tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69806292503803744382024-03-13T03:10:41.351-07:00jack'sVolunteerWorkInArmeniaJack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-74603371524275609452011-01-02T19:02:00.001-08:002011-11-10T18:52:20.237-08:00Fleeting Holiday JoyJack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-60336399949323174992011-01-02T18:29:00.001-08:002011-01-02T19:06:54.987-08:00Fleeting Holiday Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSEuDOZ-puyoe7pUZFbaQzart8MW2l_5-s8ttP4_8pnP9Xp3tNrobvo4K5YtNVnjnC0YMK3XqnWlDbUA6SgPylWJzULT0PG7HOo_28qRRADoPYOVGyL5-O8jt1xSvokXruP2fnxToswpu/s1600/Brother+%2526+sister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSEuDOZ-puyoe7pUZFbaQzart8MW2l_5-s8ttP4_8pnP9Xp3tNrobvo4K5YtNVnjnC0YMK3XqnWlDbUA6SgPylWJzULT0PG7HOo_28qRRADoPYOVGyL5-O8jt1xSvokXruP2fnxToswpu/s320/Brother+%2526+sister.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I changed careers over the years, I have found the need to adjust to different vocabularies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marketing in the construction industry wasn’t too bad with some technical terms and jargon and then some very “direct words” used out on the jobsites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when I went back to teaching high school, I needed to re-learn the vocabulary of the youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things were no longer “cool” as in the 50’s but they were “tight” or “dope.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I thought they were talking about how my pants fit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally during my Peace Corps time, I noticed the 20-something crowd seemed to favor the word “random.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, they used it to refer to someone’s behavior that was unpredictable and other times it seemed to refer to something that was “cool.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one of the Senior Corps of our group in Armenia, I wasn’t always sure which it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now over the past couple weeks as I have been reading a fascinating book entitled, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buddha’s Brain</i></b>, the concept of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">random</b> has come to the front again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The authors are looking at what current science has to say about the practice of meditation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here “random” is used to describe the way our mind and emotions respond the various external stimuli around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a pattern to how our thoughts trigger various feelings but it often buried in the experiences from our own past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But beyond this subjectivity that is based on our own personal history, there seems to be a pattern that emerges for all humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all descended from someone who survived evolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our brain shows the imprint of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those that learned to notice “danger” quickly and respond quickly had a much better chance to contribute to the gene pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not too surprising when we consider how small and slow man was combined to many of their companions in the jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense why The Odyssey and other ancient classics applauded their heroes for being “wily.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So up to this point, the book seemed to point out things that might be learned in Evolution 101.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But then they begin to draw new insights into our “survivor” minds as illustrated from current research into the physical wiring of the human brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazing to think that we have more neurons firing in our brain than stars twinkling in the Milky Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But <strong><em>how</em></strong> these neurons fire, connect and form patterns in brain again is conditioned by our personal experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We possess a capacity unlike any previous species to have words, meanings, and emotions connect in ways that are very personal to each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listening to talk show radio is an obvious confirmation of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But despite this subjective nature of our experience we all have inherited brains from survivors that are wired <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>first and foremost to notice danger</u></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All our thinking, planning, and problem-solving skills have some pretty strong roots going back to the survival of our species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What was most interesting is that these patterns of thinking are not just emotional but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>physical</u></i> in our brains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living in Arizona now during the winter, I got this image of a dry creek bed just waiting for the next storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more technical description used by the authors is: the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">neurons that fire together tend to wire together</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has obviously been a good thing for the survival of our species but has a downside for those of us seeking to find joy and peace in our current lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the human brain has evolved it has developed what the authors call a kind of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Velcro quality</i></b> when it comes to threats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The flip side of this, as we often notice even during the holidays, is that our brains give our positive experiences kind a second tier importance,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or a relationship with joy that has a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teflon quality</i></b> to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not just the taking down of the tree and the soon-to-arrive Visa bills that push joy to the side so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might say it is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nature of the beast</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those early primates who spent too much time dawdling in the woods to smell the flowers could easily find himself in a losing footrace with a nearby cheetah. This wasn’t exactly cheery news for me to think about my brain’s <u>default setting is for danger.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially after surviving the dangers of Corporate America, did I now want to spend my retirement years focused on new threats that await me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at my aging body and dwindling savings, my brain could easily turn the issues of health insurance and protecting my little 401k into the top priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is obviously no coincidence that Health Insurance and anger over execs with million dollar bailouts has evoked so much emotion of late from the American public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear has surely become a dominant feeling in America politics, along the discussions to indentify and punish the appropriate villain: Bush, the terrorists, Obama, the immigrants and on and on.</span></div><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But just when things were looking a little gloomy, the authors returned to their basic discovery about our brains: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">neurons that fire together, wire together</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here I found a ray of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recent science seems to be confirming the old adage to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stop and Smell the Flowers</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just to smell them but to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">savor the experience</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer something is held in awareness, the stronger the pathway is developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that holds true for all experiences like our relationships not just for flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where my practical side used to be in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why sit around thinking about friends who are no longer in your daily life?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But apparently thinking of friends who are not part of my daily life is not a waste of time. I am not just being nostalgic but actually enhancing a pathway in my brain to enjoy relationships <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">now</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and in the future</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For me this helps to put things in perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have felt the pull since arriving back in the States to sort through all the investment and Medicare options that I need to decide before I retire next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found myself resisting this pressure and not wanting to do the research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can now see I need to find a middle path, to choose the best I can and realize my “survivor brain” will still be listening for footsteps after I choose. But even better, I now realize the importance of allowing all the joyous experiences both present and past to dance through my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I return to my school assignment tomorrow, I can actually allow myself to dawdle as I watch all the youngsters playing on the jungle gym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brain may be still looking for dangers but I didn't seen any cheetahs when I left so I think I am safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can savor all the spontaneity and joy I am seeing, knowing that my brain has just increased the opportunity for that in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so too with all the wonderful smiles of children I have met abroad, they are still part of my experience to be enjoyed when I choose. My thoughts may continue to lead my mind in a rather random path but my heart does not need to follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have a joyous 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-36176672727956526592010-12-12T18:10:00.000-08:002010-12-12T18:10:07.225-08:00My Holiday Carousel Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAHxEXicTiwAmnfRSIABexEc37wwL2zqnTx234dNrzMobiq7oaUrBkPTt5Rv_H9h3f_YUFladEbiwwqq9knxi_55CpP3JmNIyj-axcr5_1NZ3HVdiN1D1VkDlRaX7zNbquPSG9jLFVTPx/s1600/P1010013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAHxEXicTiwAmnfRSIABexEc37wwL2zqnTx234dNrzMobiq7oaUrBkPTt5Rv_H9h3f_YUFladEbiwwqq9knxi_55CpP3JmNIyj-axcr5_1NZ3HVdiN1D1VkDlRaX7zNbquPSG9jLFVTPx/s320/P1010013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week the headlines read: <em><strong>Dollar Stores taking Wal-Mart’s Lunch Money</strong></em>. That is definitely the case in Arizona where price-conscious shoppers abound, myself included. I never thought I would find items where Wal-Mart was over-priced but an $1,100 a month salary can sure change a fella’s perspective. Then today’s headlines offered what appeared to be some promising news to local residents about the direction of our economy: <strong><em>Foreclosed Homes Hit 32 Month Low</em></strong>. The bright light shone for about a minute until I actually read the article and discovered the cause of the change. The Phoenix area was averaging 50 foreclosures a day so B of A had installed a moratorium for the past two months. Not exactly a long-term solution. Even poor Obama seems trapped in his search for a solution. He tries to compromise with the GOP on the tax legislation and has his own party turn on him for siding with <em>The Enemy</em>. You kind of wonder after a while whether politicians are so focused on the other party being wrong that they have forgotten to do what’s best for the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in the midst of all this <em>Grinch News</em> from the economic world, where can I turn? Where is Tiny Tim when I need him most. Still on a movie reel I guess with the other holiday classics like <em><strong>It’s a Wonderful Life</strong></em>. (I must admit a preference for Chevy Chase whose holiday challenges always puts mine in perspective.) And on top of these discouraging national trends, I am currently immersed in my own <em>Grinch Event</em>: trying to crunch data regarding my school assignment to justify our program’s federal funding. It is truly déjà vu. After two years in the Peace Corps, I already know this dance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So with this as the backdrop for my current life, I was delighted when one of our social workers invited me yesterday to attend a little musical performance. Even though there were 150 students standing on a grandstand in our cafeteria, the fact that they were all kindergartners still qualified this as a<em> little</em> musical event. As you might imagine, the sight of them was just delightful and a true injection of B-1 for my flagging spirits. I stood in awe as their teachers proceeded to move their charges into a semblance of order despite their overflowing energy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just when I think the concert is ready to start, in march another 150 students visiting from a nearby pre-school. Apparently this has become an annual exchange between the two schools with differing economic status. The visiting students have each brought a book purchased and wrapped by their parents to be given to our kids at the completion of the musical performance. And a performance it was! <em><strong>We Wish You a Merry Christmas</strong></em> was sung with mucho gusto and even had some arm gestures included to add to the dramatic flair. But my favorite had to be the resounding rendition of <strong><em>Feliz Navidad</em></strong>. With almost 90% of our kids being Hispanic, one has to agree with the MasterCard commercials that some things are really <em>Priceless</em>. This was actually our second musical event at our school in the past 3 days with the older students playing the violins and wind instruments two evenings before. But it wasn’t quite as easy to recognize the songs as their efforts far exceeded their talent. But it was still sweet to watch them perform before their proud parents. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I will not be going back to California for the holidays, this was actually the second installment in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jack’s Early Christmas. </i>Over Thanksgiving my son Shane flew down for the Monday Night game where the 49ers actually won a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would never know it was the Cardinal’s stadium with all the jerseys sporting names of SF players. And while the football game might have been culmination of our family holidays, the time leading up to Monday night was even more special for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we weren’t wandering around the local malls, we would sit around my daughter’s apartment watching movies or renewing our old Monopoly rivalries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we even cooked our first turkey together without basting each other. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jVm0u8iuXdMrcCFO3K7kRx3_r_GoauBWiQlDg2jTsLih54zLCqOBTqUbxnFpoGnjL8URZDTB1tXO2wjVBZOGM8RYrXLukGc5UMFPz9HzKmRZkMSaNORwqK6gJ1F-wDUpCuIWLNHhxJ_G/s1600/Garvey+Xmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jVm0u8iuXdMrcCFO3K7kRx3_r_GoauBWiQlDg2jTsLih54zLCqOBTqUbxnFpoGnjL8URZDTB1tXO2wjVBZOGM8RYrXLukGc5UMFPz9HzKmRZkMSaNORwqK6gJ1F-wDUpCuIWLNHhxJ_G/s400/Garvey+Xmas.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Shane flying back to the Bay Area, I returned to my little carousel pony and the ups-and-downs of my current life in Arizona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are the boys in my 8<sup>th</sup> Grade groups that I struggle to have impact with as they slowly drift closer to the gang affiliations of the friends and families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I walk by the playground on my way back to my office and all the joy and enthusiasm of the little people dissolve the cloud over my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then school lets out and I drive home, devoid of energy and wondering when the flexibility in my back will return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I walk out on my balcony and see the soft light still showing through the neighboring trees and my perspective widens again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such has been my carousel of late.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR_rZnnaRos_llI5xi4DbUQS8DuDb2wUeubXHsHkqH1Z_vzDOdwoctoQNnIR-j9gh9McMaDEfILspqEeL1b-4JZbP25PZk4eZrEjcq1E8_Shg-gjA_pQhqqel08zyhkBHKNOggCGAQEBe/s1600/My+balcony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR_rZnnaRos_llI5xi4DbUQS8DuDb2wUeubXHsHkqH1Z_vzDOdwoctoQNnIR-j9gh9McMaDEfILspqEeL1b-4JZbP25PZk4eZrEjcq1E8_Shg-gjA_pQhqqel08zyhkBHKNOggCGAQEBe/s400/My+balcony.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I was fortunate enough to sit with a new friend from our mediation group. His home built decades ago sits on a hill with a marvelous view of the surrounding mountains. He was having a birthday party and suggested we come early to enjoy the setting sun. I can only imagine since his diagnosis with cancer that he spends a good deal of time out there. The sky went from bright red to salmon and finally to those fine wisps of pink in the clouds. It was peaceful sitting there with 10 people who felt very little need to speak. I figured out that Nature’s Movie was over when someone started passing around the popcorn.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so my carousel ride continues. Some days I feel fragile, both in body and spirit. And with it come feelings of separation and doubt. Other days my spirit is lifted by the smiles of our youngest students, who chase each other around for no apparent reason. Then they take each other’s hands and go back to where they started from. That makes very good sense to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that you are holding onto the hands of your loved ones this holiday season. It really is a short journey we are on. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvwHuL8qa7rK-hO4wjTD1ydcG-9AkLlPqz1iyOcscbtzK1oRzeqWwApFgjimNAHi4tvxfS2DQR_PSFwHeO_zeFyWosifbhaSkNQLkzJrBZQqWpJAfzJ6m66ApgyY45dr01czhyphenhyphenOjg2bdF/s1600/49er+Game.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvwHuL8qa7rK-hO4wjTD1ydcG-9AkLlPqz1iyOcscbtzK1oRzeqWwApFgjimNAHi4tvxfS2DQR_PSFwHeO_zeFyWosifbhaSkNQLkzJrBZQqWpJAfzJ6m66ApgyY45dr01czhyphenhyphenOjg2bdF/s400/49er+Game.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-79169345648877183122010-11-12T11:02:00.000-08:002010-11-12T11:02:11.778-08:00A Swinger of Birches<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <em> A Swinger of Birches</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is that classic line from the Thomas Wolfe novel saying: <em>You can’t go home again</em>. Of course I didn’t think that applied to me. After two years in a foreign culture, it would be nice to finally come home. Many Peace Corps Volunteers who visited home during our two years of service commented how hard it was to return after a visit. There would naturally be an adjustment from the slow pace of Armenia to the hectic pace of America. It might take a couple weeks or a month but I would be fine, home again, at last.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fast forward three months from my return from Armenia and I am still trying to get my footing. Several of you had encouraged me to continue my blog upon returning. The new focus would be on my <em>AmeriCorps</em> service in Arizona. Sounded like a good idea, especially since my monthly blogs helped me to process the various challenges I met. But now I was hesitant. The Peace Corps suggested that we share our experiences so fellow Americans got a fuller understanding of other parts of the world. But now what? I had no Post-Soviet culture to discuss or even visits to Egypt, Turkey or India to share. I was in Arizona and hadn’t even seen the Grand Canyon yet. The only dramatic changes seemed to be going on <em>inside</em> me and that is not always easy or even comfortable to write about. So I decided to cut my mailing list down to relatives and friends and just share my current confusion as it was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first thing that showed up upon returning was my age and my health. Since I would turn 65 in September, it was time to sign up for Medicare. But it soon became more than a theoretical event as my health took a dip for the worse. After a month of fighting some kind of viral cough, I had my back go out. Now that was really a blow to my ego. If I had been climbing a mountain or running a marathon, it would have more acceptable. But it happened after a tai chi class, that slow motion exercise you see 70 year old Chinese doing in the parks. After a week it returned to normal and then went out again. And then again. Having been blessed with good health most of my life, this was surely a challenge to my spirits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I say this without any self-pity as the sidewalks of Arizona seem filled with people whose ailments are much more severe. In fact, the first couple months here were kind of shocking to notice how many people are out there in wheel chairs or even pushing a shopping cart with their oxygen tanks in it. I really don’t know if Arizona attracts more people who are the final stages of their lives or whether I had been insulated in my master-planned community in Sacramento. But whatever the reason, I am now much more aware of the harsh physical realities that many must deal with daily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used to think that if there were <em><strong>Life Lessons</strong></em> we came to learn, And I was sure mine were compassion and patience. Well, it looks like I am back in School, in more ways than one. The past couple months have truly been a crash course in life classes. Every day is a reminder that our bodies definitely have a limited shelf-life. When I was younger, I remember seeing senior citizens sitting in coffee shops comparing their ailments. That is not the way I want to write the final chapter. So I have chosen to bring these limitations into my meditation practice and see if I can use them to be more mindful through the day. They definitely provide an opening for patience and slowing down. Funny, I came back to America with the expectation that my ears would be pinned back with the speed of modern life. Instead, everything seems to have slowed <em><strong>way down</strong></em>. Whether signing up for Medicare, finding a new doctor in town, or just filing for reimbursement claims, you don’t have to worry about things going too fast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so I go forward in my new life in Phoenix, almost by necessity required to slow down to the speed of life. And with that comes a greater appreciation of the little things in my day. I work as a volunteer in a grade school where the vast majority of the families (about 95%) are Hispanic, and many are just getting by. I watch the families arrive in the morning, mostly mothers but some fathers walking hand-in-hand with their children to their classrooms. And I see the kindness and patience of the teachers and the social workers assisting their wide-eyed charges. Most families fall under Title 1 so the kids are given a free breakfast. I pass through the school cafeteria each morning to put my lunch in the teachers’ lounge. The place reminds me of a hive with all the baby bees eating and buzzing with their neighbors. It is more like an extended family than a school. All it takes is to look at the shining faces of the children, and my concern about my nagging back problem seems to dissolve. We may still be a month away from Christmas, but our cafeteria is already glowing with a thousand points of light from all the smiling faces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Robert Frost concludes one of my favorite poems, <strong><em>Birches</em></strong>, with the lines: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>That would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of birches</em>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has taken me a couple months to accept this experience of “coming back.” But as I hang on this thin branch wavering in my hand, I am slowly coming to accept the uncertainties that come with this journey that is my life. It is an illusion to expect it to be any other way. One could do worse than be a <em>Swinger of Birches</em>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-70281731179476551822010-07-26T23:36:00.000-07:002010-07-27T00:52:36.861-07:00Completing My Service<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxIsJO2E2jtd3HfG7c-AsLqOGfmsUfHodii0NWRS5zE3LguMQA5Q9JJOze6L38ZXbuvzJ1uGjx65ShU8joAUxUA3csGA64pXXOdtiKo-_8NMO3px_aOrtMFkgbk9WsW4iQbyPQLZMIKQ7/s1600/Copy+(2)+of+Making+Cheese+001.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxIsJO2E2jtd3HfG7c-AsLqOGfmsUfHodii0NWRS5zE3LguMQA5Q9JJOze6L38ZXbuvzJ1uGjx65ShU8joAUxUA3csGA64pXXOdtiKo-_8NMO3px_aOrtMFkgbk9WsW4iQbyPQLZMIKQ7/s400/Copy+(2)+of+Making+Cheese+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498477796978191570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcbSmVdD34PpUvOckmMyeIBdryxD4sIXMeP7HrCjnNQM_77CfGSeb_GuaneP_stJ6xSRkFkc3WdRRFvlQrQuJpAxb_QJrU4CmFnGtO3R4AMbJmaxWQwHeKS_BZyQFL6rG_yGPBr0Z6UT4/s1600/Mickey+%26+B+Going+Away+002.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcbSmVdD34PpUvOckmMyeIBdryxD4sIXMeP7HrCjnNQM_77CfGSeb_GuaneP_stJ6xSRkFkc3WdRRFvlQrQuJpAxb_QJrU4CmFnGtO3R4AMbJmaxWQwHeKS_BZyQFL6rG_yGPBr0Z6UT4/s400/Mickey+%26+B+Going+Away+002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498475750651134658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhXNKRkRBryM0kv9I1HxdLctBb21l1pvCZ7MR8LVjxZIbrKgBKzUo6-mKvuKQMFXT1Y30SqysbccnkNsYGEd5ri-pnGqFQm9aQMswqZ4FlqcBxuhzZsxDAEduMyyJgBqRTydtqegfSdx4/s1600/2nd+Host+Family+17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhXNKRkRBryM0kv9I1HxdLctBb21l1pvCZ7MR8LVjxZIbrKgBKzUo6-mKvuKQMFXT1Y30SqysbccnkNsYGEd5ri-pnGqFQm9aQMswqZ4FlqcBxuhzZsxDAEduMyyJgBqRTydtqegfSdx4/s400/2nd+Host+Family+17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498474802893562306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZg5NT_Qg7yL910Sjhopilj0ugnRUWy0wg8n4HEMS3XSN-FkkhE5v7MkrAdO4U9dyejBVZ-pE8PVIpy1YmRktYD6eP9WOLpUw45kmxlnJ8tbx6yjFmUh1w9GGG1WAeuvQlcY9PYqd5mJ8/s1600/Dilijan+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZg5NT_Qg7yL910Sjhopilj0ugnRUWy0wg8n4HEMS3XSN-FkkhE5v7MkrAdO4U9dyejBVZ-pE8PVIpy1YmRktYD6eP9WOLpUw45kmxlnJ8tbx6yjFmUh1w9GGG1WAeuvQlcY9PYqd5mJ8/s400/Dilijan+026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498473995453732466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSJ36N5JVzU9y7b12JzLQXg0ecCXx8otdPE9XXtihSMCIfwi8DE5dzmP9QSiZLDz8ppLeTuZ8MkaktYyPWwigl21sJI2LYQ56w0_uMrFEsFb-n89RINp4SZLiJWgknjWSuU9KqPd8DY9E/s1600/worker+at+1st+Training+Site.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSJ36N5JVzU9y7b12JzLQXg0ecCXx8otdPE9XXtihSMCIfwi8DE5dzmP9QSiZLDz8ppLeTuZ8MkaktYyPWwigl21sJI2LYQ56w0_uMrFEsFb-n89RINp4SZLiJWgknjWSuU9KqPd8DY9E/s400/worker+at+1st+Training+Site.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498473165380921682" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You see if you come to this country you must understand that here it is the 19<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span></sup> Century. These people, our people, have been left there by a combination of events.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The still have the strength for fighting and building.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The have a passion to clarify and create.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They are willing to sacrifice. Here, we are in our fathers’ time</i></b>.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Although these lines came from a story about a Jewish soldier, they capture my experience of living in Armenia.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">You can feel the imprint of the past, the spirit of the ancestors in all aspects of everyday life.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The first time I went into a grade school I expected to see a photo of a sports hero, like the middleweight boxer Arthur Abraham, or one of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Djivan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gasparyan</span>, the world famous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">duduk</span> player. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Instead the walls were filled with photos of 19</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> century Armenian soldiers.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even though there are no current wars, the role of the soldier is still highly regarded in the culture.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The enlistment of young men for the army is still mandatory and their arrival at the town square once a month is always an event of great social significance.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In fact, weddings seem to be the social event that exceeds the neighborhood party sending their boys off to the army. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The eyes of the mothers may be filled with sadness and doubt but the fathers are filled with pride as their sons begin their rite of passage into manhood.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">For a female in Armenia, it is marriage.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">An unmarried 30 year old is still called a “girl” but a married teenager is given the status of</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“woman.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking at the past century of Armenia’s history, it is not hard to understand why the people cling so strongly to the traditions of their past.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wars with their neighbors have taken many of their ancestors and much of their land, not to mention the collapse of the country’s economy just 20 years ago with the fall of the Soviet Union.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">You see families over the weekends walking to the war memorials and fountains and can feel they are paying tribute to their history.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Similarly, many homes have a painting of Mount Ararat which is now on Turkey’s side of the border.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In many ways it symbolizes the soul of the Armenian culture where these longings and memories of the past are in fact </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">stronger than the present realities. These traditions and beliefs obviously give strength to the Armenian identity, but it also tends to fix their vision on the past. And while most citizens are looking at the past, the government is creating a version of the future that has little to do with the democratic process. The past decades of a Socialist System has lulled many to sleep as to the importance of shaping their own society. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">While the village life continues to follow 19</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> century values and traditions, the capital of Yerevan is desperately trying to become a hub of</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">21</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> century life.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But I am not sure if this experiment is very successful. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">For these new offices and apartments being constructed are done at the expense of the city’s historical architecture.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It has little of the character of the villages.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even the residents of Yerevan seem to be trying too hard at this modern “makeover” with their fashions and vehicles. Part of this disparity can be attributed to the huge divide in Armenia’s economy, where a very small minority of Oligarch families controls most of the wealth.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But it also seems a residual of the earlier Soviet life where appearances were passed off for realities.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So what happens in the present while the 19</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> and 21</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> centuries movies are playing in different regions in Armenia?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Just what you would expect: the women of Armenia are carrying the families and the country forward.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">While the men of the country continue to smoke their cigarettes in the town squares, give 10 minute toasts at the celebrations and argue about politics, the women continue to raise the children, cook the meals and clean up after all the celebrations.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This old-fashioned division of labor is obviously difficult for many of our Volunteers to watch.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I could not help but be reminded of a poem we studied in my Sophomore English class back home.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I think most of the women in Armenia could relate to the experience written by a famous African poet, Gwendolyn Brooks.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt: 10.65pt"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:;font-size:14.0pt;">Kitchenette Building</span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">We are things of dry hours and the involuntary plan,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Grayed in, and gray. “Dream” makes a giddy sound, not strong</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Like “rent,” “feeding a wife,” “satisfying a man.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">But could a dream send up through onion fumes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Its white and violet, fight with fried potatoes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">And yesterday’s garbage ripening in the hall,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Flutter, or sing an aria down these rooms</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Even if we were willing to let it in,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Had time to warm it, keep it very clean,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Anticipate a message, let it begin?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt: 10.65pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">We wonder. But not well! Not for a minute!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt: 10.65pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt: 10.65pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">We think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt: 10.65pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The sad irony is that the females of the country are the ones who demonstrate more aptitude in the classroom.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Towards the end of middle school age, the boys seem to have slid to the back of the classroom with their buddies as the girls compete for academic achievement.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This will continue until their college life is completed when young women must deal with the limited career paths open to them. Many of the ambitious young women I have met are resisting the family pressure to marry, realizing they will be trapped with domestic chores. I</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">t is much more difficult for a young woman to find a man with an open-mind than for the men to find a good wife. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Some will have to make the difficult choice to stay in the </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">country they love so dearly or create a more fulfilling life for themselves abroad. This and the continual corruption in hiring practices will continue to fuel Armenia's ongoing problem with migration.</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As I have observed these struggles over the past two years, I cannot help but be inspired by the determination of many of its people. Seeing many of the older woman sweeping the streets and cleaning the buildings, I can only admire their resolve to </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> "keep on keeping on." While I have never achieved much competence in the language, I will still carry back home with me a connection with many new friends.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As the Armenian proverb says: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">From heart to heart, there is a path</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In conclusion, I just want to thank all of you who took the time to write back.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Your support carried me through many trying times.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></p> <span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:center 234.0pt left 297.75pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><br /></span></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-2576947178313403322010-05-06T02:13:00.000-07:002010-05-06T03:16:21.755-07:00Another Inconvenient Truth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Te4JIKPRFGWlkrqNLKDT4CqqiICganwDGf2khbSnM4BS1ZCm6wjl13b8TouXDzxpd5J0ICp24EkSv9U7KxbnnjeUoZ5dAJH4BFA4aUslA_b8ITQGbMb3lZbPtG1f8Bw4y_RXd9jnUNE/s1600/Armenian+Man.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Te4JIKPRFGWlkrqNLKDT4CqqiICganwDGf2khbSnM4BS1ZCm6wjl13b8TouXDzxpd5J0ICp24EkSv9U7KxbnnjeUoZ5dAJH4BFA4aUslA_b8ITQGbMb3lZbPtG1f8Bw4y_RXd9jnUNE/s400/Armenian+Man.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468091672685198706" /></a><strong><br /></strong><p class="MsoNormal"><strong> </strong><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Lately I have been reading and enjoying a book my sister sent me, </strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><strong>Half-Broke Horses. </strong></i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><strong> </strong></span><strong>In it the author portrays her life growing up in the American Southwest during some difficult times in our country, the 30’s and 40’s.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><strong> </strong></span><strong>One of her first experiences in a new town brought back vivid memories of my arrival in </strong><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><strong>Armenia</strong></st1:place></st1:country-region><strong>:</strong></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="'font-family:">I felt nature calling and asked Old Jake where I could find the facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He pointed toward a little wooden shed in the north corner of the compound.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s nothing fancy, just a one-holer,” he said.”No moons cut in the door to advertise it, either, ‘cause we all know what it is.”</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Inside the outhouse, once you’d closed the door that didn’t have a moon, enough light came through the cracks in the wood so that you could see.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Spider webs dangled in the roof corners, a sack of lime sat on the dirt floor, and there was a scoop to sprinkle it into the hole to keep the flies down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A distinctly malodorous aroma arose from the hole, and for a moment I missed my snazzy mail-order toilet with the shiny white porcelain bowl, the mahogany lid, and the nifty pull-chain flush.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I sat down though, though, I realized you can get used to certain luxuries that start to think they’re necessities, but when you have to forgo them, you come to see that you don’t need them after all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There was a big difference between needing things and wanting things – though a lot of people had trouble telling the two apart – and at the ranch, I could see, we’d have pretty much everything we’d need but precious little else.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Next to the seat was a stack of Sears, Roebuck catalogs, and I picked one up and leafed through it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I came to a page advertising silk bodices and lacy chemises.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I won’t be ordering from the page, I thought, and when I was done with my business, that was the one I tore out and used.</span></i></p> <span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Now, I would be less than truthful to say that I have fully adjusted to all such physical inconveniences. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">In fact, I could probably name the location of all the public bathrooms in my town that are actually </span><u><span style="font-size:130%;">equipped with toilet seats</span></u><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">There are </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">five</span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">In fact, I still remember the exciting day when the city official on the 4th </span><span style="font-size:130%;"> floor of our office building gave me a key to the locked bathroom.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Not exactly the “key to the executive bathroom” but it sure felt like it.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But over the next two years, I discovered another “inconvenience” that was much more difficult to adjust to.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">During our initial language training, I was a little surprised to be taught the phrase, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">hamar che</span></b><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">it is not convenient</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">We were told if someone wanted us to stop and talk or to go drink coffee with them when we were busy, we could just use this phrase. What I did not understand at the time was how much this embodies the Armenian view of time.</span></span></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQEjP_aGH4LO359793N_UsjX7YO4U22HynCvQaebUTPT8oLOK2oQjFTGSEcP_qL6kHtKRhNfKBF6GQdaKm9d4GrlPvYK4I7wxW27O4lgMBxY_IEvk_cPrWRSSFlsGKMj5CPKqVmnfBmCa/s1600/Art+Students.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQEjP_aGH4LO359793N_UsjX7YO4U22HynCvQaebUTPT8oLOK2oQjFTGSEcP_qL6kHtKRhNfKBF6GQdaKm9d4GrlPvYK4I7wxW27O4lgMBxY_IEvk_cPrWRSSFlsGKMj5CPKqVmnfBmCa/s400/Art+Students.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468089036556911986" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Early on in my service at my Non Profit site, I would arrive at 9am for a meeting that the Director had arranged himself the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He would then show up at 10:30 as if he were on time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He would ask me where my Armenian tutor was.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I tried to explain that I pay her for an hour every morning to work with me and ……… <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">she had gone home.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He usually had this startled look on his face, like “why?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I guess he expected that I would pay her to just sit around and wait for him to arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This became all too typical of meetings at my NGO.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Apparently in the Soviet system, the boss is not expected to be a “role model.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This was one of the perks of being the boss, of having a title.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And once our meeting started with a half dozen staff members, it was not uncommon for a friend of his to knock on the door and walk in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All of us would then be expected to just wait while their personal conversation took place over the next ten or fifteen minutes.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"> </span><span style="'line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"> This is not unique just to Armenia but also occurs in Turkey, as I mentioned in my blog about my trip to Istanbul.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">My British acquaintance also struggled with this at meetings he conducted.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The members of his team would have two to three cell phones sitting in front of them on the meeting room table.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">They were not in the least bit hesitant to take a personal call right in the middle of his managers’ meeting.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When I began to teach English in the school in my town last year, I discovered this was also an accepted part of the school culture. The grade school students, as in America, have mastered the art of “texting under their desks.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But even more disturbing is the tendency of the teachers to pretend it’s not happening or even allow them to leave the classroom to answer a personal call.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I have asked several teachers I work with, why the principal of the school doesn’t just have a rule for all the students to “turn off their phones” when they come to school.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">They look perplexed at the logic of my question.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Maybe they are afraid they might have to do the same.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Either way, the quality of education suffers.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> If Armenia is ever to compete in the business world, they will have to deal with this cultural value that still puts </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">relationships</span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"> (friends and family) </span><u><span style="font-size:130%;">above performance</span></u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Now it is not hard to understand how this value evolved in a society where family support was a key to survival.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I had actually come across this phenomenon back in the late 60’s working at a Sioux Indian reservation in South Dakota.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Even though they lived at the poverty line, I was surprised to hear that no one had phones in their houses.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I should qualify that.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Nobody has a phone </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span style="font-size:130%;">for more than a month</span></u></i><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">For when their neighbors found out about it, the owners would soon have a $500 long distance bill the first month and have to discontinue service.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The concept of sharing obviously made sense during the times when the culture relied on hunting the buffalo.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">If your family didn’t succeed in killing a buffalo one season, you would obviously rely on friends and family for food during the winter.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The practice made perfect sense during the era of buffalo hunting.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But while I was working there, it was surely an impediment for the families to adapt to the modern world. I imagine for those with casinos on their land, this is no longer a problem.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWF8hrTyyQ7xpPPppZkw26TPRcyMi3dxmmeTYczThAMpkZ-AxFbYepKvcPyYZ9mqQrX3X2VnSQ0VGgZoCxgc2EL0QhMXnD9X6ebhWqktAermDNCM8I48M6chrjinibxKLHlwC6TNewbZt/s1600/100_2777.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWF8hrTyyQ7xpPPppZkw26TPRcyMi3dxmmeTYczThAMpkZ-AxFbYepKvcPyYZ9mqQrX3X2VnSQ0VGgZoCxgc2EL0QhMXnD9X6ebhWqktAermDNCM8I48M6chrjinibxKLHlwC6TNewbZt/s400/100_2777.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468087689811587730" /></a><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v-Hz8z7W2PIKkwFNHgdW0iX9CZLGgpkIWyEu1nX2LpmZKX9Ouk1nYDdzTM4-FKDpSY2C4v5xdKEdje-kD2XJQNINj-DX1DiVBzTF2ejXgoTxs5ttRkpGjvfdPZX2mkkWBI-MjVL-xWqP/s1600/New+Building.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v-Hz8z7W2PIKkwFNHgdW0iX9CZLGgpkIWyEu1nX2LpmZKX9Ouk1nYDdzTM4-FKDpSY2C4v5xdKEdje-kD2XJQNINj-DX1DiVBzTF2ejXgoTxs5ttRkpGjvfdPZX2mkkWBI-MjVL-xWqP/s400/New+Building.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468086355414352770" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Recently a group of successful Armenian business people visited our town for a conference.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was invited to have dinner with them afterwards where the topic of opening the border to Turkey was discussed.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I told them that many in our town were opposed to it out of fear that the Armenian businesses could not compete and would go out of business. I found their response very interesting.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">They agreed that </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">initially</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> it would be a major problem to for the country to face.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But eventually they felt it would be a “wake up call” to current hiring practices in Armenia.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Employees who are hired because they are relatives or friends expect to keep their jobs not through performance but because of </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">relationships</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The participants at the conference felt competing with Turkey would force many Armenian businesses to consider hiring the most qualified applicants instead.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This would be a huge shock to the culture where relatives and friends expect preferential treatment. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The offshoot of the current hiring practices is already having a negative impact on Armenia’s migration issue. I recently met with one of the twenty-something Armenians that I tutor in English.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Her face told a story of recent disappointment.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">She had already worked through two recent job problems but this looked new. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When I first arrived two years ago she was employed in a mid-level supervisory position with the Courts. But when financial crisis rolled into Armenia, she and many of her staff were laid off. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Rather than sitting around waiting to be rescued by a relative or friend, she began exploring other solutions.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">She first started a small internet café in her area of the town.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">After a while she realized there was not enough traffic to make it worthwhile.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Then she contacted one of the banks in Yerevan that were planning to open a branch here.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">In itself, this was a level of initiative I seldom see among the many unemployed in our town. She was told that an accounting course would be offered in a month and that the bank would be hiring from those who completed it.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">She not only took the course but completed it with the highest score of those attending.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When she arrived in my office that day, she had just had her job interview.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Having gotten a perfect score on the accounting exam, her hopes were high for the interview.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">With her previous job experience and solid abilities to speak English, I was also hopeful for her.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But at the completion of the interview, they just said:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don’t be disappointed but we won’t be hiring you.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></i></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHdOXh22QRfqh2L1rgou_IxMQuc6MThTEdRMytWpPeYfHXd2TIgC-4B_Hqeepi5_wdbMv7iNMV_pKmd1XeLPp7bW56g3KbosapmV67HgfLR5cvXmJ59qGr62S3JiHrGlM3QDQz64F97ZQ/s1600/71908+029.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHdOXh22QRfqh2L1rgou_IxMQuc6MThTEdRMytWpPeYfHXd2TIgC-4B_Hqeepi5_wdbMv7iNMV_pKmd1XeLPp7bW56g3KbosapmV67HgfLR5cvXmJ59qGr62S3JiHrGlM3QDQz64F97ZQ/s400/71908+029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468085253182111138" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">It wasn’t a couple days later that I was talking with the Superintendent for the construction of the new bank. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We were having the usual conversation of what our children were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When asked about his daughter’s job he replied that she was a secretary at the police department.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But he added proudly that she would soon be working at the new bank he was building.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I guess she was so talented she didn’t need to take the accounting courses. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My student is now talking about leaving the country.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This cultural value of “insider hiring” is commonplace in Armenia.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But from where I stand, it will not enable Armenia to compete in the world market and will also drive many of the talented youth to look to other countries to find their careers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The universities in Yerevan may get the short-term benefit of collecting student tuitions but it will be the neighboring countries that receive the long-term benefit of an educated and talented workforce.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDsmu5bQZu5EaPBPvNGe6VdEP4QnELZwA4w0sXWw1bQ2bj59WA4UQgF1Lth0uaaTc3B6MP20CMl5y7AVdyW823WFrHMHa8va8QFg3hyVEzaiiLDhbacUYD6jhyS4dW1od4p8fqpwfbNrg/s1600/Girls+and+History.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDsmu5bQZu5EaPBPvNGe6VdEP4QnELZwA4w0sXWw1bQ2bj59WA4UQgF1Lth0uaaTc3B6MP20CMl5y7AVdyW823WFrHMHa8va8QFg3hyVEzaiiLDhbacUYD6jhyS4dW1od4p8fqpwfbNrg/s400/Girls+and+History.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468084243215724642" /></a><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVX8RQy9rdb77Vm1XnpieqThutkumJtYIx9q0Tct1SsJuZJ3q-gXLPptZwgW2GnwyI84F3z5dZxvqmrCxCuyk3i5UnR964FuiYMkn-GCFK6zTuRPu343TSVpX4U-a_qYmE9VmIUGIVL0u/s1600/Historical+Rug.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVX8RQy9rdb77Vm1XnpieqThutkumJtYIx9q0Tct1SsJuZJ3q-gXLPptZwgW2GnwyI84F3z5dZxvqmrCxCuyk3i5UnR964FuiYMkn-GCFK6zTuRPu343TSVpX4U-a_qYmE9VmIUGIVL0u/s400/Historical+Rug.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468083737059208658" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As this summer approaches I am preparing to help run 3 Summer Camps in the region as I did last summer.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is exciting for the teenagers to make new friends and for us counselors to see them learn some new skills in the area of teamwork and leadership.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This past month I have been working with the local schools to arrange times to make presentations, pass out applications and interview interested students.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One school is up in the hills a ways and has taken me two weeks to set up good time to visit. But after it was all arranged, my counterpart at my NGO whom I rely on for translations told I would need to re-schedule our meeting because it was “not convenient.”</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">When I tried to uncover the conflict on her schedule, it was something her sister asked her to help her with.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I could see that if she met with her sister an hour earlier both things could happen.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">She finally admitted she would have to get up an hour earlier in the morning.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I don’t think her cultural conditioning allowed her to see how “inconvenient” it might be for me re-scheduling a meeting that took me two weeks to create.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Should the border with Turkey open in the next year or two, I am afraid Armenians will be forced to do address these traditional values that no longer serve the Society.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Otherwise, I do not see how they will ever regain a semblance of the stature they like to recall in their long and proud history.</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></o:p></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-21475471920529970632010-04-02T01:52:00.000-07:002010-05-06T01:21:50.221-07:00My Trip to India<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0fOYPlMIl7NcphkgLsDosJbF6zPtSkFJCeNZtJawZGNWvUadhuLMSX4DaRykBkhrL6Ku94_Uhz7CDwdpyPA5UR6YSWidD9e3gzUoilN1tozOpRG1dqMnw1XoqvxQH_sqwuHQsC1V4SvJ/s1600/Temple+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0fOYPlMIl7NcphkgLsDosJbF6zPtSkFJCeNZtJawZGNWvUadhuLMSX4DaRykBkhrL6Ku94_Uhz7CDwdpyPA5UR6YSWidD9e3gzUoilN1tozOpRG1dqMnw1XoqvxQH_sqwuHQsC1V4SvJ/s400/Temple+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455473283614360066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0lFCAKG3HiP6d6IWlimDhUSx3Hq3zB5CqtoVQBFLuSLo8XRAiF7hoD1J81peq9lZrMxUsuetPtCUPFCvu5C6myuPfi8Y3CO_g39fucmLRM9Ktv5iCYUv3B-UgrVxbOuIt3duH7mjM-t_/s1600/Curious+students.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0lFCAKG3HiP6d6IWlimDhUSx3Hq3zB5CqtoVQBFLuSLo8XRAiF7hoD1J81peq9lZrMxUsuetPtCUPFCvu5C6myuPfi8Y3CO_g39fucmLRM9Ktv5iCYUv3B-UgrVxbOuIt3duH7mjM-t_/s400/Curious+students.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455472984312843954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdha0YKoXvhdxrovrsui0DK0Q6kyRBTGwCUhNLZioj93NHQ6yAt4pHnCD51_XLpv7mvDHKbi3kDzQWeooaq7KaL7ftn7ylL-iPYN2CTXb-rJfe92RwOoBsFuBW6VV0YJKIbWdATT1kTY6H/s1600/Temple+7.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdha0YKoXvhdxrovrsui0DK0Q6kyRBTGwCUhNLZioj93NHQ6yAt4pHnCD51_XLpv7mvDHKbi3kDzQWeooaq7KaL7ftn7ylL-iPYN2CTXb-rJfe92RwOoBsFuBW6VV0YJKIbWdATT1kTY6H/s400/Temple+7.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455472346563118546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz0BZjl4aJll7Ko4aqzaXinXjwTwc3EbRRZTjiqCt4bzF_PjrOVaKxN0Z8QYcFRQUH-g8Fjj5IwVfISoSqFSrV4EgUoWgEKaoWSOkfVyL1RZ-P3IcmQ8F-HRcib0-DyzzCQkwRk0aUDXy/s1600/Main+Bazaar+1.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz0BZjl4aJll7Ko4aqzaXinXjwTwc3EbRRZTjiqCt4bzF_PjrOVaKxN0Z8QYcFRQUH-g8Fjj5IwVfISoSqFSrV4EgUoWgEKaoWSOkfVyL1RZ-P3IcmQ8F-HRcib0-DyzzCQkwRk0aUDXy/s400/Main+Bazaar+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455471770862574514" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">My first visit to India was 3 years ago as a member of our meditation group in Sacramento.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Like many first-time visitors, I was overwhelmed by the poverty, the garbage on the streets, the overcrowded conditions and still fell in love with the country. India has a way of offending all your standards for living and still gently reaching your heart.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">One that first trip 3 years ago, our group had arranged to meet in Bangkok first and then together travel to India.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Coming from a country where 75% of Americans are Christian (was 85% in 1990), it was amazing to see images of Buddha everywhere.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">One day we visited the famous Reclining Buddha, a gold-plated statue that stands 50' tall and 150' long.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Little did I realize that this would not be the case when we arrived in India, Buddha's birthplace.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">For while 95% of the population in Thailand is Buddhist, 80% of the India's population are still Hindu with less than 1% Buddhist.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Much like Christ 2500 years later, Buddha's message was one of equality and compassion was not well-received by those in power who wanted to preserve the existing caste system in India.</span></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTLd1Gq1KCUFe7p59SDuaEMahIy5tBaEnYwHY1wBmGBkwteQ3QmSBUb8Uzrq15ol5EOYIJooW1tTslEM-FmMyXrPGRWv1oUdaKV4ArEQNS155a75TjvV822wn6TUoCElyk3KPDI7a1XUv/s1600/Delhi+Internet.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTLd1Gq1KCUFe7p59SDuaEMahIy5tBaEnYwHY1wBmGBkwteQ3QmSBUb8Uzrq15ol5EOYIJooW1tTslEM-FmMyXrPGRWv1oUdaKV4ArEQNS155a75TjvV822wn6TUoCElyk3KPDI7a1XUv/s400/Delhi+Internet.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455471086432519266" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNAm7QUwWVFTbi0rbYcM-q2dAbuHevcvV7iDN1Yede9cpXQX8yLpOv031vZe4PVUYKJoMMpVL1d2uany-iqntoXeodbqeaz074Let9nUC1ec1EPdpNe0ytSpeK40G0vE2MNNl2Vw-Rtx3/s1600/Ghandi+statue.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNAm7QUwWVFTbi0rbYcM-q2dAbuHevcvV7iDN1Yede9cpXQX8yLpOv031vZe4PVUYKJoMMpVL1d2uany-iqntoXeodbqeaz074Let9nUC1ec1EPdpNe0ytSpeK40G0vE2MNNl2Vw-Rtx3/s400/Ghandi+statue.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455470472563104130" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">DELHI</span></span></b></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style="'font-family:;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></o:p></span></b><span style="'font-size:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The first city I had chosen to visit this time was the historic city of Delhi and India’s 2</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">nd</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> largest city after Mumbai. I was a little restless when I arrived having inadvertently created a 20 hour layover in my layover at the Dubai airport from Armenia. This city in the Arab Emirates has undergone incredible construction in the past decade thanks to the world’s demand for oil. Yet I really didn’t have the funds or the desire to explore the Arabian version of Las Vegas.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I was amazed to see the amount of electronics equipment tourists carried with them that it even required a shrink wrap machine right in the airport. But I was content to take a short bus ride for much simpler fare: a sandwich, baseball cap and a cheap pair of sunglasses.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I was ready for India.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The first thing I noticed on my taxi ride from the Delhi airport was the flurry of construction projects as they prepare to host the upcoming Commonwealth Games in October.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The growth in the computer world has been good for India’s economy and like China at the Olympic Games wants to use this opportunity present a more modern face to the world. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCu5sb_1FIwBgDyxIaG_DYdvSHA4AQU6XA3HBDIYAxyngvnrHcxeDW5-8aOgwhMUcm13plPRbIKfa6-4odl3aotTPLBx_jEo8DBa6rD7DcKnBG2-eiWfZv01bGQqStCk10gaqcCEbPa7XR/s1600/Kashmir+Boyz.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCu5sb_1FIwBgDyxIaG_DYdvSHA4AQU6XA3HBDIYAxyngvnrHcxeDW5-8aOgwhMUcm13plPRbIKfa6-4odl3aotTPLBx_jEo8DBa6rD7DcKnBG2-eiWfZv01bGQqStCk10gaqcCEbPa7XR/s400/Kashmir+Boyz.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455469981268979970" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lyi4UR2jVStywyz6homlmo9J9T7u5kjkQZKry-D8dR8pk9sCE1LhK4_bwJ8CyWLwU-Ya31K2c8rrwzCMgEdoY9e3vbwzk61Yctg39fG2mesYo6ResE6UnQ9xIFg58aDwevuh-1qGbvl1/s1600/Curious+students+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lyi4UR2jVStywyz6homlmo9J9T7u5kjkQZKry-D8dR8pk9sCE1LhK4_bwJ8CyWLwU-Ya31K2c8rrwzCMgEdoY9e3vbwzk61Yctg39fG2mesYo6ResE6UnQ9xIFg58aDwevuh-1qGbvl1/s400/Curious+students+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455469469572511874" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLwA7gibTCahGT6vmlaZPRot7Tht8to2BGby7ysfSScjupu9C09TZBMJIzlMeKb8maPucJMYj3Ye7q3GCKAw82ZlzErNoiOZ99I8ajWVxbj432fzGhcWhndH1POo9vKHk9jsgfShKiFNN/s1600/Temple+at+Night.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLwA7gibTCahGT6vmlaZPRot7Tht8to2BGby7ysfSScjupu9C09TZBMJIzlMeKb8maPucJMYj3Ye7q3GCKAw82ZlzErNoiOZ99I8ajWVxbj432fzGhcWhndH1POo9vKHk9jsgfShKiFNN/s400/Temple+at+Night.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455468959051591522" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictQheaw0vYghcuQF1AhaiuLjSFABwTM6YHqDqeQk93V4ELhAKT3SchBH3DeRq1Rf08Qwopx-mInnuWlJoyHdOtL_VxLlIQH70Afle4ExvaOWHpEZCGitQk7lW-StpZCW-wdvVPkHe7YVZ/s1600/Statue+Carvers.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictQheaw0vYghcuQF1AhaiuLjSFABwTM6YHqDqeQk93V4ELhAKT3SchBH3DeRq1Rf08Qwopx-mInnuWlJoyHdOtL_VxLlIQH70Afle4ExvaOWHpEZCGitQk7lW-StpZCW-wdvVPkHe7YVZ/s400/Statue+Carvers.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455468200902407458" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Where I had chosen to stay was the opposite of “modern” but was conveniently located next to Old Delhi and the train station that I would depart from in 5 days.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It did have the advantage of cheap hotels and the presence of many foreign tourists.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">My arrival on my street was at first a little shocking as I re-entered the world of </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">controlled chaos</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> that is normal on the streets in India. The first day is like being in a 3-D movie theater, dodging and moving as all the sights and sounds attack your senses.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">But once you have acclimated, you just take your part in this fast-flowing river and find yourself carried along with all the other amphibian life.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I lived off Main Bazaar Road which is like a narrow alley 100 yards long with storage units every 10 feet.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Of course you have to mix in several hundred tourists on foot, a couple dozen rickshaws, a handful of honking motorcycles and the occasional full-size taxi who decides to clog up the whole area with his vehicle. It was quite a change from the quiet country lanes I had been walking down in Armenia.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As I had discovered previously in my trip to Istanbul, I enjoy my time most when I can find a balance with sightseeing and just hanging out with the locals.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">So the next morning I found a cozy Internet cafe two minutes from my hotel that offered delicious chai for 25 cents a cup and surfing for 50 cents an hour.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It was also a great place to run into fellow travelers from around the world.</span></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">My days in Delhi were spent just chatting with the various store owners along my street as I slowly wandered out to the main drag for some adventure I had selected from Lonely Planet. My outings into greater Delhi took me to a shrine for Gandhi, the Railroad Museum and a couple historical temples and mosques.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The large bronze sculpture of Gandhi in front of his spinning loom was especially moving.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">He and Mother Theresa had been my idols since my youth.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I also enjoyed looking at the development of the trains in India over the past 150 years.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">What may have started as a practical way for Britain to manage a rather unwieldy colony has become such a vital link for people throughout India.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As I was to soon find out it in Gaya, waiting for trains has evolved into an extended social ritual as well.</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">During one of my outings in Delhi, I was in need of some relaxation between stops and found the Lotus Garden Park on the map.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sitting in front of a lotus pond, it seemed like a perfect occasion for a brief meditation.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But after about 10 minutes I started to notice some vibrations from the other end of the park bench I was sitting on. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Assuming that it was someone reading a book I thought I would just continue.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then I started to hear muffled whispers.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by a handful of 9</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> grade boys, their eyes wide with curiosity.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Their desire to have a conversation was apparent.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Once the unofficial leader of the group had introduced himself, I began to ask him questions about his classmates. </span></span><i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Who was the best cricket player in the group?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The best dancer?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The fastest?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Each answer came with the person’s nickname and much laughter.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Before long our group had tripled in size as others on the same school trip joined in as their female classmates kept a respectful distance.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Their energy and interaction with each other was delightful to watch and I offered to take their photo before leaving.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hesitantly the smaller group of young girls approached as well to have their photo taken.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Standing there in their school uniforms I could feel the energy for India’s bright future.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">My evenings in Delhi were usually spent along Main Bazaar Road near my hotel, having dinner or sitting around chatting with locals and tourists I had met.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One evening our little international group included two young men from Canada (who lived within an hour of each other but had never met before), a young man from France and a young store keeper from Nepal. They had all be traveling for at least 6 months and some for over a year. One of the Canadians had gotten his degree in Finance and then came to Mumbai to explore possible career options. But finding out his salary would be less than he could make at a McDonald's back home, he decided to start researching products he might import to Canada.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">His current plan was to import prescription glasses which could be made in India for a 1/3 of the cost. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The other Canadian was just finishing up a year on the road make possible by the snow removal business he started during college and sold upon graduation.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">His plan upon returning was to work with a friend who was opening a restaurant in a new snow-boarding resort in British Columbia.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The French student had started traveling after high school and recently finished a couple years stay in Barcelona. Now 26, he was pursuing a career in art and particularly creating sculptures. Our “ringleader” that had brought us together was a young storekeeper originally from Nepal. He had an infectious sense of humor and spent the evening at the end of the table drinking Coca Cola and translating the Indian songs that played in the pub.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The night went longer than I would have chosen but was filled with much interesting conversation.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></o:p></span><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I also spent a couple evening with was a group of young men from Kashmir.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since the 15</span></span><sup><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> century the Himalayan goats in their region have been famous for producing the wool used in cashmere sweaters and pashmina scarves. The photos my young friends showed me on their computers also portrayed a land of forests and mountain lakes.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But all this history and beauty has unfortunately been overshadowed of late by its border with Pakistan and the periodic incidents of violence.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Without the usual flow of tourists, these young merchants have been forced to bring their handcrafts and soft goods to Delhi for sale.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was apparent how difficult it was to be away from their families and friends for extended periods of time.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As they tried to sell me on a mini-vacation on their families' houseboat, I sensed it was less for the profit than an excuse to return home for a week or so.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As Muslims, some of them are also subjected to verbal abuse from Hindu merchants in adjacent stalls. My personal take was that it had less to do with religious differences than business competition. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">These men were much more confident and engaging with passing tourists and thus did more business than most of the reticent Hindi owners just standing in front their stalls waiting for business.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So after 5 days in Delhi, I boarded a 10pm train and headed out for my next destination:</span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfAsRR7cPfdZh8yhERvexjrREIABEaFechrljLJkRSgksOEpJFt21eRKTDGVs-WX8AnGBwbTyuWTCdxRt_XLvm7idIOmCqR_7MMAIr6MNkacLNprmYemQp1_-SdCy7TjJKd0sxfAADKsh/s1600/morning+prayer.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfAsRR7cPfdZh8yhERvexjrREIABEaFechrljLJkRSgksOEpJFt21eRKTDGVs-WX8AnGBwbTyuWTCdxRt_XLvm7idIOmCqR_7MMAIr6MNkacLNprmYemQp1_-SdCy7TjJKd0sxfAADKsh/s400/morning+prayer.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455466541133851538" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAaLALlOM0jfjjqjWNdjFn_cdJ5AOfektXENXDd7tVlKRMdS7IWbmf_J0iyhosR-bxPqWDK_PklxE3WPoBhmg0OqiGpv7aNn4pr8dzlDCi1Kn_Y1HhOi51nQyPmf-5jsuoKlmqWSRyoH7/s1600/Temple+2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAaLALlOM0jfjjqjWNdjFn_cdJ5AOfektXENXDd7tVlKRMdS7IWbmf_J0iyhosR-bxPqWDK_PklxE3WPoBhmg0OqiGpv7aNn4pr8dzlDCi1Kn_Y1HhOi51nQyPmf-5jsuoKlmqWSRyoH7/s400/Temple+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455465782007457730" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">BODHGAYA</span></span></b></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="'font-family:;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></o:p></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="'font-family:;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This little city of 30,000 residents made a good next stop on my vacation for several reasons. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">For one thing, Kolkata (as Calcutta is now spelled) was an 800 mile train ride away and Bodhgaya was close to a mid-point.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It was also now the site of a famous Mahabodi Temple built to honor the bodhi tree where the Buddha first “awoke.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">And since we had visited here 3 years ago on our Sacramento pilgrimage, I had a couple friends to re-visit.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">After I checked into my hotel, I walked down probably the only street in the whole country that felt familiar. It was easy to find my friends since their businesses share the same hallway.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One has an Internet Café and the other carves Buddha statues from wood and stone.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The young internet owner was in the flush of success as this past winter had seen the most travelers to visit the city. He was the first one to have Wi-Fi in the city thanks to the generosity of one of our members from Sacramento upon returning.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In a country where power outages were common, he felt this gave him an advantage over his competitors. With a big smile he told me: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I’m Number 1</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">My other friend’s business seemed to be enjoying the additional foot traffic of tourists the internet brought as he had three apprentices working on carvings on the floor of the corridor. </span></span></span></p><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As usual it was something unexpected that turned out to be the most memorable part of my brief stay here.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As I was having supper at an outside café that first evening, I met a bright young man who had started a new school. He was offering free education for underprivileged and handicapped children.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">He invited me to see his school.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">At 7:45am his motorcycle pulls up in front of my hotel and we were off for a very heartfelt excursion. The children were just lining up for morning prayer in front of the school when we arrived. Standing there in the little school uniforms, hands folded and eyes closed, they were a vision of sweetness. This was followed by a brief period of meditation in the classroom and then their regular lessons in Math and English. My friend and his wife both teach at the school and live there with their new child.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The behavior of the children mirrored the kindness and respect they were given by all their teachers.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></span><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> The next morning I arrived early for my train departure at 9:40am.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As I mentioned at the beginning, I was to spend the next 7 hours waiting for the train.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Indian families were obviously much wiser about the train schedules.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As they like to say: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">India great but everything late.</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Many families came prepared with tarps and blankets to spread out on the platform and enjoy their time together.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As the lunch hour approached, jars of food appeared, food was rolled up in bread and cucumbers were sliced and passed around.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Eventually the children got sleepy and were fanned by aunts and grandmas as they slept next to their parents.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And the train eventually arrived.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="'font-size:"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">KOLKATA</span></span></strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">My original plan to leave Bodhgaya in the morning was to avoid arriving in the dark for my first visit to India’s third largest city.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As they say</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">, be careful of what you resist.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As a result of the 7 hour delay, our train pulled in about one in the morning.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">A young Japanese tourist and I were happy just to find a flophouse 5 minutes from the station to await the next day’s sun.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">In the morning I took a cab ride to the mid-range hotel I had picked out from my 2007 edition of </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Lonely Planet</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As the cab pulled away, I discovered that since the guidebook was printed, the hotel had been demolished and was currently being re-built.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Fortunately, an older man about my age showed up at my elbow and directed me to a nearby hotel.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">My guide explained to me later that he had pulled tourists around for over 20 years on rickshaws and finally got too old for the work.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">He obviously found it easier to pull tourists around now “standing up” to stores and hotels for a baksheesh (kickback) from the businesses.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MI33VOb6xVXxXaQ-B_7BOnrmMONTkd1naHYrJylutWnM6XAtPpc66nEXHKnvlFxQHGzC9c2kPkIlpo6Jg9zzcjOTCgTAX0xKnngctEHfbed9s5lJITBdDeUutpDDzHBXon3msGmf73j1/s1600/Main+Bazaar+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MI33VOb6xVXxXaQ-B_7BOnrmMONTkd1naHYrJylutWnM6XAtPpc66nEXHKnvlFxQHGzC9c2kPkIlpo6Jg9zzcjOTCgTAX0xKnngctEHfbed9s5lJITBdDeUutpDDzHBXon3msGmf73j1/s400/Main+Bazaar+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455465111851029234" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqjiZXycg3QMwCksEBDTemAYd1dRxnxVhRvGi-mKYN5S6lov81-8nOx5qszVEqkJtXq2ZF9vaD9MIUOg50RyCh4UxRZ_XjOzGs9BpvdqeDy15PA1-NQpdXpw2uTHwJfAChPCAHGAzF2-U/s1600/Temple+6.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqjiZXycg3QMwCksEBDTemAYd1dRxnxVhRvGi-mKYN5S6lov81-8nOx5qszVEqkJtXq2ZF9vaD9MIUOg50RyCh4UxRZ_XjOzGs9BpvdqeDy15PA1-NQpdXpw2uTHwJfAChPCAHGAzF2-U/s400/Temple+6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455464273208982562" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It’s funny how things turn out. The hotel he led me to had everything I needed: a fan, </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">private toilet, and best of all a cold shower.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It was a bargain at $7 a night and centrally located for everything I needed to do over the next week. Yet if I had followed my usual procedure of following </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Lonely Planet</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> reviews I never would have selected the </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Capital Plaza Hotel.</span></span></i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">In their </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">review for budget hotels in the Sutter Street area, it was the very last one and began with the phrase… </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As charming as a prison</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I could only laugh later that night when I finally ran across the review. </span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p></b></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">One of the main reasons I choose Kolkata as part of my trip was to visit one of the Houses for the Dying founded by Mother Theresa.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I tried to find out about volunteering over the Internet before coming but couldn’t find much information.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">But the next day, one of local street guides told me that 3pm on Mondays is when the Missionaries of Charity meet with visitors seeking to volunteer. When I was arrived, I was surprised to find a room filled with at least 75 people and presentations in 3 different languages. A couple hours later I was signed up for Prem Dan, one of the facilities for men with mental or physical handicaps.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The next morning all the volunteers met at the Mother House at 7am for a light breakfast (a banana, slice of bread and chai) and then made our ½ hour walk to the facility.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Our work detail started with clothes washing and then hanging them out to dry on the ceiling.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">We looked like a well-organized fire brigade as we passed the buckets of wet clothes along on their way up to the roof. I had forgotten how refreshing it can be on a hot morning to walk slowly under a clothesline of dripping clothes.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">After that a couple of us would gather up our shaving kits and offer shaves to the men sitting around in the courtyard.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It didn’t take long to figure out that it wasn’t about the quality of the shave. It was just a wonderful opportunity to provide a little kindness and respect to men whose physical and mental problems had taken away so much of their dignity.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">When finished I liked to take the towel and gently remove any water or shaving cream left on their faces.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">As I held one man’s face in my hands, I could sense that it had been a while since anyone had held his face with any tenderness.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: 36.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Later there was a meal for the men and we helped in whatever way was needed from carrying metal plates to those who couldn’t walk or even helping to feed them.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I remember seeing one young Japanese volunteer in his mid-twenties wearing a black shirt saying: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Doesn’t Play Well with Others</span></span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Ironically enough, he sat there for a half-hour patiently feeding this one man. I asked him later if he know what his shirt said.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">He had bought it on a recent trip to California and had no idea what it meant. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV____VwpGENVFcO0zDQHNWnO_QCtAHft3d6issEmeigsp106d5oWRC9mZT52U8coJtE3K1aLXcilFaCiM-pNBJeU9XzKVl3TNORirNDHhqI2xP_NVXOHAno0h6HaLsRzi3XHDWm0LmUuB/s1600/Cricket+Players.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV____VwpGENVFcO0zDQHNWnO_QCtAHft3d6issEmeigsp106d5oWRC9mZT52U8coJtE3K1aLXcilFaCiM-pNBJeU9XzKVl3TNORirNDHhqI2xP_NVXOHAno0h6HaLsRzi3XHDWm0LmUuB/s400/Cricket+Players.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455463680763482002" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDUVtE4-Wl9vin7ToA2_C-nvCWjMnBPtERIw32gSuY_oS2vwRp_TPsYDzTm9VrQdYi6i1eMZm3I2QPKyaBUYINxQL_-3gMx7JJBxPigpRvab4kE6W1X6L0lOEX4mk-VZZbjIxf79ayE9b/s1600/Sikh+Temple.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDUVtE4-Wl9vin7ToA2_C-nvCWjMnBPtERIw32gSuY_oS2vwRp_TPsYDzTm9VrQdYi6i1eMZm3I2QPKyaBUYINxQL_-3gMx7JJBxPigpRvab4kE6W1X6L0lOEX4mk-VZZbjIxf79ayE9b/s400/Sikh+Temple.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455462942620870434" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">After the first day, the time working not only became easier but more meaningful from previous contact with the men.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">They would be lined up sitting on benches in the morning and always had a way of recognizing our arrival.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">For some it was that little waggle of the head so common in India and for others it was just a nod or look in the eye.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Some even extended hands on arms that were not fully functional.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It didn’t take long to realize that we were the ones being blessed by our daily interactions. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I can only hope to be as gracious should my life require me such dependence on others.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><o:p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="'font-size:"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">During the first orientation day, I happened to meet a mother and daughter who had just arrived from Seattle.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was a very special trip for them both.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nancy had adopted her daughter Katie from Kolkata almost 21 years earlier and this was their first trip back to her city of birth.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since volunteers did not work on Thursday at Mother Theresa’s, they asked me if I would be interested to visit a business created to help get prostitutes off the streets: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">freeset </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.freesetglobal.com/"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">www.freesetglobal.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">). </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">(If you have seen the documentary </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Born into Brothels</span></span></i><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">, you know how this lifestyle becomes a economic necessity and then a trap for many women.) There were now 120 women working at </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">freeset</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> there making journals, bags, shirts and other handicrafts to be exported. All the profits went back to the women. I thought it would be great to visit this remarkable enterprise. </span></span></span></p><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="'font-size:"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It wasn’t until they handed me a roller and a 5 gallon bucket of paint that it dawned on me that I had really signed up for another volunteer work project.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, well I had nothing better to do with my </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">day off</span></span></i><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">!</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So for the next several hours my new friends from Seattle and I sanded the cement walls and applied an undercoat in preparation for the next day’s painting.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Of course, the Old Navy shorts and polo shirt that I wore will never be the same with all the paint splatters.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Some day when they join my wardrobe of gardening clothes, I will remember with fondness my unplanned day as a painter. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Looking back at my days of volunteer work in Kolkata, I can see there was something special that is lacking for me in Peace Corp work, except for the summer camps. Here there was a strong sense of community not present in my usual days in Armenia. Working shoulder to shoulder in service surely deepened my connection with my fellow volunteers. I will remember: the two ladies from Milan who I walked with to that first orientation; the rowdy group of Irish lads whose hearts were even larger than their voices; the shy Japanese student accepting the awkwardness of shaving others when he barely shaved himself; and the German couple who would return later to their advertising work in Munich.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The generosity with which all these people shared themselves, doing whatever was required was inspiring for me. </span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN351r-myNnYTY79dViTBKI0D0Vy2-nvjKYiYeSNf4kNZ6qpBcJ1kkR7ysYmmkTQrzF64n06GRKZ1gtq3ecWKVEYGyfKyFHbRrDw910W9K4uV49Ss52VMddBA8PkSDGD5Eovz66DJqLEA9/s1600/Temple+8.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN351r-myNnYTY79dViTBKI0D0Vy2-nvjKYiYeSNf4kNZ6qpBcJ1kkR7ysYmmkTQrzF64n06GRKZ1gtq3ecWKVEYGyfKyFHbRrDw910W9K4uV49Ss52VMddBA8PkSDGD5Eovz66DJqLEA9/s400/Temple+8.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455461870455648626" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">When I finally stood at the baggage carousel in Armenia, I realized the strap binding my back pack had been cut.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It wasn’t until that evening that I would discover that someone had stolen my camera and with it, all my photos from my week in Kolkata.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Fortunately for me, all the memories were already safely tucked away in heart.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SEazytr3XiXsm9_a20oo1yKe59_MHJkzI-59m1xIk20mwJXS1YVdo-Nnz95n5NhK-yN6ZwZAOwg1ySoSS53xPKhmbPqd2I-21i8oNGb780O-r8tnGKstaA5mEOEOV0UDpBDlnGOCGFaE/s1600/Bodhgaya+friends.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SEazytr3XiXsm9_a20oo1yKe59_MHJkzI-59m1xIk20mwJXS1YVdo-Nnz95n5NhK-yN6ZwZAOwg1ySoSS53xPKhmbPqd2I-21i8oNGb780O-r8tnGKstaA5mEOEOV0UDpBDlnGOCGFaE/s400/Bodhgaya+friends.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455461206228507986" /></a><br /></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-54267743404731443192010-03-10T01:35:00.000-08:002010-03-10T02:23:21.673-08:00Back to the Future<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZaQqRhUEHnERSlYANMN4NIU7EqXTF86atUxI7XpCPX4tQDbPmeuW6Q5CmYsobW440kDygCkRzzLJqN97uZ-kc233VqhNNXRv_nyaH5O2ioH79ZYF-AF9F2bdzvuFiRGGHZ0UYXv6c5v4/s1600-h/YB+Trainees.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZaQqRhUEHnERSlYANMN4NIU7EqXTF86atUxI7XpCPX4tQDbPmeuW6Q5CmYsobW440kDygCkRzzLJqN97uZ-kc233VqhNNXRv_nyaH5O2ioH79ZYF-AF9F2bdzvuFiRGGHZ0UYXv6c5v4/s400/YB+Trainees.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446946025305853106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1CBuIDtzRxcqZwTbBqasEKgOFyk747XsmT71d2zH8qILFiFqzZzqaDQ1Ln9hTK0etM3MGGlQKTvQxXIm5j66a5_vHf8LYldWdVqwEsiD2zBS95Gh56EWp2o-cMnaeEHCy8jhx47RC8oc/s1600-h/the+toast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1CBuIDtzRxcqZwTbBqasEKgOFyk747XsmT71d2zH8qILFiFqzZzqaDQ1Ln9hTK0etM3MGGlQKTvQxXIm5j66a5_vHf8LYldWdVqwEsiD2zBS95Gh56EWp2o-cMnaeEHCy8jhx47RC8oc/s400/the+toast.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446946022894285154" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When I first came to Armenia almost two years ago many thing seemed surprisingly familiar.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Having grown up in the Midwest in the 50’s, I felt a little like Michael J. Fox in</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;">Back to the Future</span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But it was also very clear this was not a Hollywood movie and my role would have very little impact on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">anyone's</span> future.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">My work site for the two years had many similarities to the city of my birth: tree-lined streets, hard-working neighbors and very traditional values.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And from my background reading before arrival, I knew I was about the experience my first winter in 30 years since moving to California.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">My mind was not dancing with sugar plum fairies but more like six foot snowdrifts on frozen tundra with bone-chilling winds.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Fortunately my imagination was more intense than the weather which proved to be milder than my Midwest experience.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The only real challenges were the occasional times in winter when the pipes froze and you had to wait a day for water.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp473t6nCuGrPk1lF7aNCzJS0Fn40zwrcNd01FHpuqfHTGaItttldmxd5PmJvSzSQCq-Qv2FO8RB3-nuvtUsIMYp4XlzIgT37FVUM6GhTgJFBWXmelvyxB1K-p7TIbUWMAZujcwy1txKg1/s1600-h/Goshavank.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp473t6nCuGrPk1lF7aNCzJS0Fn40zwrcNd01FHpuqfHTGaItttldmxd5PmJvSzSQCq-Qv2FO8RB3-nuvtUsIMYp4XlzIgT37FVUM6GhTgJFBWXmelvyxB1K-p7TIbUWMAZujcwy1txKg1/s400/Goshavank.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446945311874725042" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZczhx9BRQdm-LBogtTdDGj8zjUfEjwZu3LFb0rnaeeeMRqyiad7MUEtNjC7a5-s65rnR4p6zFauRkXyObZ_Hf9vrlkIB2MTuUTjioRL9iJJWDkJhQDAIxHXPWYjUAchG1EpQoQnU145L8/s1600-h/military+heroes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZczhx9BRQdm-LBogtTdDGj8zjUfEjwZu3LFb0rnaeeeMRqyiad7MUEtNjC7a5-s65rnR4p6zFauRkXyObZ_Hf9vrlkIB2MTuUTjioRL9iJJWDkJhQDAIxHXPWYjUAchG1EpQoQnU145L8/s400/military+heroes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446944401454981970" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iGFwMAKkqLUdyxFGJcaHxJD-ShZdhShZPDIM6HpkhHlpK1cbCowKBo3359rNB8u19-peAxEAmZEZ9gu2kEmzeoXUQbHGQWxCw_9sELrE3BSa35SQKf92eOrkU3uOZYUXZxWoSoGqV-Yd/s1600-h/storekeeper.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iGFwMAKkqLUdyxFGJcaHxJD-ShZdhShZPDIM6HpkhHlpK1cbCowKBo3359rNB8u19-peAxEAmZEZ9gu2kEmzeoXUQbHGQWxCw_9sELrE3BSa35SQKf92eOrkU3uOZYUXZxWoSoGqV-Yd/s400/storekeeper.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446943583792661554" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Probably the most difficult thing about my new country was the language with its own unique alphabet and sounds.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">There are six letters that look like “n” in English and another half-dozen that are variations of our “u.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And then there were the sounds of the words.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Six letter words that had five consonants are still difficult for me to pronounce.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I knew I was in trouble when I asked for an "onion" and he handed me a bottle of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fanta</span>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">For many of the 20-something Volunteers recently out of college, it was just another challenge for their agile brains.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But for my 60-something year old brain, what I learned on Monday was not always there when I looked for it on Tuesday. The eleven weeks of </span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;">PST </span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;">(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Pre</span>-Service Training) are considered by many to be one of the real hurdles of our service, similar to boot camp in the Army.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When our four hours-a-day of language training was complete, I was greatly relieved and happy to be assigned to a work site.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">My ability to speak the language was minimal but I also knew that communication between people is as much a matter of intention as it is vocabulary.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Fast-forwarding ahead to last weekend, I was assisting at a Youth Leadership Conference in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">During one of the breaks, a young Armenian college student whom I had worked with before asked me a rather direct question:</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;">“What</span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;">don’t you like about Armenia?”</span></i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Obviously noticing the shock on my face, she clarified that this is a question she often asks visitors to get a different perspective on her homeland which she has never been outside of.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I was still feeling a little cautious.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It’s like when a female friend asks you: </span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;">“Do these pants make my butt look fat?”</span></i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It’s at this moment you understand the old adage that “caution is the better part of valor.”</span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4-zgLrm5Xbc6ABojz0l-ARNAPLZxZw5IMJK7VN8xIZww2Xdz1hCAzr71I9Rvd5owIVrmQSixA5dvFYX0oUzEwuCjd_7EudoiH2fp8mXN7NF5g_fIN4q3NCzhq89K9IfDbp3brqmYhtIR/s1600-h/Holding+the+future.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4-zgLrm5Xbc6ABojz0l-ARNAPLZxZw5IMJK7VN8xIZww2Xdz1hCAzr71I9Rvd5owIVrmQSixA5dvFYX0oUzEwuCjd_7EudoiH2fp8mXN7NF5g_fIN4q3NCzhq89K9IfDbp3brqmYhtIR/s400/Holding+the+future.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446942945188846626" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">The next week I received an email from a young Armenian college student in California who had read my blog.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">She posed hypothetical question: </span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;">What would say to young college students in California who have never lived in Armenia?</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;">So what follows is my attempt to answer both of these questions, based on the obvious limitations of my time in the country.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When I thought about my response I realized that there were several different aspects of Armenia one could discuss.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">One is the </span><b><span style="font-size:130%;">cultural legacy</span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"> that goes back many centuries.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">There are the medieval churches that I have seen throughout my region as well as the poets, composers and musicians that I only know through the statues populating the capital and the parks of major cities. And of course there is the proud legacy of military leaders who have given their lives in the cause of Armenian independence.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It is their photos that tend to populate the walls of the schools and government buildings rather than any notable Armenians from the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> century.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then there are the <b>people</b> of Armenia themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Looking at the faces of the older members of society, you can easily see the difficulties they had to endure during the last 50 years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One publication I read before coming to Armenia spoke of the widespread depression that affects the citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After my first couple months in country, it seemed more accurate to describe it as a <i>sense of resignation. </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">In the 20<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span></sup> century alone, there were </span>many tragic events from the Genocide of 1915, to the earthquake of 1988, and finally the economic collapse that resulted from the dissolution of the Soviet Union. These were circumstances beyond their control, their fate that they have been asked to endure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The one bright spot seems to be their children.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While all societies take delight in their young, it seemed especially important for Armenians to usher in the next generation.</span><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p><p><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdJZElhdibLmKqsp9alt6vfoPs5XzAjKhotpMhg1ek9Rj7GcKSyeoALYxxbMRdx4tzc3TcJChC6Xs39EnS7u7rz32TZEdB6GZcO8bfDlLDSxQHv3J4khp0H3xYWVxRZby9wu6MKWI_LmR/s1600-h/butterfly+tree.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdJZElhdibLmKqsp9alt6vfoPs5XzAjKhotpMhg1ek9Rj7GcKSyeoALYxxbMRdx4tzc3TcJChC6Xs39EnS7u7rz32TZEdB6GZcO8bfDlLDSxQHv3J4khp0H3xYWVxRZby9wu6MKWI_LmR/s400/butterfly+tree.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446941410013031874" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Which leads me to my major concern for Armenia: <b><i>What is the future of the coming generation?</i></b><i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Having worked with the young people of the country for the past two years, my major concern is for their future.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What opportunities will they have?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On my trips to the capital, one cannot help but notice the thousands of students who attend college there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The same question always crosses my mind: <b><i>Where are all these graduates going to find jobs?</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i>Will they be happy as taxi drivers and sales clerks?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do they really need a degree in International Business to run their family convenience store?</i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The only companies of any presence in the country seem to be the cell phone providers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was told that <i><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Armentel</span> </i>had a monopoly on the phone business until <i>Viva Cell</i> arrived. And now recently the French based corporation <i>Orange</i> has made it a three way fight for their share of the very lucrative cell phone revenues.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But even this thriving sector of the economy, I don't see any career opportunities but only a few salaries for the sales clerks at the retail outlets.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1zKDTcIegjQiqIuOgBiXYzVX4fxZ07K4kFOYrLw2XUaNXAlQQpdAoT6p3860by4VAmMjWhyhesMbgn7c0ix0r7ddlBneVc7WSWrOU740v_i8_kdFMI5LyKYE7NOEC1Xz0H0I0pNiTIiZ/s1600-h/poet.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1zKDTcIegjQiqIuOgBiXYzVX4fxZ07K4kFOYrLw2XUaNXAlQQpdAoT6p3860by4VAmMjWhyhesMbgn7c0ix0r7ddlBneVc7WSWrOU740v_i8_kdFMI5LyKYE7NOEC1Xz0H0I0pNiTIiZ/s400/poet.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446940585729986930" /></a><br /><p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="'line-height:115%;font-family:font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">At my work site the fathers with technical skills in engineering or construction are often required to work in Moscow or other cities in Russia to find decent salaries.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Their children that I have spoken with see their fathers only during the Christmas season and some less often than that.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And in the meantime where is the economic activity in Armenia?</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The most visible sector of the economy is the construction of new high rise office buildings and apartments in the capital.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">One would like to believe that such activity is an indicator of an economic resurgence in Armenia but the reality that many of these buildings stand vacant would suggest otherwise.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">An actual developer would need a return on his financial investment that a vacant building does not provide.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Some have suggested that these projects are often a convenient place to launder money from less than reputable businesses in Russia.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">For Armenia to recover economically, much more is needed than for Yerevan to become a showcase of new buildings.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Unfortunately this reflects the former Soviet system that was more concerned about the appearances of success than the actual quality of life for their citizens. </span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8khAKgBeBPSXWh8s5oKC1Rxg-0ROIkLUKtEwH-IZ_Fc9ETIpal2LFsIDfWqFJ71daDH3FhhFlIivSyPefNQQU2T70sYjttOFA1wk4Nlt9fFeS8R8hGC1Gj8i42cId5Dm-H2cQg8ZWyQD/s1600-h/inspired.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8khAKgBeBPSXWh8s5oKC1Rxg-0ROIkLUKtEwH-IZ_Fc9ETIpal2LFsIDfWqFJ71daDH3FhhFlIivSyPefNQQU2T70sYjttOFA1wk4Nlt9fFeS8R8hGC1Gj8i42cId5Dm-H2cQg8ZWyQD/s400/inspired.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446939586296903106" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4ZolHHorA9LdLtmVqXqyJ7qXSr3a1dHVizGqmrzipYfHULK7k1JcA9WeCPmwUxC1XpvxREYJjflJBAQosfkx1ItknV9WFMJf914JGC5tt3NLC2yCuS3cmXsvlpZOot6rGYoZal_VdxAH/s1600-h/Muse.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4ZolHHorA9LdLtmVqXqyJ7qXSr3a1dHVizGqmrzipYfHULK7k1JcA9WeCPmwUxC1XpvxREYJjflJBAQosfkx1ItknV9WFMJf914JGC5tt3NLC2yCuS3cmXsvlpZOot6rGYoZal_VdxAH/s400/Muse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446939580039314162" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">The United States has made a concerted effort during the past eighteen years of Armenia independence to stimulate the economy with aid. Almost $2 billion has been invested here during that time, the highest per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">capita</span> amount given to any of the 12 former soviet states. Some programs have specific targets, like the </span><i><span style="font-size:130%;">Millennium Challenge</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"> that is seeking to strengthen the agricultural economy by improving the water delivery system throughout the country.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This program has worked hard to establish a new level of transparency in the use of the funds in a former soviet system where corruption was a way of life.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">Other programs have attempted to improve the quality of life by funding a myriad of social programs.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">These are always more difficult if the money has been well-spent.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">In the United States, a welfare program was established during the Depression in the 30’s and then expanded during the 60’s. The goal of the program was to assist families in serious need to “get back on their feet.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But finally during the mid 90’s it became necessary to re-evaluate if was actually working as a </span><b><span style="font-size:130%;">transition to future self-sufficiency</span></b><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">For many it had actually become a way of life that encouraged </span><b><span style="font-size:130%;">greater dependency</span></b><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">So it was re-designed around “</span><span style="font-size:130%;">Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity” that required </span><span style="font-size:130%;">job-training and eventual self-sufficiency.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I see a similar pattern in Armenia where thousands of people created NGO's (called </span><i><span style="font-size:130%;">Non-Profits </span></i><span style="font-size:130%;">in the US) so they could tap into this large revenue stream coming into the country.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And unfortunately many of these organizations have become more skilled in writing the grants than in creating social programs that are self-sustaining. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And this problem is not unique to Armenia.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Many aid programs around the world today from Africa to South America are being criticized for their failure to foster self-sufficiency.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The final aspect of the Armenian society that concerns me is the educational system.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">As a former high school teacher in the States, I am not naive as to the problems with our own educational system.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Yet the system that I have witnessed makes very little efforts made to develop the minds of the students.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">As other volunteers in schools have noted, it is as if the information in the books is sacrosanct and the highest form of learning is memorization.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This must be a hold over from the Soviet days when loyal citizens were expected to adhere to the information provided by the State.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">To solve the problems of the future, Armenia's future leaders will need to have the abilities to analyze and evaluate information and then develop creative solutions.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Today's educational system is not encouraging students to question and reflect on the material they are reading.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Instead their heads are being filled with information they have little interest in.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">A Roman philosopher once said: “</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Education is not about filling a vessel but lighting a fire</span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;">.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The fire of interest and curiosity is surely not being lit.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jOF81gZlG-gs448xh9kINtVqOXhvGa7Ww_5Maz7jPz1c-BZcmAndCOoXQdGgfpfBoKTZDtAlQAo5esJzszde8T9DbMpOpTfh8Ed27phjQI02RlhHWFLhqbzYcmYYDr2AZe5UgkICNZc-/s1600-h/Our+Pickup+Game.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jOF81gZlG-gs448xh9kINtVqOXhvGa7Ww_5Maz7jPz1c-BZcmAndCOoXQdGgfpfBoKTZDtAlQAo5esJzszde8T9DbMpOpTfh8Ed27phjQI02RlhHWFLhqbzYcmYYDr2AZe5UgkICNZc-/s400/Our+Pickup+Game.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446937496830178690" /></a><br /><p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;">And while today's youth puts in </span><span style="font-size:130%;">their time in today's classrooms, the Oligarchs tighten their grip on the Armenian economy that they took over when they purchased the State-run businesses eighteen years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is little that those of us who are volunteers can do about these harsh realities except provide today's youth with some new skills and experiences in Summer Camps and other trainings.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Armenians have demonstrated their ability to excel on the world stage in both sports and music as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">individuals</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But to create a society where opportunity and democracy are a reality, the country needs many more who have developed skills in the in the areas of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">leadership and teamwork</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One young man tried to explain to me that chess in Armenia was really a team sport because they rode together in a van.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For Armenians who have been fiercely independent for centuries, this might seem like teamwork.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But a much greater level of collaboration will be required to create a society where real opportunities are available for the next generation.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-39798014741856361572010-02-10T04:28:00.000-08:002010-02-12T00:08:36.734-08:00Walden Revisited<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF7e59Hi6FJaPvUx_dSW3B1vcUUHucznkGusyvuwjn7hp4B-feiUBHULumVaKEIsixmGZu55G2jyCNwGx-dDsA9gOlYkhmkCCwL8WSWp3iLpSMcr_D3Hvt_L3pAZT3YsYCFHtYFyoy5G-/s1600-h/kids+playing.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF7e59Hi6FJaPvUx_dSW3B1vcUUHucznkGusyvuwjn7hp4B-feiUBHULumVaKEIsixmGZu55G2jyCNwGx-dDsA9gOlYkhmkCCwL8WSWp3iLpSMcr_D3Hvt_L3pAZT3YsYCFHtYFyoy5G-/s400/kids+playing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437257904040996370" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEufS6TzriJW_a3lhM30V1SIJJllGLzfTusURq2Q1uThFyxZ5Zf8Y8udgoDoDAW2jV5J1Kw98uM0Ru7UYu6DvyVG3Uzxrf5xdi6mqIZ0UDdQT9kMp4yMGdjQui9n5JkyNOxs0c6qJz-BHB/s1600-h/hillside.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEufS6TzriJW_a3lhM30V1SIJJllGLzfTusURq2Q1uThFyxZ5Zf8Y8udgoDoDAW2jV5J1Kw98uM0Ru7UYu6DvyVG3Uzxrf5xdi6mqIZ0UDdQT9kMp4yMGdjQui9n5JkyNOxs0c6qJz-BHB/s400/hillside.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436599018792807010" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I was sitting in front of my laptop, listening to some music given me by a new Volunteer, and wondering how to start this month’s blog.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The song came on, </span></span><b><i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">“Slow down everyone, you’re moving too fast/ Frames can’t get you if you’re moving like that.”</span></span></i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It is not exactly a new bit of advice for Americans but one that seems to keep showing up.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Before I left for the Peace Corps the self-help shelves had plenty of titles like, </span></span><i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Slowing Down to the Speed of Life</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And of course we can go back another century to the writings of Thoreau.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">As he declared in his memoir of the two years alone at </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Walden Pond</span></span></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">: “</span></span><i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I went into the woods for I wished to live, deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life! To put to rout all that was not life, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.”</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And yet these romantic views of the “simple life” seem to leave something important out of the discussion.</span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxKrtNrQY565b-JWt1w0ionEFNlYonXU5XLe6Id1qwICr2B8J7tM8wA_k_0KtuxIjGRBiXo4v4MIjS_M2gNNukp0xHRgP2pFUHWkAx9cDINg8nqiv9t74o3MbTE0x7hBrsweCeIP9N4IE/s1600-h/walk+over+the+bridge.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxKrtNrQY565b-JWt1w0ionEFNlYonXU5XLe6Id1qwICr2B8J7tM8wA_k_0KtuxIjGRBiXo4v4MIjS_M2gNNukp0xHRgP2pFUHWkAx9cDINg8nqiv9t74o3MbTE0x7hBrsweCeIP9N4IE/s400/walk+over+the+bridge.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436598172018779266" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And I think I found that missing piece this month in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Armenia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">boredom</span></span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It’s the ghost that chases many Americans to invest in their plasma televisions and other state-of-the-art entertainment devices.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And that </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">art </span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">keeps changing so quickly.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I remember back in the 90’s that I had barely figured out what a </span></span><i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Walkman</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> was when it was already passé to own one.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And from what I read in the business news, the improvements in the </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">iPads</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> and </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">iPhones</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> just keep on coming.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Maybe before I pass, I will actually get to see a consumer version of Dick Tracy’s watch-phone. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">But for right now, I am feeling more like </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Fearless Fosdick </span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">with some holes in my psyche.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I know part of my discomfort comes from the loss of my primary hobby in the States: gardening.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">No matter how difficult my week had been as a teacher or a consultant, there wasn’t anything so bad that a weekend of “playing in the dirt” couldn’t fix.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I would disappear in my backyard Saturday morning and re-appear </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">renewed</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> sometime Sunday evening.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">In fact, I can still hear my dog, Angel, barking to remind me that the sun was setting.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">She was real clear when my gardening time was over and </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">her walk</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> was to start.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I tended to become involved in renovating some area of the backyard and just lose all track of time.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Life’s major problems disappeared as I searched for the best location for my little handful of seeds.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQguaVxHZ_RjsbTA6JyeIbr3696flmk7KqPeu4-lFgIO-evHRBl-anwkLj6StQYfZFn_taDpCjy7NcU1NjbyIikxZ91OuMeHAFxs_uIFf6GJ3pRTpbOroqu9jaIrM2-8Gzv4T8pVoImnVY/s1600-h/walk+to+work.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQguaVxHZ_RjsbTA6JyeIbr3696flmk7KqPeu4-lFgIO-evHRBl-anwkLj6StQYfZFn_taDpCjy7NcU1NjbyIikxZ91OuMeHAFxs_uIFf6GJ3pRTpbOroqu9jaIrM2-8Gzv4T8pVoImnVY/s400/walk+to+work.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436597514161446194" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">My first year in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Armenia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">, I did find myself collecting flower seeds out of habit during my afternoon walks.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The problem was I had no garden to plant them.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I arrived in my current village last August, I did discover two sections by the fountain downtown that had nothing but foot high weeds.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was my first introduction to the socialist system. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Government jobs here seemed to be more about titles, salaries, and status in the community but not necessarily responsibilities.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After a couple of weeks I was able to find out who was responsible for the garden that nobody was tending.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The assistant was supposed to be assuming the title since the boss left for a better job in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Moscow</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After a week I was advised to wait a little bit since one of the judges in town was lobbying to have his nephew be given the position instead.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Unfortunately, all this makes perfect sense in a village where jobs are very scarce.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you are not a taxi-driver, a teacher or own a mini-market, you better hope to have a relative with connections.</span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk_OXQ1bc9DHLeR58xY3B_XRKVYw8MTfjAqIUjAwZ7XDx-gRHMcMQ_QcAp-5xjroPs-K3oKMqv_FOOyTjUegkq-4MQvfJGB06myAWk4u7KeAf6bJSv24k2NxfH7w2iPZo-lelP6vypAHs/s1600-h/river+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk_OXQ1bc9DHLeR58xY3B_XRKVYw8MTfjAqIUjAwZ7XDx-gRHMcMQ_QcAp-5xjroPs-K3oKMqv_FOOyTjUegkq-4MQvfJGB06myAWk4u7KeAf6bJSv24k2NxfH7w2iPZo-lelP6vypAHs/s400/river+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436596695155612738" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After a couple weeks the “dust settled” and I was able to arrange a meeting with the person who had inherited the title.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our conversation was a little bit like a scene from a Woody Allen movie that humorously illustrates miscommunication.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Apparently the idea of a “volunteer” is still a strange concept in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Armenia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I kept offering my services to weed and cultivate a flower garden near the fountain and he kept asking how much salary I needed.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After three attempts to communicate that Peace Corps Volunteers get no salary, </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">“voch pogh</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">,” he finally seemed relieved and was happy to have me do his work.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am sure </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tom Sawyer</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> would have been proud of me.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And so this past summer I enjoyed a couple nostalgic weekends of </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">playing in the dirt.</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Of course I did draw some strange looks from passer-bys, wondering why someone was working over the weekend.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">But in the end, they probably just figured it had something to do with the fact that I was an American.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It would have been too hard to explain that I was having fun.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This May I will find out whether I planted the right type of seeds for the area or whether they even survived the Armenian winter.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">However it turns out, it was a wonderful physical outlet and a place to direct some creative energy.</span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUky1MLRk-tTEJPpND3Bu9VpgfjgWFWGDqhKbmnAVq0D4yiD6kc4laG-mS76pJv7HCTvFY1xCEBoBdunFzon400ty5rNSilMTpYcMRcfNuVuCWBhs_y0FrwWe8ElXfl2ouUildTEWXcgUu/s1600-h/neighborhood+kids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUky1MLRk-tTEJPpND3Bu9VpgfjgWFWGDqhKbmnAVq0D4yiD6kc4laG-mS76pJv7HCTvFY1xCEBoBdunFzon400ty5rNSilMTpYcMRcfNuVuCWBhs_y0FrwWe8ElXfl2ouUildTEWXcgUu/s400/neighborhood+kids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436595668634047890" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIe1dW-zNlFyZF0wLrw4S6V1EFVOHiYZ2jth066Y7qfE6Ng2TsQ5VPGzZ_fhjvDkTGcURMhuIke1XYXbcACgX6DdMbnTbyTrKJE_HHaqZHzh6FcQUZGDldf6biinp9F4Wtfd9V1ARalQt/s1600-h/lakeside.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIe1dW-zNlFyZF0wLrw4S6V1EFVOHiYZ2jth066Y7qfE6Ng2TsQ5VPGzZ_fhjvDkTGcURMhuIke1XYXbcACgX6DdMbnTbyTrKJE_HHaqZHzh6FcQUZGDldf6biinp9F4Wtfd9V1ARalQt/s400/lakeside.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436594410191463234" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">By this time the cooler weather had moved in and I returned to what has become my primary form of relaxation: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">reading</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our Country Director here once commented that she never read more books during any two years of her life that when she was a Volunteer.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I know that is true for me.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was surprised how much I started to enjoy reading books about history.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When you don’t have to memorize a bunch of dates (when</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> was the </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Battle</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> of </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Hastings</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">, again</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">?) and can work from your interests and experience, the whole thing seemed to change.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Seeing all the churches in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Armenia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> from the 9</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> and 10</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> centuries, I started reading about the construction of cathedrals in the medieval ages. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This led me to biographies about Michelangelo and Galileo who both had their hands full dealing with the popes of their times.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Next thing I know I am wandering through the Dark Ages and all the wars fought over religion. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">(Spending a little time with </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Crusades</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> can make the events of </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">9/11</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> and today’s terrorism a lot more understandable.) </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">By the time I got to the 20</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> century, I decided to check out the </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> saga of my childhood: Communism vs. Catholicism.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I had been plowing through this rather large book on the fall of the Soviet Empire when the book arrived on Pope John XXIII, one of my heroes from the 60’s.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Reading them both at the same time added an interesting perspective.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I finished I wasn’t sure who had a more difficult job trying to change their particular organization.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Gorbachev had an impossible job trying to wrestle control away from the KGB and the old guard of the Communist Party.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">But then again Pope John had to deal with the Cardinals and the Curia.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was kind of a toss-up.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And what will future history books say about Obama's struggles to improve the healthcare of our country? He surely has his work cut out for him, haven taken on the Titans of Profit in the Health Industry: the insurance companies, the pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the AMA. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I guess that’s where a large plasma screen comes in handy, as a good diversion from those painful growing pains on in our society. </span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">For the next couple months, I think my wide-screen TV is going to be the sidewalks and paths of my village where I can check out the </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Mother Nature Channel</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And as you can see from the photos, she’s put on a pretty good show lately.</span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOdpCY3P_yuqbR9YL_lJbgZbEewJrIcKN7j5eRJz7w5nqfHd-DyszbJ9in1Z0Dk4nr8_wkEMfPuCkaWsy1yOiImS9zVFzw3Ha8bcJWwe1Xkxr3Jcz_12TdlPUgOqy06pvWRQ4HM5QbGoZ/s1600-h/kids+w+sled.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOdpCY3P_yuqbR9YL_lJbgZbEewJrIcKN7j5eRJz7w5nqfHd-DyszbJ9in1Z0Dk4nr8_wkEMfPuCkaWsy1yOiImS9zVFzw3Ha8bcJWwe1Xkxr3Jcz_12TdlPUgOqy06pvWRQ4HM5QbGoZ/s400/kids+w+sled.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436594403898988466" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Calibri;"><br /></span></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-52790690138871952192010-01-11T01:02:00.000-08:002010-01-11T02:23:01.052-08:00Holiday Reflections<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzqMSupd0Olat6KdummwcH0flWD0OB7PirSCVWHyeV8_9Q37aYYB4N2O3Xx6VkpWfR-t2OFwawaLyk4Jh2vNbS8UKo2x1Kc-7p6vRg4PaLekyiy15DP3iAE8SrBst1e8LoxR6Stbb_B3i/s1600-h/Holiday+Table.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzqMSupd0Olat6KdummwcH0flWD0OB7PirSCVWHyeV8_9Q37aYYB4N2O3Xx6VkpWfR-t2OFwawaLyk4Jh2vNbS8UKo2x1Kc-7p6vRg4PaLekyiy15DP3iAE8SrBst1e8LoxR6Stbb_B3i/s400/Holiday+Table.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425418460975465570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqk8qSPohXJBqIJLza9foM8Sm1GH1lExSuROgtgTJtHwpxzTtaF_ciLAA9Ie8p-9bK7ZAyKv6U5JufoWpg28m_E4yJhsub_dWKvhd8L28F6L3z32thhKa_AGI_20465RKOtAi2LG-g586/s1600-h/Dancing+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqk8qSPohXJBqIJLza9foM8Sm1GH1lExSuROgtgTJtHwpxzTtaF_ciLAA9Ie8p-9bK7ZAyKv6U5JufoWpg28m_E4yJhsub_dWKvhd8L28F6L3z32thhKa_AGI_20465RKOtAi2LG-g586/s400/Dancing+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417645575591010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-uK2VPYwnnm4lco9XMWDdX0miOxxiLriAVSqmlZMLLqWky9_hkTjwaWMRBqUogMl9wmD3ZkftjrIej9295Rg4Mm4OnLz8gEGSliJwFcSO5oCjSN1FC7IesD_WeH7vEHxm8tF2CoMiaEi/s1600-h/Armenian+dancer+to+be.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-uK2VPYwnnm4lco9XMWDdX0miOxxiLriAVSqmlZMLLqWky9_hkTjwaWMRBqUogMl9wmD3ZkftjrIej9295Rg4Mm4OnLz8gEGSliJwFcSO5oCjSN1FC7IesD_WeH7vEHxm8tF2CoMiaEi/s400/Armenian+dancer+to+be.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417256993240722" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Last year I was like a tourist at the station with the train schedule in his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had been told that the Christmas Train arrived a little late in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Orthodox Church had settled on January 6<sup>th</sup> instead of December 25<sup>th</sup>. "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Problem chica,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">"</b></i> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">no problem,</b> as they say here. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I just needed to be a little patient and this special holiday would arrive a little late.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I waited during the two weeks prior to the Armenian Christmas, I did notice that the street decorations were a little sparse and the stores were missing that festive spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wrote it off to the financial crisis <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region> was still recovering from. But then January 6<sup>th</sup> arrived and nothing happened.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Christmas</i> as I knew it never arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And like most confused tourists, I walked away from the train station shaking my head. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">As I later discovered the date is not the only thing that makes Christmas in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region> different.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><em>I was looking in the wrong place</em></span><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><em><strong>.</strong></em> The celebration here doesn't really show up in the stores, the streets, or even under a Christmas tree.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Armenian Christmas takes place around the </span><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">family table.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This year I was more prepared and had a wonderful time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">In fact, I even got a couple "warm-up" events as two of the young ladies I tutor had birthdays in December.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And birthdays are like a mini-Christmas where the mothers get to practice their skills at </span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><strong>stacking</strong> plates of food.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></em><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It's not time to sit down to eat until the second tier of plates has been stacked on top of the first.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For like Christmas, it is the sharing of a wonderful meal and not the giving of presents that is central to the celebration. And when the eating has slowed down, someone usually turns the music system up as loud as possible and the dancing starts. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is a real art to the hand movements for dancing in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and one I don't expect to master anytime soon. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But there are plenty of home-made fruit juice, wine, bottled water and Coke to keep the dancers refreshed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(For male celebrations you can also expect to find plenty of cognac and vodka.)</span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOy8cI3IvSBO_rJJgkRCdA__BmZXeLBpG2A7yOHD1PPrnIwfEzriqqpIAP2mINB_GJYdzjIovrlaQZJufcvJZAEoy79NNA-sjl-64bWRz93U4gdeUPmTHgjWXxD9s9aXBS2X0TiGOTXfn/s1600-h/Hasmik's+BDay.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOy8cI3IvSBO_rJJgkRCdA__BmZXeLBpG2A7yOHD1PPrnIwfEzriqqpIAP2mINB_GJYdzjIovrlaQZJufcvJZAEoy79NNA-sjl-64bWRz93U4gdeUPmTHgjWXxD9s9aXBS2X0TiGOTXfn/s400/Hasmik's+BDay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416693976197682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukOyKn1fthiClYO_cnJ4RbETFyz9TXe-RUXaIi_dD9aae9D3OZOujfKX7elFaI3Dr6BupXddA8x1sRscl2DERYQ2BFlHx78CCCuQlEYP9XT3N98bf5ea-Lio35_vZggMryNq8Pk5rf3Mv/s1600-h/LCAC+Reunion.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukOyKn1fthiClYO_cnJ4RbETFyz9TXe-RUXaIi_dD9aae9D3OZOujfKX7elFaI3Dr6BupXddA8x1sRscl2DERYQ2BFlHx78CCCuQlEYP9XT3N98bf5ea-Lio35_vZggMryNq8Pk5rf3Mv/s400/LCAC+Reunion.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425415529325620642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXZXZ1WNZQRwMUcBKG-r5VVwQjU-Rk4T0H09L0iWX9naDtQtQ6qdYQFQlQgkmVbYxmMB8_9tsn0-LYwhaJQTnwOLhLdKg87W4OTiTfL_vNuZQdXlJYgM7n8w516lTBm30O9ZIaPdx85uP/s1600-h/Hugs+from+the+Angels.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXZXZ1WNZQRwMUcBKG-r5VVwQjU-Rk4T0H09L0iWX9naDtQtQ6qdYQFQlQgkmVbYxmMB8_9tsn0-LYwhaJQTnwOLhLdKg87W4OTiTfL_vNuZQdXlJYgM7n8w516lTBm30O9ZIaPdx85uP/s400/Hugs+from+the+Angels.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425414886826004194" /></a><br /><p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">In <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> the holiday season gets started with Thanksgiving and is pretty much completed by New Years. Here, the season doesn't begin until January 1<sup>st</sup>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nor Tari</i></b>, and continues until January 11<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their world of work stops and everything is set aside for visiting friends and relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is not possible for some families that have been forced to relocate to <st1:country-region st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> or <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> to find work. (One teen I visited hadn't seen his father for almost a year and a half.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For others, it means driving to a nearby town or just to the other side of their village.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">This is also the time when your neighbors "drop in" at all hours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What might drive an American hostess to distraction is considered an expected part of Armenian hospitality.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While we often prepare a rather large meal for Christmas Day, the Armenian families keep a banquet table ready with food <strong>for the whole week</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No visit would be complete without toasting your guests with at least one shot of vodka.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On New Year's Day one father "made the rounds" to his neighbors' homes and returned about an hour and a half later.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It would a fair assessment to say he was "rather toasted" when he returned!</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">Having lived in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region> for over a year now, I felt very much a part of the local network of relationships. I used part of the time to re-connect with some of the teens I worked with at camps last summer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was also invited to spend a couple days living with various families.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remembering how much some of the children last year enjoyed the strange man with the white hair and beard, I chose not to shave for a couple months.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although I wasn't wearing a red suit or riding in a sleigh, many kids still thought I might be "Dzmare Papek" or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Winter Grandfather</i></b> as they refer to Santa here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:">One family had these two little girls who decided it would be fun to comb out my beard.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their mother was a little embarrassed by their behavior but I found it a small price to pay for my ride this year on the Christmas Train. Being 7,000 miles from home, it was pretty sweet to be taken care of by a couple of Angels. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-77259570540117085022009-12-22T03:33:00.000-08:002009-12-23T00:49:42.011-08:00The Other Side of Disappointment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdECHEE4sFABK_G05wwDlU-SnflL31X7yVlcFFpb7zcAlpcdK2E89ZPjoQ8F6-OXkstgjvKPiFuk3MOrcMIoBk7OgJsBNCxIT00FMAQ4q235jBXwGHQEqweXZkRgauB78PlV04DeINIT3b/s1600-h/Dilijan+Xmas+Night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdECHEE4sFABK_G05wwDlU-SnflL31X7yVlcFFpb7zcAlpcdK2E89ZPjoQ8F6-OXkstgjvKPiFuk3MOrcMIoBk7OgJsBNCxIT00FMAQ4q235jBXwGHQEqweXZkRgauB78PlV04DeINIT3b/s400/Dilijan+Xmas+Night.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418032599512821778" /></a><br /><p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last weekend a new Peace Corps Volunteers from another village stayed at my apartment. His sense of discouragement after the first four months in his village was truly </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">déjà vu</span></i><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">He came to </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:georgia;"> to </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">make a difference</span></i></b><span style="font-family:georgia;"> but the apparent lack of planning and specific goals at his worksite was making him crazy. This can be very frustrating for Americans with our focus on achievement and results.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I should know.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I spent the first six months of my service trying to get two Tourism organizations in my village to work together.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was not successful.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> As I saw my own attitude starting to sour, I switched from business projects to community development.</span></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-CRTon06ES75aPwR4AW1Pp6bBdyIp3bRKjN3sxFSensdbISn5P8ryy0pLNLLAqi2PocpcKboUF0G8honjgIfW4k_Jf_qVfGzaz_mOQaqJ5JCocQPQPbCEeyFtPLd-44dg3LvzYXMxQZI/s1600-h/Tat+%26+Nune+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-CRTon06ES75aPwR4AW1Pp6bBdyIp3bRKjN3sxFSensdbISn5P8ryy0pLNLLAqi2PocpcKboUF0G8honjgIfW4k_Jf_qVfGzaz_mOQaqJ5JCocQPQPbCEeyFtPLd-44dg3LvzYXMxQZI/s400/Tat+%26+Nune+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418031907547834546" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This past spring I become involved with a youth development program. And then my Armenian tutor introduced me to some other young adults wanting to improve their English skills in the hopes of finding a better job . . . and maybe even a better life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I also helped her tutor a couple high school seniors preparing for their college entrance exam in English. By the time summer ended, I was ready to find more full-time work at a local K-12 school.</span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGui3MqWiTu0ak5Mxug767tpqdRDBPhMpoTJGE0HhDzZhS89wDvPqgK2_-aCTSPsu5IduYVVQYLHUUKBfpMXaj6t2GkZepFP2Wc8Vhu2zZ_FCTcJWeB-keuwwqlr79A0e8NJThlG9pVVvv/s1600-h/Ana+%26+Aida.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGui3MqWiTu0ak5Mxug767tpqdRDBPhMpoTJGE0HhDzZhS89wDvPqgK2_-aCTSPsu5IduYVVQYLHUUKBfpMXaj6t2GkZepFP2Wc8Vhu2zZ_FCTcJWeB-keuwwqlr79A0e8NJThlG9pVVvv/s400/Ana+%26+Aida.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418031296657043378" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgHcemQtkGW8OAqjcR5pJp7Z_oUa3_N14AWMmBuW9UuMI0gbiRIZHHySiHS9TpCczZg7yOQPQlgpRB6YRf2Y28ngwL99K7uhvbSEpmgZ_OKG30HNKpx-vS__HnUpSs8Sht20HOx3fySuu/s1600-h/Armine+%26+2+kids.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgHcemQtkGW8OAqjcR5pJp7Z_oUa3_N14AWMmBuW9UuMI0gbiRIZHHySiHS9TpCczZg7yOQPQlgpRB6YRf2Y28ngwL99K7uhvbSEpmgZ_OKG30HNKpx-vS__HnUpSs8Sht20HOx3fySuu/s400/Armine+%26+2+kids.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418031292711215570" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">My hopes were high as the director of my Non-Profit agreed to introduce me to his buddy who was the Principal of the one of the four schools in town.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was excited to "be doing something" again, a favorite American pastime. And the students seemed enthused and excited to have a new face in the room, to do something besides rote memory.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">My only concern was my fellow teacher. She seemed to be pretty set in her ways. I had been told that English teachers in Armenia made half their money outside the classroom with tutoring. I had been warned not to speak better English than her which might threaten her image. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Well, a</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">fter a couple days of working at the new school, my NGO Director stuck his head in my office and said in a dead-panned voice: "</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Your teaching assignment is now complete.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">The kids were too noisy</span></i></b><span style="font-family:georgia;">."</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">He then walked away.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was stunned not just by the rather cryptic method of communication but the fact that the "problem" had never even been discussed. I decided that I was now living in the <em><strong>Post-Soviet</strong></em> world.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Otherwise, I might have gotten an invitation to a train ride to a labor camp in </span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Siberia</span></st1:place><span style="font-family:georgia;">, as I had read about in Soviet history.</span></span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It was at this point that my “relationship network" so central to village life came to my rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My Armenian tutor called the Principal of another K-12 and two days later I was team-teaching English again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This time I was fortunate to be matched with three teachers who enjoyed having help with their lesson plans. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One even admitted that her English had gotten rusty during two years of maternity leave and was looking forward brushing up her skills. I was excited, <strong><em>again.</em></strong></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But then the country’s fears around the Swine Flu stepped in. The Armenian Ministry of Health decided to close all the schools in the country for a month until mid-January. While there had been less than fifty cases in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, they lacked the needed vaccinations to respond to a potential outbreak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Disappointment again raised its ugly head and I was again back to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Square One</i> with just a couple tutoring classes.</span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsWIUO37CTGktXo1RjghpaZQwSzYyzmlmVfULpmM1dXaEUEaQdSS0gZsSL-M4ffej1s33qONJDRFylo92XWPZ4RKWBsjaY8lCZgGW_IZA7qHUjDjqV4S__v0e-fTwoaxHRO08iy7L8fIN/s1600-h/Picture+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsWIUO37CTGktXo1RjghpaZQwSzYyzmlmVfULpmM1dXaEUEaQdSS0gZsSL-M4ffej1s33qONJDRFylo92XWPZ4RKWBsjaY8lCZgGW_IZA7qHUjDjqV4S__v0e-fTwoaxHRO08iy7L8fIN/s400/Picture+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418030204243649026" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So this morning seemed like a good time to regain my perspective for the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had no place to go so I grabbed my camera and started off on a tour of my street. It was perfect that one of our two local busses would appear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In my experience the bus drivers are the backbone of normal life for our village, especially in the coming weeks when the snow becomes an issue. In a country where “punctuality” is hard to find, one cannot but be impressed by their reliability.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Each of the drivers goes from one end of the village to the other all day long.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You "can set your watch" (if I still had one) by their arrival on the half-hour. And like two hands of a clock they tend to cross at the same place in the middle of town. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And then there is <strong><em>the community aspect</em></strong> of taking the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The busses have seating for 20 passengers and yet every morning they arrive at my bus stop with 40 adults and students already packed in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even as an American, you can't help but feel like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">part of the community</i> as they figure out how to make you the 41<sup>st</sup> person wedged into the back of the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuu7mA0mvOfWePY4AWXSG3ZKJkVwx38i7uV-dC8Pz9lqDlZ536W4b-ASzPqNM8QtN5UNRQ6G6BTiAMah7PIGm3VtIwxMPsEctrYpxlkaFnQIHO1rBrcqh6pV8b3GvcHSwhgwv8EK8ZjTW/s1600-h/Bus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuu7mA0mvOfWePY4AWXSG3ZKJkVwx38i7uV-dC8Pz9lqDlZ536W4b-ASzPqNM8QtN5UNRQ6G6BTiAMah7PIGm3VtIwxMPsEctrYpxlkaFnQIHO1rBrcqh6pV8b3GvcHSwhgwv8EK8ZjTW/s400/Bus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418028913817400786" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OkiKQyom7-EIUi14QlNeP98MG-X3Z4wK5NSxodXBPYmLYQGPm-aDu0r2h2ICu2L8BPX1KkNlzp-F8Xg-ZpN67zsk9Xv1_M_hvOQlla2oqfEr8fb69m8RzCvS5BCTafG0KPKGzVTRKVZO/s1600-h/Sweeper+One.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OkiKQyom7-EIUi14QlNeP98MG-X3Z4wK5NSxodXBPYmLYQGPm-aDu0r2h2ICu2L8BPX1KkNlzp-F8Xg-ZpN67zsk9Xv1_M_hvOQlla2oqfEr8fb69m8RzCvS5BCTafG0KPKGzVTRKVZO/s400/Sweeper+One.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418028903989045362" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once the bus had pulled away, I noticed a couple of my favorite people in the village: the ladies who sweep the curbs of the streets everyday with their traditional home-made brooms.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Somehow for me they represent the part of </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:georgia;"> that just “keeps on keeping on.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">One was busy making little piles of dirt along the curb.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">The other had stopped to chat with my barber in front of his shop.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">It is not too hard to see the past two decades of struggle for independence in their faces. </span></span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><o:p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></o:p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhje10SZSCty0eWu7wn_1yRFsZqKm1eyXCauhpvBfx7bpRMdU9Xr5zNKQDh6x4tUYjZfjrkm-UVzJzx3a28Oz970_1MK1IemiAcH5RA-2p4VXdm32-3ujQa0pv9TbxTytX7QATUDejTRMs/s1600-h/Storefront+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhje10SZSCty0eWu7wn_1yRFsZqKm1eyXCauhpvBfx7bpRMdU9Xr5zNKQDh6x4tUYjZfjrkm-UVzJzx3a28Oz970_1MK1IemiAcH5RA-2p4VXdm32-3ujQa0pv9TbxTytX7QATUDejTRMs/s400/Storefront+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418027564688682402" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIEx5_gkBfyl0fEtrjZ10Bcq3hSRIvFVwnmVTKEO4USs3APNZttB041Vodqet7J1clQvTRp122SEZEHl13AhHy80JHc6CdLF79jP4rrkM3QixGvslxvtDPeiBwok0vGi0vN9rDgKwebLl/s1600-h/Barber+%26+Sweeper+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIEx5_gkBfyl0fEtrjZ10Bcq3hSRIvFVwnmVTKEO4USs3APNZttB041Vodqet7J1clQvTRp122SEZEHl13AhHy80JHc6CdLF79jP4rrkM3QixGvslxvtDPeiBwok0vGi0vN9rDgKwebLl/s400/Barber+%26+Sweeper+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418027563654140658" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><p><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="font-family:georgia;">But this morning as I continued the walk along my street, I passed a handful of storefronts where residents sell a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits in front of their houses.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Some have even built a little room in front and added a window for transactions so they could include a small sampling of packaged goods and ever present convenience items like cigarettes and phone cards. Our daily interactions are limited (by my language skills) but sweet.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">It takes just a simple greeting or a friendly word to bring a smile to their faces. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sometimes we might even share a reflection on the snow that we both know is coming soon.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">But today our butcher had his axe out so I kept moving.</span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcW_313I-xsNme17yNtp2NzoAEmXciTwWLBQSoxE2LzDvHrFjy9taGyw5O1-FSXmAiN-4_riW0GP5cyBFAKHDBYKDjDhiMPh86LvTB-VvqATZufWAVv53NBevuBqYveYCXBXq6GPuHOQl/s1600-h/Storefront+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcW_313I-xsNme17yNtp2NzoAEmXciTwWLBQSoxE2LzDvHrFjy9taGyw5O1-FSXmAiN-4_riW0GP5cyBFAKHDBYKDjDhiMPh86LvTB-VvqATZufWAVv53NBevuBqYveYCXBXq6GPuHOQl/s400/Storefront+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418025584836625730" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIt8JAuKl7vrnZUPxkWG1Rv7VkxxLnoRFDlpPyGiG8kpjnfeJ8pUuC6v1rq0rJ6kDAJzzkMwJ4HSTRHtmpkOLyZGwBNTiyNuVV76EfM89omi7fXefZMuBYzYZFCWXRATHwLbldNgo4TWd/s1600-h/Butcher+at+work.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIt8JAuKl7vrnZUPxkWG1Rv7VkxxLnoRFDlpPyGiG8kpjnfeJ8pUuC6v1rq0rJ6kDAJzzkMwJ4HSTRHtmpkOLyZGwBNTiyNuVV76EfM89omi7fXefZMuBYzYZFCWXRATHwLbldNgo4TWd/s400/Butcher+at+work.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418025581737912754" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It’s a simple life they live and one I share with them on some level. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Their joys and hopes are simple and tightly bound up with their families.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not much will happen this week despite the fact that this Friday is the 25th.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">This week is one of preparation for the New Year, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Nor Tari</span></i></b><span style="font-family:georgia;">. The New Years is not about champagne and </span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Times Square</span></st1:place><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rather the first 10 days of January are for visiting family and friends.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Almost nobody “goes to work” during that time. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">As my loved ones are 7,000 miles away, I will be spending time with my Peace Corps family.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">And along the way I will surely enjoy some time with <em>my local Bus Community.</em></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0erxripn7jiNpIf8L219rxpoSmYXx1svPh05KXkbq8zQJAHwUH4es_IyNDhXSMn32jolhCmdnIlIw_VsPZMxM-11VZqnu9m-w2KpYgh2ER-7JDgLAhWR0a1huIqUABJ-ZAF6mG9cULo8t/s1600-h/Armine's+Family.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0erxripn7jiNpIf8L219rxpoSmYXx1svPh05KXkbq8zQJAHwUH4es_IyNDhXSMn32jolhCmdnIlIw_VsPZMxM-11VZqnu9m-w2KpYgh2ER-7JDgLAhWR0a1huIqUABJ-ZAF6mG9cULo8t/s400/Armine's+Family.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418023123309341778" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">Enjoy your holidays</span></strong></span></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.......... </span></span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="'font-family:"><span style="color:#009900;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">and your Families!</span></strong></span></span></i></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-53016882427224598692009-11-18T02:55:00.000-08:002009-11-19T04:49:03.152-08:00Armenian Soap Operas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs4gf9EWI4f55xZxo76nfu7EksNCJHIkoOXt5uUtHVe9XHAwiC-ouAq4Yyzby8vs6vPvEwgo-kjOBHv94Ri0xYrROSjCO0diQ5QxX2zap0usw-YAM8qOywhaMm-HfORU7WB19Qs1qjA6Z/s1600/Armenian+Soaps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405410013800808818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs4gf9EWI4f55xZxo76nfu7EksNCJHIkoOXt5uUtHVe9XHAwiC-ouAq4Yyzby8vs6vPvEwgo-kjOBHv94Ri0xYrROSjCO0diQ5QxX2zap0usw-YAM8qOywhaMm-HfORU7WB19Qs1qjA6Z/s400/Armenian+Soaps.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Armenian Soap Operas</span></em></strong><br /></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></em></strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFbW4S_-0N_FxmmwTyF2KuUlrWj6dipdSnva0n67j9JgXRNMDdNxTS5KyxdShrsm-0ZCi_Bki9z-2eKD7srLLN1BbV_kHvmAU-RCZZ0nMHt_fCljtpR6inu70_-KIWK5C4MknvWRuwace/s1600/Latin+American+Soap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405405800307702050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFbW4S_-0N_FxmmwTyF2KuUlrWj6dipdSnva0n67j9JgXRNMDdNxTS5KyxdShrsm-0ZCi_Bki9z-2eKD7srLLN1BbV_kHvmAU-RCZZ0nMHt_fCljtpR6inu70_-KIWK5C4MknvWRuwace/s400/Latin+American+Soap.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have recently started team-teaching high school English with a couple Armenian teachers. I enjoy the challenge of finding new ways to make the material somewhat interesting. Last week's lesson in their textbook was on the different types of television shows from news to nature shows to soap operas. So I offered a prize to whoever could find out why they were called soap operas. I had read somewhere in the past that the manufacturers of soaps and other products for the home were the primary advertisers in an effort to reach the heavily female audience. What I didn't realize until I Googled it last week was that "soap operas" started with radio shows back in the 30's. And to this day their popularity continues world wide with Latin America now leading the way with over 2 billion viewers annually.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxTmcHCnOzq7ioYNBH1faR5F6xXPZRcI_D1OWej5Hd63F-g29suhdw-0lN5vXXj4GqQnyu_ylmM_LC0GYdZ8NQ8CIOYIkBxVWeAYEWXI0m8fJH3Xc1i9mYlhYddnGyli3NXPtclh815lk/s1600/Mihran+%26+Lusine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405404887377798162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxTmcHCnOzq7ioYNBH1faR5F6xXPZRcI_D1OWej5Hd63F-g29suhdw-0lN5vXXj4GqQnyu_ylmM_LC0GYdZ8NQ8CIOYIkBxVWeAYEWXI0m8fJH3Xc1i9mYlhYddnGyli3NXPtclh815lk/s400/Mihran+%26+Lusine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />When I moved into my own apartment last year I never bothered to plug in my television as all the shows are either in Russian or Armenian. But from my first couple months living with a host family I did get a taste of the local soap operas popular in this country. We have those imported from Latin America that seem to have been made in the '90's or even the '80's. It is quite a cross-cultural experience for an American to watch a jealous rage between two hot-blooded Spaniards with the dialogue dubbed in Russian. And of course there are the very popular Russian mafia soaps. These seem to be have been produced on a very limited budget judging from the limited number of sets used. You have the two mob rivals posturing on their cell phones with each other. The words escape me but their facial expressions say it all. Or there are the scenes where one of the mob bosses is giving an earful to one of his underlings who apparently misplaced a body or some money. I can usually figure out what was happening from the body language, especially when the boss slaps him in the face. These shows usually try to break up the boredom by occasionally throwing in a Jacuzzi scene with the rather corpulent head of the Mafiosa and his rather svelte girlfriend (in bathing suits, of course). But his enjoyment can be short-lived should his enemies offer her enough money to change sides. It is all rather mindless.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwifCXzg0kvh9sZd9QqX-aY-hjet3tRish9NnLMsl9Sp6lZ5ZI53XOQTNSQvfWTrHPewNl-WaoH0_-r_o2q0PdyCfrmZySgo6mV_StvMcozftOrITlK5Wtf4SxO-YuA3UhQiFxviTvPuU/s1600/YB+Trainees.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405404344091366386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwifCXzg0kvh9sZd9QqX-aY-hjet3tRish9NnLMsl9Sp6lZ5ZI53XOQTNSQvfWTrHPewNl-WaoH0_-r_o2q0PdyCfrmZySgo6mV_StvMcozftOrITlK5Wtf4SxO-YuA3UhQiFxviTvPuU/s400/YB+Trainees.JPG" border="0" /></a> After moving out from my host family to my own apartment about this time last year, I soon discovered some local "soap operas" that weren't so mindless. My initial business assignment at my site was to help expand tourism efforts at in my town of 12,000. With little besides one company that bottles water, Tourism could be a great boost to the local economy. And with our town's reputation (as mentioned in an earlier blog) as being <em>The</em> <em>Little Switzerland </em>of Armenia, our area has a history of being a popular tourist destination during the Soviet period. I soon go to know the two staff members at a newly-opened Tourism Information Center. They were in their mid-twenties and lucky for me spoke pretty good English. When I had a "bad hair day" at my NGO, I found myself stopping by just to have someone to talk with on my walk home. Fortunately, my two new friends didn't seem to know how much psychiatrists are paid for <strong><em>such conversations</em></strong> in America.</div><br />But it wasn't long before I discovered their problems were more serious than mine. Their office was functioning as a "show piece" for the headquarters in the capitol. They were given almost no support. There were even periods when their Internet services didn't operate for lack of payment and they could do nothing to generate contact with other tourism agencies. And as the tourism season wound down, all they could do was to sit and wait for the occasional young hikers to stumble through looking for a map. Soon the situation became worse as their salaries started to come a couple weeks then a month late. Contacts with the main office were fruitless as their boss was usually away at trade shows in Paris, Brussels, and even the US. While she was busy collecting brochures, her tourism branch office had come to a complete standstil from a lack of direction.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUaCskr_jMtqBcD8vPa3FHTPyV4kDQM6NrRDo5K_nKNesp6VbOz_0fHg5LIJvJIf_UT_C2HLNESfCDVDaYlWsEA228_8olJMwwFI_GUblkUzpfPR6XXAjf0LeC5gD0i8b2vGHh59OvEVp/s1600/3+Female+Bees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405403842723403234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUaCskr_jMtqBcD8vPa3FHTPyV4kDQM6NrRDo5K_nKNesp6VbOz_0fHg5LIJvJIf_UT_C2HLNESfCDVDaYlWsEA228_8olJMwwFI_GUblkUzpfPR6XXAjf0LeC5gD0i8b2vGHh59OvEVp/s400/3+Female+Bees.jpg" border="0" /></a> Then this summer a "soap opera" showed up at my front door in the midst of a youth development project I was involved in. When we wrote a proposal to be one of the six Youth Bank sites in Armenia, I was attracted by two goals of the program. We would train some young adults in our town in leadership and teamwork and then they would manage a handful of local community improvement projects, each receiving a small grant of $500 each. I don't think many applied for this grant as it was for only $2.500 and all the money went into the community. Since there would be no salaries for those managing the grant, very few bothered to apply.<br /><div><div><br /><div>At first the program seemed to progress according to plan. We interviewed a couple dozen young adults (16-22) who applied and selected the best six. We then spent 3 days in the capitol with the Youth Bank teams from the other regions where they received training in how to evaluate community projects. They were taught to evaluate the proposals based on the “SMART” guidelines: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. If nothing else, this was an opportunity for them to be gain some skills in logic and analytical thinking. Most of what passes for education in Armenia schools is <em>rote memorization</em>, just like learning your multiplication tables. I have a feeling this is a hold-over from the Soviet system. Good citizens did not question or analyze the information but just absorbed it as <strong><em>Truth</em></strong>. Last year I tutored a very bright high school senior as she prepared for her college entrance exam in English. We would read a page in English and then she would want to close the book and repeat it . . .<em> from memory</em>. But when we started to discuss the article, she had almost no idea <strong>what it meant</strong>. That did not keep her score on the college English test from being the 2nd highest in our city. </div><div><br />So, when our Youth Bank group returned from their training in Yerevan, they posted announcements for our region requesting applications for community projects. Then applying the "SMART" guidelines, they eliminated half of the 40 proposals. They scheduled interview panels for the rest and finally selected the best 5 projects to receive funding. </div><div><br />The funding was to take place in early summer so our Youth Bank team could monitor the implementation of the projects. Well, summer came and went. Then it was September and then October and we were still being given "reasons" instead of funds. Since 5 projects of $500 each were not going to change the future of Armenia, I wasn't concerned about the project start dates but the "ripple effect" on our Youth Bank team. The plan was to give this handful of talented young adults a practical experience to learn leadership and teamwork. Now they had nothing to do but like my friends at the Vistor Center to sit and wait. <br /><br />This was when the "soap opera" started. I tried to meet with partner in the project, who agreed to be the Youth Bank sponsor. That didn't prove to be so easy as he was busy traveling to other countries for seminars on…………. "Youth Development Training." It was truly <strong><em>deja vu.</em></strong> He was busy collecting brochures on leadership while our group floundered. I wished my skills in Armenian were better so I could have created some team meetings. </div><div><br /></div><div>I began to see that our members were not just bored but discouraged. Then one young lady who I felt had the most leadership potentional in our group dropped out. This was truly a "red flag" that something was going on. It turned out, our Youth Leader would return from his trips and call individual members and berate them for poor attendance and performance. I did meet with a couple individual members and tried to reinforce my confidence in their abilities. </div><div> <br />Eventually, our team members decided to call their own meeting. As usual when I have conversations in Armenian, I add new words to my vocabulary. When they told me about their meeting, they agreed that they had all "been offended" by the way they were talked to by the Youth Leader. The group decision was to have a meeting in the capitol with the organization that funded our program. I could hear their frustrations but I could also see their teamwork and leadership skills coming to the surface. In some strange way the program was working.<br /><br />This type of "CYA" leadership where blame is passed down is surely not new to any of us who have worked in business, government or schools. Most of us have probably been on the "receiving end" of such politics before. Yet I found this especially difficult to watch for a couple reasons. We recruited these young adults <strong><em>to develop them not to discourage them</em></strong>. Secondly, good leaders in Armenia are in very short supply. Many of those in leadership positions today are just those who have survived the posturing and intrigue of Soviet politics. I think that will have to be a topic for a future blog: <em>Soviet Ghosts in Armenia.<br /></em></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>As I finish up this entry, the holiday celebration of Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But like December 25th, <em><strong>the 4th Thursday in November</strong></em> has no special meaning in Armenia. Peace Corps does create an opportunity for us to gather a week early for an "All-Vol Conference." It is billed as a training conference. But what most of us remember from last year was the camaraderie of fellow Volunteers and traditional American cooking, something we see little of for our two years. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I was growing up, I remember America being referred to as<strong><em> The Land of Opportunity</em></strong>. This vision easily gets buried under the constant news barrage of Middle East wars, Health Care reform, and financial crisis. But now living in an under-developed area of the world, I can see one reality very clearly: our children are truly blessed with opportunities unknown to many around the world. And for that <strong>I give thanks</strong>. I hope your holiday is also a celebration.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-9050265685970786892009-10-12T02:19:00.000-07:002009-10-13T00:25:17.378-07:00The Tea Boy Gave me Change<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQsa-xuIhoRiQ-7CUz0WYXk2ixB1YQXLRYXLgH0MXUUS6l8Z6nXC-w6VvJFJ1X3aoSG14AoRPSCDy2nMp0ypRXpEd0CAkjc7oOOhqVg-Hwl-fVitM48BDxQX4A0NKbe1EYEK-SsyJfnZY/s1600-h/Younger+women+avoid+plain+black+colors.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391664430972872530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQsa-xuIhoRiQ-7CUz0WYXk2ixB1YQXLRYXLgH0MXUUS6l8Z6nXC-w6VvJFJ1X3aoSG14AoRPSCDy2nMp0ypRXpEd0CAkjc7oOOhqVg-Hwl-fVitM48BDxQX4A0NKbe1EYEK-SsyJfnZY/s400/Younger+women+avoid+plain+black+colors.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk0XkxsE43NlwJWreQtKZNNud_p8W1ZmC0JDLlDOE4DQIoR_LXBujF_HAriJCauoj4-QoD3QdvxnrAxiKlreN2ZJ42hTSC8z3ccjAl9cX0641myDW07N9vWsLJ4_0HlbYrsaCukL-dcNv/s1600-h/Facing+the+Future.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391664426679605682" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8dFBcYA6UGQPSLrWkvyLGptb-AUndrrO1GG1UYHfY7oINDoyOm2eB9nXb3TWjTkLyDeDRL_8213MEA27W_xdfO_DyKcX3yEjgMsBPwJ_eMLoYDs6pNxG2zmHwDroauKJjNzGU90RYV-9/s400/Abulutions.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDxYuPktUSVQco1DjtxK6vgAxSMCgrE9oAqwHvq7RQQyWOGwxsi6M4gU-eq6k-Yyq5SkdZDa86UUBNPTNNwaOhn7y2g-isXd3er6OO39f4R58vlkiCXXssRMddKm5t7VFAWxk3Qjc5S5W/s1600-h/My+Brit+Buds.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391656384129033266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDxYuPktUSVQco1DjtxK6vgAxSMCgrE9oAqwHvq7RQQyWOGwxsi6M4gU-eq6k-Yyq5SkdZDa86UUBNPTNNwaOhn7y2g-isXd3er6OO39f4R58vlkiCXXssRMddKm5t7VFAWxk3Qjc5S5W/s400/My+Brit+Buds.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">When I left for </span></span><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> I was reading this wonderful book (written by a former Peace Corps Volunteer in '76) called </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bright Sun, Hot Tea</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I chose my trip to </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Turkey</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> partly because the $180 roundtrip fare on the bus fit my budget.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But also I hoped to store up some warm memories in my body for the upcoming 6 months of Armenian winter.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">There were some doubts before our departure as the previous weekend 26 people drowned in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> from a flash flood.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But my wallet was already committed with fare paid for in advance.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My Armenian tutor was concerned. Although half my age, she was acting like a good Armenian mother and asked me not to go.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I showed her the 5 Day Forecast: it didn't say “torrential downpour” but just “rain-rain-rain-overcast-rain.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So with some doubts tucked away in my back pack I climbed the steps for my 32 hour bus ride.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The long trip was also more bearable as we were lucky enough to have some fun people on the bus.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Their interactions made for good theater and the time passed more quickly.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">When asked by one man now living in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Moscow</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> what I was doing in the country, I gave him my card that explains in Armenian what are the goals of the Peace Corps. It usually satisfies the curiosity of the recipient. Instead it started a long debate about the role </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">America</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> played in his home country’s current financial crisis. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">He was convinced that all the problems in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Armenia</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> resulted when Russia went bankrupt form its </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Cold War</em> with the US and</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Empire. (Ronald Reagan would have smiled from his grave.)</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Fortunately a couple young Armenian men behind me, that had just completed their military service and were returning to </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bulgaria</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">, disagreed with his rather sweeping generalization.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I am not sure what all was said as my command of the language is still rather basic.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But I could appreciate his point of view </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">for </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Armenia</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> has lost more than it has gained</span></span></u></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> since the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">USSR</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> collapsed in 1992.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The country's economy still has not recovered from the lost revenue and jobs when </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Russia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'s military factories closed.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And the benefits of increased freedoms are “still a work in progress” as Democracy stumbles into the future.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Hopefully in another 20 years the scales will balance out and folks will see what they gained in the process.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But for now, some older Armenians can only see the current reality of more unemployment and fewer drams in their pockets.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Less drams have a way of stirring up old dreams.... of the Communist Society, the New Society that never came. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">By Sunday night we were pulling into </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> in a light drizzle.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The city was still rather subdued as there was another two days left in the religious holiday of Ramadan.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The next morning I awoke to a slight drizzle, a cup of hot tea, and my 64</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> birthday.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was ready for a quiet relaxing day.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My traveling companions were in a very different mood as one of them was flying back to </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">America</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> the next day.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">They had created a very aggressive tourist plan: </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">See Everything in Istanbul in 1 Day</span></span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">!</span></span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Not exactly what I wanted to do on my birthday. I still had 10 days to see the sights.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was going to take it </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">slow</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I declined their offer to go along and ordered another hot tea.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As a result, my </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> vacation got off on the perfect note: </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">doing nothing</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This actually set the tone for the rest of my vacation, where I seldom left the table in front of the </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Old City Hostel</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> until the afternoon. (Later in the trip, another tourist asked my friend why she never took me with her in the morning. Her response was: </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Because he's worthless in the morning!</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">" </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">For me that was a compliment.) </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My good fortune of having the right people around on this trip continued at The Old City Hostel where we stay in Istanbul for the whole time.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Meeting two Brits that first day was wonderful and dispelled my fears that I would be <em><strong>Lost in Translation</strong></em> as I often am during my service in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Armenia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Samantha, whose son worked at the hostel, was the very first person I met when I asked about the closest money exchange office.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">She was kind enough to walk me there and over the next 10 days became my “traveling angel”.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Her ability to speak with the locals as well her sweet spirit was a wonderful birthday gift for my vacation in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Turkey</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The other Brit who also showed up at the hostel was Colin.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">He was a plant manager of a local factory and used the weekends at our hostel to de-compress.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">His company had a very nice hotel on the factory grounds but he wisely chose to leave the work environment over his weekends.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to the long Ramadan weekend, Colin was around to show me his favorite bakery for breakfast.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Afterwards I would sometimes return to “my table” and other times tagged along on his explorations of undiscovered streets and sites in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">His secret desire was to have lived in an earlier time when British sailors still explored the high seas and new lands. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz-yebCmQrF8zPXu3oNX_mRM2jfxqfMMn4O62H7US0_IgWChfk3tPnrorCPwuydvcyPgyoYyVhyd7mIxLfIHJntODQaiel6-BUn1oHrl_JVfan_jBVs1OOHFkzcSc-HH9oyzE06V-DAUH/s1600-h/Ali+the+Tea+Boy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391653480660725906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz-yebCmQrF8zPXu3oNX_mRM2jfxqfMMn4O62H7US0_IgWChfk3tPnrorCPwuydvcyPgyoYyVhyd7mIxLfIHJntODQaiel6-BUn1oHrl_JVfan_jBVs1OOHFkzcSc-HH9oyzE06V-DAUH/s400/Ali+the+Tea+Boy.JPG" border="0" /></a><span 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOCz6fg_5eQ8E3uC991uVDSGbzAItBUpco7-XOTKu8F_wZwJZ3zy1jPmDPFGZAzBO6dhvdejJUx54fjVSP1hMX8vRNV03utOBZsDMfLNRRQxA4fHvJxt_lowW5hmr3qwUr_Soixx_qTk2/s1600-h/A+waiter+%26+his+grandson.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391644600355392130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOCz6fg_5eQ8E3uC991uVDSGbzAItBUpco7-XOTKu8F_wZwJZ3zy1jPmDPFGZAzBO6dhvdejJUx54fjVSP1hMX8vRNV03utOBZsDMfLNRRQxA4fHvJxt_lowW5hmr3qwUr_Soixx_qTk2/s400/A+waiter+%26+his+grandson.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvycpGA_gwdSRUrZAb1vDtq5yCblBjgHvL52OF29B0zkeUBWQK2nFK5DLt5RW4TYx-8D75oGerQ4JHGQNxL9KLNAq_Z6X7KIzcYVYm-VxYXyB-PbcTrf-zFWToZJsVUEryO2jWnY-Gjmq/s1600-h/The+Joy+of+Friendship.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391643766086472146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvycpGA_gwdSRUrZAb1vDtq5yCblBjgHvL52OF29B0zkeUBWQK2nFK5DLt5RW4TYx-8D75oGerQ4JHGQNxL9KLNAq_Z6X7KIzcYVYm-VxYXyB-PbcTrf-zFWToZJsVUEryO2jWnY-Gjmq/s400/The+Joy+of+Friendship.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Whatever I did in the morning was always relaxed and accompanied by hot tea and new friends. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And so my morning routine slowly developed. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I would just sit and read about the experiences of my fellow Volunteer who came here 40 years earlier. (The Peace Corps presence in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Turkey</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> was discontinued after a number of years when the political climate was deemed too turbulent for Volunteer safety. The author ironically stayed on in the tourism business and became one of the leading authorities on </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Turkey</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> when Lonely Planet was just getting started.)</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">On previous vacations when I was still working in </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Corporate America</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">, I usually needed a swimming pool, a stack of detective novels and an occasional cold Mexican beer in order to sit still.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This time all I needed was "my table" in front of the hostel and an occasional tea from Ali the Tea Boy who literally ran by all day juggling a full tray of tea, which cost 1 Lira (about 70 cents). One morning I did get adventurous and walked 5 minutes down the street to one of the historic Turkish Baths.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">At $35 it was my most extravagant purchase of the trip.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But my slow walk back to the hostel two hours later confirmed it had been an excellent decision</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> . </span></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sometime in the early afternoon, my Peace Corps companion would return from her morning excursions. We would grab a sandwich for 3 Liras from a sidewalk vendor and head out to some new site she’d read about in her travel book.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Without her I am not sure if I ever would have made it to the Asia side of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">One day we took the very modern tram facing our street (</span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Turkey</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> does understand how to attract tourists) down to the port and then walked across one of the bridges spanning Bosphorus Straits.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Another time she had read about this little very old </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">village</span></span></st1:placetype><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Fener</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> that was a mix Greek and Turkish residents.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And it was only a 10 or 15 minute bus ride on the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Asia</span></span></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> side.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We went there and I felt like I had gone back in time a 100 years as I walked amidst a very traditional way of life.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It reminded me of an earlier trip to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Crete</span></span></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> with its winding hillside streets.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vehicle traffic was almost non-existent and the grade school kids ruled the streets. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And when the call to prayer came, there was a sudden flow of men heading for the mosques with their religous hats in hand.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I later learned that only <em>Hajis</em> could wear the hat, those that had completed the trip to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mecca </span></span></st1:city></st1:place></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">required of all practicing Muslims.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The evenings were very relaxed as well.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sometimes Colin would take me to his favorite sisha bar which was populated not just by curious tourists but was a regular event for many locals as well. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was fun not just to be part of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'s night life but also it was a venue well-suited to my meager entertainment funds for the trip.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">One evening a group of us spent an hour and a half there and the bill for the pipe, fruit-flavored tobacco and delicious hot tea came to only 5 Lira each, or $3 for the hour and a half.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">That would put most American bar owners out of business.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My other connection with Colin was in the area of business.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Not only was he in charge of </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Business Development</span></span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> (my last position in the business world) but like my father he had started in his late teens as a pattern-maker. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I remember most people thinking my dad made <em><strong>dress patterns</strong></em> when I mentioned his profession.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Patterns, molds, castings are all part of the critical design phase for manufacturing any engines but are off the radar screen and seldom seen.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">One might compare it to Intel's plant in Folsom.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We all rely on the quality and accuracy of those computer chips for our PC's and laptops but few of us have any idea how they are made.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My exposure to the pattern business came to a halt in the 70's when the American automobile makers suddenly had to deal with the more gas-efficient and less expensive competition from </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Japan</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Big Three started cutting costs and many union shops like my fathers soon found themselves out of business. It was great talking to Colin was and learning how the pattern business was now operating in the 21</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> century.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We also had another common ground that was much more rooted in the present for as Westerners we both struggled to share our business knowledge with those from another culture.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">His struggles to increase productivity in his plant were echoes of my past year where I had hoped to create some collaboration in the Tourism Industry.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">In both cultures social relationships are given top billing to the extent that efficiency often goes out the window. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">His business meetings with a dozen key personnel back in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">England</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> were in sharp contrast to his current ones in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here the participants would all sit with at least one cell phone turned on in front of them.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Nobody turned their phones off and thought nothing of taking personal calls during the meeting.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The meetings could drag on for 3 to 4 hours and he was still not sure anything had been accomplished.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">If Colin had not already shaved his head, I just imagined that he would have pulled all his hair out by now in frustration.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But most of the time I just sat at the table in front of our hostel and enjoyed the camaraderie of the restaurant staff and the sun that showed up after a couple days.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It wasn't until the 3</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">rd</span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> day that I realized it wasn't "my" table but "their" table as the hostel owner had given the restaurant the additional space in exchange for free meals.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Such was the connection with the two business owners who were both Kurdish.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It took me a couple Google searches to understand more about what the papers called "The Kurdish Question."</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Apparently there was a treaty after the fall of the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ottoman Empire</span></span></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> in 1922 that gave the Kurds their own land.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But the ruling powers reneged on the treaty and instead split up the land with adjacent countries.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Apparently President of Turkey was rightly concerned about the fragile nature of his new Republic and feared ethnic divisiveness.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">He even forbad the teaching of their language and books written in Kurdish.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">His decision seemed a little harsh to me until I thought about the current chaos in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Iraq</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> where the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds continue to split the country.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">In addition to the friendship of the restaurant staff, I was able to enjoy meeting many young visitors who came every couple days to our hostel.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Since there were 10 beds to a dorm room, it attracted young people who found the $17 a night (that included breakfast) fit their slender budget as it did mine.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I got to hear about life in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Germany</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Holland</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Brazil</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Portugal</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">, and </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sweden</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I got to travel around the world without ever leaving the "comforts of home" and the hot tea from Ali. Toward the end of the first week, when I gave him the 1Lira, he gave me a half Lira back. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was confused and asked the hostel staff about it.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I guess he had one price for tourists and another for those who lived there.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The 35 cents really didn't mean much to my wallet but made me feel like I was now a member of <em><strong>The </strong></em></span></span><st1:place st="on"><em><strong><st1:placename st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Old</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">City</span></span></st1:placetype></strong></em></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em><strong> Family</strong></em>.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">For a fella who decided to spend his 64</span></span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">th </span></span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">birthday in a strange country, I felt I had received a wonderful gift.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And no doubt during the upcoming 6 months of Armenian winter, I will be returning to my photos and the warm memories of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Istanbul</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was a little embarrassed when I left that I still hadn't gone inside the Blue Mosque or the Cisterns which many said were the most impressive sights there.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So I guess I will just have to follow the example of my fellow Volunteer who saved almost $400 by flying home from there instead of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Yerevan</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Next time I doubt if I will </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">See Everything in Istanbul in One Day</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I had way too much fun being </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">worthless.</span></span></i> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ig0q2aRrm2R8O6aEvxnxb3NL5OEN8eM7X3l5qKsbrWnEknf5MU7OMPLepPxqhLFFEfwy13xi_qGOWrkyrkJVUbLUV4tqpNrWQd-0dNqTNEX8Np2yQyeobZXgAsE_soxMmkce8issXo3X/s1600-h/King+for+a+Day+.+.+.+ok,+a+Minute!.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391642760592307426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ig0q2aRrm2R8O6aEvxnxb3NL5OEN8eM7X3l5qKsbrWnEknf5MU7OMPLepPxqhLFFEfwy13xi_qGOWrkyrkJVUbLUV4tqpNrWQd-0dNqTNEX8Np2yQyeobZXgAsE_soxMmkce8issXo3X/s400/King+for+a+Day+.+.+.+ok,+a+Minute!.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">PS If any of you ever pick </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Turkey</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> as a travel destination, you will find much useful information at the website of the former Peace Corps Volunteer:</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></p><p><a href="http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">www.turkeytravelplanner.com</span></a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-69306500218016731462009-09-18T04:29:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:58:43.136-07:00Keeping the Car on the Road<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rGp007JjRoNr9VbzgmMICkr1J5ii_qIGAjrmzxsy0Zm10-3CfiyEuYcgTCCZOptpKD9uwH4gMAMz9q24R_XYGuzYRg_YdWGxLMeIQdtbekCnRcQ48ByVimZi-G5UaZ9MGPIxjspGhbd9/s1600-h/Armenian+Worker.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382790250346169490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rGp007JjRoNr9VbzgmMICkr1J5ii_qIGAjrmzxsy0Zm10-3CfiyEuYcgTCCZOptpKD9uwH4gMAMz9q24R_XYGuzYRg_YdWGxLMeIQdtbekCnRcQ48ByVimZi-G5UaZ9MGPIxjspGhbd9/s400/Armenian+Worker.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR9C_hfnzdbupTgOmD_w8-ZisRb5ISmIB2onFS03Jb7tN6QU00I-nv7x2H7tRZGQIqbxVVejhZ5Pg-l9DVIkCUH-hDEDJQaKU5FsCNDTXoiLZWaikD_p9uBbv00XE4QYZ9_VGugouo40D/s1600-h/Armenian+Grit"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382790246218097698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR9C_hfnzdbupTgOmD_w8-ZisRb5ISmIB2onFS03Jb7tN6QU00I-nv7x2H7tRZGQIqbxVVejhZ5Pg-l9DVIkCUH-hDEDJQaKU5FsCNDTXoiLZWaikD_p9uBbv00XE4QYZ9_VGugouo40D/s400/Armenian+Grit" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>As the saying goes, <em>Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life</em>. I happened to pick up a copy of <strong><em>The Grapes of Wrath</em></strong> the other day. It had been 40 years since I first read it and remember enjoying Steinbeck's descriptive language very much. I had never lived on a farm myself but his descriptions of the families moving from the Dust Bowl to California were very poignant. I can even remember copying down at the time some of the passages whose imagery were particularly striking.<br /><br />About a week after I started reading the book again, I took a bus to celebrate with our newest group of Volunteers their official <em><strong>Swearing In</strong></em>, attended by the US Ambassador to Armenia. It was interesting to witness the ceremony again, this time without the flood of emotions as when you are up on the stage. Then we all trooped over to the same outdoor cafe as last year for the more "informal" but truly celebrative part of the graduation experience. After spending 11 weeks in another culture that included living with an Armenian family and having 4 hours of language classes a day, there is a certain release of energy after the completion of this first stage of your service. The communal sigh of relief was soon followed by numerous toasts and several hours of loud conversation.<br /><br />As the afternoon wore on, the members of our class from last year started preparing the return journeys to our sites before dark. The new Volunteers didn't have to worry about that as they would be spending this final night in nearby villages where they trained. And the next day they would be transported by the Peace Corps with all their belongings to their new sites. That would be the official start to their two years of service in Armenia.<br /><br />For us "old timers," we would need to fend for ourselves. Since there were no regular bus routes back to my site, I realized I had a couple options. I could take a one hour bus ride going west back to the capital and then connect with another bus traveling two hours east back to my site. I'm not sure if it was firm grasp of arithmetic or my old habits from the 60's kicking in, but I was soon found myself hitchhiking home ( not a practice <em>recommended</em> for our female volunteers.) I probably also have a naive trust in my <em>Hitchhiking Karma</em>, haven given innumerable rides to hitchhikers over the years.<br /><br />My thumb wasn't out in the breeze but about 15 minutes when this very nice couple with their young daughter picked me up. While the Mercedes and BMW's went roaring by, it is usually a vehicle in rather weathered condition that stops for me. In Armenia it probably doesn’t hurt having white hair and beard as the culture still gives some deference to being a "papeek" (grandfather). I first discovered this on the local buses when young ladies would stand up a say: "<em>nestea</em>" (sit down). I was a little uncomfortable at first but have since realized it is better not to refuse a form of generosity that is a cultural norm.<br /><br />After we had been on the road for about 20 minutes, I began to notice a little bit of shimmy in the car. Then the driver started to drive with his head out the window watching something. That signaled something more serious. After another 20 minutes we stopped next to a roadside food stand. Soon the food vendor was under the hood of the car with the driver. Since most Americans don’t even change their oil anymore, I felt a little useless in this roadside version of <strong><em>CarTalk</em></strong>. But soon they had agreed on a fix and noticed them ... chopping a 2 foot section of from a branch along side the road. That was enough to have me join the under-the-hood-conference. A bracket of one of the pulleys had worked its way loose and they decided to wedge the wood to hold it in place. When I realized that the next step was to hold the branch in place, I joined in the impromptu scavenger hunt along the side of the road. I felt like part of the team again when I found a piece of wire soon to become part of the solution. I heard the expression from American farming days about things being “held together with baling wire” but this was my first up-close experience.<br /><br />The vibration disappeared for the rest of my ride home. When I got out I put some money in the driver’s hand claiming it was gas money. But I knew some kind of auto repair was coming his way the next day.</div><div><br />This “make do attitude” seems to prevail in Armenia as it obviously did with the farmers who held our country together with not just bailing wire but <strong>a large dose of grit and determination</strong>. As I opened my novel the next day, I couldn't help but feel Steinbeck was describing my trip: </div><div><br /><em>Listen to the motor. Listen to the wheels. Listen with your ears and with your hands on the steering wheel; listen with the palm of your hand on the gear-shift lever; listen with your feet on the floor boards. Listen to the pounding old jalopy with all your senses, for a change of tone, a variation of rhythm may mean-- a week here? That rattle – that's tappets. Don't hurt a bit. Tappets can rattle til Jesus comes again without no harm. But that thudding as the car moves along – can't hear that – just kind of feel it. Maybe oil isn't getting someplace. Maybe a bearing's startin' to go. Jesus, if it's a bearing, what'll we do? Money's going fast.<br /></em><br />It wasn’t long after the characters in the Grapes of Wrath got to California that they realized their fantasy of clean little cottages with white picket fences and juicy oranges hanging from all the trees was just that: <strong>a fantasy.</strong> Steinbeck ends the story shortly after their arrival in California and doesn’t fill in the details of how they survived. But he does suggest the emotional that was coming:<br /><br /><em>The decay spreads over the State, and the sweet smell is a great sorrow on the land. Men who have created new fruits in the world cannot create a system whereby their fruits may be eaten. And the failure hangs over the State like a great sorrow. And in the eyes of the people there is the failure; and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath. In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.<br /></em><br />I often worry about how this country is going to move to the next stage of their economic growth, lacking both the resources and free enterprise system that made America’s growth possible. I guess I’ll just need to trust the grit and determination of the people. They have suffered much in the past couple centuries and don’t look like they are going to quit anytime soon.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHTfS0_h1i8VDwHI99xPIredvFXYvaAWlYtVdIMD39xDAnNTVvXEdpf6izb8_2HZRH9zBIQHtdvwlYH-oIIrlLkWErEEu3upX9sCX4nWQWU3l8nOd_sZoqxN_H_xAVwB9mST65cqBtjb6/s1600-h/Old+Timer"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382784364411122178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHTfS0_h1i8VDwHI99xPIredvFXYvaAWlYtVdIMD39xDAnNTVvXEdpf6izb8_2HZRH9zBIQHtdvwlYH-oIIrlLkWErEEu3upX9sCX4nWQWU3l8nOd_sZoqxN_H_xAVwB9mST65cqBtjb6/s400/Old+Timer" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-33041794921015032402009-08-12T01:38:00.000-07:002009-08-14T01:26:08.683-07:00Last Week's "Green Camp'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXrBXQEVT2S7r9cHyyZTrUA1jQbiPHmVheGEbtgm1dC5UZ05feKc3ZvoPATgXkO09xRhSO-uLwWnULiP22BXenuFceZr2Vbk0_D3xJFJBJpweh8LMtss3VeqS_8lBNgyHm18ZOf2HYCRo/s1600-h/3+Happy+Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXrBXQEVT2S7r9cHyyZTrUA1jQbiPHmVheGEbtgm1dC5UZ05feKc3ZvoPATgXkO09xRhSO-uLwWnULiP22BXenuFceZr2Vbk0_D3xJFJBJpweh8LMtss3VeqS_8lBNgyHm18ZOf2HYCRo/s400/3+Happy+Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369045245329785490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvu9INpYsCF8EH-I-G770wmEimB-Ngnqn1CSCCx1iGo-X9_L7Hu3asyjnL1OYanSp6Cy_v_lCilnP0fHx29eJqKDM7WzZ8NnTnb8QtMJzvmH6Dq70TYxBRSuk-R3rpE4SXUSlASZnZZG-/s1600-h/Village+Joy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvu9INpYsCF8EH-I-G770wmEimB-Ngnqn1CSCCx1iGo-X9_L7Hu3asyjnL1OYanSp6Cy_v_lCilnP0fHx29eJqKDM7WzZ8NnTnb8QtMJzvmH6Dq70TYxBRSuk-R3rpE4SXUSlASZnZZG-/s400/Village+Joy.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369031416398866482" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:16.0pt;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Growing Pains</span></i></b></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Just came back over the weekend from another youth camp.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I saw some new parts of </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Armenia</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"> as the camp took place in the very northern part where you could actually see </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Georgia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Although the geography was new, the heat was very </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Sacramento-like and you could usually find the counselors under the nearest shady place.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwhoBYzUmG53C4w7FdtxZnooJ79hBgzezZW5mIOdO02OlSnje7LYRoOw2CfNKwxqtukua_7X1kHM9aJqJyT0949elG_BWxRPkXPDGRBWgQcvjRY_Z8ZvLUXptd4lzsPXgRomMB3qVJTwg/s1600-h/The+Winning+Team.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwhoBYzUmG53C4w7FdtxZnooJ79hBgzezZW5mIOdO02OlSnje7LYRoOw2CfNKwxqtukua_7X1kHM9aJqJyT0949elG_BWxRPkXPDGRBWgQcvjRY_Z8ZvLUXptd4lzsPXgRomMB3qVJTwg/s400/The+Winning+Team.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369030721469142434" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">This camp was a slightly different from the last one as the kids were a little younger (11-14) and as the name </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Green Camp</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"> suggests, it focused on increasing their understanding and respect for the environment.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The topics for the days ranged from the cyclical nature of "Water" to the "Pyramid of Life" to "Eco-Friendly Communities."</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Some of the time was spent in the classrooms but the emphasis was on experiential learning through outdoor games and activities.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">During the break time, the kids would drift into small circles to practice their volleyball skills or pair off with badminton rackets, a favorite of the girls in my town.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I even helped a handful of kids to get proficient at throwing a Frisbee…. <em>straight.</em></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaIyJfq514_5QWX1Hj6BCbwVqbO-c1G-kVmRj2RCrCVc4YksLnStgLIQpuJSJlJMbP1IlQ95rBEOg82vK_jyeMHNJl3GdEyagxLMirmw35mpojFz-fUW92Yk98a0zTihdWZXOjWP1Kusm/s1600-h/Race+to+the+Finish!.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaIyJfq514_5QWX1Hj6BCbwVqbO-c1G-kVmRj2RCrCVc4YksLnStgLIQpuJSJlJMbP1IlQ95rBEOg82vK_jyeMHNJl3GdEyagxLMirmw35mpojFz-fUW92Yk98a0zTihdWZXOjWP1Kusm/s400/Race+to+the+Finish!.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369029518356439618" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">As with the previous camp, the enthusiasm of the kids was delightful and kept our staff of 6 Peace Corps Volunteers and 6 Armenian Volunteers energized in spite of the heat.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When the activities of the camp concluded in the late afternoon, we only had a five minute walk from the school to the house of Volunteer who lives full-time in that village.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It wasn't long before the Americans were sitting in the shade, curled up with the current novels for the week, or taking a cat-nap on one of the many mattresses spread throughout the floor of the house…. and often completing the whole sequence!</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GmGB269wolFC8m8IE1l8ayJ9gidw0fqytLF4T6LsS84MmM9jPSyuUQqiMjb23DGB_lmMZRPuMz21d4Ryf89AYzTj4jcvuWbq63LmrgI-eNaX4axyp0jopUyZMFooAJCO4924i4UYnQYo/s1600-h/Armen+cooking.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GmGB269wolFC8m8IE1l8ayJ9gidw0fqytLF4T6LsS84MmM9jPSyuUQqiMjb23DGB_lmMZRPuMz21d4Ryf89AYzTj4jcvuWbq63LmrgI-eNaX4axyp0jopUyZMFooAJCO4924i4UYnQYo/s400/Armen+cooking.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369028866653629890" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEJnu52XgW24oDEVvPP6gSFq4j1RUvjJ7MomMNiT8ruL_E30F-QxNXrJHOtwJjdJfho2YmkyPF1lxkaTnT4yD3o88Rodqe4LcWKdreq9hsB4EJVN4zFNOSnbeqyJTeY9C8DbmS29oXsTz/s1600-h/Cooking+Staff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEJnu52XgW24oDEVvPP6gSFq4j1RUvjJ7MomMNiT8ruL_E30F-QxNXrJHOtwJjdJfho2YmkyPF1lxkaTnT4yD3o88Rodqe4LcWKdreq9hsB4EJVN4zFNOSnbeqyJTeY9C8DbmS29oXsTz/s400/Cooking+Staff.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369028860588733378" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Upon returning this past weekend to my regular site, I was excited to take my first hot shower in a week, re-discover the other modern conveniences of my bathroom and have my first good night's sleep in a week.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Not sure if it's just my age or the fact that I never did much camping as a kid, but sleeping on the <em>floor/ ground</em> leaves me tired the next morning. </span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxXXjLAbWJE19fLj5oxUGaA5Pz8wDmhkK5CSmk2ReGzxGRWTRp1dzkh2WO8r2t0qKkoMx-rWmctommhTLa781hZfSsRsAqsXQyJa9BFP1IGWxIUjKxYVBIeZnBo-N4FrBxwrFRkJOvfaM/s1600-h/Morning+Companions.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxXXjLAbWJE19fLj5oxUGaA5Pz8wDmhkK5CSmk2ReGzxGRWTRp1dzkh2WO8r2t0qKkoMx-rWmctommhTLa781hZfSsRsAqsXQyJa9BFP1IGWxIUjKxYVBIeZnBo-N4FrBxwrFRkJOvfaM/s400/Morning+Companions.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369010951177271650" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Having experienced a "let-down" after the last Summer Camp, I thought this time I would keep an eye on my emotional state as I returned to a "semi-urban" setting.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It is hard to replicate the proximity to nature and the hospitality in a rural Armenian village.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">On my morning walks to our Green Camp, I was often joined by the local turkeys out for their morning stroll.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And on the way back, it was easy to wind up in a neighbor's home.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The second evening there I was invited to the home of one of the neighbors I had met on one of my walks. First it was the traditional cup of Armenian coffee, then came plates of sliced peaches and sweets. The visit was capped off by a spontaneous duduk concert by one of his nephews. (During our training a year ago, we had learned that the “duduk,” a reed instrument in the oboe family, was the pride and joy of </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The story goes that when James Cameron heard it for the first time, he knew he wanted it for the soundtrack for his new movie "</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Titanic</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;">.")</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgLU0AwdN4PNimUbj_-B7FZB2_iiDl3Tl6MVZQ-N3OrmhCNT_r_qN2I1jp09ruIfY0lgWrQ9KvHwf-pFvV_4LGcBzJWQd1fjbn69qw3DtHDbRBGdmTsgcc_1ZAUXGWzDSlqAI3Traz_f3/s1600-h/Family+Concert.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgLU0AwdN4PNimUbj_-B7FZB2_iiDl3Tl6MVZQ-N3OrmhCNT_r_qN2I1jp09ruIfY0lgWrQ9KvHwf-pFvV_4LGcBzJWQd1fjbn69qw3DtHDbRBGdmTsgcc_1ZAUXGWzDSlqAI3Traz_f3/s400/Family+Concert.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369009985728938402" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Another time I walked two houses down to Mayor's residence to fill up a couple buckets of water and didn't come back for almost two hours.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The other Volunteers must have thought I got lost! But my favorite moment in the evenings was when the neighborhood kids couldn't hold back their curiosity any longer and carefully stuck their heads in our gate.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It was a like re-run of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Spanky and Our Gang</span></i></b><span style="font-size:130%;"> with all the wide-eyed looks and bashful joy.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf0Il__bpEOliydIZgskr5mZHicmwV3B1Z9RhTkLR6XCFF2MfjgM4Y6gtZO045r06JIl3Fq2a8BSa_Uv1VWvvOMqh1C28xsT05U1_aSpfCf4NnQhYEov8np5Gvq4JRsWh19hj0sgQexBL/s1600-h/Spanky+%26+Our+Gang.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf0Il__bpEOliydIZgskr5mZHicmwV3B1Z9RhTkLR6XCFF2MfjgM4Y6gtZO045r06JIl3Fq2a8BSa_Uv1VWvvOMqh1C28xsT05U1_aSpfCf4NnQhYEov8np5Gvq4JRsWh19hj0sgQexBL/s400/Spanky+%26+Our+Gang.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369009419007417330" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">All that being said, I was curious to observe my response to returning to my "semi-urban" setting, where I stay until August 2010.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">What was it that led me to feel a <em>let-down </em></span><span style="font-size:130%;">last time?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> After all, I have made some good friendships and have often been the recipient of gracious hospitality here as well.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And besides, I had all the creature comforts of a comfortable bed and a hot shower.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><em><span style="font-size:130%;">What's not to like?</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></em><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap-grVD0MeDmAdHGOAwcVsApYYSNUyeclneuXse4xJg2sgwWb5UpnNk3cX3fk416BPAJ0uvRslgH9Op2tBQ0RpBnvW3UP_FMmri8ok59qhQt2MTjgMEvidEofoHBS3z0e-PpD81JmQ2Eb/s1600-h/Nearby+Chapel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap-grVD0MeDmAdHGOAwcVsApYYSNUyeclneuXse4xJg2sgwWb5UpnNk3cX3fk416BPAJ0uvRslgH9Op2tBQ0RpBnvW3UP_FMmri8ok59qhQt2MTjgMEvidEofoHBS3z0e-PpD81JmQ2Eb/s400/Nearby+Chapel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369008807632494146" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">It slowly occurred to me it had little to do with the people but really with the current “growing pains” with the country's culture.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The values of <em>consumerism</em> are in full-swing and the guileless nature of village life will soon be a distant memory.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The comparison that comes to mind is with “teenagers” who confuse appearance with reality.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Having the latest songs on your cell phone or driving at high speeds seem to be goals that many residents in my town aspire to.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And when I travel to the capital the behavior is even more startling as the majority of the young women in Yerevan seem to be auditioning for </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Project Runway……… </span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hollywood Boulevard</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This seems especially strange in a society with very conservative and almost repressive sexual norms. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Any way you look at it, the cultural values and the behavior are not a good fit.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5d6CsLzTc5TdfoOHnqqs4wyXUcT95KmOwGGFBHIkWfLEfuu64m0sbohrbHSq8sUqXBm51417qZdWoV9O_uD6YTHfckBTPzLB39XHOjtDfK5Uyc8GjVqHyMBUt5ieOB2_csPcy2YkVQHN/s1600-h/3+Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5d6CsLzTc5TdfoOHnqqs4wyXUcT95KmOwGGFBHIkWfLEfuu64m0sbohrbHSq8sUqXBm51417qZdWoV9O_uD6YTHfckBTPzLB39XHOjtDfK5Uyc8GjVqHyMBUt5ieOB2_csPcy2YkVQHN/s400/3+Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369008172916930050" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It would be much easier to accept if all the fancy cars and trendy fashions </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;">in the capital were the fruits of a healthy economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But there is no economy in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"> to sustain this lifestyle, unless one of your relatives has a connection with the Russian Mafia.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">At least in the rural areas, the villagers approach a self-sustaining life, growing much of their own food and bartering for additional services. They have no illusions about themselves and their lives are consistent with the values of the culture.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">The same cannot be said for the residents in the larger urban areas like my town.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Many of the new generation have absorbed from TV and the movies their version of </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Good Life</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> And their cell phones make them part of that. Few seem to consider how such a lifestyle is </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">“sustainable.” </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> With </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">30% unemployment, many look to their families to support them, some to the government, while others have become very skilled at writing grants to get their slice of foreign aid.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">But this pattern of seeking the solution outside of one's own initiative has the tendency to point </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;"> into becoming a </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Welfare State</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder if Karl Marx would see the irony of the situation.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It is no longer “religion” but cell phones and fast cars that have become the “opiate of the people.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">While I find this very difficult to watch, there are surely sectors of the </span><span style="font-size:130%;">government and select families that control </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size:130%;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:130%;">’s wealth who do not. For the result is that most citizens are distracted from trying to change the stark realities of their country: that democracy is but a <em>facade</em> and that the most qualified candidate being hired </span><em><span style="font-size:130%;">is but an illusion.</span></em><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">One can only hope that this will change in time.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It just won’t be any time soon. Resignation is deeply imbedded in the culture and leadership and collaboration skills are sorely missing after 70 years of Soviet rule. </span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQre6aktAsgfO7jE42LzMfOGz9xrygGvZlshMs6jkzRou14O_zx_rAtYMJTA5nBEqCKSiOmDeMzO0bn_rzHLemUQxMMK2R8wxD4maWYZyD2Uxf7vfHH8NR6OYG8A8yepYCNj6InfuWoQN/s1600-h/Group+Photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQre6aktAsgfO7jE42LzMfOGz9xrygGvZlshMs6jkzRou14O_zx_rAtYMJTA5nBEqCKSiOmDeMzO0bn_rzHLemUQxMMK2R8wxD4maWYZyD2Uxf7vfHH8NR6OYG8A8yepYCNj6InfuWoQN/s400/Group+Photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369002863133754226" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In the meantime, we will continue to train the young people in their problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership skills.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">They will surely need them for <strong><em>the steep climb up the mountain </em></strong>which is their future.</span></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-68660018562443033862009-07-18T04:01:00.000-07:002009-07-18T04:29:01.545-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69ZCvivLBImGIbow9wTKyTZBJiRtiddJvKtbnA947TXBBAHRRa7hHkLv0pMSkRUkeUJHFvO2LQMsEhV2JqazhWB5XshyphenhyphenZuuEklGkQGkx28wAlcr5HfbUQXlE4ktBlkBylQEqPMfghSN4m/s1600-h/On+the+Journey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69ZCvivLBImGIbow9wTKyTZBJiRtiddJvKtbnA947TXBBAHRRa7hHkLv0pMSkRUkeUJHFvO2LQMsEhV2JqazhWB5XshyphenhyphenZuuEklGkQGkx28wAlcr5HfbUQXlE4ktBlkBylQEqPMfghSN4m/s400/On+the+Journey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359758526353628530" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Simple Twist of Fate</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I took a local min-bus to the Peace Corps office in </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yerevan</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Armenia</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">’s capital. Part of my reason for the trip was to discuss a presentation we are making to the new volunteers on “Managing Stress.” My other reason was to pick up some more vitamins from the health office there as I have felt run down lately. On the bus ride in I could not help but think whether my recent fatigue was just a case of getting older or …. </span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">my own stress</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">showing up. The Peace Corps doctor mentioned it was not uncommon to for Volunteers to go through a mid-service crisis. </span></span></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">wasn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">’t sure what it was but I did feel a let-down after working as a </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Camp</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Counsellor</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> for a week. Interacting with 50 teenagers all day for a week was a pretty high energy event. Then I started to think about the hike I went on a couple days ago. My young Armenian guide had described it as a 3 hour hike but we got lost in the forest and had to bushwhack our way out through the overgrowth. It turned out to be a 9 hour adventure and I slept very well that night. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So as the “</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">marshutni</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">” carried us toward the capital, I noticed my mind looking for answers, ruminating over “causes” and “effects” for being tired.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Despite my daily meditation practice, I have discovered my mind is still habituated to figuring things out and looking for answers. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So I just plugged in my earphones and laid back to listen to a bunch of old Bob Dylan songs, a gift from another volunteer leaving </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> next week.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dylan's voice still had that scratchy sound I remembered from the 60’s but his lyrics seemed more interesting than I remembered.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The next day I was to find my own “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Simple Twist of Fate</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When I awoke this morning back at my regular work site, I was planning to take the 9:30 bus to work.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Armenian tutor had asked to move our daily language lesson back an hour so I was enjoying the extra time to read and reflect.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When I looked at the time, I suddenly realized I had only a couple minutes before the bus would arrive. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One can get rather casual when the bus stop is right in front of your apartment.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But as I raced out of my building, I heard the familiar roar of the engine and saw the backside of the old red bus chugging down the street.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GTABqIlmkFrYJvqdOX-RW0qmIA5JvqKJxOfhNT2R9eZUy0UGqAnbupMPgGYrauF9Xs8yEez5fJOcaFIuruvpQjXEnEwVbQld2QjAYviqV8L5fVKYLIgeQ_5s6yfA4EjSHgGWyUx37xgJ/s1600-h/Missed+the+Bus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GTABqIlmkFrYJvqdOX-RW0qmIA5JvqKJxOfhNT2R9eZUy0UGqAnbupMPgGYrauF9Xs8yEez5fJOcaFIuruvpQjXEnEwVbQld2QjAYviqV8L5fVKYLIgeQ_5s6yfA4EjSHgGWyUx37xgJ/s400/Missed+the+Bus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359756498298234386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1rK8gJR847gD5uyk3RQFDCrPMthzJ1dht3XMnCueqXA5349U0aTdQUkldpVbzYC5LN9QOkLHH-Br0vqziDlM9hgyNTnjekc16bJvYxnZ3f1Ix-bIt0fgyoVKAiHtzG4lh-uvS8Yo3U29/s1600-h/Following+the+Path.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had a half-hour before I was due at the office and I thought the walk might be kind of nostalgic, as I used to walk every morning when I first arrived here. But then in November I moved into my own flat further away from the downtown area. That plus my first winter in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> was all I needed to adopt the bus as </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">my new best friend</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. Since then I had reversed my pattern and walked home after work, enjoying the time for some physical exercise and a chance to unwind from the day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now the missed bus seemed like a good opportunity to "change things up" as I was feeling a little down, in somewhat of a rut. I had called an old friend in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">San Diego</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> that morning but just got the computerized voice message. When I called my daughter after that, she was also not available but at least I got to listen to her voice on the message. Surprising how little things can make a difference when you feel a little empty.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, my walk to work today was the perfect medicine.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think part of my struggle was a sense that </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I wasn't doing enough</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">School was out for the summer so I </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">wouldn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">’t see some of my students for a couple months.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I missed the interaction with the five teachers </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">at the </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Art</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">School</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> taking Introductory English class as well as college kids from the Business English class.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Riding the bus to work and then sitting in my office for most of the day had begun to feel rather isolating..... and boring.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But it </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">wasn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">’t long into my walk to work that I re-discovered my simple connection with the folks in our city.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The first person coming down the sidewalk was a young man in his 20's who crafts souvenir pieces at a local gallery. Just his smile and a handshake was </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">enough to lift my spirits.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then an older Russian man with twinkling eyes and a St. Nicholas beard greeted me from the other side of the street.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I see him several times a week out sweeping the streets with a primitive broom and we always greet each other, although neither can speak the other's language.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And there were the occasional strangers whose dour faces quickly became lighter with a simple "</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Barev</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">dzez</span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">," the common Armenian greeting.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By the time I reached the local tourist information center and the two young people that speak very good English, I felt the cloud over my head had blown away.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> It was liberating to let go of my illusion that my value depended on something I did for the people in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. I was actually the one in need and the gift of simply connecting with them was a wonderful way to start my morning. Or as Dylan would say, they dropped </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“a coin into the cup and of a blind man at the gate and forgot about a simple twist of fate.”</span></i></o:p></span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-49908786976389689002009-06-29T01:45:00.000-07:002009-06-30T04:29:05.655-07:00Youth Camp in the Country<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI2bYRYWt1GoGGuPAY_sVPj7vEONrdGj8p1YJvt5AyFZI8ge2snzMlIQWzsBr8KXviACwtr2gzvNJbki7hQkbqt9m1NA-nQ5SwLA-43wlRsY3u2jkBI4gdb_yuGWkANeWkJnIRFsgKV3V/s1600-h/Man+with+a+Plan.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI2bYRYWt1GoGGuPAY_sVPj7vEONrdGj8p1YJvt5AyFZI8ge2snzMlIQWzsBr8KXviACwtr2gzvNJbki7hQkbqt9m1NA-nQ5SwLA-43wlRsY3u2jkBI4gdb_yuGWkANeWkJnIRFsgKV3V/s400/Man+with+a+Plan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353080782753884994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVigTeQUAtiz-PCr3s1IGSBpl8cuNcBIwr7sR5lpqjdfI0_I9YJlqka70SwnZkOIBy-6oaIOOqjzFVw7sFk2Obmyolst4BRlSbRX-yRKuDs6Yvb8o-fFmmeOGNt4YI1ybruBj0ALqOe7r7/s1600-h/Team+Spirit.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVigTeQUAtiz-PCr3s1IGSBpl8cuNcBIwr7sR5lpqjdfI0_I9YJlqka70SwnZkOIBy-6oaIOOqjzFVw7sFk2Obmyolst4BRlSbRX-yRKuDs6Yvb8o-fFmmeOGNt4YI1ybruBj0ALqOe7r7/s400/Team+Spirit.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353080779248722386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rgkoccb1a-cpDfnSkdEScxAHFT-WyOe6JfqddAUVuQAQKT62k6HaRBa1TcLz0GTmtWM2rnnG2ZVllkvp5XSUPsLObDq4FnsPdJahxOnJI1yDSMCpt3XMMFpZS596GpIG66y1aPk_efnO/s1600-h/Village+Life.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rgkoccb1a-cpDfnSkdEScxAHFT-WyOe6JfqddAUVuQAQKT62k6HaRBa1TcLz0GTmtWM2rnnG2ZVllkvp5XSUPsLObDq4FnsPdJahxOnJI1yDSMCpt3XMMFpZS596GpIG66y1aPk_efnO/s400/Village+Life.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352672843931479938" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes we all imagine how things might have been.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I thought about joining the Peace Corps 40 some years ago when in college.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I used to tell myself it was because I studied classical languages in high school and had no experience with spoken languages.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But I think during the past 10 days working at a Youth Camp in a remote village I re-discovered the real reason.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I imagine I knew I was not ready for those assignments in the early 60's to the remote areas of Africa and </span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">South America</span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I was ok with having just one lukewarm "bucket shower" while at the Youth Camp.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But after ten days of using the outhouse with its wonderful fragrance and logistics, I was ready for my apartment.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I was delighted actually to return to …. a shower and a toilet seat.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2YeSWsQIlqRmnRhph-LXgn4e6pm_Q_9cr9kpRIkt47w5zeaKoqwkbkZAKbxcBomTJcLqyZg0pCi4uO67fFQnsA_OVjoIu2mk_Xj9ZGjZ8APwGiu-z_xLO6Zc-wjlMKcOuB3uDMwGnktT/s1600-h/Ninja+Turtle+counselors.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2YeSWsQIlqRmnRhph-LXgn4e6pm_Q_9cr9kpRIkt47w5zeaKoqwkbkZAKbxcBomTJcLqyZg0pCi4uO67fFQnsA_OVjoIu2mk_Xj9ZGjZ8APwGiu-z_xLO6Zc-wjlMKcOuB3uDMwGnktT/s400/Ninja+Turtle+counselors.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352672841433487234" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But despite that, the whole Youth Camp event was quite wonderful.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">There were 50 teens from 14-16 years old that were full of energy and joy.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Some of us like me were teachers for three 50 minute classes a day (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Leadership, Project Planning </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">and</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Theater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">) and the other half of the staff functioned as</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Team Leaders</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">, motivating and coaching their groups of 10 in preparation for various cheers and competitive challenges. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span></span>For many of them it might have been the first experience of working as a team. One could see the resulting growth in confidence and maturity.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And having functioned as The Lone Ranger for most of the past year, I was also delighted for the interaction and support of teammates</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWtt8f-5n_OzOU9mUy2kVgMOwHLY1aXfGfqK4DuhcdMaKcRnLpxSgnKxgx2pHdOoZkqND3JzfhhevykFXzQarTdHpIqWF0HfbSuPwypU1BeDyLNmjfe0c6Z177blU3_kD2ajdE9echIQq/s1600-h/Flower+Power3.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWtt8f-5n_OzOU9mUy2kVgMOwHLY1aXfGfqK4DuhcdMaKcRnLpxSgnKxgx2pHdOoZkqND3JzfhhevykFXzQarTdHpIqWF0HfbSuPwypU1BeDyLNmjfe0c6Z177blU3_kD2ajdE9echIQq/s400/Flower+Power3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352672838273009026" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv0kduKNzX8hvOoY2Ff76-CStv9WaCLdUOFlR3kRJUuxIP5Fo9ARzNQgkIJpHU7V0Hfk0JvzppeFenXtBDzKRgw6Z1jGntIQ58hm5nb6lBTcnzfy5nD3OFpRvrIQudrt5ff3lYh3Oru5M/s1600-h/Irish+Poppy+Hat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv0kduKNzX8hvOoY2Ff76-CStv9WaCLdUOFlR3kRJUuxIP5Fo9ARzNQgkIJpHU7V0Hfk0JvzppeFenXtBDzKRgw6Z1jGntIQ58hm5nb6lBTcnzfy5nD3OFpRvrIQudrt5ff3lYh3Oru5M/s400/Irish+Poppy+Hat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352671836475988818" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The week overall was a good blend of learning and fun.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The goal was to help them acquire some new life skills and to improve their English speaking along the way.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But the journey was filled with much laughter and friendly competition.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">At the completion of every day, the kids were told the theme for the coming day.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And the next morning the judges were ready to award the prize to the team who showed the most creativity for "Crazy Hat" or "Crazy Hair" day.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Classes and lunch took up the late morning and early afternoon and by 2pm they were back in their teams preparing for the new Team Challenge for the day.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Most of the kids were sorry to see the camp end but for me and several of the other counselors, we were "running out of gas."</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Riding home on the bus to my usual worksite, I couldn't help but remember that my best memories of my youth were those spent at summer camps.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Funny how that works out.</span></span></p></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZix760RKSsVYZnHnkjGAq5SFi1-BDzNnkVLNht7h8hfGSe5MGkCHhBqX2mIWEXdl7FltwB2qd_CdePtvYXDJVh_jUX8gL5pyn0h94Tp3Rcv0MOd29aabGclWbgoplqBtymFnAVd1WwWU/s1600-h/Flag+Day.JPG"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9lYLGdFQU2cmaM1F8UGzlSy_PVwItyJxSBbWtNfjcuNCzOoNlwsF5cTTGgy1xlN-geOV5_G_DFx-78Vn-_yTWrYKCH-WRuOgAsfgjSaNgCXJsvEjdNM5a9XBiUTDAyTDNGBxw65jJTOG/s1600-h/Crazy+Hat6.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9lYLGdFQU2cmaM1F8UGzlSy_PVwItyJxSBbWtNfjcuNCzOoNlwsF5cTTGgy1xlN-geOV5_G_DFx-78Vn-_yTWrYKCH-WRuOgAsfgjSaNgCXJsvEjdNM5a9XBiUTDAyTDNGBxw65jJTOG/s400/Crazy+Hat6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352669624668329394" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Now I go back to tutoring English for the month of July and hopefully will have a chance to help out as a counselor at a "Green Camp" in August in another part of </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> that I haven't visited yet. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I imagine I should get my hot showers in before I leave as the joys of modern plumbing will most likely be absent again.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Yet when I look at my photos and see the joy on the kids' faces, I am reminded what is really important. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-24657059929482871362009-05-29T05:08:00.000-07:002009-05-29T05:57:36.649-07:00New Group of Volunteers Arrive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHOQJ0JrnyyBccHrKaphQ057AAk4mswG910vpG9LrzFstl7YRxYckVfDd3SACkD6NBH0njTYPxqthLvp8R9s1knBo27P2kXbZxW6e1rnltg4L3aKq0vzc0KAkgGJPdw-YNpyL3ggygGZh/s1600-h/Old+Men+Together.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHOQJ0JrnyyBccHrKaphQ057AAk4mswG910vpG9LrzFstl7YRxYckVfDd3SACkD6NBH0njTYPxqthLvp8R9s1knBo27P2kXbZxW6e1rnltg4L3aKq0vzc0KAkgGJPdw-YNpyL3ggygGZh/s400/Old+Men+Together.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341227281326696642" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkgSS6DpGFqs9vUjsTHcpwrnHC3TewcTMFOnbJlxeLIgv569IlMpYkyizIpLFDcGOrCyaTGtnBLNyjZB1X5IwAz7uARxA81eUSp3Sjcgl3GtkfdqJAH09NlmseSefS_mKi9fov-oiXL2N/s1600-h/Smoking+Man.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Dear New Volunteers to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> In February of last year I was waiting for Amazon to deliver several books written by former Peace Corps volunteers who served in <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This was to the site of my two years of service according to the letter I received in mid-January.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The books arrived and I devoured them quickly, anxious to discover what my new life would be like.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then in the middle of April I received another letter from the Peace Corps informing me that I was really going to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think the Universe was hinting that this was not to be a journey of the head but one of the heart.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> Yet I still spend the first couple months in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region> trying to figure it all out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My brain was working overtime sort it all out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>First there was this new language with the very strange alphabet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then this was this confusing culture that was a strange mix of medieval culture and modern technology. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were satellite dishes everywhere you looked and yet you couldn’t find a clean public toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>During the day one could witness the high unemployment rate as men stood around cars with their friends smoking.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And yet in the evening, one might be invited to a lavish banquet where heaping plates of food and lengthy vodka toasts continued until late in the evening. During the weekends I enjoyed taking long walks to enjoy the lush natural surroundings and would always come upon piles of garbage strewn along the roadside.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were cows walking amidst the roads with cars and yet I saw more grade school children using cell phones than in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></o:p></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvjpuhI6WlXwRlbJVSzd19tiylgaUacNhTSo783dzJFNz6XgMB1i0V29WTKTcCYOSPx7CehDE-x_bR2V9JbEHbPu__9kC5f2iIYYDYCLPu3AYYjRqc7pmzayWPnl9rNdKZ8IlkXbNt-NJ/s1600-h/Religious+Art.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvjpuhI6WlXwRlbJVSzd19tiylgaUacNhTSo783dzJFNz6XgMB1i0V29WTKTcCYOSPx7CehDE-x_bR2V9JbEHbPu__9kC5f2iIYYDYCLPu3AYYjRqc7pmzayWPnl9rNdKZ8IlkXbNt-NJ/s400/Religious+Art.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341224439711452770" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Of course, I figured this would all sort itself out after our Pre-Service Training was completed in mid-August and we were finally be assigned to the cities where we would work for the next two years. I was still hopeful that my years of experience in business would guide me in assisting their efforts in tourism.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead it was the Al-Anon Serenity Prayer that proved to be my guide<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">: God grant me the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Serenity</i> to accept the things I cannot change, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Courage</i> to change the things I can’t and the W<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">isdom</i> to know the difference.</b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As we approached the Christmas holidays, I began to doubt if I was my efforts at my NGO (or “Non-Profits” as they say in the States) were of any value.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlWLocbrXxrXrE9sAF9bcgEbnB-k0SkUIX8pS2iNNS04dxzU0MYtz8skoE7FS3XtVTLjGGNuXFcQkoD6Chsdgm9jkmnX0oBFAP5PZkvzcCVVvInku97duBLrYBA7tOMKt3Qq27oUSHhRq/s1600-h/Armenian+Worker.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlWLocbrXxrXrE9sAF9bcgEbnB-k0SkUIX8pS2iNNS04dxzU0MYtz8skoE7FS3XtVTLjGGNuXFcQkoD6Chsdgm9jkmnX0oBFAP5PZkvzcCVVvInku97duBLrYBA7tOMKt3Qq27oUSHhRq/s400/Armenian+Worker.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341221871352509314" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Over the holidays I approached last year’s group of Volunteers seeking some insight into my confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some seemed oblivious to the problem and many others voiced frustrations similar to mine. While all the Volunteers worked in one of four programs, many felt were just “putting band-aids” on very serious problems.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some like me worked in Community/ Business Development and others worked in Teaching English, Health or Environmental Education.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Health Volunteers I met seemed frustrated just to find a time slot in their assigned schools which had no real health curriculum.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But wasn’t this a country whose smoking population had the highest percentage in all of <st1:place st="on">Europe</st1:place>?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If the Armenian government would implement a non-smoking program for teenagers, we could serve as trainers and educators throughout the country.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I saw the same lack of effectiveness with the Environmental Volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We organized village “Clean-up Days” or “Green Camps” but the mindset of the citizens in general seemed the same.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nobody seemed to think twice about tossing plastic bottles or vodka bottles in the rivers and their empty cigarette packages in the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The situation wasn’t too different than I saw in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> during my trip there in 2007, where the country couldn’t keep up with the growth of disposable consumer products.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmZo0e1pqgpMYqV-4D_WbYjxrQSfI2gnoxcbu-ivCN8ygf0eHLaW8KyKVTb4iuR8R8hMLZR0cJurWva__AiE4tvr4Rs8daymnyqFTZ5eHEBX0Da2ea4HpRdR-V9ZcThdFdw5svTUipovQ/s1600-h/Toast+after+Work.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmZo0e1pqgpMYqV-4D_WbYjxrQSfI2gnoxcbu-ivCN8ygf0eHLaW8KyKVTb4iuR8R8hMLZR0cJurWva__AiE4tvr4Rs8daymnyqFTZ5eHEBX0Da2ea4HpRdR-V9ZcThdFdw5svTUipovQ/s400/Toast+after+Work.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341221868597023410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW1ncYt5HLvHRQC9GUA7UoJuGvnXQF6olG-zt4JyTy0igoW5OmmaraaQuJ62mc6xZlIw5yZXeSXgk3fTmkPgYikIQgPHs31qseFLhRYea-QJ9ofEo5_NZeiFdDKlU87cjqqgVcZhe0dsV/s1600-h/Lighting+a+Candle.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW1ncYt5HLvHRQC9GUA7UoJuGvnXQF6olG-zt4JyTy0igoW5OmmaraaQuJ62mc6xZlIw5yZXeSXgk3fTmkPgYikIQgPHs31qseFLhRYea-QJ9ofEo5_NZeiFdDKlU87cjqqgVcZhe0dsV/s400/Lighting+a+Candle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341220723703589698" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">The Community / Business Development sector where I worked had its own issues.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of us were assigned to NGO’s where the primary focus was to obtain grant funding.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The drawback here was that the focus was on the outside with little consideration of how poorly the organization functioned.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I couldn’t help but think of the oft-quoted definition of insanity:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results</i>.</b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It seemed easier just to write another proposal than develop a more effective organization.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Amidst all this I clung desperately to my basic mantra: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I could feel I was getting very low on candles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TgAX3RER3DHjagIZNwy1LhfuIs5b8V3oaQHN8DXNHKm2SurrZU2jCaE9XgUlst22x-8TBXea0MzZE0NqX6g1fkG6ioPuR8XQ_EWbLw4WZTV522ivRcmAkICiJ8dFAqW5PcQMxuewLI4w/s1600-h/Armenian+Statue.jpg"></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Fortunately a shift occurred during one of our conferences.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our packet of information included some articles written “pro”: and “con” regarding the effectiveness of today’s Peace Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One writer said that most of the criticism of the Peace Corps is the result of evaluating our efforts in terms of being a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Development” program</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He went on to say that the Peace Corps’ original mission was to function as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">people-to-people</i></b> program with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>development component</u></i>. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At first this distinction just seemed liked semantics.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Then I began to reflect on those folks in my life who had made a significant contribution to me. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In truth, they didn’t really change the circumstances of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And many probably never knew the impact they made.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But they all gave me something I needed at the time<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">encouragement, friendship, hope</b> </i>or just<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">some new skill</b>. </i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I now realize that when I complete my service in August of 2010, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s problems with unemployment, the environment and health won’t be any different. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet all I can hope is that a handful of young people will be stronger and more confident to meet the challenges of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And I do know I will take back to the States with me the many gifts of their friendship I have received.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-72358976308524137962009-05-01T22:28:00.000-07:002009-05-04T00:46:56.669-07:00Another Historical Adventure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uynO3oTjCysgAD_jkdKaB1rrRrFxpTO00HqWB1FHcPk6otxth-d_a5CtvByTgZi6kI-MbgSVigrsbt_2wDawpIEzaEqp2ZqKrbM_SD-ie6KyQECPjVFXmJTXx8tvkdvFznjzBym7uiiG/s1600-h/felucca+ride+on+Nile.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uynO3oTjCysgAD_jkdKaB1rrRrFxpTO00HqWB1FHcPk6otxth-d_a5CtvByTgZi6kI-MbgSVigrsbt_2wDawpIEzaEqp2ZqKrbM_SD-ie6KyQECPjVFXmJTXx8tvkdvFznjzBym7uiiG/s400/felucca+ride+on+Nile.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331870758734381170" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeeXucOIA-f8TJMV4tJzsp3cj2ClFKHCT_CcNWgtxAZQnxDNNTCaTgDhQuFpy9iwMeS0oENrD6YyvoA5CKbwmQpAlWwzttM6EGWp9nvkRJeZCS8PtCUu90xC7n4W2CKn0kOOBjWaiIE9v/s1600-h/Egypt+for+Obama.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeeXucOIA-f8TJMV4tJzsp3cj2ClFKHCT_CcNWgtxAZQnxDNNTCaTgDhQuFpy9iwMeS0oENrD6YyvoA5CKbwmQpAlWwzttM6EGWp9nvkRJeZCS8PtCUu90xC7n4W2CKn0kOOBjWaiIE9v/s400/Egypt+for+Obama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331870752984776098" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Although The Pyramids are one of the </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7 Wonders of the World</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, I honestly can't see myself flying 7,000 miles from </span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">California</span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to see them.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But one of the perks of the Peace Corps I am discovering is proximity to places you normally would not visit.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So after 6 months of winter in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Armenia</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the warm weather in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> sounded pretty good.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sunshine, historical sites and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">round trip</span> airfare of 450 euros made an attractive package.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Our fare did require a 4 hour layover in </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Moscow</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> but since we have more time than money in the Peace Corps, that was not a problem.)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So the first weekend in April my friend and I boarded a plane in </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yerevan</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for Cairo.<br /></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Before we left, I tried to recall any first-hand experience with the Egyptian culture but could only remember one classmate from years ago.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We were both in graduate school in anthropology but surprisingly enough I don't remember any conversations about the culture in her country.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What I did know was that it was going to be very different from </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am currently living in a very rural area of a Christian country whose entire population is under 3 million people.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cairo</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">was not only in a Muslim country but had a population of more than 19 million people.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kind of like going from Rio Vista to </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">New York City</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxG8uwpBie1vx17u5k9SZgMF4ezyVdpCAdO-RkhPYIIp7B_VAO2JQmGFeFvibGzD6xwKRdzYA76OZ0BtgVQh9RRw3wn7J1q6yGJGWhQrtWupw3LBT2CZW6heJFEIzLQNsT93vtQgEHUS2/s1600-h/The+Pyramid+Business.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxG8uwpBie1vx17u5k9SZgMF4ezyVdpCAdO-RkhPYIIp7B_VAO2JQmGFeFvibGzD6xwKRdzYA76OZ0BtgVQh9RRw3wn7J1q6yGJGWhQrtWupw3LBT2CZW6heJFEIzLQNsT93vtQgEHUS2/s320/The+Pyramid+Business.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331866155804238690" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKwoyDwjZit3HVPqZLvLjsStpLK_mXI2xc4itkBrJCAL6gL-HQphZRndRtnS0LJWcUZRZNDkNRrSbZjMIzSDuX9MgKBe-TSDa3VXyn4OmRRRoSyL4D0YT0dYASxIb-oejh4QEJe8-LL9t/s1600-h/View+of+Cairo+from+Pyramids.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKwoyDwjZit3HVPqZLvLjsStpLK_mXI2xc4itkBrJCAL6gL-HQphZRndRtnS0LJWcUZRZNDkNRrSbZjMIzSDuX9MgKBe-TSDa3VXyn4OmRRRoSyL4D0YT0dYASxIb-oejh4QEJe8-LL9t/s320/View+of+Cairo+from+Pyramids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331866143987424642" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q2WogK4nd8WPC1YfWuP-514a5OXfqybsEKkiqPPy1al_lobrYtye6YtB3SyNsP6x-vWcWxbtp5UP-AHLI4mE1LrlcT4FWBEk5Lc8YJDritMPJ3kMDx1qd_rur16d_mVzTl8QGkgXdJXm/s1600-h/Tourism++is+%231+for+%24%24%24.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q2WogK4nd8WPC1YfWuP-514a5OXfqybsEKkiqPPy1al_lobrYtye6YtB3SyNsP6x-vWcWxbtp5UP-AHLI4mE1LrlcT4FWBEk5Lc8YJDritMPJ3kMDx1qd_rur16d_mVzTl8QGkgXdJXm/s320/Tourism++is+%231+for+%24%24%24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331866146245105506" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZXOJCHtqi9uqstjaTFNh89saUmeNYaFJ-VaLDx27_dmEsGqT79_e8tH4o_AeiibezCq1mfapYTNMwTYpfj2s_UM3bV0eBO5Qc1wmFlLoCAP3Rv4363VQNl2JMiiKdJQ94m5B2_OEMQtV/s1600-h/Alexandria+harbor.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZXOJCHtqi9uqstjaTFNh89saUmeNYaFJ-VaLDx27_dmEsGqT79_e8tH4o_AeiibezCq1mfapYTNMwTYpfj2s_UM3bV0eBO5Qc1wmFlLoCAP3Rv4363VQNl2JMiiKdJQ94m5B2_OEMQtV/s400/Alexandria+harbor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331864633735321794" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">C</span></st1:city></st1:place></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-x7vSFXV74eSK1C8Vg_xVewrVoSAR0Mg29zsYyCnwG8dYWBpBxgGUBxVdoGJangpKM00cwbEsG8ZpLTq-ikrKuyC4JgITdyIpobdj7Lvsugd5ui67nezBT5Y-FJot_vsIiCLnLayRG3C/s1600-h/Historical+monument.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-x7vSFXV74eSK1C8Vg_xVewrVoSAR0Mg29zsYyCnwG8dYWBpBxgGUBxVdoGJangpKM00cwbEsG8ZpLTq-ikrKuyC4JgITdyIpobdj7Lvsugd5ui67nezBT5Y-FJot_vsIiCLnLayRG3C/s320/Historical+monument.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331863255807713010" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To expand my appreciation for upcoming sights in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, I spent some time reading up on their culture and history.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I tried to imagine what it would be like for the current residents in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city> whose country was now a tourist destination after having been dominant political power 3000 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It's kind of like imagining tourists from <st1:country-region st="on">China</st1:country-region> coming to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the year 5000.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Will we still be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">World Power</i> or a tourist destination for those wanting to visit the Grand Canyon and the <st1:place st="on">Mississippi River</st1:place>?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Time will tell.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> You can't read about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Egypt's</span> history without noticing the cycles of history larger than <span> </span>the 300 years of American History.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">'s power began to dwindle some 1100 years before the birth of Christ, there began a rotation of conquering nations beginning with </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Persia</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These seemed to continue in roughly 300 year cycles where Alexander the Great, the Romans, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ottoman</span> Empire and finally even Napoleon for a brief period at the end of the 18</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Century conquered </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By middle of the 19</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> century it was less </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">'s fertile soil but more the newly constructed Suez Canal that attracted the attention of </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">France</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">England</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It wasn't until the middle of the 20</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> century that </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> like </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">India</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> was able to gain their independence from </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Britain</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">'s control.</span></o:p></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oeAHwrHNzFpwh8PjyUCRqRoa3GcwdCVRd1GkIlGeaFZsf0ExlkC6b99Fp6IPdghSmHOwnmfXX5QC7CrLqfKv00pEzFqgQ3-_1Zqh2uRtYdtTcebqWxzz51dYnz7twA1qwpEw6pN-VlRw/s1600-h/Classic+Styles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oeAHwrHNzFpwh8PjyUCRqRoa3GcwdCVRd1GkIlGeaFZsf0ExlkC6b99Fp6IPdghSmHOwnmfXX5QC7CrLqfKv00pEzFqgQ3-_1Zqh2uRtYdtTcebqWxzz51dYnz7twA1qwpEw6pN-VlRw/s320/Classic+Styles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331863247989614786" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">During our 5 days in </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cairo</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, we did the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">usual</span> tourist things like visiting the pyramids in nearby </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Giza</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and taking a brief evening sail on the </span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nile</span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But other than these two outings, I enjoyed having my two feet be my "travel guides."</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We just wandered around parts of the city and seeing what we could discover.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes what we would </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">discover</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is that we were lost.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But after 8 months in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Armenia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, I was kind of immune to that experience.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We stayed in a small hotel ( $19 for a double room with a nice breakfast) that was oddly enough located in an area of town that seemed to specialize in industrial products.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So whenever we got lost we'd just follow the trail of</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">storefronts with pumps, generators and electrical items and we would soon find our bearings.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The shopping in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cairo</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> was obviously set up to accommodate foot traffic and not cars.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You'd seen stores with wallets, and then briefcases and pretty soon it was luggage.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The same was true with ladies' clothes where as you can see in the photos, the store selling contemporary fashions were adjacent to those with the traditional <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">burquas</span>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But there were plenty of cars, many of them taxis </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">with the identical black and yellow colors hand-painted on their doors and side panels.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Crossing the street with four lanes of one way traffic did take a little getting used to.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But after a couple days you found yourself like the rest of the pedestrians in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cairo</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, walking across the street one lane at a time, letting the cars whiz by on both sides of you, like an amateur matador. Fortunately, there seemed to be a symbiotic relationship with the pedestrians and drivers I have never seen anywhere else. I wouldn't try it in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">New York City</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for sure.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM_3XNXxo779llshby7kFoIp3gN90iv5lRyF0y-zzOlRVhbLWkaNr5hhhdT5v_EkAG59PgO1JkSIGASWegZDB5s7M3YsfmhFSG1r03PjTLh-VrUkbPUTjvH9gsF4ImXW2Zz-buTlx1lO0/s1600-h/fashion+scarfs.jpg"></a> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> But like NYC, the compact urban setting with all its high energy activity just added charm to the small places where the locals ate.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Around the corner from our hotel was a small cafe selling fresh-squeezed orange juice in tall mugs for 50 cents. You could find a father and son cooking up a storm at the end of the alley, with fresh beef and chicken smoking on the grill for your falafels.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And of course, every block seemed to feature at least one café where the locals smoked their water pipes for hours at a time while they drank tea and discussed politics.</span></o:p></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9PDc7ORgwySu5ENreNO_mqu_YNmo60gkuXxBLW4SiMidAuFY4s5NYVwQmZDddX9Y-X0ITSs8UyzHiiyxZ7gbdiKtl2loumRL2952sj2f-Zk5k0ioEtJi478n5n32EcZp_ukxWoPSYXEY/s1600-h/Shopping+at+night.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9PDc7ORgwySu5ENreNO_mqu_YNmo60gkuXxBLW4SiMidAuFY4s5NYVwQmZDddX9Y-X0ITSs8UyzHiiyxZ7gbdiKtl2loumRL2952sj2f-Zk5k0ioEtJi478n5n32EcZp_ukxWoPSYXEY/s320/Shopping+at+night.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331861672664084162" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnqO28H4eSuTdN6JEmMt3It9MvKuBnnz5L2FDf9TXyX38axCK6xd-LK98E3t1hdwqz1BHtyZBCNvZcK3p4PSKXaS1nmJNOZzpS8teAN2u6llIZRF-PqJV8QGOAH0khHX_bapTPoeDGIS2/s1600-h/Egytian+beauty.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnqO28H4eSuTdN6JEmMt3It9MvKuBnnz5L2FDf9TXyX38axCK6xd-LK98E3t1hdwqz1BHtyZBCNvZcK3p4PSKXaS1nmJNOZzpS8teAN2u6llIZRF-PqJV8QGOAH0khHX_bapTPoeDGIS2/s320/Egytian+beauty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331861675162599586" /></a><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then at night the whole scene changed as the lights in the storefronts turned on and the</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">sidewalks filled up with shoppers, many of them women checking out the latest fashions.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Living in an Armenian city where they "roll up the sidewalks after 6pm" it was fun to walk around in the midst of all the activity.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Egyptian people as a whole were very congenial and most of the men seemed to have been given the same script: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to Egypt</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> was said to us innumerable times with a very gracious smile.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When they find out I lived in </span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">California</span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, a surprising number of men felt "Hi-Ho Silver" was the appropriate response.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I can't imagine they watched the same Lone Ranger TV shows I did in the 50's but oh, well.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Somehow the people all realized the importance of tourism in the Egyptian economy and acted as good-will ambassadors.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At $6 Billion a year, tourism even surpasses oil and gas as the leading contributor to the national GNP.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7lnpCTE84HhNZP8iGtbiZKB8NUxlbOWmnBspOVZAdsiG01qF6JZh1ARs-MlVjKINXTM40TsKOXm1_E2_Tj4iJrGTFgWuD3IeUvD7Cn-ma8Hi7e4U05qjQXkKPW7yvKE7M8pN9lCxRNvc/s1600-h/Tea+w.+the+locals.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7lnpCTE84HhNZP8iGtbiZKB8NUxlbOWmnBspOVZAdsiG01qF6JZh1ARs-MlVjKINXTM40TsKOXm1_E2_Tj4iJrGTFgWuD3IeUvD7Cn-ma8Hi7e4U05qjQXkKPW7yvKE7M8pN9lCxRNvc/s320/Tea+w.+the+locals.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331860680037846210" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DWqx2sUSk2NnDjwL7gnuErrQ3nvSix8QMX30uF4kMyfn9L0eyUQxEhkpXj-SNUu9Nn9PO1LIUO6NtWYQruPjxqA_DaMax_EOH-k2g7jtsQFCux5j2OFsa5ivLlKl2ny92E-iya-0LrU5/s1600-h/Yankee+Fan.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DWqx2sUSk2NnDjwL7gnuErrQ3nvSix8QMX30uF4kMyfn9L0eyUQxEhkpXj-SNUu9Nn9PO1LIUO6NtWYQruPjxqA_DaMax_EOH-k2g7jtsQFCux5j2OFsa5ivLlKl2ny92E-iya-0LrU5/s320/Yankee+Fan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331859346489716642" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The one thing I was most curious about was how it would be living in an Islamic culture.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lonely Planet</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> book on </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> even talked about not staying at certain hotels in Old Cairo unless you wanted to wake up at the break of dawn to the sound of the loudspeaker calling you to face </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mecca</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As it turned out there was the whole range of responses to the 5 daily announcements for prayer.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you were near a mosque you would see and hear groups bowing down for prayer.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There were even times in a store or the airport where I witnessed people kneeling and praying.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And then there were those who never missed a puff on their water pipe or whatever else they were doing.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The only thing that was surprising was the number of men whose foreheads had a black spot in the center.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Having been raised in a Christian culture, it first reminded me of Ash Wednesday.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then I realized that these were permanent marks from years of putting their foreheads down on their prayer rugs.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I don't know if this was true of the women as well for you seldom saw their foreheads.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some women wore the traditional black burquas as you see in movies with a small slit for their eyes.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While many of the younger women covered the tops of their heads with scarves of many colors that also served as a fashion accessory.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCVBzfLYrCPgGs5Ia0h8zUyHRW04V0BsA5p79tNJGaCjbApOpQk5MOr_bEc62tCCJlPpNRPS4XpAQsjtvo9x-AhtkzCcGOOLkxFwiR52QWI6u4gPueUAT8JOC5v0AXluF7M4pJlfjQDnD/s1600-h/Art+Museum.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331095629857207202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCVBzfLYrCPgGs5Ia0h8zUyHRW04V0BsA5p79tNJGaCjbApOpQk5MOr_bEc62tCCJlPpNRPS4XpAQsjtvo9x-AhtkzCcGOOLkxFwiR52QWI6u4gPueUAT8JOC5v0AXluF7M4pJlfjQDnD/s400/Art+Museum.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Overall, I had only one bad experience in</span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and could have avoided it had I been more cautious.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I had heard before our trip that "it's cheap to get on the camels but expensive to get off."</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And sure enough I crossed paths with a couple of hustlers on camels at the pyraminds in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Giza</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and wound up spending $30 I hadn't planned on.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When they approached us to have our photos taken on their camels, my Peace Corps friend took off as he found all the vendors and dealers a little overwhelming. Having spent a couple years in sales myself, I assumed I could dance around the problem and suggested they take my photo "in front of the camel."</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While I was standing there, one they came up behind me and lifted me on the camel.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And of course, their well-trained animal stood up immediately.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You can normally negotiate a reasonable price for a camel ride but not when you're stranded 8 feet in the air.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Chalk another up to experience.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(And yes, he is checking his cell phone on the camel.)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> For the last 3 days we journeyed a couple hours north to the City of </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alexandria</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">which was a wonderful change of pace from </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cairo</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In addition to the usual number of taxis, there were several dozen horse carts for visitors who wanted a leisurely stroll down the crescent shaped boardwalk facing the harbor.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was great just to sit in front of a large body of water again and watch the waves.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It may have been the </span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Medditeranean</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sea</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> instead of the </span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pacific Ocean</span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> but it had the same calming effect on my spirit.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The 24 hours of Planes, Trains and Automobiles going back to </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Armenia</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> was a little tiring but overall our trip to </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> was an excellent break from 6 months of winter.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-83823449177549282472009-03-23T04:54:00.000-07:002009-03-25T04:07:13.008-07:00A Good Investment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWoJ_obGPK4MRxrec0dEUbXbWt5QDnIzpxnqtFFANICd1JXEsFSbqvgj5FWaNB1slWKvB9zP4EgoFwzJmo0ioiIXY7mA1UoYfAi-nhwFsPdWSTWnOP2rIBSvIaNb9EIrCDPfgzWlb4xOt/s1600-h/Training+Logo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317078621826768226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWoJ_obGPK4MRxrec0dEUbXbWt5QDnIzpxnqtFFANICd1JXEsFSbqvgj5FWaNB1slWKvB9zP4EgoFwzJmo0ioiIXY7mA1UoYfAi-nhwFsPdWSTWnOP2rIBSvIaNb9EIrCDPfgzWlb4xOt/s320/Training+Logo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcOj9-Y-WyeAaeyGUCf3ClQjnYRVy21gQ4J24T0sg4QYeGrapde0rG3ixGCuIY8v-CpADBmjNFB0OhQlUOVotRoS4BeNjsaCdenBvOGZ8casZY-RX_2SzjlEETaUNKx0vCDiWpe9vLGnS/s1600-h/Coffee+Breaks+were+welcomed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317078619282484226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcOj9-Y-WyeAaeyGUCf3ClQjnYRVy21gQ4J24T0sg4QYeGrapde0rG3ixGCuIY8v-CpADBmjNFB0OhQlUOVotRoS4BeNjsaCdenBvOGZ8casZY-RX_2SzjlEETaUNKx0vCDiWpe9vLGnS/s320/Coffee+Breaks+were+welcomed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1waqZUmr6-Kpu_kKur3B_8Nfay6gmx1eh6l1GL1S4mMQEDLfZXLK8-k0uAO6pK6Bai48Hoti3xKPU3igPaJed4maIqPcDVhbjx91Uipr6HWkpcBAuBnRGXaN-h12I69C84iwC9cQ0jYV/s1600-h/Learning+to+Listen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317077136565637442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1waqZUmr6-Kpu_kKur3B_8Nfay6gmx1eh6l1GL1S4mMQEDLfZXLK8-k0uAO6pK6Bai48Hoti3xKPU3igPaJed4maIqPcDVhbjx91Uipr6HWkpcBAuBnRGXaN-h12I69C84iwC9cQ0jYV/s320/Learning+to+Listen.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong><em>A Good Investment</em></strong></span><br /><br />Having left for my Peace Corps service June 1st, I only saw the early signs of the financial crisis that is apparently in full swing in The States. And yet every week someone here in Armenia asks me about the "financial crisis" in America. I saw last week on the internet that housing values in California have fallen 40%. For me these times just confirm what is always the best investment one can make: the youth of our country.<br /><br />The young adults in my village may speak a different language and have different fashions than the American kids but actually seem to have a lot in common. They are energetic, curious and would like to have more say about their future. They are pointed down the path of education and promised rewards when it is completed. In the meantime, they are seldom invited to participate in the workings of their community. The result in both countries is similar as they attempt to create their own community networks over the internet and amuse themselves with computer games and cell phones. Instead of "MySpace" it's a Russian online program called "ClassMates." Lacking the money for expensive iPods, it is a common site to see one teenager holding 2 cell phones so they can share music through Bluetooth software. And while home computers are somewhat of a rarity, it is not uncommon to see students at their school computer labs playing "Vice City." So much for my idea of not seeing violent computer games for a couple years!<br /><br />So several months ago when I heard about a Youth Bank program, I was interested to learn more. I liked what I heard and applied for the grant with a local youth NGO in our city. We were successful and then conducted interviews to select those young people who seemed to possess the desire and enthusiasm to make a contribution to our community. We selected 4 girls and 2 boys. ( I've had to get used to the fact that an unmarried 30 year-old is still a "boy" or "girl" but an 18 year-old who marries is not.) We had to find a replacement for one of our two guys as military service is mandatory for all 20 year old males.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzDNiayKig7oZqYb7fj83ljYNkG7KIAahDyO84L-BKqBsF5RRiMsy6IBo2gnNSvmCr_odXAZO9j2N3Vapfnwq6hXOa6unMaMXcJGKugovWYxI6Q7Ij2sAb3WLA4_WAM8UdOX23-xGhrGZ/s1600-h/Look+at+my+new+T-Shirt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317077128863004626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzDNiayKig7oZqYb7fj83ljYNkG7KIAahDyO84L-BKqBsF5RRiMsy6IBo2gnNSvmCr_odXAZO9j2N3Vapfnwq6hXOa6unMaMXcJGKugovWYxI6Q7Ij2sAb3WLA4_WAM8UdOX23-xGhrGZ/s320/Look+at+my+new+T-Shirt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiBZdrW_0oEYbJO4gBQe6mbe89K7fy0LhDXAlg5kVgVI4o9Ch1KwANkFkAO3Ttg2_t2Ux8cVhL9AmPdAMb_xEP1kHOrmUoo16p7xXP2lTdEGtVKMfbRrLQYKzvk-i2EHeZClcOexT9ZpU/s1600-h/Dilijan+Group+w.+certificates.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316352652904748946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiBZdrW_0oEYbJO4gBQe6mbe89K7fy0LhDXAlg5kVgVI4o9Ch1KwANkFkAO3Ttg2_t2Ux8cVhL9AmPdAMb_xEP1kHOrmUoo16p7xXP2lTdEGtVKMfbRrLQYKzvk-i2EHeZClcOexT9ZpU/s320/Dilijan+Group+w.+certificates.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Two weeks ago we took our group to Yerevan for 3 days of training in the world of "grant-making." American tax dollars are still a primary source of "seed money" for social change through organizations like US AID which funds this program through Eurasia Partnership Foundation. As you know the major drawback of such programs is that it can become like welfare, a crutch that some people become dependent on. There are countless numbers of NGO's (what we call Non-Profit businesses) that seem to exist solely for the purpose of getting salaries for the applicants.<br />What I liked about the Youth Bank Project from the beginning was that there we NO salaries. The grant funds were only $2,500 and all of that money was to be put back into the community via $500 projects. Our 3 day training was to help our youth through various role-playing activities how to decide what is a good project worth funding.<br /><br />Our group met yesterday and began the process of designing a questionnaire to find out what our the main problems to address in our community. When they have finished their community interviews, they will design a poster requesting applicants and sometime in May will start interviewing those who have applied. I spoke with the leaders of a Youth Bank in another city who said they had about 20-25 applications to review before selecting the best for interviews. Whatever comes of all this, I can't help but feel our young people will benefit much personally. They will not only gain some financial understanding as they monitor the projects they fund but they will also become more engaged with the social issues of their own communities. Seems to me to be a good return for the $2,500 of tax invested. And then next year, they will be required to take it to the next level and raise the money themselves in the community. As was printed on the back of the shirts of our Youth Bank trainers: <strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">real problems, real money, real change.<br /></span></em></strong></p><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZbpFTNXTAfPsBFuB9SIPRNIFFmtxgPqX3zb7sRWJEFraVTaE1-4jmqJ66fO75m979Wi0PLtoAvrtVBMSmpjgWnbDeshzfNRgEfiErIAfTM65DLG6Pri8aKaUgc_MpypGDiIRTlOk9Izg/s1600-h/Old+Man+%26+group.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316352656284381138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZbpFTNXTAfPsBFuB9SIPRNIFFmtxgPqX3zb7sRWJEFraVTaE1-4jmqJ66fO75m979Wi0PLtoAvrtVBMSmpjgWnbDeshzfNRgEfiErIAfTM65DLG6Pri8aKaUgc_MpypGDiIRTlOk9Izg/s320/Old+Man+%26+group.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><div>This project had its origin in Northern Ireland so I got to enjoy the company of 3 people from Belfast during our time in the capital. I also benefited from the fact that our trainers spoke almost no Armenian so three translators were working all the time in each of the groups. And from the young people from our city, it was a great opportunity to make connections with their peers from other regions of Armenia as they mixed the groups for the first 2 days of the training. As the sessions went from 9 in the morning until 9 at night, the coffee breaks were very active social times.<br /><br />As the program was winding down the final day I wound up chatting with one of the local cameraman filming the event. Having been raised himself during the Soviet era, he had a wonderful perspective on all the meetings and discussions the young people were engaged in. He told me that most of his generation of Armenians lacked the skills for collaboration, something I have greatly struggled with to help grow the tourism industry at my site. He commented to me that watching the young people working together was for him like "pushing back the invisible wall to progress in Armenia." I'd have to say that was a "good investment." </div></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-71806528560857935062009-02-25T01:53:00.000-08:002009-02-25T02:49:09.650-08:00Moving into my own Flat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SnbgUo43e3lp6Wn0B8inNKLTCWUQrhuYTWZExOqMj-fMr_EWgo55cO02wzZB4EuvrmqgS4-B2rYaeo3e7kXje_pnKq_-KABdnhghZr-xXY_EBa-Gd1d3ZlifMLVIQ6ASiNbYLb7dTg5I/s1600-h/Great+Location.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SnbgUo43e3lp6Wn0B8inNKLTCWUQrhuYTWZExOqMj-fMr_EWgo55cO02wzZB4EuvrmqgS4-B2rYaeo3e7kXje_pnKq_-KABdnhghZr-xXY_EBa-Gd1d3ZlifMLVIQ6ASiNbYLb7dTg5I/s320/Great+Location.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306677233376380114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-AmwPhYva02EPPsuCok3jYq4Pa3fyOkeS_TshiSmSRtFjkefB1ncZqlRCG3RauOOBLMP22d9wSLQLudDigkou57qvMZ1WsCe5KVA_fTv93eIYyzPlQlwJfmBOMqg4w8I5KrOQsqJtLUL/s1600-h/Just+Wait+Until+Spring.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-AmwPhYva02EPPsuCok3jYq4Pa3fyOkeS_TshiSmSRtFjkefB1ncZqlRCG3RauOOBLMP22d9wSLQLudDigkou57qvMZ1WsCe5KVA_fTv93eIYyzPlQlwJfmBOMqg4w8I5KrOQsqJtLUL/s320/Just+Wait+Until+Spring.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306677230782530946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PB_yewEjcJsSjEq32sEpTO-nWxO2zh-BHy47ZYHpSrRWlLji89A5p03XYxlOxDAl1RVnvsIyw-fS84ofvkfUh-DaRqr658ksW00JDKntMqKmTcSwft6ZPArj0xaDrt6WY7dlrfYPlgKK/s1600-h/Clothes+Line+Available.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PB_yewEjcJsSjEq32sEpTO-nWxO2zh-BHy47ZYHpSrRWlLji89A5p03XYxlOxDAl1RVnvsIyw-fS84ofvkfUh-DaRqr658ksW00JDKntMqKmTcSwft6ZPArj0xaDrt6WY7dlrfYPlgKK/s320/Clothes+Line+Available.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306677229725372530" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So a couple days after I posted my last blog, I moved into my own apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Peace Corps requires that you live with an Armenian family for the first 4 months in your new site which is a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You have an opportunity to continue to work on your new-found language skills as well as being immersed in the Armenian culture and customs ( like the custom of visiting families during the first week of January I mentioned in my last blog.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You also are more quickly assimilated and accepted into your village through the relatives, neighbors, and friends of your host family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had a little taste of that growing up in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:state> where both my mother and my father both had two siblings in our town.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This experience of clan and "extended family" is even more intense in a small city of about 15.000 residents (I think <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">South Bend</st1:place></st1:city> was about 100,000 at the time.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nobody bothers to make distinctions between ”first" and "second" cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of the young men I work with lives with his grandmother and his mother's brother's family who have a small baby.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The first time he talked about his "little brother" I was confused.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Since everybody seems related somehow, it makes sense to not spend time sorting it out. </div><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So today when I awoke, I discovered a lovely gentle snow falling.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Much like when I lived in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city>, the snow in our city will fall and then be gone in a week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(This is not the case for some of my fellow volunteers who get "the real <st1:state st="on">Midwest</st1:state> experience of winter" that I was anticipating.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Since it was Sunday, I figured it would be a good time to take my camera with me when I went to the little grocery store........right across across the street.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> As you can see in the photo, I also have </span>a bus stop right outside my place. The couple days when it did get very cold or when I don’t have time for the 30 minute walk to work, I am very grateful for the location.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> All bus trips are 70 drams, or 25 cents. </span>It was also great last Saturday when I needed to carry my laptop to work so I could finish up my Turbo-Tax program online.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>( One can have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Internet</span> in the house for $30 @ month but I just can't justify spending over 10% of my salary for that. Saving money for a trip to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city> makes a lot more sense!)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div> <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7nzFtxEUUYqo2ULIlQWizIPmXixUF4XCfQecaTNZlDFxOLSbM28XS5XbOQ7wFnjtKN6yJ8DTv4JaYtP2qE1ZA6XyzRH383a8Xk-L_a-P9LRMmkZOPSHV0iyfOw4-cLx4Rn9N_d4ZxKJU/s320/Thank+God+for+the+Shower!.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306674561028548578" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6ksll_wjzUUNhVBOpuTS-I5Yw98FYI3qV114Qrgg0UoXgq8pMrC8zx7JdV7F1Ax_sj6Ikp5NhzIZyz73eN6SpIToC06xqYGvKhqkS2bS7ADoDAtfZzwDa_Saau7Xf1GHHloEzjSSgbup/s1600-h/My+Place.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6ksll_wjzUUNhVBOpuTS-I5Yw98FYI3qV114Qrgg0UoXgq8pMrC8zx7JdV7F1Ax_sj6Ikp5NhzIZyz73eN6SpIToC06xqYGvKhqkS2bS7ADoDAtfZzwDa_Saau7Xf1GHHloEzjSSgbup/s320/My+Place.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306671824702899666" /></a><div><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0HccZdoN8-2EgP_1ibyyDmlZKueYJMBDPLNAZTFfu4Og46BlmbXH6_t6JrAcHnZn-84j114lpFgyemcrDTX_WWvm8fWYf-Yvy3Wtu_yQB5P5epVwn_meVD0EC1kGKbn7_pMd1_0iBnaj/s1600-h/Cooking+Area.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0HccZdoN8-2EgP_1ibyyDmlZKueYJMBDPLNAZTFfu4Og46BlmbXH6_t6JrAcHnZn-84j114lpFgyemcrDTX_WWvm8fWYf-Yvy3Wtu_yQB5P5epVwn_meVD0EC1kGKbn7_pMd1_0iBnaj/s320/Cooking+Area.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306671820607253586" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>These photos will hopefully give you a sense of a "flat" in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I understand it, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region> built these apartment buildings as part of the socialist program.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">USSR</st1:place></st1:country-region> collapsed in '92, they were sold as individual units.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I remember when I was looking for a place back in November thinking I could just ask the "Apartment Managers" about vacancies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was a little confused when we stopped at the nearby stores to ask about "vacancies."<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is where that "family network" comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Somehow we heard through a contact at the local gas company that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">somebody's</span> sister had moved to the capital of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Yerevan</st1:place></st1:city> to work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I would have never found this place on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My rent is $80 a month and I pay for water and gas.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am still waiting to find out what the utilities will be for last month.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They gave me my first month's rent free for installing a new toilet, which cost me about the same.<br /></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>My apartment building is almost identical to every other one you see in our city.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I live on the second floor and have a little open air balcony outside the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When spring arrives, I am looking forward to my weekend cup of coffee looking out at the surrounding forests and mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>( Our city used to be promoted in tourist literature as "Little Switzerland".)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> As you can see from the photo of my kitchen, the balcony also "doubles as a clothes dryer." I used to chuckle when I'd see clothes on the line in winter. And now.......I'm doing it! *;o Since </span>sometimes it takes 3 or 4 days for clothes to dry, I asked Meghan to make a trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">WalMart</span> for some more "skivvies." <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am getting pretty good at wringing the last drop of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">water</span> out of my clothes before hanging them up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hanging</span> them up with t</span>he old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wooden</span> clothes pins has been a little bit of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">déjà</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">vu</span> from my childhood in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:state>.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> One of my earliest California memories of Armenia was hearing that the people don't bother to plug in their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">refrigerators</span></span> in winter……<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">as the kitchens are cold enough.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> It's true. </span>I haven't plugged in my refrigerator yet so I don't even know if it works but my balcony is plenty cold to serve as "cold storage."<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It's surprising how soon one adapts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I actually look forward at the end of work each day of "coming home" to my little place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I open up my copy of "A Year in the Maine Woods" and feel right at home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was originally disappointed that I was not assigned to <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place> as the Peace Corps originally indicated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But now in many ways Armenia seems like the best location for my two years of service. It surely challenges every assumption I brought with me about how life is "supposed to be." </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-79796719819454549832009-01-09T02:58:00.000-08:002009-01-12T00:33:59.737-08:00Holiday Bus Ride<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUOz0P4BExDR-WWbOoWezLWHdEjYpw578hTLeDLt24dgLs3OJif3t64gvkX1uH3zCv3093f8jlW9CpKsDFUSID3teFK2eX18s8iyPFhjjoRc-Kz_SI3D03MckMYOZ8_Mp8l4Vzacfbwkn/s1600-h/Family+First.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289598721548576658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUOz0P4BExDR-WWbOoWezLWHdEjYpw578hTLeDLt24dgLs3OJif3t64gvkX1uH3zCv3093f8jlW9CpKsDFUSID3teFK2eX18s8iyPFhjjoRc-Kz_SI3D03MckMYOZ8_Mp8l4Vzacfbwkn/s320/Family+First.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU1EH6l2HTSqoGjl4DVbGUe64McCEW-xJL8JdpSGNNIOzVHd5Zx2PN9fcHhvm-FKOIaLO-ahYS7baJ-OVkiQncJ29pNLFJfLWJLQNgn3nGJ3VR_ZFpYY5aGJnkQVg0WgaLnK9mZ8_OhPu/s1600-h/Host+Clan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289598137508298962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU1EH6l2HTSqoGjl4DVbGUe64McCEW-xJL8JdpSGNNIOzVHd5Zx2PN9fcHhvm-FKOIaLO-ahYS7baJ-OVkiQncJ29pNLFJfLWJLQNgn3nGJ3VR_ZFpYY5aGJnkQVg0WgaLnK9mZ8_OhPu/s320/Host+Clan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcjoVNqmWStGXXnTx8gGZxa5kKTShwBmzqMOcerCEE2gVQ9ld7B92H1yRDdvhcI7ytSpRvo8YUCDS60iFOHvaj8ADwcx21KC6idt8iNA39TL3CwazV3FMDF8eY7pG_gfnweSQyts1Bz8H/s1600-h/Me+and+Tigran.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289592390959650338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcjoVNqmWStGXXnTx8gGZxa5kKTShwBmzqMOcerCEE2gVQ9ld7B92H1yRDdvhcI7ytSpRvo8YUCDS60iFOHvaj8ADwcx21KC6idt8iNA39TL3CwazV3FMDF8eY7pG_gfnweSQyts1Bz8H/s320/Me+and+Tigran.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />When you don't know the bus routes and have limited language skills, traveling in a new country can be a real adventure. I can still remember my first solo trip to the capital of Yerevan. Getting there was easy. The return trip was another matter. I was told that I could catch the bus back to my city at the bus station on "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><strong>Abovian</strong></span>." How difficult could that be? After one of the locals showed me which bus to get on, I felt like it was "mission accomplished." <em>Mission Impossible</em> turned out to be a more apt description. Twenty minutes later I found myself leaving the city with<br /><div><div><div>the bus approaching a fork in the midle of the road. One arrow pointed left to my city and the other pointed right to another city called . . . <strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Abovian</span>.</em></strong> Тhis 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> century Armenian writer was famous enough to have <strong>both a street and his home village named after him.</strong> Fortunately the bus driver was kind enough to stop the bus in the middle of nowhere and flag down a bus going in the opposite direction for me. It was not to be the last time that the kindness of locals rescued me from my errant wanderings.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSDFrzaXhl5PtqgU_Hc_SIlY5WffiiuKDa4yBFmnSM-pX8KkdiO9wm_e05pcYyxdTJyBRkQcWdDSeOI35qCeOUYc851o3dhTz2PWpIY4deSbM8jxtckdHIkFfJvkyEBIMA7RfWxH0GqSu/s1600-h/Holiday+Bus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289591700908659906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSDFrzaXhl5PtqgU_Hc_SIlY5WffiiuKDa4yBFmnSM-pX8KkdiO9wm_e05pcYyxdTJyBRkQcWdDSeOI35qCeOUYc851o3dhTz2PWpIY4deSbM8jxtckdHIkFfJvkyEBIMA7RfWxH0GqSu/s400/Holiday+Bus.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>So here I was five months later, preparing for my big adventure to the capital for a New Year's Eve rendezvous with my fellow Volunteers. I had been warned that it was a limited bus schedule for New Year's Day so ...."<em>Good luck, getting back."</em> And it was imperative that I return the next morning at the request of my host family. While Americans are just winding down their holidays on January 1st, the Armenians are just "<em>winding up</em>." I had been told that all the businesses close down for at least the first week of January to accommodate the tradition of family visits. During that week apparently everyone is expected to have a buffet ready on the dining room for at least two dozen visitors who might drop in. ( Apparently, cell phones have been a blessing since families get a little warning now!) This time it was no problem for this <strong>seasoned veteran of bus travel </strong>as I successfully located the only bus leaving for my city that day.</div><div><br /></div><div></div></div><div><div>Such was the prologue to my first Christmas in Armenia. It is now January 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> and I am sitting here trying to remember what exactly happened that first week of January. One thing I know is that I was actually glad to go back to work on the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> just to have some relief from all the eating and drinking. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>My expectation was for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">a simpler, quieter holiday</span></span>. I was relieved to be spared all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pre</span>-Christmas sales in November, the December mailbox filled with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wal</span>-Mart <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">flyers</span>, and the never-ending schedule of college bowl games. Here in Armenia I thought it would be wonderful to see what it was like to, as the slogan goes, put the <em>Christ back in Christmas</em>. The Peace Corps had stressed during our training the importance of 301AD when Armenia had become <em>first Christian State in the history of the world.</em> I would just have be patient and wait for January 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span>, the date the Eastern Churches had chosen for Christmas.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So during all these family feasts, I waited. And January 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> came and went with no religious festivities. It was just another day of family visits. I had this feeling like<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> I had missed the bus again.</span> Guess it takes a while to learn the bus routes in another culture. At least next year I won't have to be disappointed by false expectations. I can just enjoy it enjoy the Christmas season in Armenia for just what it is: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">a celebration of family ties.<br /></span><br /><div></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-30059470303911461082008-12-05T01:30:00.000-08:002008-12-05T02:32:28.858-08:00Next Phase of my Service<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsJZyIICwdLr-S18ejIYD6U4oV-trEs-p0k454pZkJZFYh9Ttk0TH54xlWtCgT7-uFAJqjx36nQXNUmxGKHOvl2afUcVh8fRs_TK8Hbm7fcnbYPEJmPeabFJ-WET49EboFNZpZqCOHzjG/s1600-h/Tres+Amigos.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsJZyIICwdLr-S18ejIYD6U4oV-trEs-p0k454pZkJZFYh9Ttk0TH54xlWtCgT7-uFAJqjx36nQXNUmxGKHOvl2afUcVh8fRs_TK8Hbm7fcnbYPEJmPeabFJ-WET49EboFNZpZqCOHzjG/s320/Tres+Amigos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276247792959974338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz29aWVBMYMC4FpqkUEXlRemD9fXcCa_1OoI9IWb5ujJd7nUPy1366gji7TszJT_7-dclNKyRu0tly7elYOI8U-6_DYMt93mxWxxs1hQ2hDfCygmgd4MXUfUFT7Lpkkeus6sRP-C-7G_r/s1600-h/LedJan+082.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz29aWVBMYMC4FpqkUEXlRemD9fXcCa_1OoI9IWb5ujJd7nUPy1366gji7TszJT_7-dclNKyRu0tly7elYOI8U-6_DYMt93mxWxxs1hQ2hDfCygmgd4MXUfUFT7Lpkkeus6sRP-C-7G_r/s320/LedJan+082.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276247788126541250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN0Y8A1uVgemFi3aTAtz3nhuDSezZjCnldwtp9AtmU3qsHfF5fVJW1-7Y4O5zC6asKstldUl1izGkR1AZFMqFmI9CttT4AGuPMtFFmzEcw3oImVLtYldW1rHW7pYMM5iOV5Q-VwMLCnBH/s1600-h/Village+Cooking.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN0Y8A1uVgemFi3aTAtz3nhuDSezZjCnldwtp9AtmU3qsHfF5fVJW1-7Y4O5zC6asKstldUl1izGkR1AZFMqFmI9CttT4AGuPMtFFmzEcw3oImVLtYldW1rHW7pYMM5iOV5Q-VwMLCnBH/s320/Village+Cooking.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276247787965626498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTcY35nIwodqL2A73eot_Pj7gGdnOPqrOp1KIdH_iUFQ7X2BxHfzvZRTqnVF-YUbxMZ-v8fYNWgr4DY9E3ZnEnIpYPkGQFQXHWmNgDGTzemZOLVWCL3t2fk87Qg9tNcUtJUTjaGPAgijZ/s1600-h/Pumpkin+Boy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTcY35nIwodqL2A73eot_Pj7gGdnOPqrOp1KIdH_iUFQ7X2BxHfzvZRTqnVF-YUbxMZ-v8fYNWgr4DY9E3ZnEnIpYPkGQFQXHWmNgDGTzemZOLVWCL3t2fk87Qg9tNcUtJUTjaGPAgijZ/s320/Pumpkin+Boy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276236791583916258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PqbIRceJd-Vne8qVASGUQvjjISC4326R7vuAW2wICXqGDAtgdbp-4C6xaRaQqrH4VPFpDGWHGa5G1ydPuVHvfbwi5tc4qEDZ_w3MBMVpKxYGDWL3CMLJlC_hYRYnNp3Okp-qCBCyKYI3/s1600-h/Mr.+Corn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PqbIRceJd-Vne8qVASGUQvjjISC4326R7vuAW2wICXqGDAtgdbp-4C6xaRaQqrH4VPFpDGWHGa5G1ydPuVHvfbwi5tc4qEDZ_w3MBMVpKxYGDWL3CMLJlC_hYRYnNp3Okp-qCBCyKYI3/s320/Mr.+Corn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276236793592199730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe0eNdJQe3lrv06Q7PCxHEFKZ_2qjYKArZoaHXJaZH-z_svUK-tbkTK1_S8LncZ3p-ouHxsYFHZjsoMDKfWxxxQYzkHEqk3_CkzceulrFKT98kjigZjMX9S0I-BN2AOQccVNflzKkR9RY/s1600-h/Mr.+Tomato.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe0eNdJQe3lrv06Q7PCxHEFKZ_2qjYKArZoaHXJaZH-z_svUK-tbkTK1_S8LncZ3p-ouHxsYFHZjsoMDKfWxxxQYzkHEqk3_CkzceulrFKT98kjigZjMX9S0I-BN2AOQccVNflzKkR9RY/s320/Mr.+Tomato.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276236789863850930" /></a>Upon our arrival in Armenia last June, we were led into an auditorium where we were loudly welcomed by 40 other second year Volunteers. Well, a couple days ago another 1st year volunteer mentioned that in another 6 months <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">we are going to be up on that stage</span></span> as the "Newbies" come in. Seems strange as most of us feel like "newbies" still. So I guess this is a good time to reflect on the past 6 months in-country.<div><br /></div><div>Odd as it seems, probably the most important book I have read since my arrival is a murder mystery, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Child 44. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Set in Russia during the 1950's (when I was adjusting to the wooden rulers of the Catholic nuns at Holy Cross grade school), it gives a very poignant portrayal of just how unsettling life in the Soviet world could be. In a world where fear predominated, keeping information to oneself and hiding problems was important for ones safety. Well, the Soviet Union may have crumbled in the late 90's but they surely left their cultural heritage behind. (Probably not too different from the Puritan influence in America, although we seem to have outgrown it of late </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">*;o)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>By reading that novel, I have finally been able to come to grips with the what show up for my American eyes as a totally dysfunctional business culture where information is closely held and collaboration is reserved for family functions. And above all,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> "walk around the elephant in the middle of the room."</span> ( Not that Corporate America doesn't have a smidgen of that, too.) The operative mode is to "circle the wagons" and wait for the next grant of American funding to continue paying salaries. </div><div><br /></div><div>After 6 months in the country and 3 months at my work site, I think I have finally realized that this is "what is" and my efforts are not really going to change it. When we came to our work sites, we were assigned to one of four sectors: language, environment, health or business. Our sector is actually called "CBD" or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Community/ Business Development. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">So I believe my next year and a half is going to be "CD," letting the "B" takes its own course.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The photos above are a good example of Community Development. One of the second year volunteers has directed a lot of her efforts to supporting a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Harvest Festival</span></span> where the local residents of nearby villages could gather and celebrate. There is even some friendly competition for the best presentations and food preparation. As you can see, the children also have a great time dressing up, dancing and singing.</div><div><br /></div><div> I have recently become acquainted with both an art school for youngsters as well as an art academy for older students and am hoping next year to help promote their work. The current leaders of my city are the products of the Soviet times but the young people will be Armenia's future. Whatever I can do to enhance their hope and confidence are seeds for the future. I think I just found my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">New Garde</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">n</span></span> for the next couple years.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-38379365145872540992008-11-17T01:19:00.000-08:002008-11-17T01:29:59.943-08:00Overcoming the Past<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPT3zYpvd6-QKvMtXW_LB-8Xgsvm5keCZBvqc5dBXc2_2Fjzi9uNFTKtA6I9Ke9na8Bz03qt_7WsLZnDIWaHMlENa5QbuzdH8-mPH-EDLpqoDM8TWIItfd8xRzWwduo9zUmsqvjW1m2Gs7/s1600-h/Earthquake.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPT3zYpvd6-QKvMtXW_LB-8Xgsvm5keCZBvqc5dBXc2_2Fjzi9uNFTKtA6I9Ke9na8Bz03qt_7WsLZnDIWaHMlENa5QbuzdH8-mPH-EDLpqoDM8TWIItfd8xRzWwduo9zUmsqvjW1m2Gs7/s320/Earthquake.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269555056864110210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9DgOVEPo6X_gqndt7P-EZvWXYowLUJNxo6QbaB2xSj_XRmvxKxWITCnYuydGLkolygwuvTliM7ICI34M3vPTq3am7mKv3iRi1A4Hz6pGuM0NDToT4WT1GK4EGzHdLKWHmbDV2zeaLFMD/s1600-h/PG&E+Bldg.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9DgOVEPo6X_gqndt7P-EZvWXYowLUJNxo6QbaB2xSj_XRmvxKxWITCnYuydGLkolygwuvTliM7ICI34M3vPTq3am7mKv3iRi1A4Hz6pGuM0NDToT4WT1GK4EGzHdLKWHmbDV2zeaLFMD/s320/PG&E+Bldg.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269555051540028210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FZEBory0yX3dqoDotn6Pn7k0_Oi7YNwdDqIft3o4NqH83jM8nHPnCpIxWimqgsZCpkYDUWFKaRmPQ9HAUNCCECBksXEH1A1J9XV8mWm-yaNJ74ftvFMYY3XQOq_bfRAyFTrJAEhInh-K/s1600-h/Gymeri+Bldg.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FZEBory0yX3dqoDotn6Pn7k0_Oi7YNwdDqIft3o4NqH83jM8nHPnCpIxWimqgsZCpkYDUWFKaRmPQ9HAUNCCECBksXEH1A1J9XV8mWm-yaNJ74ftvFMYY3XQOq_bfRAyFTrJAEhInh-K/s320/Gymeri+Bldg.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269555048544264690" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 48px;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><br />This past weekend I attended a planning session for a youth camp to be held next summer. About 3 hours to the northeast of my site and adjacent to <st1:country-region st="on">Armenia</st1:country-region>'s border with <st1:country-region st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region> is the City of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gyumri</span></span></st1:place></st1:city>. Twenty years ago next month, the whole area suffered a devastating earthquake from which both the buildings and the city's economy are still recovering. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p> Having a population of approximately 120,000,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gyumri</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is the second largest city in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Armenia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. At one time the population was twice that size. As we approached the outskirts of the city on a local "<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">marshutni</span></span>" (a mini-bus built for 12 that often carries 20 people), several vivid reminders of its history appeared: a very large<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cemetery</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and a number of abandoned industrial buildings from the Soviet period. </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p> But once we arrived at the bus station, the mood quickly changed. As I walked the two blocks to the Square, I was suddenly engulfed in a hub of commerce, with tables and kiosks lining both sides of the street. The vendors on that first block were well aware that winter was just a couple weeks away. They displayed a vast array of products from sheet metal stove pipes for furnaces to woolen socks and fur-lined boots. (At 5,000 dram or $15, the boots were more affordable than I expected.) </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p> As I moved along to the next block, the more popular Armenian wares appeared: cell phones, woman's fashions and cigarettes. In addition to their commercial value it was apparent that these two blocks also filled a vital social function for the city's residents. But<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">not being</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>much of a shopper myself, I was rather relieved to reach the end of the gauntlet and into <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Freedom Square</st1:address></st1:street>, appropriately named for my feelings at the time.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p> While I waited for fellow Volunteer's bus to arrive, I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">enjoyed </span>exploring the city streets which offered quite a variety of architectural styles. As the photos indicate there were many examples of classic 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span style="background:yellow"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span></span></span> Century architecture as well as stark reminders of December 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span style="background:yellow"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span></span></span>, 1988. My attention was also drawn to one older building whose face was covered with electrical panels. I couldn't decide if this was really some kind of neighborhood transfer station for electricity or the wires were needed to keep the structure standing.</o:p></span></p><p></p>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980629250380374438.post-1484373013412508522008-11-17T00:56:00.000-08:002008-11-17T01:19:28.877-08:00Stepping Over the 20th Century<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqZZXjZm305YIvUUXchSHtvlVlD7wIRLkRyfL0p-hxP7v9Bp2i1vI7gsSxpALEGmNwRl04cE6lcM2qqdnuZVljaD8VoZFgABKndhxEo6i9PgJOHBg5Tllaf6pcgt8SW3J3PQFKdhQfiZQ/s1600-h/19th+%26+21st+Centuries.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqZZXjZm305YIvUUXchSHtvlVlD7wIRLkRyfL0p-hxP7v9Bp2i1vI7gsSxpALEGmNwRl04cE6lcM2qqdnuZVljaD8VoZFgABKndhxEo6i9PgJOHBg5Tllaf6pcgt8SW3J3PQFKdhQfiZQ/s320/19th+%26+21st+Centuries.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269548697353490338" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"></span></span><div><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As I was leaving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gyumri</span> Sunday afternoon, I had this strange sense that something was missing in the city. It finally dawned on me. What was missing was</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333; mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">T</span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333; mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">he</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> Century</span></span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Their medieval churches had a new neighbor: the electronics chain I have seen before in Armenia: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ZigZag</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. And the statues in the square honoring their ancient heroes had a new backdrop: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Samsung</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Yes, the 21st Century featuring a wide array of electronic toys had now arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gyumri</span>.</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Yet there seemed to be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">no bridge from the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Centur</span></span></span>y. All the city had to show for that period was the effects of the devastating earthquake of 1988 and the industrial collapse of the USSR in the early 90's.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"> Even with all the humanitarian aid that came to the area after the earthquake to rebuild <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">structures</span>, it is obviously going to take a lot longer to rebuild the economy. Hopefully the future will bring a resolution of their conflict with Turkey and provide an open border to stimulate trade.</span></span></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0p_1xLlYiLTf5eZsr3Qprbz9FQLJlVvu2wAIL661tmrxGGTMoMVVfK7GLVWfX1XOqlRM8z1ViHo6nq3de-es00qA7AvT2p1-HoAHfxkikQM6HspK5CdvHVxh7_e9yGHR1EI5c0LFPDl-o/s1600-h/Historical+Heroes.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0p_1xLlYiLTf5eZsr3Qprbz9FQLJlVvu2wAIL661tmrxGGTMoMVVfK7GLVWfX1XOqlRM8z1ViHo6nq3de-es00qA7AvT2p1-HoAHfxkikQM6HspK5CdvHVxh7_e9yGHR1EI5c0LFPDl-o/s320/Historical+Heroes.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269548687482576290" /></a><br /></div></div>Jack Garveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660573961823729987noreply@blogger.com0