i found an angel

i started painting rocks. well. a rock. so far.
it has a couple layers of acrylic on it then i was playing with watercolor randomly dripping it on top for fun. took a picture. found something interesting. atleast to me, it looks like an angel:)

Sunday hikes

Despite the cold weather we've had here- for the past 2 weeks my sitemates and I have done great hikes around town! I'm part of a volunteer/staff Biggest Loser challenge so I'm fighting the urge to stay inside though I've found so many things to do inside lately. I'm reading through the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series like no ones business. I've decided to go through the 15 days worth of music on my Ipod to get rid of the songs I always skip. I rearranged all the furniture in my house. I'm making postcards for all my friends back home. And painting rocks. And researching health projects and english lessons for my students. Crocheting a hat. Making a board game. Experimenting with chicken recipes. Watching moviestar repertoires in entirety. Studying for the LSAT... Plus I'm addicted to Google News. HAHA.
So, it's good to have motivated sitemates who can get me outside:)

lavanank menk amen or

i havent made the Facebook page yet for K1, but here's one of the easier things we've done during health lessons until then! (PS the music teacher was my host mom!)

They are singing: (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star tune)

Lavanank mer zerkera (We wash our hands)

Lavanank menk amen or (We wash everyday)

Josheluts aroj (Before eating)

Hahahuts hato (After playing)

Lavanank menk amen or (We wash everyday)

Amen or, amen or (Everyday, everyday)

Lavanank menk amen or

Amen or, amen or

"how do we stay healthy?"

The kids at K-1 are already 4 lessons into their lessons for the bathroom remodeling project! We asked,"how do we stay healthy?"during a lesson, and answers were "drink tea!", "drink mint tea!", "wear slippers!", "lemons!", "yogurt!", "don't be cold!". Then Arrevik and I talked about exercise, washing their hands with soap, personal hygiene, the food pyramid, and being happy with friends and family.... ;)
Two days later, we had them draw everything we talked about during "how do we stay healthy?" on a couple posterboards. They drew basketballs, toothbrushes, soap, soccerballs, fruit, fires, houses, families, friends, hearts, flowers, and happy people.

So how am I staying healthy?.... Well, that's something I'm trying to work on right now:) Some of us PCVs & some Staff are planning to do an office version of the Biggest Loser starting February 1st. Exciting!

woodcarving... so far

sketch for what I'm working on now! ^

practice piece ^

my first steps in Armenian woodcarving:)

dancin, catchin stars

Everything about the Art School in Koghb inspires me:) The picture is from an event they held this past week. For 3 days they hosted a traditional Armenian dancing group to teach the local children(/local Americans) the dances. The ladies I've met at the school are some of the most free-spirited and talented people I've ever met.

other inspiration (cheesy delight):

"Catch Your Star"
Catch the star that holds your destiny-
the one that forever twinkles in your heart
Take advantage of precious opportunities
while they still sparkle before you
Believe that your goal is attainable
Commit yourself to it
Though barriers may stand in your way
remember... your destiny is hiding behind them
Accept that not everyone will approve of your choices
Have faith in your judgment
Take pride in your accomplishments
They are steppingstones to your dreams
Don't let your mistakes discourage you
Value your capabilities and talents
for they are what make you truly unique
The greatest gifts in life are not purchased
but acquired through hard work and determination
Find the star that twinkles in your heart
You are capable of making your dreams come true
Give your hopes everything you've got
You will catch the star
that holds your destiny.
-Shannon M. Lester

Kirovakan and Alaverdi

:) in Kirovakan

Alaverdi- a mosaic face on the hill. I think it's Hovannes Tumanyan!

It's too bad Peace Corps Volunteers can't be placed in Alaverdi (well it's good they can't because of the copper mining and arsenic dump)... but the surrounding areas are very beautiful and everyone I met was nice. I only spent a couple hours in Alaverdi waiting for a taxi to come get me because there is no public transportation from Kirovakan to Noyemberyan on Sundays. I saw the cable cars running, ate a really good meal at a restaurant for 1000 AMD (about $2.50), and watched kids playing on the large sports fields.

My bus trip was so long going from site to Kirovakan on Saturday I had to resort to playing with my camera. I thought this guy's shirt was funny to look at on the 3 1/2 hours I spent sitting behind him. On a good day, it should have been almost 2 hours. It says "Never confuse fashion with personal style expression". Sir, I agree. But which one are you trying to accomplish?

Check out the (very basic) webpage called "Give a Squat" I made for the Kindergarten's Bathroom Renovation project here: https://sites.google.com/site/giveasquat/