Gabig

At least there ARE Armenian men in California. I live in New York. All the eligible Armenian men in my area are RELATED to me!

"Mixtured Armenians" are still Armenians. Over in places like New York with very few of us, a lot of us are mixed. My mother is Armenian and my father is American. Thus, "Armenian-American." I was baptised in the Armenian church, learned Armenian, I look Armenian, and I pretty much identify myself as an Armenian or an Armenian-American, being as I look nothing at all like anybody on my father's side and everything like my mother's side of the family. I have a friend who is half Armenian and half German. She looks full Armenian and identifies herself as an Armenian. As for "Aryan," the word has been kicked between Europe and Asia for centuries. I suppose we are Aryans in the sense that Indians and Persians are Aryans. We are not Aryans in the sense of Germans and American skinheads being "Aryan." They're a little confused. Even the word "Iran" is a take on the word "Aryan." But to identify us as white Europeans is a little screwy. As far as skin color goes, there are light Armenians and there are dark ones. My mother, her sister and I are all very light skinned. My father, who is white, is darker than she is. Look at Armenians like Cher and Arsinee Khanjian who are light-skinned. And likewise there are many of us who are dark. Skin color is no way to separate us. If we are light, we are "Aryan" but if we are dark, we're simply "Middle Eastern"? And likewise if we are light, we're not "Middle Eastern"? Or what about those of us, such as myself and my family, who have thick curly hair and other Armenians who have straight hair? Armenians who have black hair and Armenians who have brown hair? This whole idea of separating Armenians by colors is ridiculous.

Easy if you live in LA... not so easy if you live in New York! Although I'm sure the Derhayr would be happy to arrange a marriage for me.

Haha

Armenian dating websites (ie HyeSingles.com) -- on a scale of 1-10, how creepy are they? Online dating in general kind of skeeves me out. Any thoughts or experiences to share?

Barev! I'm in my second year at a small liberal arts college in the United States and I want to study abroad in Armenia for a semester. My advisor at the college has approved it, but the school itself doesn't offer any programs in Armenia (no surprise there). So how would I go about this? I'm assuming I would have to "enroll" as a part of some other university that does offer such a program and then have my transcript sent to my college when the semester is over? But would another school even allow me to do that? Or would I just have to temporarily "transfer" to a university in Armenia? Any input on this process would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

http://capwiz.com/anca/issues/alert/?alert...261&type=CO

Has anybody heard of or seen this show on Showtime called "Weeds"? From what I have heard, it is about an Armenian drug cartel... pretty offensive stuff. On a funny note, I was talking to my mom about it and she said, "Armenian DRUG cartel?! We don't sell DRUGS. Those stupid Americans probably heard wrong: It's probably an Armenian RUG cartel. RUGS, not DRUGS!"

Real quick: Would you consider Armenia to be "Free"? or a "democracy"? (For a paper I'm writing) Thanks

I must admit I feel the same way, in theory. But in practice it sounds so difficult for me, especially living in an area with such a low Armenian community (and by that, I mean that I AM the Armenian community). I know I have an "ethnic responsibility" to marry Hye, but it almost breaks my heart to think that none of these romantic partners I've had, who have all been odar (and a multicultural bunch at that), could be "the one" for me and that I have to narrow my options so drastically. Sigh.

I think that if they are not finding spiritual/religious satisfaction with Christianity, it may be beneficial to them to find that in Islam, or whatever religion they may choose. While the Armenian people identify strongly with Christianity, being the first to officially adopt it, a small Islamic community in Armenia may even bring about good things for the country, being as it is surrounded by Islamic countries. It may strengthen connections and bring stronger "togetherness" in the Caucasus/Anatolia (not to say that Turkey will want to pick out curtains or anything). Ultimately as long as people are happy, I see no problem.

I actually just meant curly hair in general, referencing that Armenian hair tends to be (but not always) curly and coarse. No need to go all anthropological...

Any suggestions on products for that thick, curly, crazy (but wonderful) Armenian hair? I keep looking for cremes, mousses, gels, whatever, to boost the curl and look natural/not crunchy.... I think Armenian hair is very unique in that sense... I love it, but it's every bit as feisty as Armenia itself!

I've seen them, but I've always been kind of hesitant about online dating. It seems kind of trashy (and sketchy) to me. But then again, with Armenians, you're talking about a very small community and it may be a necessity... how do you feel about Armenian dating websites?

I want to know how an Armenian girl in New York can find a nice Armenian boy?! I've dated all sorts of odars -- White, South Asian, Latin American, Jewish.... My family, of course, has hated them all (particularly the Latin American one. My mother once told me he reminded her of Satan...) and I'm kind of sick of getting puzzled looks from men when I talk on the phone in Armenian. What do you all think of interracial dating among the Armenian diaspora (as it is so difficult to find each other!)? I don't think it's a bad thing, I just am now starting to realize that it is important to me to find somebody that can connect with my culture. There seem to be none of us in New York.