Where Are You From?

[skhara]

Killuminati,

 

You paint such a dreadful picture.

 

It is understandable that there is a high amount of corruption in Armenia. That is the case with all the former Soviet Republics.

 

I do believe the army situation in Armenia though, no matter how bad, can be worse. Just look at Russia.

 

Later we found out that those bastard Artsax people hate outsiders, they stabbed my neighbor 8 times while he was sleeping, but he survived.

 

Did some thug stab your neighbor, or did "those bastard Artsax people" do it?

 

I have the highest opinion of the Artsax Armenians. They may be a tight-knit community, but they certainly do not "hate" outsiders and especially not Armenians. They have bled together so they stick together.

[Killuminati]

I don't paint dreadful picture, what i said is what my 2 human given eyes saw and experienced...please don't get the wrong message that i hate Armenia, its my home country how can i hate...no way...but those pigs....

 

all those young guys that were coming home dead...who do think was killing them? and the officials would blame it on suicide and I never saw a single army person coming to give a respect to dead ones, for my cousin they said we are not going to come because he was a *** and killed himself.

 

If it was only my neighbor…I would have said a thug did it, but when you see 10 people are coming home dead in a single week…now that is something different.

 

That’s why we sold our 2 homes, our 2 cars and my dad did everything to get me out of there.

 

Besides, when everyone around you is starving and you are not, it does not feel right.

[Anoushik]

Besides, when everyone around you is starving and you are not, it does not feel right.

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What was the reason that everyone around you were starving YET you did not?

[Anoushik]

so you guys are mostly from Armenia

how many of you would actually go back there?

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I dream to go back. I've really made up my mind to go back and work as a piano teacher/music educator sometime after I get my degrees here. I honestly believe that the Armenians from my generation will go back, and most every Armenians' future is back home in Armenia.

 

Of course, some Armenians will benefit Armenia more by staying in other countries and supporting Armenia from abroad.

[Killuminati]

What was the reason that everyone around you were starving YET you did not?

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at that time we just got back from russia...so we did have money, 2 homes, 2 cars, and my relatives would help us from here..as of why others around us were starving.........

[Anoushik]

...but those pigs....

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Who, Artsaxtsis? That's the exact mentality that prevents us from bettering our country, whatever tiny, corrupt, but yet independent nation we have left.

all those young guys that were coming home dead...who do think was killing them? and the officials would blame it on suicide and I never saw a single army person coming to give a respect to dead ones, for my cousin they said we are not going to come because he was a *** and killed himself. 

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Two of my relatives are serving in the banak and I've never heard of such reports.

 

If it was only my neighbor…I would have said a thug did it, but when you see 10 people are coming home dead in a single week…now that is something different.

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I'm confused. These 10 people dead in one week... coming home... did they come home from banak and were killed in banak or did their Artsaxtsi neighbors kill them somewhere in the universe? What are you talking about? I hate these kind of vague statements that are so often encountered in gatherings, parties, on TV, and just anywhere else that Armenians want to express their utmost hatred towards Artsaxtsis and our current Artsaxtsi president.

 

That’s why we sold our 2 homes, our 2 cars and my dad did everything to get me out of there.

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You are so lucky. 2 homes and 2 cars in an economically depressed Armenia. WOW, that tells a lot. How did your father earn all that money to have 2 cars and 2 homes? The answer to that completely illuminates the aftermath of 70 years of Soviet rule in Armenia and the situation responsible for today's circumstance in Armenia. Have patience. Armenia is getting better. Slowly, but there is progress.

[Anoushik]

I do believe the army situation in Armenia though, no matter how bad, can be worse.  Just look at Russia.

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Just look at the U.S.

[Djrak]

"so you guys are mostly from Armenia

how many of you would actually go back there?"

What is wrong with you? I was there 5 years ago and everyday I mean literally everyday they would bring 18-19 year old guys bodies to their homes from the army (or banakits). Cause of death? They said suicide….but how in the world can someone shoot himself with ak47 in the back or 4 rounds do the head??? Exactly what happened to my cousin. Later we found out that those bastard Artsax people hate outsiders, they stabbed my neighbor 8 times while he was sleeping, but he survived.

 

In 1999 we returned home (to Echmiadzin) from Siberia, Russia on a car…5000 kilometer trip that took us a week, the whole 4800 kilometers we came without anyone bothering us or anything, but from the Armenian/Georgian border to our home town…the rest 200 kilometers was HELLLL to the max! Every 20 feet someone put a small kiosk and put a rope and says you have to give me money to go and they are standing with guns.

 

Every week KGB would come and take my dad, they would say “we know you just came back from Russia, you must have money, if you don’t give it we would make a setup and take you to jail.

 

We would go to shopping for food and stuff, but when we returned home we could not unload, we would wait until its dark and then unload the groceries because no one had food and that would not be nice.

 

BUT THEN….you suddenly go on street and see a ***in 13 year old driving a 600 benz with some stupid license plate on and thinking they are the king. And they are.

 

And tourists go there with loads of money and have a good time in middle of Eravan and think it all awesome. No its not.

The point of no return.

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killuminati,

I feel for you brother, people on this earth are wicked and evil.

pray for them

[Djrak]

Besides, when everyone around you is starving and you are not, it does not feel right.

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so you give them what you have

[Djrak]

Just look at the U.S.

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seriously

[Djrak]

I dream to go back. I've really made up my mind to go back and work as a piano teacher/music educator sometime after I get my degrees here. I honestly believe that the Armenians from my generation will go back, and most every Armenians' future is back home in Armenia.

 

Of course, some Armenians will benefit Armenia more by staying in other countries and supporting Armenia from abroad.

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God bless you

[Killuminati]

Who, Artsaxtsis? That's the exact mentality that prevents us from bettering our country, whatever tiny, corrupt, but yet independent nation we have left.

 

pigs, whos 13 year old is driving a 600

 

Two of my relatives are serving in the banak and I've never heard of such reports.

 

5 years ago i was there

 

I'm confused. These 10 people dead in one week... coming home... did they come home from banak and were killed in banak or did their Artsaxtsi neighbors kill them somewhere in the universe? What are you talking about? I hate these kind of vague statements that are so often encountered in gatherings, parties, on TV, and just anywhere else that Armenians want to express their utmost hatred towards Artsaxtsis and our current Artsaxtsi president.

 

yes all of them were in banak for 6 - 10 months and they are dead, and all of them coming from Artsax, how the hell can i be blind to reality that i witnessed, i don't Artsax or Artsax people, hell there not a single pwerson in this world that i hate, but i won't deny what i experienced. Oh by they way, in 1998 or 1999 i was in Jermuk with my family and the Artsax president Arkadi was there...good times

 

You are so lucky. 2 homes and 2 cars in an economically depressed Armenia. WOW, that tells a lot. How did your father earn all that money to have 2 cars and 2 homes? The answer to that completely illuminates the aftermath of 70 years of Soviet rule in Armenia and the situation responsible for today's circumstance in Armenia. Have patience. Armenia is getting better. Slowly, but there is progress.

 

haa...no i wasn't lucky, if i was lucky then i would have been lucky now too (my life is messed up today) my father worked hard and whatever we had we deserved it, because unlike lot of armenians who sit in armenia and say "no work" and live with it...don't question it because we have been thought so many dark days to get to that point to have that 2 cars and 2 homes....but it all went down the drain the day we came here...if it makes you happy...because they were gonna take me and my brother to army and my did didnt know if we gonna come back so had to leave that place, please understand me, i know my english sux, because its my 5th language and i had to learn it in short time

 

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Edited July 17, 2005 by Killuminati

[Killuminati]

so you give them what you have

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thanks for understanding, we did, matter of fact we do it until today, everyonce in a while my dad sends money out to our neighbors we had, in our small block only few people had cars, my dad was the one who always took everyone to hospital, etc. we always call and support our close friends over there

 

on this 30th my friend is going to armenia for few months, if i could go i would have definitly because i really miss that place

[Djrak]

thanks for understanding, we did, matter of fact we do it until today, everyonce in a while my dad sends money out to our neighbors we had, in our small block only few people had cars, my dad was the one who always took everyone to hospital, etc. we always call and support our close friends over there

that's great. Wow your dad's like the neighborhood superhero eh?

 

on this 30th my friend is going to armenia for few months, if i could go i would have definitly because i really miss that place

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i've been there twice and i definitely would love to go again. The stories i hear about the corruption there used to discourage me but now i take that as a challenge, u know?

[Gor-Gor]

Born in Los Angeles.

 

Parents born in Aleppo, Syria.

 

Mother's father born in Dikranagerd, Turkey.

All the rest were born in Aleppo, Syria.

 

HBARD HALEBTSI EM YES!

[Takoush]

I don't paint dreadful picture, what i said is what my 2 human given eyes saw and experienced...please don't get the wrong message that i hate Armenia, its my home country how can i hate...no way...but those pigs....

 

all those young guys that were coming home dead...who do think was killing them? and the officials would blame it on suicide and I never saw a single army person coming to give a respect to dead ones, for my cousin they said we are not going to come because he was a *** and killed himself. 

 

If it was only my neighbor…I would have said a thug did it, but when you see 10 people are coming home dead in a single week…now that is something different.

 

That’s why we sold our 2 homes, our 2 cars and my dad did everything to get me out of there.

 

Besides, when everyone around you is starving and you are not, it does not feel right.

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Killuminati:

 

I know I am late in responding this post, but I just happen to see it now.

 

I don't understand something here. You are saying that Armenian Kharapaghtsis are killing young army Armenian guys from Yerevan area? Why would they do that? Armenia is supporting Kharapagh so much that the bloody Turks have been blockading it for so many years now. I always had very high regard for Kharapaghtsi Armenians.

 

Then you are saying that in Armenia most people are starving, yet some people are driving nice cars. What are you saying? That some people are very rich yet others are extremely poor?

Edited September 20, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[Takoush]

I dream to go back. I've really made up my mind to go back and work as a piano teacher/music educator sometime after I get my degrees here. I honestly believe that the Armenians from my generation will go back, and most every Armenians' future is back home in Armenia.

 

Of course, some Armenians will benefit Armenia more by staying in other countries and supporting Armenia from abroad.

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Anoushik:

 

I know I am quite late in responding this post and this site, but what you're saying is awesome. I am very happy to hear it.

 

I have a little girl who will be 11 years old in 6 days. Although I was born in Cairo, Egypt, but I was brought up to be very very good Armenian girl; but my husband is American born Armenian and he doesn't speak a word of Armenian. He feels Armenian but not like me. I feel very strongly rooted Armenian. So one day hopefully in a couple of years or maybe sooner, I want to take my daughter to Armenia for a while, so that she can mingle with the Armenians there and stay more close to her roots. My Western Armenian is very good and I am trying to teach my daughter as well. It's been a bit difficult for me because we speak only English at home. I am the only source though for my daughter, and she doesn't go to an Armenian school. Just part time Armenian school and me. That's why I feel it would be more beneficial if one of these days I took her to Armenia for a couple of months or so.

Edited September 20, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[Gor-Gor]

Digin Takouhi: Does your daughter understand any Armenian at all? Did you speak it to her when she was little? As I believe that language is the savior of Armenians in the Diaspora, I urge you to speak Armenian with your daughter. I understand it would be difficult or rude to speak in front of your husband. But perhaps during some mother-daughter alone time, you could speak Armenian to her. Even if she responds in English, it's a step.

 

My best friend (now 23) was raised in a similar household as your own daughter. One American-Armenian parent, and one ethnic parent, but English was the only language spoken at home. However, my friend attended Armenian school full time. She attests that the main reason she feels Armenian is because she went to Armenian school and learned the language.

[Takoush]

Gor-Gor: Please you don't have to say Digin to me. I feel very old if you say that. Just say Anahid or Takouhi, OK? But thanks for responding to me. Yes, I used to speak to her only in Armenian when she was little, so by the age of 5 she used to speak Armenian to me back. But later on when she started going to American schools I started to speak to her outside only in English not to be rude in front of odars; because I know they don't like other languages to be spoken in front of them. I made that mistake for a couple of years; because as we speak English only when my husband is around and she speaks English also when she's in school and with her friends, she started forgetting her Armenian. Now her mother tongue is English and this past summer I thaught her Armenian, I mean with books every single day. Now she reads sentences and she's getting better in writing and spelling Armenian too. I am also translating to her right away the sentences that she speaks to me in English, and enthusing her to speak Armenian, you see my Armenian is superb. I am very talented in Armenian writing and it would be a shame if my only daughter would not speak, read and write Armenian very well.

 

I want her to read Raffi, Hagop Melik Hagopians' books and get to know our literature very well as I used to read them all when I was 6 and 7 years old little girl. Her father at first didn't want her to go to an all day Armenian school, then a couple of years later when I applied to the Hovnanian School here, the stupid Bolsahay principal rejected my child because she said that she doesn't speak Armenian well. My goodness, my daughter was only 7 years old. To me that's a Turkish attitude not Armenian, because an Armenian principal would accept all Armenian children, regardless they know Armenian very well as yet or not.

 

So you see, I have been taking her only part time Armenian schools and I dislike that principal with all my heart for rejecting us and my Armenian daughter for no good reason.

 

Anyway, I can teach my daughter too, and I am trying to do my best because they push a lot of English and other subjects from her everyday school now.

 

The future's bright, we will achieve and we will succeed my dear Gor-Gor. When there's a will there is a way.

 

Anahid

Edited September 20, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[MosJan]

Anahid jan ? your still up ? at this time of the night ?? 03:16~AM

 

ammmannnnnn - vay vay vay

 

Janik the forum will still be open it's not going anywhere go get some sleep janik

[Takoush]

Ok Movses jan; Gertam himag ge bargim.

 

Pari Kisher, nayis neh aravod yeghav, parelouys, inch vor eh!

[Gor-Gor]

Anahid: I'm so sorry to hear about your experience at the Hovnanian School. That's a very big shame!! Amot iren! The one positive thing about the "azkayin" schools here (ie, owned by the Antelias church) is that they all have ASL programs (Armenian as Second Language), so that students who have not had Armenian training but want to enter in the 3rd, 5th, 10th whatever grade, they will be able to by taking ASL classes. I wish the Hovnanian School had a similar program!

 

But I'm glad to know that you are imparting your knowledge onto your daughter. Language is so so important!

 

Yalla, im bargeloos jamanagn al yeger eh. Kisher pari.

 

I'm feeling poetic, so I'll close with some Silva Gaboudigian:

 

oo des, vortis, oor el lines

ays loosni dag oor el knas

te mort ankam mdkits hanes

ko mayr lezoon chmoranas

 

Edited September 20, 2005 by Gor-Gor

[Killuminati]

Killuminati:

 

I know I am late in responding this post, but I just happen to see it now.

 

I don't understand something here.  You are saying that Armenian Kharapaghtsis are killing young army Armenian guys from Yerevan area?  Why would they do that?  Armenia is supporting Kharapagh so much that the bloody Turks have been blockading it for so many years now.  I always had very high regard for Kharapaghtsi Armenians.

 

Then you are saying that in Armenia most people are starving, yet some people are driving nice cars.  What are you saying?  That some people are very rich yet others are extremely poor?

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It never late...and i'm glad you asked those questions

 

 

Let me say this...just by reading what you wrote i can tell that you have not been in Armenia for at least 5 years or you been there..just few months ago...I'm just assuming...if i'm wrong please forgive me.

 

Kharapaghtsi people don't like Echimiadzintsi (Vagharshapat) people and vice versa. NOT from Yerevan area. I don't know whay would they do that but i personally saw my cousin with bullet holes on his side. I remmber those days very clearly...in Echmidzan if you drove around, on every street you entered there would be a big black sign with the persons name on it and his age that just been brought home dead. And what was the good part is that they would say that they commited suicide and no army officials would come to their ceremony.

 

I know Armenians or Kharapaghtsi is no different for me a Hye is a Hye...they were fighting next to eachother...saving eachothers lives...but after bloody fighting was done they started fighting for seats.

 

haha...whoever has some abilities...leaves Armenia for good...whever does not have the power to leave...stays...also for those whos' life is great over there...they also stay. Basically no middle class...there is but very little percentage. Majority left over there are poor and rich people.

A month ago my friend went to Armenia for 2 months...and his still there right now...i talked to him about 2 weeks ago and he says there are cars over that he has never even knew such cars existed. You go outside of Yereven beside the main cities...people are starving...believe it or not there are places in Armenia that some people don't know what is a car.

 

But nontheless I still want to go back and take few good .50 caliber snipers with me and lots of bullets to eliminate some people and start a revolution and change that place for good. If i do go back...i will only go back with that mentallity.

 

It's very sad, but what a reality if its not sad. And i'm damn proud of it because without all those event i would not be who i'm today.

[Killuminati]

I'm glad that you don't want you doughter to forget who she is...and please do take her to Armenia...but wait lil bit so she will get older and get a better understanding and experience.

 

Last semester I had a teacher who was Armenian but she refused to say that she is and she didn't want to talk about it. I don't know whats the deal with them. I have many small cousins and in my whole family at home we all talk Armenian but the other day at my uncles house my uncle says talk English to my 4 year old so he can also learn some English...i got mad him and told me no way its only going to be Armenian because a 4 year old will have plenty time to learn English. I had to learn English when I was almost 17.

 

 

Anoushik I understand what you want to do. Teaching piano lessons will get you a good job teaching rich people's kids in Yerevan. I kinda don't see how thats gonna help Armenia but nontheless someone will have to start it and it has to begin from somewhere, right?

[Takoush]

I'm glad that you don't want you doughter to forget who she is...and please do take her to Armenia...but wait lil bit so she will get older and get a better understanding and experience.

 

Last semester I had a teacher who was Armenian but she refused to say that she is and she didn't want to talk about it. I don't know whats the deal with them. I have many small cousins and in my whole family at home we all talk Armenian but the other day at my uncles house my uncle says talk English to my 4 year old so he can also learn some English...i got mad him and told me no way its only going to be Armenian because a 4 year old will have plenty time to learn English. I had to learn English when I was almost 17.

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Killuminati:

 

I am dismayed and very very sad that Armenians in there fight for seats and such instead of helping and loving each other. You'd think by now they have learned that their enemy is still there waiting for them, btw. the turks and the azeris. For crying out loud, enough is enough. We are very small in quantity we should change our ways and start thinking about the whole picture ARMENIA AND ARMENIANS.

 

Well, about having been in Armenia, your right I haven't been there lately. It was a while back. Maybe I'll take my daughter when she's 13 or so. I want her to mingle with Armenians in Armenia as well. It would be nice for her and for me. I'd feel happy inside.

 

Killuminati, I am also very proud of you that you told your uncle for the 4 year old cousin of yours to speak Armenian. In here, you learn English anywhere and everywhere. It's the Armenian that is hard to learn or to keep using it and staying Armenian as the 'hosank' in here is very very strong. You have to keep your eyeball straight ahead on your staying Armenian in here. Good for you!

Edited September 20, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi