Tatik Nellie's Birthday

This is how we do it!
Nellie and Armen

Gohar (host mother), Nellie (birthday girl), Armine (my tutor)

Me and my buddy Mehair... He has already learned the workbook I'm holding... which I am struggling through, haha.

Nodar and little guy

These are some pictures from last night at big Nellie's birthday party:) It was a fun time, despite my terrible dancing.
There are three Nellies in my Armenian family- Tatik Nellie, me, and little Nellie my tutor's daughter.

It gets confusing- sometimes they call me "Nelliek" (with the "eek" sound it implies little, like shoon=dog, shoonik= puppy).

Two weeks ago was little Nellie's birthday party and I told everyone I was changing my name to Hikanoosh (hi-kon-oosh), so I could have an Armenian name... even though Nellie seems to be quite a popular Armenian name as it is. Hikanoosh is truly the most Armenian name for a female, no joke it literally is the female version of "Hike", the one which the country is named after. (Hayastan) (Hike-a-kan refers to anything Armenian, similar to using American).
Craziness.! Anyway, everyday is an adventure. I think I really need to start journaling, because lately I have quite a bit to say and you guys are going to get sick of reading my blog everyday.

Today I went to 4 villages with the Bridge of Hope to meet the School Directors and the Mayors. It was quite interesting to see the computer labs, only 1 out of the 4 had internet, and I saw some computers that belong in museums! It was my first time since PST being in an actual school, so it was good to see what they look like around here. I'm thinking of making my TEFL sitemates bring me to class next week, so I can see what it's like and teach the kids all sorts of terrible slang.

Hope all of you over there are doing great!

a cpl pics, a video...

Me and Gohar posing for the paparazzi (Nodar, haha).

I told you the kindergarten's toys weren't great! j/k, this is a decoration!
But if it was at my college back home, I would think this would be a conceptual piece made because of the contradiction of burdock and teddy bears.



Enker (on-kerr) (Friend) Gohar, and Enker Arrevik preparing the younger group's room at the Kindergarten... and yes, my name is Enker Nellie


The older kindergarteners' room... I would want to be in this group if I were a little kid! They have a new bathroom, a whole separate room for their naptime beds, a puppet stage, and a real stage!! If only they had running water and heat!

This is another video from the Bridge of Hope 5 year celebration that I talked about before. This one above was pretty hilarious but I think the effect is kind of dulled out through a lens and shaky hands.

Noyemberyan H.A.S. heat (& canned foods & cookies)

canning the hone (cornelian cherry)

Nodar Fever

my family is so addicted to oatmeal cookies they jitter.

me & my host fam, and David my sitemate...

This Tuesday-Saturday I was at a conference in Tsaghkadzor, a really beautiful sports center area a couple hours away. It's too bad we didn't have much time to spend wandering during the day around the town, though we did have plenty of opportunity to take ridiculously long hot showers, eat at a buffet, and drink MacCoffee. (and of course hold PG dance parties and hang on the balconies at night, but NOT play Settlers, haha)

But really why we were there... we worked on counterpart relationships, and developed our own real project plans and ideas. There were four groups of PCV/CPs, and the second day every group voted on one project to develop for a presentation at the end of the conference. It was a collaborative effort and not our full ending product b/c later it will have to be re-evaluated, but I found it really useful to go through each of the steps... especially since my & my counterparts project was voted as our example in our group. I had a counterpart from the Bridge of Hope and the Kindergarten there. We had one joint project idea to educate and train Noyemberyan about safe heating, create new collaboration between organizations, and actually install gas heating systems in K-1 and B.O.H. We named it "Noyemberyan H.A.S. heat" (Noyemberyan Healthy and Safe Heat).

I took a short grant writing class before, and it's good to now have put ideas into the thought processes and forms about the actually plan instead of just ideas about researching. In the end, our amazingly smart group of 11 (5 PCV, 6 Armenian counterparts) came up with well thought out meat, three beautiful posters, and a truly epic presentation by Mr. Alex Lord and Nune. I think I saw a single tear rolling down our teacher's cheek, but the translator asked me to look away and cough.

All the 4 groups presentations were judged by a triad of higher-ups from Armenia, USAID, and the EU. In end, our idea was #2... though any of the groups could have been placed anywhere in my opinion, they were all really great.

A successful week! Alot of thought-process/organizational work finished on the potential future project plan and learning how to play ultimate frisbee with the counterparts will provide for some interesting times later on...

So, this is where we will continue up here in Noyemberyan... working on this same idea now that I'm back. It might take a little while, I've been busy enough with my family canning food, making cookies, and pretending to be a rockstar with the giant jazz guitar that only has 3 strings... until I remember to buy some in Yerevan and maybe an amp. (as you can see from above) I plan to make the shank tremble.

first week at the kindergarten

School has started and I couldn't be happier with the little kids I get to work with this year! Kindergarten in Armenia is optional and it is more like a daycare than a school. The ages range from 2-6 years old! So far there hasn't been any planning involved with lessons- I'm fairly sure my physical exercise lessons will consist of bouncing around, stretching, and dancing to Raffi music and Armenian songs I have not learned yet. I don't understand a word the kids are saying, but I don't think the Armenian ladies do either, so it's ok for now!

My mood has been great after each of the 3 days the kids have been coming! Sure, there has been a lot of crying for mommy and daddy with the younger group, but I feel like I've already seen growth within the kids who have opened up and started to play with others or respond to their teachers. Mom, I think I finally understand maybe just a bit about how it must have been in your classes... especially during the first week!

Two of the pictures above are of some of the older group playing on the playground, which has the potential to be a wonderful space for the children. Aren't they cute? Now, the playground is a bit broken down and there are quite a bit of dangerous things floating around that would never be allowed back home- but hopefully I can help figure out a way to update a bit. However, I'm thinking what they really need are some new toys and a new bathroom for the younger group. The toys are mostly various plastic toys that in the US we get for free in Happy Meals, or we buy for our dogs. The dolls are matted and I'm a bit scared to touch the stuffed animals because it's obvious they haven't been washed in years. The older group's room has a brand new bathroom thanks to a grant, but the younger group has an old squat facility, no running water in the building. Overall, it's so close to being perfect despite the things that are lacking.

The mayor's office supports the kindergartens, I believe there are 4 here in my city. Thursday the mayor visited our building and I finally met him!. I can tell he is very charismatic and friendly, but he spoke so fast I only caught half of what he said... it was nice to be introduced, though. Most everyone here has a story to tell about atleast 1 past volunteer because they have done so much.. I listened to his story about past volunteers Stephanie, Kyle, and Elaine, then I went in the cafeteria/kitchen and ate some soup. Haha.
With the Kindergarten starting up, going to the Bridge of Hope, tutoring, learning to cook and can with my host family (above!) and a variety of unplanned socializing trips in town- I have had a BUSY week! Earlier tonight I got together for an evening of gouging pizza, chicken wings, and brownies at my sitemate's house with some A-17s from my Marz and the Lindens!. An abandoned game of Trivial Pursuit and a house full of dirty dishes, then later leaving with a big jazz guitar... it was a wonderful end to my already great week. Thanks mom for the hot sauce, thanks for the guitar David !!