Category Archives: Armenia

Story Beyond The Ruins: the Gyumri and Spitak Earthquakes, 1988

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Liz Barron

It took an earthquake to shake me out of yesterday’s bout of self-pity. The 1988 earthquake which, 30 years ago tomorrow, destroyed the town of Spitak, and wrecked the city of Gyumri, killing more than 20,000 people in the North … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Armenian Earthquake 1988, Gyumri earthquake, Spitak earthquake | 2 Comments

One of those days

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Liz Barron

There are days when it is tempting to hop online and book a flight home. A flight leaving tomorrow. Today was one of those days: A day when the person supposed to be my new counterpart messaged me to say … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Blessings, Chillin', clothes, Cross-cultural understanding, drinking, Embarrassment, Fire, Food, gratitude, havjng a bad day, Homesickness, online friends, Peace Corps, Peace Corps Armenia, resilience, Stress management, Things that gladden the heart, Things that make a difference, travel, Underwear, Village life, wine, work | Leave a comment

Throw them a bone this winter.

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Liz Barron

Let’s face it, in this part of the world, no one has done much for dogs since Noah saved a couple from the rain. That’s until my friend Sarah turned up. Sarah, who once worked as a dog-walker in Virginia, … Continue reading →

Posted in animal welfare, animals, Armenia, giving Tuesday, Pawsitive Armenia, pets, Santa Paws | Leave a comment

A Hykakhan Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Liz Barron

I was doing ok until Star mentioned mac’n’cheese with ham, part of her Thanksgiving dinner. All I could taste was the longing. Then she said, with just the faintest hint of accusation, ” If you were home we’d have all … Continue reading →

Posted in American holidays, apricots, Armenia, Blessings, Cooking, Cross-cultural understanding, family, Food, gratitude, Happiness, kindness, Local delicacies, Thanksgiving, Things that gladden the heart, Things that make a difference, Village life, welcome | Leave a comment

I know the lead singer

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Liz Barron

Mariam had never heard her brother’s band play live. She lives in Goris but the Katil band are based in Yerevan. They’re relatively new but have already toured in Turkey and I think also in Georgia. Sevad is the lead … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Armenian instruments, Armenian music, Cross-cultural understanding, Goris, Great weekends, Katil Band, music, singing | Leave a comment

Tatik talk

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Liz Barron

Haykush lives upstairs and often comes to me to sit and chat at the weekends. My role in these conversations is necessarily limited, because we speak in Armenian, but I can understand a lot more than I can say. Who … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, gossip | Leave a comment

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