I have some questions...

[GregKash]

What follows are some questions i have.. they're probably going to sound stupid to everyone but i'm pretty much an armenian with no one else even remotely armenian around me, so they go unanswered and were never inherently learned.

first of all, on myspace, armenians keep adding me, which is awesome but a lot of them rep a communist pride theme in their profiles.. old USSR stuff. Obviously, as a history major, i know Armenia was once part of the USSR but what i don't get is why these people, my age or thereabouts would be taking pride in USSR and not a free Armenia.

This is largely an American point of view i realize.. but i'd still like some insight into the matter.

secondly, i was wondering if you all learned the language from your parents or if anyone else has set off to try learning it on their own. i'm going to make an effort to figure out how to leanr it on my own, and currently am hoping there's a rosetta stone software for armenian. but i doubt it.

thanks again, guys and girls.

[melikianAvak]

Re: I have some questions...

What follows are some questions i have.. they're probably going to sound stupid to everyone but i'm pretty much an armenian with no one else even remotely armenian around me, so they go unanswered and were never inherently learned.

first of all, on myspace, armenians keep adding me, which is awesome but a lot of them rep a communist pride theme in their profiles.. old USSR stuff. Obviously, as a history major, i know Armenia was once part of the USSR but what i don't get is why these people, my age or thereabouts would be taking pride in USSR and not a free Armenia.

This is largely an American point of view i realize.. but i'd still like some insight into the matter.

secondly, i was wondering if you all learned the language from your parents or if anyone else has set off to try learning it on their own. i'm going to make an effort to figure out how to leanr it on my own, and currently am hoping there's a rosetta stone software for armenian. but i doubt it.

thanks again, guys and girls.

Greg

I learned from my parents, we only spoke Armenian at home. You need to talk with others to learn to speak in my opinion.

I also live in Florida, try contacting the Armenian Churchs near you so you can find others. I just went to a Armenian Church over a hundred miles away and met many others of our kind. I plan on moving closer in the next year or two. Meanwhile we are tring to get down there every month or so.

Good luck. You may also find a nice Armenian woman if you are single

Avak

[Moldy Cheese]

Re: I have some questions...

first of all, on myspace, armenians keep adding me, which is awesome but a lot of them rep a communist pride theme in their profiles.. old USSR stuff. Obviously, as a history major, i know Armenia was once part of the USSR but what i don't get is why these people, my age or thereabouts would be taking pride in USSR and not a free Armenia.

As background info, I spent the last 10 weeks in Yerevan.

Politics has never been my niche, but I'll attempt to explain this phenomenon to the best of my understanding. I lived the first 10 years of my life in Armenia ('83-'93). I had only enough time to get a brief taste of Soviet life, before the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the establishment of Armenia's independence in the early 90's.

As much as I remember, life was good in the Soviet days. Although Communism set limits to how high you could soar, it also provided stability, security, and comfort.

First, let's talk about my parents' generation. Just when their careers seemed to be picking up noticeable momentum, things came crashing down. Universities and factories shut down almost overnight, rendering thousands of people jobless. Their hard-earned diplomas became worthless pieces of paper. Take my uncle for example. He graduated from one of the best universities in Russia (MiFi). He now works as an engineer at the nuclear power plant (which is far from being the safest occupation) for a ridiculous $300/month (which is considered pretty good for LEGAL pay) – when he needs AT LEAST $1000/month to properly support his family (I’m talking about the basic necessities…food, utilities, toiletries, some gas money). Doctors, after so many years of education, legally bring in about $200/month. On the other hand, we have another man with less intelligence than a snail working on the Armenia/Georgian border, ripping off travelers – who rakes in at least $5000/month, perhaps even more. Simply put, the intelligent are not appreciated in Armenia – it’s the sly criminals above the law who reap the pleasures of the good life. Try opening up a business without having the proper connections – they’ll flick you like a bug the very next day. Businesses in Armenia are a monopoly – Vazgen takes care of the gasoline needs of the country (the quality of which is going to insure a rapid increase in cancer cases in the next few decades), Razmik does electronics, while Hovo provides groceries…anyone that introduces any kind of competition, say by providing a different brand, is immediately taken care of (if you catch my drift).

Or take my grandparents’ generation as another example. After so many years of honest hard work and saving, their hard-earned money disappeared overnight when the Soviet Union came crumbling down. The “dram” replaced the “ruble”, and all else was history. A politician goes to a casino, blows off thousands of dollars, and where oh where do they get the money to replace the void that is created? From grandpa’s and grandma’s pension – so what if they don’t get the money they need to SURVIVE for a month or two or three, etc.?? Does Armenia care about its people??

Present-day Armenia is in the hands of thugs and hoodlums, who care about nothing except thickening their own wallets. If you were to voice your concern about the Armenian people in their presence, they would laugh in your face. Democratic Armenia is merely a facade. I was present there during elections time this year, and every day there was a new murder or two (political in nature, of course) on the news – some politician shot or run off the road, with no suspects ever to be found. Election time seemed to be a nuisance for the common folk, who have absolutely no trust in their government, and no hopes for a brighter future. Not to mention that on election day, votes could be bought for 5000 dram each (~ $13-14). A massive revolution is necessary for any positive change to take place in Armenia.

The lack of a proper governing body coupled with political/economic difficulties with neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan (all you History and/or PoliSci majors, don’t be shy to jump in) make Armenia an anarchic place run by money – if you have enough money, you can buy the law.

So you have Soviet Armenia, which provided a stable, comfortable lifestyle for you, with no anxiety about what’s going to happen tomorrow; then you have a present-day independent Armenia, which can’t stop backstabbing its own people, who worry day in and day out about how they’re going to put food on the table tomorrow, how they’re going to survive the winter (the lucky few, like my family, were able to heat the house with gas…the pipes and machinery cost about $3000, and like I said before, the average household gets about $300/month…you do the math).

Armenia was not ready for independence, whether economically, politically, or mentality-wise. We all want an independent Armenia, but one that is prepared to make the jump.

My thoughts were all over the place, so if anything isn’t clear, let me know.

secondly, i was wondering if you all learned the language from your parents or if anyone else has set off to try learning it on their own. i'm going to make an effort to figure out how to leanr it on my own, and currently am hoping there's a rosetta stone software for armenian. but i doubt it.

The best way to learn is to be immersed in the language. You can learn all the theoretical aspects of a language, enriching your vocabulary to the point that you’re a walking dictionary – however, without proper practice with people who speak the language, it’s rather difficult to form sentences and comprehend slang.

[GregKash]

Re: I have some questions...

that was the answer i really didn't want to hear, although i suspected.

it hurts me to read that. knowing there is absolutely nothing i can do about it. what use would an american be calling for revolution in a country they've never been? heh.

[Lucin]

Re: I have some questions...

As background info, I spent the last 10 weeks in Yerevan.

Politics has never been my niche, but I'll attempt to explain this phenomenon to the best of my understanding. I lived the first 10 years of my life in Armenia ('83-'93). I had only enough time to get a brief taste of Soviet life, before the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the establishment of Armenia's independence in the early 90's.

As much as I remember, life was good in the Soviet days. Although Communism set limits to how high you could soar, it also provided stability, security, and comfort.

First, let's talk about my parents' generation. Just when their careers seemed to be picking up noticeable momentum, things came crashing down. Universities and factories shut down almost overnight, rendering thousands of people jobless. Their hard-earned diplomas became worthless pieces of paper. Take my uncle for example. He graduated from one of the best universities in Russia (MiFi). He now works as an engineer at the nuclear power plant (which is far from being the safest occupation) for a ridiculous $300/month (which is considered pretty good for LEGAL pay) – when he needs AT LEAST $1000/month to properly support his family (I’m talking about the basic necessities…food, utilities, toiletries, some gas money). Doctors, after so many years of education, legally bring in about $200/month. On the other hand, we have another man with less intelligence than a snail working on the Armenia/Georgian border, ripping off travelers – who rakes in at least $5000/month, perhaps even more. Simply put, the intelligent are not appreciated in Armenia – it’s the sly criminals above the law who reap the pleasures of the good life. Try opening up a business without having the proper connections – they’ll flick you like a bug the very next day. Businesses in Armenia are a monopoly – Vazgen takes care of the gasoline needs of the country (the quality of which is going to insure a rapid increase in cancer cases in the next few decades), Razmik does electronics, while Hovo provides groceries…anyone that introduces any kind of competition, say by providing a different brand, is immediately taken care of (if you catch my drift).

Or take my grandparents’ generation as another example. After so many years of honest hard work and saving, their hard-earned money disappeared overnight when the Soviet Union came crumbling down. The “dram” replaced the “ruble”, and all else was history. A politician goes to a casino, blows off thousands of dollars, and where oh where do they get the money to replace the void that is created? From grandpa’s and grandma’s pension – so what if they don’t get the money they need to SURVIVE for a month or two or three, etc.?? Does Armenia care about its people??

Present-day Armenia is in the hands of thugs and hoodlums, who care about nothing except thickening their own wallets. If you were to voice your concern about the Armenian people in their presence, they would laugh in your face. Democratic Armenia is merely a facade. I was present there during elections time this year, and every day there was a new murder or two (political in nature, of course) on the news – some politician shot or run off the road, with no suspects ever to be found. Election time seemed to be a nuisance for the common folk, who have absolutely no trust in their government, and no hopes for a brighter future. Not to mention that on election day, votes could be bought for 5000 dram each (~ $13-14). A massive revolution is necessary for any positive change to take place in Armenia.

The lack of a proper governing body coupled with political/economic difficulties with neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan (all you History and/or PoliSci majors, don’t be shy to jump in) make Armenia an anarchic place run by money – if you have enough money, you can buy the law.

So you have Soviet Armenia, which provided a stable, comfortable lifestyle for you, with no anxiety about what’s going to happen tomorrow; then you have a present-day independent Armenia, which can’t stop backstabbing its own people, who worry day in and day out about how they’re going to put food on the table tomorrow, how they’re going to survive the winter (the lucky few, like my family, were able to heat the house with gas…the pipes and machinery cost about $3000, and like I said before, the average household gets about $300/month…you do the math).

Armenia was not ready for independence, whether economically, politically, or mentality-wise. We all want an independent Armenia, but one that is prepared to make the jump.

My thoughts were all over the place, so if anything isn’t clear, let me know.

As if all this is specific to Armenia…
I bet the America you are living in has struggled with the same problems some time to be where she is now… furthermore all developed nations have gone through the same period of transition and nothing has been achieved without pain, loss or deprivation. And Armenia will not be an exception for that matter.

Nonetheless, couldn’t you bother yourself and have a little bit of that sense called 'objectivity' and mention also that the country is flourishing despite being in a complicated, hostile geopolitical region? Without mentioning the name 'Armenia', I’d think you are talking about Afghanistan…
All I know is that we Armenians are a bunch of 'weird' people...

[Moldy Cheese]

Re: I have some questions...

that was the answer i really didn't want to hear, although i suspected.

it hurts me to read that.

It hurts me to talk about it. It's my home...I spent the last 14 of my 24 years living in the US, yet I've only been happy in one place - Armenia. I want to move back, but I need a plan first.

knowing there is absolutely nothing i can do about it. what use would an american be calling for revolution in a country they've never been? heh.

Nothing you can do? That type of attitude will only prolong the current situation. As a first step, I highly recommend for you to visit Armenia, even if the only thing you get out of it is to satisfy your curiosity about your roots.

[Moldy Cheese]

Re: I have some questions...

As if all this is specific to Armenia…
I bet the America you are living in has struggled with the same problems some time to be where she is now… furthermore all developed nations have gone through the same period of transition and nothing has been achieved without pain, loss or deprivation. And Armenia will not be an exception for that matter.

I never claimed that the transition should have been a smooth one.

Nonetheless, couldn’t you bother yourself and have a little bit of that sense called 'objectivity' and mention also that the country is flourishing despite being in a complicated, hostile geopolitical region? Without mentioning the name 'Armenia', I’d think you are talking about Afghanistan…
All I know is that we Armenians are a bunch of 'weird' people...

How exactly is Armenia flourishing? If there are any improvements, they are taking place at a snail's pace. Yes, we now have electricity 24 hours/day, and yes, bread is not rationed any longer, but the goverment is far from impressive. Perhaps I am a pessimist, although I'd like to think of myself as a realist. And as for objectivity, your post contains none. Your hostile tone undermines your point. I want Armenia to flourish more than anyone, so that it can bring my plans of moving back closer to reality.

[Lucin]

Re: I have some questions...

I never claimed that the transition should have been a smooth one.

Your previous post suggests somehow that you don’t believe in a transition phase at all, thus the reason I brought it up. You suggested a 'massive revolution'!!! Is that a 'transition' phase you believe in??

How exactly is Armenia flourishing? If there are any improvements, they are taking place at a snail's pace. Yes, we now have electricity 24 hours/day, and yes, bread is not rationed any longer, but the goverment is far from impressive. .

Yes, relatively speaking the country IS flourishing. Armenia's economy despite all the obstacles IS growing, although gradually, and it is quite stable… Just compare today's Armenia to Armenia in early 90s, politically, economically and etc.
I am well aware of the problems of our country (you also mentioned some) but we need to be more patient, changes will not happen overnight…your suggested revolution could do more harm than good to the country.
Need I remind you that we Armos are a bunch of talented people?
Just give it time, Armenia will rule again.

Perhaps I am a pessimist, although I'd like to think of myself as a realist.

More than a pessimist.

And as for objectivity, your post contains none.

I tried to be as objective as possible. I was merely trying to point out the other side of the coin that you seem to undermine.

Your hostile tone undermines your point.

What made you think so, Mouldy cheese? No hostility, I just disagreed.

I want Armenia to flourish more than anyone, so that it can bring my plans of moving back closer to reality.

Happy to hear that.

[GregKash]

Re: I have some questions...

He's not the first that I've heard it's unstable from. We had an Armenian transfer student at FSU a year ago, and I used to talk to her about it. She said pretty much the same thing. If there is any progress it's slow and it only affects the rich. And there's really nothing I can do. I can't afford to visit. I can't speak the language. I can't afford to learn the language, the only place I've even seen that offers to teach it is accross the country at a different university, in Arizona.

[Armenian]

Re: I have some questions...

Obviously, as a history major, i know Armenia was once part of the USSR but what i don't get is why these people, my age or thereabouts would be taking pride in USSR and not a free Armenia.

And you are a "history major"? You exemplify what is wrong with the educational system in the USA. Nevertheless, I suggest you forget about Armenians and continue being an American, it's much less stressful.