Category Archives: Armenia

I Don’t Know How They Did It: a Clean Sweep in Armenia

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Liz Barron

I don’t know how they did it. They dispatched their former President (see this report from the UK’s Channel 4 here) and partied in Yerevan until late on Monday night. Safe in my hotel room I heard the noise of … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia | 1 Comment

Why Debate skills matter

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Liz Barron

Originally posted on Sierra's Peace Corps Armenia Blog:
Gayane in a debate Today I (finally) closed out my Let Girls Learn grant, which was used to start a debate team at my school. I wanted to share some of…

Posted in Armenia, public speaking | Leave a comment

School’s out.

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Liz Barron

I turned up to my village English club this afternoon to find students sadly lacking. “Voch inch” I said to myself like a good Armenian ” it is a lovely day for a walk”. I picked my way down the … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Beauty, Chillin', Cross-cultural understanding, Food, friendship, Happiness, joy, Language, life lessons, Nature, Syunik Marz, Things that gladden the heart, Things that make a difference, travel, Village life, young women | 1 Comment

What Next? Spare tires on the Pirelli calendar?

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Liz Barron

It is fair to say that Haykush and I consider ourselves unlikely pin-up material, particularly perhaps in this picture. Nonetheless, we are the poster girls for this year’s Peace Corps Armenia Annual report, and thus we are big in Washington … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Armenia, Data Analysis, Design, Diplomacy, I don't believe it, Peace Corps, Peace Corps Armenia, Pin Up | 5 Comments

I gotta be cool, relax

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Liz Barron

It has been a temples-pounding, head-aching, jaw-clenching kind of month and I didn’t really see it coming. Oh for sure I  knew that March and April would be busy, with 10 regional poetry recitation contests to deliver, and more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Chillin', Cross-cultural understanding, Diplomacy, Education, errors of judgement, fear, Myers Briggs, Peace Corps, personal failings, Stress management, Wellness | Leave a comment

Swirling for the dyspraxic

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Liz Barron

My approach to drinking wine is very much like my approach to playing chess. I  am terribly keen, but not very well-informed. This can cause me to make poor decisions, both at the bar, and on the board. While my … Continue reading →

Posted in apricots, Armenia, drinking, Education, friendship, joy, Local delicacies, National pride, Soviet Union, wine | Leave a comment

Easter Basket, Armenian style.

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Liz Barron

In front of the cathedral old women sold coronets of mimosa and forsythia, and long rods of pussy willow. The young women clamored for the crowns, knowing they’d look cute. There were buckets of daffodils and bunches of hyacinth and … Continue reading →

Posted in Apostolic church, Armenia, Christianity, Church, Easter, Food, Great weekends, Happiness, Homemade decorations, Lent, Local delicacies, spring, Things that gladden the heart, travel | Leave a comment

Rage, Rage Against the Dying of our Children’s Light

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Liz Barron

Yesterday everyone I know in America marched. The gay grandads marched. The Arizona teacher raised on an island filled with Armalites marched. The TV producer mom flew home from a shoot to stand in front of the White House and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018, America, Armenia, Cross-cultural understanding, Education, fear, Fundraising, gratitude, Great weekends, guns, Hanna Huntley, Happiness, march for our lives, Mother/daughter dynamic, National Poetry Recitation Contest, no guns in schools, Peace Corps, philanthropy, Poetry, Safety, Terrorism, Things that gladden the heart, Things that make a difference, travel | 2 Comments

Worth reading: A Post From Fellow Volunteer (and Irishman) Clayton Davis

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Liz Barron

History Lesson #1: Confessions of a Real Fake Irishman in Armenia History Lesson #1: Confessions of a Real Fake Irishman in Armenia — Read on armeniansketches.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/history-lesson-1-confessions-of-a-real-fake-irishman-in-armenia/

Posted in Armenia | Leave a comment

St Patrick’s Day in Armenia

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Liz Barron

St. Patrick’s Day in Armenia. Well, now at least there’ll be an entry should anyone else ever Google this phrase, which seems unlikely.  St. Patrick’s Day will not be as big a deal here as it is in my native … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American holidays, Armenia, Christianity, Church, Cross-cultural understanding, Food, Ireland, Legends, red head, St. Patrick, travel | 2 Comments