My first legitimate post!
Hi guys its me Kevin Kalfayan saying hello. I know this is my first real post but Kevin Y and I have been arguing over who gets to use our password (we still haven’t actually decided yet, but you snooze you lose).
Ok, so I can’t cover every monument we have visited but what I can do is talk about Armenia itself.
One thing I noticed is that I am American Armenian, not Armenian American. As much as I hate to admit it I haven’t felt this much like an outsider since my freshmen year in high school. The locals are generally friendly although I do catch a few words in conversations as I pass by.
So life in the big city is exciting, the town doesn’t sleep till about 3:00 in the morning. There are numerous cafes and disco clubs to go to (the girls always seem to get in free) and the restaurants stay open late as well. The food here is good but I cant help but think that all these places share the same recipes; the bread, salad, and khoravads (bbq) all kinda taste the same. It’s best to go to places that specialize in a particular food like laghmajoon (da da da Hey!) or whatever it is you have a hankering for that particular night.
One very important thing you learn quickly in the big city is CARS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY! As I mentioned before, the drivers are crazy…. but oddly enough I haven’t seen one accident. They are curious of each other and they use their horns to notify people if they are too close or merging (I don’t think I have seen it used once as a expression of disgust towards the other drivers). Also, the street signs are hard to see and they just get put on random walls with no sort of order or reason. Oh another thing I learned quick, some of the bathrooms sport an old woman who yells at you to pay her money to use the facilities she is apparently in charge of.
But on a brighter note there is tons of construction! On almost every corner of the city there is a new building going up… I don’t think they have safety codes yet… most places are open and I haven’t seen one hard hat, not to mention the closest thing I have seen for a respiratory mask (while grinding stone or mixing chemicals) is a skinny cigarette resting between the workers lips. There poverty but as I was told by Der Vartan “there is progress… its not as fast as the locals would like but its finally progress. ”
As far as the food goes here I would like to say that I think my grandmother cooks better than this whole country. While the food is remarkable I cant help but feel like I have been eating at the same restaurant every day. I also tried a tomato and just as I suspected its all hype made by these LA kids that have never had a vine ripened tomato (yeah they taste good when they haven’t been artificially colored). But in the same respect, the apricots are just as good as I have been told. That brings me to the ice cream, the second I tasted “grand candy” ice cream I couldn’t stop grinning. Every bite was absolutely delicious. Fries are also really good because they are homemade and very thick with plenty of salt… but wait how about this Russian ketchup? belch! Thinking about the stuff makes me wanna puke. It’s like someone took tomatoes, vinegar, chaman, sugar and water and let them mix and sit out in the sun for a few days. The Russians don’t know how to make ketchup! Other than those few things my grandma makes way better Armenian food!
Now to talk about why I really came here… to find myself. We have visited most of the main monuments by now and they each spoke to me in special ways. I have never felt anything as powerful as the Genocide Monument. As Der Vartan, a few other priests and Surpazan preformed a hokihankist I was reflecting on my grandparents, my family, and the community I accredit my identity to. I came to a point where I realized that, according to the Ottoman Empire, none of those things were supposed to exist or come to be. I am happy and proud to say that the Ottoman Empire has failed on a larger scale than they could have ever imagined. I know that if the martyrs could see the future that their friends and family have built for us they would know their sacrifice was not in vane. Now I don’t know what the definition of finding one’s self is, but I do know that the love I have received from family and friends has shaped me into the person I am today.
Well I have much more to say and so many stories to tell but its late. I’ll be home soon and I can’t wait to see all of you again.
Love, Kevin.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Kevin, congradulations on your wonderful blog!!! That your eyes have been opened by a truly life changing trip is a purpose that has been fulfilled. Each of you will now have an understanding of Armenia that cannot be read from a magazine or newspaper article. See you saturday, love dad.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am
It’s sooo good to hear from you I miss you so much We are so happy you are able to experience Armenia first hand and can’t wait to hear all of the stories. Until then all my love, Mom
July 17th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Kev,
I love your sincerity, great blog although I must point something out. You are ARMENIAN American, not the other way around. Being truly Armenian has little to do with language or food or any of that stuff. The most important thing to being a good Armenian is to be a good Christian, and the love that you have in your heart for your family, friends and heritage is paramamount to that, and that is what makes you truly Armenian, remember that at all times, it is our birthright and our mission.
The true reason why you feel like an ‘outsider’ in Armenian is because….you ARE an outsider in Armenia. You’d be an outsider anywhere you went, regardless of whether or not it is your ancestoral homeland. I’ve been to Armenia 3 times in 6 years and I still can’t believe what I see. The point is, you have to look past the language and the clothes and ketchup and find your own connection, and it’s evident that you have done so.
I’m proud of you and all the other CYMA Pilgrams of 2008. I wish you a pari janabar and I will see you all on Sat at LAX.
Much Love,
Levon (Will)
July 17th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Kev,
It’s so good to finally be able to hear from you, and may I just add, what a great blog!
I’m sure you have so many stories to tell and I can’t wait to hear all of them when you get home.
Love you and see you soon,
AL
July 28th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Kevin, wow!! I loved your blog. You are very expressive. I think you put into words what a lot of your fellow travellers-pilgrims were feeling. I especially want to say that I know what you mean about the Genocide Memorial. I saw it in 1981. I was with a group of Americans (no Hays). It was incredible!! I am very glad for you and the group that you had a great experience and that you are all safely home now.