I miss the days of letter writing. I remember in the 1900s and early 2000s I had pen pals in different cities around the world. We would exchange long letters then e-mails and engage in the most incredible dialogue (chronicling the philosophies and inner workings of a traveling youth pre-blogging days)…. The difference between letter writing and blogging is quite simple: in the former you're not sharing your private life on a public platform. But alas I am conceding, within limitations, to extend my experience living in Armenia (and traveling around the region) to everyone out there who cares to know and for those who can't (for whatever reason) be here to see this all for themselves. It becomes more clear to me everyday that this experience is once in a lifetime and deserves to be shared with a wider interested audience. Especially when highlighting some of the thinkers of our generation who are defining the "contemporary" culture of this region.
There are pluses and minuses to being a foreigner in a country where you have spent almost your entire adult life, but there are benefits to both sides. Benefit 1: You are always an outsider observing the natural habitats of new circles. Benefit 2: You actually know more than they think you do, and that comes in handy when you have to tell someone off. Benefit 3: You tend to meet amazing people and with amazing talents on a daily basis. One such hub where these types congregate is "The Club" or "Agump" restaurant at my favorite location, Tumanyan 40.
http://theclub.am
Come see for yourself. Wait, my friend just walked in...
Okay, I'm back. If my procrastination habit doesn't get the best of me, I plan on talking about people, places, and events that are transforming this region and shaping into something new.
I always try to explain to people that it's an amazing time to be in a place where everything is in its nascency.
Wait, another friend just walked in...
When you're in a small city, which is going through such drastic transition with powerful forces working against it, it's a magical time to see how the new generation will brake through barriers and create what is new, what is theirs--even though many talented bright youths are leaving (or would leave if they could), many more than the country (and the region) can afford.
No single day is like the other when you live in a city where you see your friends, your enemies, the mounting problems, and the breathtaking mountain on a daily basis….
What will historians write about when they look back at this period? Until then I'll try to reflect on what I see today.
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