I'll Be Home For Christmas!

This picture was taken in Sevan, it is the location of an old amusement park. The only thing left is this ferris wheel and the little building on the right. Note Soviet-style buildings afar. That is what my town looks like. New buildings have not strayed, for the most part, from this style of architecture.

The idea that I'm on my way home in one week and a day is incomprehensible right now. America!!!!! I'm thinking it is in my top 5 most exciting moments I have had so far. It's going to be nice to be home at Christmas time, when people are happy (get away from the constant depression), there are delicious holiday beverages (our attempt at home made egg nog last year was, well, kinda gross...), where you can go inside a building and instantly be warm, bathe twice a day (!!), and there is life and bustle and brightness every where.

It comes at a good time.... it just hasn't exactly been easy since September (several of my good friends finished their service and went home), but I do have good work going on which makes up for the difficulties.

I'm going to breakup my updates into categories, because I feel like my life is very compartmentalized right now.

Winter

It snowed November 17, the first real snowfall that brought about 6 to 8 inches. It has been sunny ever since then, although the snow that is in the shade has turned to a thick layer of ice. The rest has melted. I'd like to say that I live in a tundra, and basically there is permafrost on the ground at this time. The temperature does not rise above freezing. Yesterday I was on a bus ride, and circulation stopped going to my fingers, and it was quite miserable. It took two hours to warm up! I think this year might be a real harsh winter, compared to last year which was reportedly mild.

I got a kitten from Varduhi in November (the last one was a failure, but it was street-sick), and this one is really good. His name is Eddie, and I can pass him down to Bryan when I leave. This is part of winter, because Eddie keeps me warm and is somebody nice to get through the winter with, and he breaks the loneliness.

One of the difficult parts right now is that my office is not heated by gas this year (very cold at work), and now I have a thermometer at home so that I can see my kitchen is constantly 40 F - last year, eggs froze on the window sill, so I know it is going to get colder. My gas bill will probably be very expensive, as the price of one unit has doubled since April.

Work

A nice accomplishment for the end of 2009: our essay contest "Anti-corruption: how does it affect my community, and what can I do?" finished. We had 400 final entries, from 10 to 12 grades throughout the region, and our awards ceremony is going to be December 9, International Anti-Corruption Day. There are 11 winners in different categories, and our regional chapter of World Vision is donating prizes, and we'll have trophies and certificates.

(If unaware, corruption is one of the largest problems affecting development in Armenia)

My other work is happening, but is extremely slow. Such as the opening of our career center, and plans surrounding that. The park was moved to be installed in April/May due to the cold weather affecting a cement pour. I am searching for tools on Social Development for a program I'm helping in one of our local villages (got any resources?).

And, when I return from the States, I am going to finish my resume and begin searching for the next step.

Life

On a great note, I have just started up taekwando lessons, and I am loving it! It's very beautiful, and kicking pads feels amazing, especially right now. The teacher is an Armenian man who's a black belt. He doesn't know English, and I am taking these with an A-17, so I am translating for her. And he wants to learn English so that he can help the kids he takes to competitions in Europe.

I'm reading Anna Karenina, just finished Black Garden (a narrative that relates both Azerbaijani and Armenian sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in conjunction with the breakup of the USSR. This is a must read in order to understand the region I'm living in). Anna Karenina is fabulous. And in the reading of this, I'm especially beginning to realize how very important it is to be reading such classic, well-written Russian novels. It's easy to be down on things Russian (really, things Soviet) in this region, but when you get a good piece of classic Russian literature, you can learn a different side to the people of Russia, and it's one that I do enjoy. It helps bring up the positivity level. If you want my opinion on things Soviet, I will give it to you in person.

Every night I am having the longest dreams, the nights feel as long as days. I think my brain is on overdrive about this upcoming holiday. In my dreams, it's like going on a full, warped, third-world-meets-americans adventure.

I think that is all for now. I have my Christmas tunes on, my little plastic tree decorated and on display. I miss my family, and my friends, and my home city. I am a very, very lucky volunteer to get to come home these holidays. Can't wait to see you soon! WOOHOO!!!