Monthly Archives: October 2018

Night Terror at Tatev: a Story For Halloween

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Liz Barron

“We need a pumpkin if you want to have ghapama” said Tatik, standing in front of the stove, her back to me. I thought she looked thinner than usual, but it was hard to tell. As always, she had a … Continue reading →

Posted in Apostolic church, Armenia, Church, creative writing, Cross-cultural understanding, Halloween, Peace Corps, Scary stories, story-telling, Syunik Marz, Village life, Writing | Leave a comment

New Wine in Old Coke Bottles

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Liz Barron

New wine in old bottles Le Chateau Atasunts est arrive! (No idea how to add the missing accent– punctuation, not pronunciation) Yes, Ara has delivered 12 liters of brand new wine, just out of the bathtub, and fresh in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Cross-cultural understanding, drinking, Food, friendship, Homebrew, Local delicacies, travel, Village life, Vodka, Women | Leave a comment

Stepping into Fall

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Liz Barron

For the halt and the lame, living in Hayastan can be a challenge. No set of stairs will be the same depth or width from top to bottom . Handrails are a rarity. And in some cases– even, notably, Yerevan’s … Continue reading →

Posted in apricots, Architecture, Armenia, bad knees, Cross-cultural understanding, disability, health and safety, Local delicacies, travel, Yerevan | Leave a comment

Hajo to His Excellency

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Liz Barron

The outgoing Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Armenia gets what it’s like to be a volunteer. After treating four of us to breakfast in Goris in April, Richard Mills and his wife Leigh Carter had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambassador Richard M Mills Jr., America, Armenia, armenia’s revolution, Cross-cultural understanding, Damian Gorman, Diplomacy, friendship, Hanna Huntley, National Poetry Recitation Contest, Peace Corps Armenia, Poet In Residence, Summer camp, Things that gladden the heart, Things that make a difference | Leave a comment

Twin Peaks

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Liz Barron

Heavy lifting. It’s what bras are for, and all of mine in Armenia had proved unequal to the task. Of the six I brought with me from home , one had pinched from the get-go, two had lost a wire … Continue reading →

Posted in Ararat, Armenia, Beauty, Blessings, bras, clothes, Cross-cultural understanding, Design, Embarrassment, fashion, friendship, gratitude, Khor Virap, Mount Ararat, Peace Corps Armenia, personal failings, shopping, Social niceties, Things that gladden the heart, Things that make a difference, travel, Underwear, visitors, Women | Leave a comment

Northern Ireland and Armenia: bordering on —well, what?

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Liz Barron

Above all else, politicians and peace-builders in Northern Ireland — not two completely overlapping groups— know that people find it hard to change. It is 20 years since the Good Friday agreement and many stumbling blocks to lasting peace and … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Armenia, Belfast, Borders, Caucausus, Cross-cultural understanding, fear, Learning, life lessons, Millisle, Nagorno-Karabakh, National pride, Northern Ireland, Peace Corps, Peace Corps Armenia, Terrorism, Things that make a difference, travel, velvet revolution, war, Women | 3 Comments