport awaiting our next flight headed towards vacation in Costa Rica. The world is supposed to be ending right now! But it is not ending, at least not here.  Travelers continue to rush to their gates, grab quick meals at expensive airport cafes, and tend to crying children who’d rather be at home than hanging out in an airport. 

Little girl with her dog, waiting for the world to end.....or ...maybe her next flight out of the Moscow airport

 Contrary to predictions that planets would align and trigger a
 series of earthquakes and floods which would wipe out the world’s population,
 we are still here. And we met a delightful Armenian diasporan young woman who drank a cup of coffee with us as we waited our fate.

   

Lori, young Armenian woman we met in the Moscow airport as we waited for the world to end or for our next flight.    The world did not end.  Our flight left on time and so did  Lori's.

According to the Moscow News, Reuters reports that 10% of the world’s people believed the apocalypse would occur and the world would end with the Mayan calendar in 2012.  Back in Armenia, many of my students expressed concern about these “the end is nigh” predictions. A few students said they would skip classes on this foreboding day so they could be with their family in their last moments.

   
       As Dave and I ignore what we believe to be just another doomsday prediction, we embark on our long awaited vacation to Costa Rica to be followed by visits to family in the U. S. As many others both today and previously, we do not support such predictions of the world’s demise and find it merely interesting material to read about as we wait in the airport. The Moscow News article states that the world is unlikely to end yet paranoia persists.  Of course, entrepeneurs and hucksters alike see $$$$$$ ( or drams or rubles) in their future. An apocalypse kit is apparently available and contains a rope, vodka and other supplies one might need in their last hours.

     
          It is now 3:15 pm and we are about to land in London to await our long flight to  our destination in San Jose, Costa Rica. We escaped the apocalypse and feel ready to enjoy a few weeks of family time before returning to Peace Corps service in Armenia. Not being one to say “I told you so”, I still know it was the right thing to do…….to ignore the warnings, proceed with business as usual and leave the apocalypse worries to others.      

Dave, Chris, and Dottie take a stroll on the beach  in Costa Rica

                                   

 Where were you on December 21, 2012, the day the world was to end??? 

48 in Armenia......46 in Niger......50 in...........

46 in Niger, 48 in Armenia, but where will 50 be?? Those numbers refer to Dave and my wedding anniversaries. We celebrated #46 by sharing a huge cake with fellow volunteers and staff in Niger, Africa in December, 2010, where we were still in pre-service training with the U. S. Peace Corps. It was an occasion to remember. 

Dave,Judy,Hayarpi and Levon celebrating  the Smith's 48th wedding anniversary in Armenia

Then both # 47 and # 48 have been celebrated in Armenia as we continue our Peace Corps service. For #48 we found ourselves celebrating  with Armenian friends in Yerevan, the country's capital. The city's official Christmas tree lighting provided a colorful, festive backdrop to our evening with Hayarpi and Levon, a young couple who have quickly become part of our lives in this country.  Were the fireworks and music in Republic Square performed especially for our 48th anniversary? Of course not, but the thought was appealing as we watched the explosion of lights and music coming from the stage and watched the count-down which preceded the sudden illumination of the huge tree.  Instantly changing from dark green to brilliant red signified the official start to the season leading up to Nor Tari in Armenia, and we were right there to see it.

Christmas tree in Republic Square 

Fireworks in Yerevan

Later, as we recalled previous anniversary celebrations, we began contemplating  how and where we might celebrate our proverbial "golden anniversary".  To be perfectly honest, I find it a bit disconcerting to think Dave and I are even OLD enough to be wed almost 50 years. Why, I remember when my parents had been married for 50 years and all of the flurry associated with their Golden Anniversary party. Where has the time gone? Will we want to have such an event or will we decide to take a trip around the world, or return to visit Armenia, or celebrate that 50 year span of time in some philanthropic way?  Do we really feel 50 years older that on that cold, snowy day we married in 1964?

These questions are merely questions for us to consider and no answers are available yet. #50 for us will come sooner than we think and by then , our plans will have changed more than a few times, based on life-----or as the saying goes, "life is what happens when you're making other plans".

For now, the only sure thing is that we hope to celebrate the event together, wherever that may be. #48 was fine. #49 is approaching. #50 is a goal to be reached and celebrated.  We hope you will join us when the time comes.    Thanks for being our readers in this journey.     Judy  

Peace Corps Armenia: Month 18: November, 2012

November was such a good month in lots of ways. Oh, there are the usual gripes about schedule changes, cold building, students absent when they should be at school, etc., but overall, looking back over the month, it was a good one.  Here are some highlights, beginning with the fact that my grant proposal for new English books for our college’s English students was funded.  No, it was not millions of dollars, not even thousands, not even $1000, but for a college without books to study English, it was BIG.    My counterpart/team teacher and I will purchase the books in January when David and I return to Armenia from our Christmas trip……just in time for our second semester.

New classroom for English classes

                                            


In addition, my college director recently designated a different classroom as the English classroom ---one on the warm side of the building ---a significant factor when the building is often colder inside than out!  We have new desks and chairs, a blackboard, nice book cases and new linoleum and paint to clean up the old space.  We are told we’ll be able to share the use of a projector/screen and maybe a computer from the adjacent computer room.  This is so much better than when I came. The students have helped us teachers to hang our English posters and other things so that the room looks more like a classroom in the U. S. than in Armenia. Students come to this classroom now for classes instead of the English teachers going to the student’s homeroom.  So much better--------now we do not   have to drag all of our stuff from room to room and if we want to suddenly talk about a subject, our teaching materials will be right there handy.

Armenian English teachers at our workshop

                                                   

Also in November a group of 4 other Peace Corps volunteers and I held an English teacher’s workshop at the British Council office in Yerevan.  In attendance were teachers from in and around Yerevan. Our focus was on reading and creative writing in one session. The second was on making inexpensive games and visual aids to enhance learning .   This is an idea not used much in Armenian schools so learning to use Bingo, Jeopardy, the Memory game, and the Hokey Pokey were new to many teachers.  We hope to do a follow-up workshop or 2 in 2013 since the response was good to this first one.

Staff at Bridge of Hope in Dilijan, Armenia during Thanksgiving Day lesson by Kellianne Lauer and me

    My site mate, Kellianne, and I have been holding  an English Club/class at an organization which provides service to children with various disabilities. Therapies of all kinds are offered plus there are children in the neighborhood who just come to use the computer, play, do homework or other activities. There is very little in my town for children to do after school or on weekends.  Bridge of Hope is a safe, warm place which meets many children’s needs.   Kellianne and I work with any staff members who wish to improve their English and we’ve had up to 14 participants in our meetings twice a week.  They are mostly young women (and one man),  who know a small amount of English and want to learn more---very interesting and enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with.

Students staying close to the wood stove in their classroom  when gas not available

A negative in November occurred when the local gas company did their inspection and found my college’s gas heaters not properly vented.  (Interesting, since they were that way all last year!)  Our director closed school for several days while repairs were being done.  When we returned to find the work not complete, a few rooms were being heated with wood stoves.  Wood stoves are used a lot in Armenia despite the fact that it is illegal to cut down trees for firewood.  Go figure, somehow, people obtain ample wood but it is quite expensive, as is gas.  At the college, I’ve witnessed students burning the wood slats from old furniture but this is not an acceptable practice.  Eventually one small gas heater per classroom was repaired and school was open again.  The building is still frigid in the halls and everyone must wear a coat to stay reasonably comfortable. I hardly recall now how cold it was last year when we had snow from October 1 until into May. 

 I hope you will continue to follow life here in Armenia. Unbelievably, it will endfor us  in about 8 months! Who knows what lies ahead after our COS (closure of service)? Guess we’ll see……………………… Comments are welcomed!        Judy

Thanksgiving Thoughts from Dave and Judy

“Thanksgiving in Hollywood” is a contemporary song found on the internet by my Armenian students. I do not want my students to think this song’s lyrics are a true reflection of what our American celebration of Thanksgiving is all about, even though the music is appealing and lends itself well to a program aimed at college aged students.  Just the mention of “Hollywood” encourages the students to think of the stereotyped, media’s portrayal of America---the land of rich people and vast opportunities.

We are planning a program about Thanksgiving in America and will include harvest time in Armenia since the times coincide and inspire similar feelings of being thankful for what one has. I am trying to help my students to understand the history of our Thanksgiving Day and how it is celebrated now. The program will be presented primarily in English, but readings must be translated so that the majority of the audience will understand the message.  Of course, the universal communicator, music, will be of utmost importance. Unfortunately, songs which I love and recall -----“Over the River and Through the Woods”, “Come Ye Thankful People Come” and “Harvest Home” are not nearly as exciting as “Thanksgiving in Hollywood”.

Dave and Judy with Peace Corps Niger Training Director, Tondi,  2 years ago

 Armenia is a Peace Corps assignment wrought with challenges as well as blessings. What are David and I grateful for as we continue our 2^nd year of service in Armenia? The first is the blessing of good health, unlike Thanksgiving 2010 which we spent in Niger, Africa during our first Peace Corps assignment. On that first Thanksgiving, David was being released from the hospital on Thanksgiving Day.                                                                  

Music and Art:  Armenia cherishes music and art and encourages its young people to study both.  David and I have come to anticipate attending occasional concerts of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Yerevan and the Dilijan Music School in our town.  Dilijan Art School is a fine example of available training for young talented students as they join the ranks of other famous Armenian artists. Music soothes the soul and art brings a different perspective to life in Armenia where strife and stress abound.

Armenia Philharmonic Orchestra  performing in Yerevan, Armenia

                                                    

Director of Dilijan Art School with students submitting art work to the  K-12 ONE WORLD Classroom International Art Exchange

                                                           

Mountains:  Visible from our apartment are lofty mountains which surround our town. Their majestic peaks will soon be snow-covered, but we are thankful for their mighty presence as we watch the seasons change throughout the year.

View of mountains from our apartment

                                                            

Flowers:  Prolific profusions of flowers from early spring until the snows of winter make Dilijan, Armenia a haven for flower lovers.  I am thankful for that blessing of beauty which brightens our days yet is taken for granted by many Armenians.

A beautiful example of  wildflowers found in Armenia

                                                                    

                                                            

Armenian family we met and shared a meal with several times: very hospitable people

                  Hospitality of the Armenian people:   Warm welcomes, a kiss on the cheek,  an invitation to have coffee , small gifts brought to every encounter even by those with little money…… we cannot be grateful  enough for those expressions of acceptance by people with whom we become acquainted.                                           

Armenian language tutor with Judy

              Tutors:  Without our tutor we’d be lost.  Our tutor not only teaches a foreign language to older learners such as David and me, but is also a link to the community in which we live, to the people we want to meet, to her family, to events we enjoy and to life in Dilijan.  For Knarick’s presence we are grateful.

One little boy in our neighborhood-------being shy, but so cute

             Children:  loving, laughing, curious, shy, ever present…..they are Armenia’s future and must be encouraged in the pursuit of more than basic education and life without hope. We are thankful to meet so many and to see them grow.

Narvik, special little child in our neighborhood who loves to study English with us.

Gas Heater in our apartment: we are fortunate to be able to stay warm on the cold days of winter  in Armenia

Heat: we have gas heat, expensive and warming.  We are grateful to able to afford it in our old age!! Many volunteers rely on wood stoves and must balance staying warm with the scarcity of wood as the winter progresses. Most Armenians we know also struggle with staying warm in a cold country.                                                    

      Peace Corps:  without this organization we’d not be in Armenia. We are thankful for the opportunity to be in the Peace Corps and hope our time in Armenia means something to others.

     Happy Thanksgiving to all.  May your day be blessed with loved ones wherever you may be on the 4^th Thursday of November, 2012.    Judy and Dave