Category Archives: travel

Don’t hold the front page 

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Liz Barron

There are no newspapers and magazines to be found in Goris. And, now I come to think of it, there were none in the small local shops in my first village–although that was less surprising. In Yerevan, where I know … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Borders, Caucausus, Cross-cultural understanding, Education, General knowledge, Language, Language learning, Media, Nagorno-Karabakh, National pride, Press, Refugees, Syria, Television, The Archers, travel, Writing | Leave a comment

Hayeren words to live by.

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Liz Barron

Tom and Mike were once guests at a baby shower in Washington DC. The mother-to-be invited her guests to write down a personal  motto on slips of paper. These she would save in a glass jar, ready to share with … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Armenia, baby showers, Beauty, Cross-cultural understanding, Duvet covers, General knowledge, Household tips, laundry, Mulberries, travel, Village life, Yogurt | 1 Comment

Arts in Armenia: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Liz Barron

Hooked on Trivia? Compulsive when it comes to crosswords? Proud of your performance at the pub quiz? Don’t risk being caught out by a question on the arts in Armenia–it could come up at any time. I am as fond … Continue reading →

Posted in apricots, Armenia, Armenian art, Armenian writers, art, Beauty, Candy, Caucausus, Cross-cultural understanding, Crosswords, fashion, Film industry, General knowledge, Hollywood, identity, Mount Ararat, National pride, Nostalgia, Peace Corps, Rosemary Clooney, Stalin, Syunik Marz, travel, Trivia, Writing | Leave a comment

Yank Don’t Tug

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Liz Barron

​​​​ ​​You know it’s a good party when the men start the dancing, the wine is $2 a liter, and there’s a bouncy sheep. All of these were elements of today’s Sheep Shearing Festival in the mountains close to Goris. … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Great weekends, Homebrew, Moonshine, National pride, Peace Corps, Syunik Marz, Things that gladden the heart, travel, Village life, Vodka | 2 Comments

This is what they eat in heaven

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Liz Barron

Aleta has hair the color of dark honey. It is long and thick and usually piled on top of her head. Her eyes are hazelnut brown and her skin is apricot. She has the kind of body that should always … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Beauty, Cross-cultural understanding, Food, friendship, Things that gladden the heart, travel | Leave a comment

Congested in the Caucasus 

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Liz Barron

I blame the blossom. And then there’s the dust and the mould. What started as seasonal sneezing due to inhaling pesky pollen, motes of dried mud, and creeping black spores quickly led to sinus havoc. My ears popped crossing the … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Armenia, Bronchitis, Cooking, Cross-cultural understanding, family, Food, friendship, travel, Village life, Vodka, Women | 2 Comments

Armenia the Beautiful

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Liz Barron

Video credit: Peace Corps Volunteer Olivia Route. Olivia’s short film about her springtime in Armenia is less than five minutes long and worth watching. Everyday for the last couple of months she has recorded a few seconds of footage on her … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Beauty, Caucausus, Cross-cultural understanding, family, Food, joy, Mount Ararat, Peace Corps, Social niceties, Syunik Marz, travel, Vacation spots, Village life, Women | Leave a comment

Knickers, twisted

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Liz Barron

If there is a nuclear accident here in Armenia I could be in more trouble than most. First, I have managed to lose — or simply failed to pick up–the very expensive, giant horse pills which Peace Corps issued, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, clothes, Embarrassment, errors of judgement, laundry, Mother/daughter dynamic, Nuclear power, personal failings, Social niceties, straight-talking sister, travel, Underwear, Village life | 1 Comment

A Sweet Solution to Armenia’s Problem with Abandoned Cars 

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Liz Barron

Grand Candy is perhaps the greatest secret Armenia keeps from the world.  The company, makers of wrapped, loose candy, boxes of chocolates, gallons of ice cream and mounds of pastries–have been keeping Armenian consumers sweet since 2000 and now have … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Armenia, Candy, Food, Grand Candy, Marketing, shopping, Social niceties, travel, Village life | Leave a comment

Some dance to remember. Some dance to forget.

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Liz Barron

We are not allowed to travel after dark. We may not leave our villages without permission. We will never drive a car in our country of service. The rules governing the lives of incoming Peace Corps Volunteers are strict and … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Borders, Cooking, Cross-cultural understanding, family, Food, friendship, Great weekends, joy, Mount Ararat, Peace Corps, Politics, shopping, travel, Village life, Women | 1 Comment