A Christmas Story

[Arpa]

A Christmas Story

 

The following is a true story, the identites will be disguised as the subjects are still around.

 

When Rev. Armen Yerevanian (a generic name) first arrived in America through the graces of the Presbyterian Church, his first assignment was a parish in Boise, Idaho. What? It might as well have been in Siberia. Since he has found Armenian parishes.

 

One Christmas Eve they were driving back home from a reception at a parishioners house. In Idaho the next town may as well be fifty miles away. It was snowing in bucketsful, visibility was fast falling down to zero. They were very concerned. There were young children in the car, the temperature was rapidly falling, and thoughts of freezing to death were fast taking over the warm reception they had been at earlier. There was no sign of life or civilization, there were no highway or police patrols they had to do something. What? Then, suddenly one of the children spotted a dim light way off the highway.. Thye took a turn and drove towards the light. The porch light was on. They knocked at the door, there was no answer, then they spotted a note taped to the door. It said; “The door is unlocked, you are welcome, come in”. They went in. There was nobody in the house. There was a note at the kitchen table; “Dear weary traveler. You are welcome. You may stay as long as need be. There is food and drinks in the refrigerator. Please, when you leave remember that there will be others like you. Donations are optional”.

 

Was the owner of that house the Armenian god Vanatur?

 

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=12678&hl=misak

 

Or was it Misak Medzarents?

 

http://armenianpoetry.com/arm/1166.html

 

Did Misak have “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”?

[Takoush]

Thanx Arpa:

 

That's a very heartwarming and a true Armenian story with the spirit of Christmas, Dzenount. As Armenians in vast majority have always been hospitable people. This story goes to prove that they are!

[Arpa]

Thanx Arpa:

 

That's a very heartwarming and a true Armenian story with the spirit of Christmas, Dzenount. As Armenians in vast majority have always been hospitable people. This story goes to prove that they are!

The above does not say anything about Armenian hospitality, even if undeniably true in itself, the fact that we had a god, Vanatur totally dedicated to hospitality. You will note that the hospitalers (?), donors are American Idahoians and the Armenians are the hospitalees(?), grateful in this case, recipients.

Anahid, tell us a true life story illustrating Armenian Hospitality.

Note.

Welcoming the Turk to our home(land) does not count.

Edited December 25, 2005 by Arpa

[Takoush]

The above does not say anything about Armenian hospitality, even if undeniably true in itself, the fact that we had a god, Vanatur totally dedicated to hospitality. You will note that the hospitalers (?), donors are American Idahoians and the Armenians are the hospitalees(?), grateful in this case, recipients.

Anahid, tell us a true life story illustrating Armenian Hospitality.

Note.

Welcoming the Turk to our home(land) does not count.

Arpa;

 

I do not per say have a story right now; but my dear father used to say that we Armenians are very hospitable people. Indeed when quite a few years ago when I went to Armenia, I have met such wonderful families and people in Armenia that it was heart warming. Needless to say I fit right in; because you see I am very hospitable person myself too. But coming back to the Armenians in there, Oh my God, they have placed such rich tables with all kinds of goodies, and well prepared Armenian food, including Hariseh that I was so impressed, Arpa. Incidentally they looooove to drink too. Anyhow, I went to at least 7 houses like that and they all presented us with plenty plenty of food and goodies. Later I have learned that they did not eat like that every day. They went to greeeeaaaat lengths to get the raw foods and to be able to prepare them for us that came to visit Armenia. They most likely slept with little food in their stomachs after we have left or before we came; but they sure went to great lengths to be wonderfully hospitable and present us and give us plenty---I mean plenty.

 

People of Armenia are really just wonderful people. I have been truly impressed with them and with their homecoming hospitality. I love them, as I don't have to know them for a looooong time to love them, but being the same sort as them, with my passionate personality and warmth and the love in my heart, I can surely connect with people like that (mainly with my people) very easily, because most of them have the same passion, the warmth and the love as I do!!! To me going to Armenia was a pleasurable experience, and I sure hope that in about a year and a half I will take my daughter to Armenia with me, so that she can see for herself how Armenians truly are!!!

Edited December 25, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[Takoush]

The above does not say anything about Armenian hospitality, even if undeniably true in itself, the fact that we had a god, Vanatur totally dedicated to hospitality. You will note that the hospitalers (?), donors are American Idahoians and the Armenians are the hospitalees(?), grateful in this case, recipients.

Anahid, tell us a true life story illustrating Armenian Hospitality.

Note.

Welcoming the Turk to our home(land) does not count.

I know Arpa. I read and understood the story of course that in this case the Armenians were the hospitalees and the Americans were the hospitalers; however forgive me, but suddenly this hospitality business came to mind the nice Armenian people in Armenia and that's why I said that.

 

However, the true American people that I believe are in the mid west area, they are actually kind and some can also be hospitable. Yes, I believe that.

[Arpa]

I know Arpa. I read and understood the story of course that in this case the Armenians were the hospitalees and the Americans were the hospitalers; however forgive me, but suddenly this hospitality business came to mind the nice Armenian people in Armenia and that's why I said that.

 

However, the true American people that I believe are in the mid west area, they are actually kind and some can also be hospitable. Yes, I believe that.

Good!

Now that we know it is not a case of dyslexia.

 

Middle America being more hospitable and generous may also be partially a myth. Some of them are the most miserable miserly bastards. If there is any truth to that myth there also are reasons. Most middle Americans are older Americans, generationally speaking. They are more secure and confident, they don’t go to bed every night worrying their heads off, thinking; What if I wake up in the morning as poor as I was once was. Most Americans on the coasts are relatively new arrivals still bothered with the ghost of poverty. Has anyone noticed that most new arrivals don’t keep pets? Some time ago I read that psychologists had noticed that most of those people, specially from the east, so called third world countries still live with the sense of ; “We hardly have enough for ourselves and our children, let alone cats , dogs and other critters”.

 

I am glad that you left Armenia with such heartwarming feelings. I have also left Armenia with such feelings, with teary eyes of mixed feelings, tears of joy and tears of sadness. Have you stayed there long enough to see how long it takes them to pay off the debt incurred by those lavish tables? Or did you find out what precious family treasure they had sold to affort it all? We all do it. Yes, maybe it is generosity and hospitality, yet there is also an element of showoffishness, one upmanship, specially when done by people who feel inadequate with or without reason. Let’s be honest. The average American Armenian is relatively better off than a majority of Yerevanites. It is as true as it is sad. We all have this fear of being pitied and being regarded as inadequate. I have always, not only in Armenia, also here in America to ask my hosts to please not go out of their way and prepare tables that they otherwise would. Regardless, we still do it..

 

Speaking of leaving with teary eyes. During one of my sojourns in Armenia, after I saw my sponsored children I went to Artsakh where I wanted to see my daughter’s sponsored child. Anush, yes her name is Anush, she was a five year old beautiful girl, living with her widowed mother, widowed, not 70 years old, the mother was in her late twenties. Father had died in the war of liberation at Shushi. As usual, I made it very clear to my guides that she make no special preparations. The apartment wasvery small yet very clean and neat. To make it short, after we visited for while, had Armenian coffee, I gave her some very meager special gifts which cured her of her shyness and she warmed up to me. It was time to depart. We all went down to the street where our car was waiting. I bent down to kiss the little girl then I said “Hima mamayin al pachik anem”. My intention was to get close enough to mother to slip something in her palm unnoticed. I had to cover my face to hide my emotions, yet as soon as I got inside the car I could not hold it anymore. My companions thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I was, just as I still do every time I think of those scenes.

I am glad you have left Armenia with such joy. I have also, yet all that joy cannot mask all that sadness.

Just as above, every time I visited the Vernisage I would leave with joy having found some precious books, me being a bookworm and having bought them at reidiculously low prices, yet I would leave with a heavy heart knowing that some poor slobs were selling their most cherished prescious libraries to just get by.

 

Here is another story about so called hospitality and generosity.

 

A few days ago I saw an hour long travelogue on the Travel channel. It was all about the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The king himself was the host and tour guide, very charming. They showed many magnificent sites . They also showed the desert people, the Bedouins with their camels. How romantic! During that scene the king told a story that how one time when he and his entourage had landed their helicopter, piloted by himself, of course, in the middle of the desert and met this Bedouin on his beautiful horse. Once the man realized who the visitors were he insisted that they stay for lunch and that lunch was on him. He disappeared for about an hour and came back with a dozen sheep. They had a fabulous lunch of lamb meat and rice. Only then they realized that the horse was gone. The man had sold his most precious possession to buy those dozen sheep. Once they knew this, the king’s cousin went, found the horse, bought it back and gave it to the Bedouin.

 

Beautiful, heart warming story?

How romantic?

But why did it sadden me?

Is the above story one of hospitality and generosity or is it a story of, showoffishness, of inadequateness, of slave mentality to please his “god“ the king, of the less fortunate willing to sacrifice all to please the more fortunate?

Edited December 25, 2005 by Arpa

[Arpa]

This was meant to be a CHRISTMAS story.

Not a comment on the "legendary Armenian hospitality", read narcissitic and fictional figment of our imagination. And I mean "legendary and fictional" to stroke our self agrandizing psyche devoid of compassion and generosity .

Now.

Let us hear stories about our Christmas Spirit, compassion, generosity and hospitality. About the Armenian "tsnound", whatever in he.. heaven that may mean. Remember that we live in America where Jan. 6 is just another day at work to send Uncle Sam some more tax money? As to how we have lived the spirit of the time inviting "weary travelers" to the warmth of our bosom and to the warmth of our hearth/firepace.

 

Read the poem by Metsarents again.

 

Aside from those "lavish/lavash tables", have we listened to the private conversation of the average Yerevanite or Gumretsi, and what they think of the average FAT disaporan who may not have nothing to worry about but the lack of "civilized" toilets. Do we realize that their main concern is how to fill the diegstive system rather than empty it?

Edited December 25, 2005 by Arpa

[Takoush]

I am glad that you left Armenia with such heartwarming feelings. I have also left Armenia with such feelings, with teary eyes of mixed feelings, tears of joy and tears of sadness. Have you stayed there long enough to see how long it takes them to pay off the debt incurred by those lavish tables? Or did you find out what precious family treasure they had sold to affort it all? We all do it. Yes, maybe it is generosity and hospitality, yet there is also an element of showoffishness, one upmanship, specially when done by people who feel inadequate with or without reason. Let’s be honest. The average American Armenian is relatively better off than a majority of Yerevanites. It is as true as it is sad. We all have this fear of being pitied and being regarded as inadequate. I have always, not only in Armenia, also here in America to ask my hosts to please not go out of their way and prepare tables that they otherwise would. Regardless, we still do it..

 

Speaking of leaving with teary eyes. During one of my sojourns in Armenia, after I saw my sponsored children I went to Artsakh where I wanted to see my daughter’s sponsored child. Anush, yes her name is Anush, she was a five year old beautiful girl, living with her widowed mother, widowed, not 70 years old, the mother was in her late twenties. Father had died in the war of liberation at Shushi. As usual, I made it very clear to my guides that she make no special preparations. The apartment wasvery small yet very clean and neat. To make it short, after we visited for while, had Armenian coffee, I gave her some very meager special gifts which cured her of her shyness and she warmed up to me. It was time to depart. We all went down to the street where our car was waiting. I bent down to kiss the little girl then I said “Hima mamayin al pachik anem”. My intention was to get close enough to mother to slip something in her palm unnoticed. I had to cover my face to hide my emotions, yet as soon as I got inside the car I could not hold it anymore. My companions thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I was, just as I still do every time I think of those scenes.

I am glad you have left Armenia with such joy. I have also, yet all that joy cannot mask all that sadness.

Just as above, every time I visited the Vernisage I would leave with joy having found some precious books, me being a bookworm and having bought them at reidiculously low prices, yet I would leave with a heavy heart knowing that some poor slobs were selling their most cherished prescious libraries to just get by.

 

Here is another story about so called hospitality and generosity.

 

A few days ago I saw an hour long travelogue on the Travel channel. It was all about the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The king himself was the host and tour guide, very charming. They showed many magnificent sites . They also showed the desert people, the Bedouins with their camels. How romantic! During that scene the king told a story that how one time when he and his entourage had landed their helicopter, piloted by himself, of course, in the middle of the desert and met this Bedouin on his beautiful horse. Once the man realized who the visitors were he insisted that they stay for lunch and that lunch was on him. He disappeared for about an hour and came back with a dozen sheep. They had a fabulous lunch of lamb meat and rice. Only then they realized that the horse was gone. The man had sold his most precious possession to buy those dozen sheep. Once they knew this, the king’s cousin went, found the horse, bought it back and gave it to the Bedouin.

 

Beautiful, heart warming story?

How romantic?

But why did it sadden me?

Is the above story one of hospitality and generosity or is it a story of, showoffishness, of inadequateness, of slave mentality to please his “god“ the king, of the less fortunate willing to sacrifice all to please the more fortunate?

 

Arpa:

 

I was busy yesterday, because my in-laws came to my house so I had to be a good host and I was in the kitchen cooking, preparing and serving food. Thank goodness, it's over. Anyhow, I was busy. So here's the answer to your message. You see, when I went to Armenia I wasn't a grown girl/woman; but a 17 year old young girl and I went with friends. I had no know how what the friends of my friends were going to do for us; nor did I know at the time all the particulars about Armenian people, their lifestyle or how they lived. I had NO CLUE. And the people that opened their house to us were not my friends for me to tell them ahead of time anything, and anyway I didn't know about their state of affairs to say anything at all, as I had no idea. I was merely visiting with friends, you see. So don't assume anything please. And when I heard what I have heard later, I have given them most of my clothes and my semi precious jewelry to them; because at the time I only owned semi precious jewelry. I didn't have extra money with me to be able to give them money at the time, you see? However, I went back to Canada practically giving away all my nice clothes to these nice Armenian people; because even at my tender age I have also felt very much sadness and my heart went all the way out to them. But the jist of it that I was trying to convey, was that Armenians are so generous and very sweet to people who happen to come to their country. Ever since then I have never returned to Armenia, and that was many years ago; but I connected with them. However later, when the Artsakh war broke down, we have also sponsored children. Two to be exact. First it was a cute little boy, and then we have inquired and asked to sponsor another child, and this time it was a smart and a beautiful little girl. I am just writing these words, so you'll know a little more who you are talking to and you'll understand.

 

Secondly, yes even though I have found your Christmas story very inspiring and great for the occasion; but since this is an open forum I have diverted a little, that is if I am forgiven, and talked about of Armenian hospitality at length; since the subject matter was about hospitality itself. Regardless of the fact that this time Armenians were being treated hospitably.

Edited December 26, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[Arpa]

Dear Anahid,

I am sure you are a most gracious and hospitable host.

Contrary to your impression I am not disturbed by the direction the thread has gone. In fact you have prompted a whole different thread. I am not sure if you were here when I posted the following;

 

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=12678

 

Hospitality, and in particular the "Legendary Armenian Hospitality" is a compelling subject. We can continue and comment about the subject at the above site. As you can see, we may have very little to say about the subject as the above post got ZERO responses.

Warning. MY opinion of the so called "Legendary Armenian Hospitality" may be... well ... a little unorthodox to the taste of our readers. In fact the subject topic of Mythology may be the proper site to discuss the subject as to my observation that :"Lgendary/Proberbial Armenian Hospitality" may be just that, a myth.

PS. Since you are so much better in typing in Armenian you may consider to coplete the poem by Varuzhan that I started. Please get back to what you can do best, post Armenian literary gems by Varuzhan and the like.

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited December 26, 2005 by Arpa

[Takoush]

Arpa:

 

It's funny that you said that my Armenian is better; although Armenian is my mother tongue and yes I know my Armenian. But as of late; in my college studies, four times now I have gotten A's in English literature. Four times, and I was hoping that my English should be getting better as well.

 

Vanadur: giver of shelter. By Taniel Varoujan.

 

Yes, I have found it.

Edited December 30, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[ED]

Thank you both for bringing this to our attention, unrelated posts have been moved to appropriate sections or been made invisible.

 

Please folks, let’s post related posts to any particular thread, there is always an appropriate thread for most of unrelated posts, or you can open one up regarding it and finally there is a chit chat section for just to have fun

 

[Arpa]

Thank you Ed.

Good job.

May I ask of you one more small favor?

I just revived a thread of Daniel Varoujean (Varuzhan), I moved one my posts there, I intend to find and move more.

Could you please move that poem there, hoping that we will find more Varuzhans and move them there as well.

It may be time we combine like threads under one topic as when intending to post something we may see it it had already done before.

We have too many duplications and repetitions.

We all do it. I am as guilty as can be when I assume to "reinvent the wheel all over again" without searching/checking to see if it has already been done.

 

Thank you.

Edited December 26, 2005 by Arpa