June Diary of Events Garni, Geghard

Matax in back of the Monastery..Smell was sooooo bad!!!!!
Jailed?

June 26

Talk about a really good trip with really fun people. We went to Geghard Monastery and Garni Temple today. Tatev and Hanna have taken sooooooo many pictures!! I think if i took that many it would last me a lifetime worth of taking pictures. They have some really amazing photos (gotta remember to ask them to get it from them). At first we stopped by the arch where I have sooo many memories of my childhood. From there I saw the home in Voghchabert that I would never forget. The land in Vogchabert is really bad. The soil is moving under the homes and taking away with them every piece of memory I had of the home I loved so much. I didn't take it so bad this time since I had seen it 2 years ago. But....it always gets to me...Too many memories hidden there.

So after taking a gazillion pics there. We were off to our excursion!

I think one of my favorite places is Geghard Monastery. I can't imagine how they would built a church in such circumstances. I think I would love to just take a day and hike there and look at the church from different angles. So it seems like it was built like over a cave...I believe. So I was reading on Wikipedia about Geghard and this is what I read...

The monastery had thus been originally named Ayrivank, meaning "the Monastery of the Cave". The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank (Գեղարդավանք), meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics. Now it is displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury.

The spear they are talking about has been said to be in a few places but I have a feeling we have the original!

So after that we went to Garni which it sucks that we weren't able to see the baths. They were closed because they are trying to put the "bath" together so it will be available to be opened fully to see what they looked like. Me, Vram, and Arm looked from the glass and saw the mosaics of the baths. Now it would be sooo amazing to have a bath like that and be washed with milk. For a minute it was a bit disgusting but I believe queens and "Goddesses" had such pure skin because of milk baths and they rubbed some kind of oil on their skins...eternal beauty??? I think it would be funny to have like a milk bath party...!! lol.

Vram took us to a really nice mom and pop type of a restaurant. The outside was like going into a mini forest. There was a small turtle there where Hanna and Tatev again took a lot of pics with.

Overall...a successful day.

June Diary of Events Stepanavan

These 2 women wanted to take a picture with our group.....[I'm not in the picture because I took it ;) ]
An amazing waterfall...before hiking down the hill.

Our beautiful Armenian women and their work of art.
Me and Romina counting down all the fish we caught...3 in total with 15+ people...
This guy really knows his work well...

Az running after the bus. I think we were gonna leave him to his bathroom. Most hated thing about being in nature... no bathrooms :(

June 25

Before going to Stepanavan we went to pick up some interns that are in Gyumri. On our way there we stopped by this amazing bakery. This guy literally gets in the OVEN! to put bread to be baked. It was reeeallllyyy cool and I think he really enjoyed the attention and all the women taking pictures of him ;)

Went to Stepanavan Botanical Gardens and Fishing!!! I had sooo much fun fishing! It was my first time fishing and I think I was the best ;) Yes I think I have my nose too stuck in the air but with over 15 people and catching 3 fish, I caught 2! So this really makes me awesome. me and Romina (friend from LA and Birthright), had such an awesome time. The bus was a bit packed but it was still fun. We sang old Armenian songs and clapped. However, I'm not sure who the DJ was, I really didn't like the songs that were put on the bus. We need new ones. The Botanical Garden was just soooooooooo beautiful that nothing can describe it. I think I would have loved to maybe camp there. Me be me decided to hike down this mini waterfall and just walk around the small river. I think I had better time being all muddy then being a goody good girl and staying up the mountain. Walking back to the bus was fun too. We were singing old songs again and these women thought we were really American so she was like they are just tourists and we turned around and said something back in Armenian. They were sooo embarrassed! I think I took a picture, I need to go back and check....

June Diary of Events 2

PREPARING FOR WORLD REFUGEE DAY WITH SOME OF MY NEW FRIENDS FROM BIRTHRIGHT!---Painting posters...I was given writer for a really long sentence in Armenian on cloth!

June 19

This was such an interesting day. Vram took us to Erebouni which was AMAZING! I had no idea Armenia had such a history and an old CASTLE! Unfortunately it's not standing but I think historians as well as archaeologists would love to visit there. Make sure you get someone to tell you the history. The only bad thing is you have to pay to take pictures.

next on our list was the Victory Park and Military Museum. I think I will be going there again. I have family who have fought in the wars so I think I should know a little more about some of the wars that Armenians were involved in. I felt a bit bad for knowing so little about Armenia's past. We call ourselves Armenian and we don't even know the history and wars.

We went to Cascade and visited the Art Gallery. I was about to go insane at the souvenir store. There were soooo many things I wanted to buy! Anyone who goes to Cascade should visit the first floor!! Every floor we went we went outside to take pictures. Since Tatev's and Ani's camera is a LOT better then mine, I'm sure they have a lot better pictures... gotta make sure I get some from them....when I find time..

June 20

Me and Tatev went to our first day as interns! I don't know about anyone else but I think I have landed i a great place. I'm curious as to who we will meet!

June 22

Anush Opera!!!!! I really wanted to take grandma to see the show. She's always wanted to see it but we got some bad news about a relative so she didn't want to do anything else but to stay home. So I took Aza (uncle's wife) and I loved it! I wish my camera took long videos and i could record the whole show and watch it later on. Although I liked the end of the show, I wasn't too fond of Anush in the beginning.

June Diary of Events 1

I have sooo much to talk about I don't even know where to get started...ok lets start with this...(copied from Diary...edited ;)

June 14 - Just arrived to Armenia and I had a small tour of Yerevan after a orientation. Don't get me wrong, it was great touring the city, BUT I ruined a good pair of heels. I gotta make sure I tell mom to send me flats!!! all the streets are messed up and i'm just glad i didn't end up wearing my really good ones because it's just ridiculous what happened to my heels

June 15 - FLAG DAY! This was sooo much fun! There were sooo many people. They had groups performing, not to mention even the audiences decided to perform as well. There were some guys who started dancing hip hop under an Armenian song which I thought was a bit American but then again there is no say in what a person feels when he hears music.

As these fine solders from picture above this one shows, our very own Military of Defense is populated with quite talented men ;)

TRAVELING AROUND ARMENIA AND NAGORNO KARABAKH

In addition to gaining a better understanding of life in Yerevan, the interns are traveling outside of the city, visiting historic sites such as the the Garni Temple, the Geghard. Harich and Khor Virap Monasteries. Interns also toured city of Gyumri, Monasteries of Goshavank, Noravank and and Amberd Fortress. Interns took a four-day trip to Nagorno Karabakh. On the way, they visited the Datev and Gandzasar Monasteries and the city of Goris. In Karabakh, the interns toured the capital city of Stepanakert. The students traveled to the town of Shushi and Visited the 19th century Ghazanchetsots Amenaprkich Church. Interns are looking forward to trips to Sevan, Oshagan, Tegher Monastery and many other sites of interest.

Armenian Assembly interns visit Genocide Memorial and Museum and meet with the Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

Yerevan, Armenia



On July 20th Class of 2011 Internship Program visited Genocide Memorial and Museum. Interns laid flowers to the Eternal Fire and had a tour of the Genocide Museum .

Later interns met with the Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan.

The director spoke about Museum functions as a source of understanding and acknowledgement of this monumental tragedy, acknowledging that interns also can do a lot helping to find and collect the visual textual materials, including also artifacts, related to the life of the Western Armenians in the Ottoman Empire before and during the Genocide.

Hayk Demoyan underlined the exclusive activity of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute referring to the organizing annual events and ongoing works.

Then Mr. Demoyan answered the questions that bothered the youth, which, mainly, were about the raising international awareness among the international community on the first Genocide of the 20th century, the academic and scientific study, analysis of the problems as well as exhibition of the textual and visual documentation related to the Genocide, etc. All the questions were answered thoroughly.

Armenian Assembly interns meet with the RoA’s Human Rights Defender

Yerevan, Armenia – On Wednesday, July 20 Class of AAA Yerevan interns had the opportunity to meet with the recently elected RoA’s Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan.

The Human Rights Defender is an independent and unaltered official, who, guided by the fundamental principles of lawfulness, social co-existence and social justice, protects the human rights and fundamental freedoms violated by the state and local self-governing bodies or their officials.

The aim of the meeting was to present the concept of human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the role and functions of RoA Human Rights Defender. During the brief lecture Karen Andreasyan presented citizen - state relations, basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.

During the lecture interns learned about the missions and goals of Human Rights Defender’s Office.

The Human Rights Defender spoke about the complaints being received from citizens, the problems that face the Office, the work being done for improvement of legislation related to human rights and fundamental freedoms, the luck of public awareness and many other issues.

During the meeting interns asked a lot of questions about the protection and the restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms, national and international mechanisms for protecting human rights, protecting the rights of children, rising citizens’ awareness, etc. The Defender answering the students’ questions, in detail presented law - right relations, the importance of domination of basic rights and fundamental freedoms in formation of constitutional state. On the question how the Defender acts in case of the violation of rights Mr. Andreasyan presented the RA Human Rights Defender's powers as well as the legal mechanisms of restoration of violated rights.

“I was surprised to find out there was a Human Rights Defender in Armenia . This shows that our country is moving forward. I am excited to see the changes that Mr. Andreasyan is planning to make”, said AAA intern Tatevik Babayan.

" Meeting with the defender of human rights was a great way to gain insight into the way other countries aim to ensure the rights that most Americans take for granted. I enjoyed hearing about the issues that Armenia faces as well as how the system should change to eliminate them.", said intern Julia Madden

At the end, AAA Summer Internship Program Coordinator thanked Karen Andreasyan for the meeting on behalf of Armenian Assembly of America and all interns.



Photo Caption 1: (DSC_0020)

(l-r) AAA Interns: Tatevik Babayan, Julia Madden, RoA Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan, AAA Interns: Ishkhanuhi Matevosyan, Anzhela Babayan

Photo Caption 2: (DSC_0018)

(l-r) AAA Interns: Anzhela Babayan, Ishkhanuhi Matevosyan, Tatevik Babayan, RoA Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan, Advisor on International Relations to the Human Rights Defender Siranush Harutyunyan, AAA Assistant to Director Ani Boghosyan, AAA Intern Julia Madden

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY'S YEREVAN INTERNS MEET WITH THE DEFENSE MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Yerevan, Armenia - The Assembly's 2011 Internship Program participants joined interns from other student programs for a meeting with Armenia 's Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. The meeting was organized by Birthright Armenia as part of its Forum Lecture Series.
The Defense Minister outlined the history and creation of the Republic of Armenia 's Armed Forces, noting that the Armenian military was formed during wartime and after the declaration of Armenia 's independence.
Pointing out the importance of internship programs and the role of the Diaspora in solving the issues that Armenia faces Minister Ohanyan stated that Diasporan students can be proud of Armenian's military and the important role its plays in the nation's security.
The Minister also answered questions from the group assembled on a range of issues including, among others: Armenia-Turkey relations, Azerbaijan's military spending and its ongoing war rhetoric, soldiers' physical, psychological and social protection, international military cooperation and Armenia's participation therein, regional security, as well as the possibility of a resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict. All the questions were answered thoroughly.
"I would have never imagined being able to meet the Minister of Defense at these extreme times. I was so moved that he took his time to meet with us and answer our questions when he didn't have to. He gave us inspiring words to let us know that even as Diasporans and away from our native country we can do little things to not only motivate our troops but to give them our energy. Not only was this an opportunity of a lifetime but it brought me a closer feel to what I would like to do for my native country.", said AAA Intern Anzhela Babayan.

"Peace Exhibition" at AAA Yerevan Office

On the 8th of July the AAA Yerevan Office in the frameworks of the AAA Youth Club hosted a "Peace Art" Exhibition, which showcased artworks by local young artists.

The exhibition was initiated by a YC member Gohar Mkoyan in frameworks of “Youth Leaders for Peace” project. The project is a part of CMI (Crisis Management Initiative), “The European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno Karabakh” (EPNK) which was launched in November of last year.
EPNK is a partnership of European NGOs working to enact initiatives which will cumulatively contribute to the peaceful settlement over Nagorno Karabakh.

Live classical music was also played by local young musicians.

The AAA SIP interns Tatevik Babayan and Angela Babayan also attended the event. They enjoyed live classical music and the interesting youth artworks, which were also on the topics of peace and understanding.

Armenian Assembly’s 2011 Summer Internship Program in Armenia kicks off

The Armenian Assembly of America’s 2011 Summer Internship Program in Armenia kicks off with 4 Interns. Representing Los Angeles, California are interns Angela Babayan and Hanna Matevosyan. They are joined by Tatevik Babayan and Julia Madden from Boston, Massachusetts. 

(From left to right: Angela Babayan, Julia Madden, C.D. Armina Darbinian, Hanna Matevosyan, Tatevik Babayan)

Angela Babayan, from California State University, Tatevik Babayan, from Suffolk University,  are having their internships at the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an independent, nonprofit think tank offering a wide range of strategic analysis and objective research, and implementing a number of educational and policy-related projects.

As a leading think tank based in Armenia, the RSC conducts research and analysis and develops policy initiatives aimed at bolstering political and economic reform and conflict resolution in the broader South Caucasus region.

Hanna Matevosyan, from UC Berkley is having her internship at the Ministry of Economics and at the Ministry of Education. 

Julia Madden, from Middleburry College, is having her internship at the the Competitiveness Foundation, an independent entity founded through a partnership between the Government of Armenia and a group of leading representatives of the private sector from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the Middle East. Their mandate is to achieve breakthrough development toward national competitiveness in key areas of economic activity.

Below are more photos from the Welcome Dinner Party at Parvana Restaurant..