Armenia-Part 4

And then we come to Thursday, On thursday we went on "splits" Anna went with Siranush to Charentsevan, a town a couple hours away where she had served and had kept in contact with some of the members. I decided not to go since I hadn't served there and I was meeting with Liana in Gyumri who is an amazing person and friend I was able to teach while serving my mission. Anna and Siranush left early in the morning and after breakfast I went out all alone, which was the first time ever for me in Armenia since we are always with a companion as missionaries. I was re-familiarized with the city since we had been there almost a week at this point and Armenia really is a safe place so I wasn't too nervous. I walked down the road a little bit and checked to see if an interesting looking building that looked like some sort of museum was open. We had checked a couple times earlier in the week but it was locked. This time it was open. The workers there greeted me and were excited to show me around. It turned out to be an art preschool/kindergarten. I was not expecting this but it was so great to see the emphasis on the arts and that places like this do exist in Armenia. 

All of this artwork was made by children 14 years and younger. It was incredible. I was blown away by what some 6 and 7-year-olds could do. I kind of wish I took more close-ups of the paintings that really impressed me!

After I walked through the art gallery, one of the workers took me upstairs to show me the rest of the school, where some children were in class. It was perfect, I had hoped to go to a school and a children's hospital this day for my photo project on Children's portraits, and I had just happened to walk into one, that was a block away from our hotel.

 I felt nervous walking right into their classroom and felt I would be too distracting but the teachers seemed to love that I was there.

Learning some Armenian songs.

There was even a theater!

There was a dance studio as well, I asked when they would be doing a dance lesson and they told me to come back at 2:30. I was so glad they were happy that I was there. This is another thing that I felt was so different in Armenia. In America, you can't just walk into a kindergarten class and start taking pictures. They were thrilled that I was there, and it felt great.

So I left and wandered around the town a little bit noticing the changes since I had served there as a missionary. With 2015 marking 100 years since the Genocide, they had built some new statues and lined the park with new benches to honor those that died.

This place always had me curious. There are a few carnival rides that looked out-of order...

...so I was shocked to see them working as I walked by a second time.

I wandered around the theater and near our first apartment in Gyumri. I then met up with Liana so I wasn't alone anymore. It was so great to see her. She just recently returned from serving a mission in Bakersfield California. I had wanted to see her when she came to the MTC in Utah but I wasn't able to make it happen. It was so wonderful to be reunited with her. Her baptism was a couple days before I had left Armenia so it was beautiful to see her growth in the Gospel and her testimony. She is an incredible person and example to me. Once we met up, it was time to go to the dance class at the art school.  This was so fun to watch and photograph...

And that man was the teacher...it surprised me too. He was a great teacher, doing all the dances with the kids.

 

and here are some videos of the dancing!

So, I had just come in the class and started taking pictures, I didn't have a chance to talk to the teacher at all but he didn't seem to care that I was there, then before I knew it, He was telling all the kids to gather 'round so I could take their class picture. The whole time I was worried that he was annoyed I was there, but I guess not.

And then he told all the kids to do this.

And Liana and I tried a Marshutni selfie.

After watching the dancing we went to Liana's house to eat a late launch/early dinner of Borsch, and to meet her mom, whom I had never met. Her mom was wonderful! It was a delicious meal and I loved talking with Liana and hearing all about her mission. We then walked around another park/fairgounds area that looked slightly abandoned but was still in working order.

After this, we went back to the hotel, Liana went back home after a little while, I stuck around the hotel and went into the breakfast room to hear John going over photos of other photographers.
Anna and Siranush  eventually came back and I don't remember what else happened that night, besides John looking through our photos.

The next morning, it was friday, I was feeling a little burnt out of photographing so we ended up going through the shooka to keep our eyes out for souveniers. I was looking for a cup. (we collect random cups from each year of our marriage and I wanted to add an Armenian one to the collection. I did end up with a candy dish! 

We walked by this lovely blue-eyed lady selling Pirashkis multiple times, and I just thought she was so cute!

We walked into a meat market where there were a bunch of strange men drinking vodka and selling raw meat.

 

 So there's an awkward story behind this photo...as if you can't tell by my face. This man wanted Anna to take a picture of us, he put his arm around me and told me to tell my friend to take a picture. Anna was on the other side of this large warehouse-like building taking her own photos. I couldn't really yell at her and he wasn't going to take his arm down until she came to take this photo. He smelled strongly of alcohol and I'm sure he'd been handling raw meat all day. Anna eventually made her way over and took this photo. And in case you need reminding, I don't like people touching me. I'm not a fan of hugs unless it is from my kids or husband, so it just made this situation a whole lot more awkward for me. But I'm glad Anna got this photo to document such a weird moment.

Photo by Anna

And then we were off, taking more pictures of the market place.

OH yea, I forgot this was also laundry day. We took our clothes to Siranush's house to wash. Her mom took over so we could be on our way. When we got back we saw all our clothes (and underwear) hanging on the line. We just had to laugh, such a weird site for us.

 

We ended up inside waiting for Siranush at some point and Galia gave Anna her vest to wear since she always seems freezing.

Once Siranish came home from her meeting we went out to a village (Yerazgavor! Yippee that's the first village where I actually remembered the name) and found a whole lot of pigs!

And a little boy pig wrangler!

And we just happened to be at the spot where a marshutni was bringing home a whole load of kids. I'm sure they were completely confused when they opened the door and I told them to stay there so I could take their picture!

We were invited into pretty much every house with a person outside that saw us coming. This is why the villages are amazing!! We went into a beautiful home and with 2 minutes the whole table was set with nuts, homemade cheese, fruit, dried fruit, homemade juice, and lavash. In this home there was a 15 year old girl who was an excellent traditional dancer and she put on a show for us.

 

 

They had mentioned that they had a cow and Anna wanted to go see the cow, so they took us back and we realized they had a whole farm of cows and pigs!

We continued walking and another family invited into their yard.

Then, from a distance we saw kids playing and this old school bus frame so I ran over there

We watched the family run around and play with their pigs.

Photo by Anna

 

then we left as there was a beautiful sunset. 

And that was the end of Friday...coming up next, our last full day in Gyumri, our final presentations, a day in Yerevan, and a long flight home to the arms of my dreamy husband. I know there are probably many details that have been forgotten in this post since I've been home for nearly two months but I'll probably add them as I remember...if I remember....

Miles' Birthday Party

Since Miles has been two years old for nearly a month it seems like a good time to blog about his birthday party that happened on his actual birthday. The day was a pretty standard day, plus some cleaning, shopping and Charlie and I finished Miles' pinata.

I also, did a quick piano lesson, when I got home he had a quick pizza dinner, Miles opened some birthday presents then we got ready for some of our good friends to come over and celebrate with us.

The week leading up to Miles' birthday, Charlie and I worked really hard on this earth pinata during Miles' nap times. We were really proud of it.

 We decided to open presents before our friends came since we told people to not bring presents. Also, Miles spent a lot of time sitting on the potty. And yes, potty training is going great for him!

 Charlie picked out most of Miles' presents to he was REALLY excited!

 Like...REALLY REALLY excited!

 Like...Miles couldn't open it fast enough!

 I guess I didn't take a picture of the actual presents but Miles got a book (We're going on a bear hunt) a frisbee, and a little red car. I had fun shopping with Charlie even though I did have to keep reminding him that he was shopping for his brother.

So after pizza and presents. we set up for our little party.

We have two friends with kids that have birthday's on the same day, one kid was turning 3 and another was turning 1 so we got candles for all the birthday kids. 

 

After some snacking and visiting and tons of kids running wild in the yard we gathered around the earth pinata. The kids had a blast and I was pretty proud of how strong Charlie and I made the pinata. 

Some of the many kids!

 So once the kids lost interest due to the sturdyness of the pinata, It was time to blindfold the moms and let them go at the pinata. (It's a tradition we have with some of our friends)

  And it finally bust open, candy, water balloons, stickers and fruit snacks....everywhere!

William and Lacey enjoying the hammock as the sun was setting.

Once the sun set and the mosquitoes were out in full force we went inside with our remaining friends

We (and Miles) had a great time with our simple and wild party. It ended with Miles exploding all over the floor which was the cue for everyone to leave. The End.