A month in Armenia

[elroy]

Hello all,

I am planning to take advantage of a research grant offered to me by my university to spend a month in Armenia conducting research on the effects of the genocide on modern-day Armenia and its representations in everyday life. Since I am quite unfamiliar with the republic, I have several questions about some logistical details. I am hoping you can help me out.

1. I am hoping to be able to live with an Armenian family during my time there. How much can I expect to be charged for accommodation and food? I would expect to have my own room and reside in an area with accessible transportation. If you could, please give me estimates in US dollars. If not, use the local currency and I will figure out the conversion.

2. Besides Yerevan, what cities/towns/areas should I visit? I am looking for places with memorials to the genocide, museums, and any other venues that would help me with my research.

3. Do most people speak English? If not, what foreign language(s) is/are widely spoken?

4. What is the weather like in December and January?

Thank you very much in advance for your help. I am looking forward to your replies.

[Thai-Samurai]

lol, wow, hold on you must not be Armenian. I'll answer the easy ones first.
4- It will be cold w/ chance of snow.
3- Most people do not speak English, only some people do, and a good amt. of current college students. Russian will be your second best bet aside from Armenian.
2- The Genocide Memorial in Yerevan is a pretty good example of a memorial to the Genocide. There are Museams all over Yerevan, I would ask a tour guide for that.
Also there are plenty of old chuches to see.
1-I'm not sure how much you would spend, almost everything here is a lot cheaper than the U.S. I don't even know how you would find a family, I suggest asking friends and relatives if they know any Armenians. Then ask those Armenians if they have any close friends and relatives in Yerevan. Then ask them in Yerevan if you can stay w/ them. And make sure everyone you talk to are decent people, so you don't get ripped off or anything.

[bell-the-cat]

Hello all,
1. I am hoping to be able to live with an Armenian family during my time there. How much can I expect to be charged for accommodation and food? I would expect to have my own room and reside in an area with accessible transportation. If you could, please give me estimates in US dollars. If not, use the local currency and I will figure out the conversion.

Is there a specific reason why you wish to live with an Armenian family? For a month it would be possible to rent a flat in Yerevan. If you are going there in the off-season then maybe about 400/500 dollars would be the asking price. It would be as cheap as the accommodation with a family, and far more convenient. Meals in restaurants are extremely cheap. Tourist hotels are extremely expensive since they cater mostly for diaspora Armenian visitors who don't care what they are charged.

[elroy]

Thank you both for your answers.

You are right - I am not Armenian. I'm 1/8 Armenian but I'm not sure that counts.

The reason I'm interested in staying with a family is that I feel it would immerse me in the culture and expose me to things firsthand. I don't know how I'd go about finding a family but I wanted to think about the price first.

Thanks again.

[ddd]

You're looking at a couple hundred a month.

[bell-the-cat]

You're looking at a couple hundred a month.

So-called "homestays" (I don't know if the phrase was coined by Lonely Planet or is some sort of weird Americaneese - in Britain it would be called "bed-and-breakfast") in Yerevan are from between 15 to 25 dollars a night, and they know that silly tourists will pay that excessive amount and so are not inclined to drop their price. You will get a 200 dollar a month rate somewhere, but it will be from someone who does not make a living out of renting their spare room.