Reflections by Tigran Antonian

Looking back at the past month I have to say this CYMA trip has been very humbling and enlightening.

The most impactful part of our trip for me so far has been the visit to the Tzovinar village in the Martuni region. The culture in the village amongst the residents was unlike anything I've ever experienced before.

My initial reaction was to feel bad for the villagers as I could not imagine living under such conditions. But nearly a week into our stay with the families it became clear to me the way of life here was not centered around material possessions and doing very little with a lot but instead doing a lot with very little.

I quickly began to review my life back in San Francisco and how I can do more with less. This introspective phase lasted through the remainder of our visit in the village and will go back with me to the states. The generous, kind and warm hearted people of Tzovinar have truly impacted my life and for that I will be forever grateful.