Going Into the World to Live Uncomfortable Lives

Cathedral in Vienna, Austria we got to explore the city a bit
on our 12 hr layover.

It is 3:40am. I can’t sleep, so I might as well write my first post in Armenia.

We landed in Armenia about 4am yesterday. We were greeted by Peace Corps Staff and the Country Director for the Peace Corps made it a point to talk to everyone. He knew that I was an R. A. for USD, how I spoke Vietnamese, and other random facts that came from my Resume. My thought:  wow, off to a great first impression.

We loaded our bags into a big truck and took off in a bus to a Pagan Church for breakfast. The site was magnificent particularly because the sun was coming out from the mountains.  Notable was Mt. Ararat—where Noah’s Ark landed, even though it is visible from Armenia, this mountain is actually in Turkey.

Pagan Church near Yerevan that is ancient

Armenia is incredibly green and on our drive, I noticed lots of abandoned buildings and vehicles, which are remnants of the Soviet Union days.

After allowing Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) to meander around to explore, the Director gave a few words of welcome and inspiration. Living uncomfortable lives was a bigger theme I picked up.  As trite as it sounds, it is a way to challenge oneself to grow, among other obvious reasons.

I’m here on a mission to learn, to grow, to build relationships in the most humble manner. I’m not here to impose American values from my high horse. I’m here to live with the locals. I’m here to build. I’m here to create sustainable programs.  And for these reasons, I CAN’T WAIT.

I’m going to be living with 12 other volunteers in a village called Akunk for the next three months of training. I’ve only heard how fabulous the host families are here. I’m really looking forward to unpacking my bags and settling in.

I’ve set up my cell phone and banking. I’m gong to go with suggestions to hold off on buying a modem for internet.

I’ve gotten to meet a few volunteers who have been in country for 1-2 years. I enjoy soaking in all of their words of wisdom. I need to be prepared for corporal punishment methods and the rote memorization teaching styles by Armenian teachers (also remnants from the Russian days). I don’t have to participate in these teaching methods. I can only explain why I don’t believe in these styles.

What else am I missing?  Hmm . Oh the food! I’m delighted to say that I can adapt quite well : salad, soup, fried chicken and potatoes, spinach with eggs,  soda water, and a big basket of bread for lunch. Dinner consisted of eggplants, sweet apricot, cheese, bread and butter, tea, and a dish of grains with a patty of meat. WE ARE HOWEVER STAYING AT A RESORT, so I don’t know these meals would differ from authentic ones with my host family. I guess I will find out soon enough.

I miss everyone at home and the warm California sunshine, but I’m giddy from the thought of my own uncomfortable life for the next 27 months.  Here’s to personal growth <3 phiphi

Our Armenia Trainers for the next 3 months!! They were drawing out names here to see what village everyone goes to for PST.