William

I'm writing a novel with some Armenian characters, and have become utterly fascinated and obsessed with Armenians and their cultural past as well as their present situation as a people spread over many continents, with strong traditions and a capacity to fit in anywhere and be successful. I have always believed that people are basically the same, but as someone without a strong sense of my own family history or cultural background, I have become convinced that Armenians have something unique and profound to offer me as a write and a human being, and I hope to convey that sense to my readers someday. I have been doing lots of reading about Armenian history and culture, and have spent many long lunches with Father Mesrop of St. Vartan's Church in Oakland, but I feel like I'm still missing a lot in terms of what growing up in a Armenian family in North American is like. So wondered if I could ask some questions: What are the Armenian family nicknames or endearments that people in North America might still use? (Like, to use other examples, nana for grandmother, snuki for sweetie etc). The family I have in mind is a Western Armenian family; they moved from Turkey to Egypt, then on to North America. How important is the cultural and historical past to most Armenians living in North America? Is the Genocide (and whether it is officially recognized by countries like the USA or not) still very important to Armenians worldwide? How do they feel about Turkey as a nation now? What important aspect of Armenian family life (in North America or elsewhere) should non-Armenians know about? What were your favorite traditional Armenian dishes growing up? Least favorite? How might Armenians respond to a comic novel written by a non-Armenian that deals with Armenian characters? Are there areas where jokes are not appreciated? (I mean, apart from the Genocide, obviously, which I plan to deal with seriously, and which in fact forms a fairly large part of the novel's backstory.) Do Armenians identify with any other racial or national groups around the world? Are contemporary Armenians born in North America generally religious? How important are the ancient traditions of the Armenian church to people in the diaspora? Do Armenians in North America tend to seek certain kinds of jobs and avoid others? Do Armenians in North America pay close attention to life and politics in Armenia? Are there certain arts, fields or cultural genres that Armenians are especially attracted to? What key words (Armenian or English) do you associate with being Armenian, and why? What tempermental, intellectual, or emotional qualities do you associate with your fellow Armenians? Are there actions or sayings or attitudes that have struck you as being "typical" in some sense? Thanks in advance for any answers, insights or advice you might be able to give. I hope these questions don't strike you as impertinent or nosy. I'm still looking to learn as much as I can. I realize that I can probably glean a great deal by exploring the threads on this message board, but I don't like to feel like a "troll" so I thought I'd make myself known first.