Who Would Like To Live In Armenia?

[alby]

Ever since I visited Armenia for the first time, which was six years ago, I fell in love with that country. I’ve been there three times and love to go more if I could.

Now, when I tell my relatives here in the U.S. that I would love to live there, they ask why? And then they start talking about all the shortcomings and so on.

 

Same thing happens when I tell my relatives in Armenia that I would love to live there. Why? They ask. “There is nothing here, no job, nothing to do, it's boring” and so on. They think we are having so much fun here and they are missing out on something, and the funny part is that when I tell them it isn’t so, they assume that I don’t want them to come here and enjoy life!

 

Unfortunately I can’t go to Armenia to live, at least not yet because I still have underage children and another reason that I rather not get into, but I always think about it. I know a lot about the conditions there because I read a lot and listen to news, but it is a beautiful country and does have good people, what it lacks is a viable authority who cares about the country in the real sense of the word.

 

So my question is as follow:

1- Would you like to live there?

2- If so why don’t you? and if you don't want to live there, why not?

For example one could say because of lawlessness.

3- Do you think you might live there sometimes in the future?

 

4- Do you know anyone who went there to live and loves it?

5- Do you know anyone who went there to live but ran away from it because of whatever reason?

 

Share your thought.

[ED]

Ok good topic to discuss!

 

after having children your outlook and planing mostly evolves with and around your childreen, wile they have somewhat foggy vision of what they want for themselfs there comes the age when they would consider whats best for there future, i have a grown son, and he wishes, dreams of having a home in Armenia, as much as he is Armenian he cant hide the fact he is an American as well.

 

if living standards in a near future can be somewhat similar to the west my guess is very large number of Armenians would consider re-seteling and permenently moving back Home.

 

I think deep inside of every Armenian that is the wish, hasitation comes from numerious factors, corroption, basic cultural defarancess, political instibility, and lastly but very effective "kitchen talk aroung the coffee" wined up making a defarance. for those who emigrated from Armenia in last 30 years there is another factor as well, scare of not repiting the mistake again, not to end up somewere in siberia. And i dont blame for these people for there mind set.

 

 

I personaly would like to have a home in Yerevan, spend 4-6 months out of the year in Armenia and maybe some day stablish my own profetional business, for this to happen first there needs to be a permenent peace and open trade with her neighbors, with the state of war always lingering very few will invest, including myself.

[kakachik77]

I agree Edward, a stable democractic (not to be confused with pro-Western) Armenia is essential to attract diasporans back or at least to inrease the level of investment that comes from diasporans.

And also good neighborly relations in the region, lack of violence. Another component is the Soviet era aparatchik mentality amongst current Armenian leaders, hunger for power and more and more and more wealth, which has left a meager 2.9 million people in the country.

 

Another important point is equality between diasporan Armenians and local Armenians by way of equal citizenship rights etc.

[ED]

organization, individual hungry for a power is not such a bad idea IF the input is genuine and beneficial for the Nation, for personal gain there is a army of volentires who are lined up.

 

I strongly belive now is the time Armenia can use a strong man, who is loved and fallowed if guided to the right direction BUT, National pshicy which is developed over the course of our history should be wiped out, the victim mentality, formost, is much more dengiorios then the phisical enamy.

 

by me saying wiped out i ment! AG sould be introduced to those who are able to comprihand and evaluate the events, to inroduce to the 1st grader naturaly would be a foundation for long lasting conflict within that person over time and evantualy will result in distrust and withdrawl of any other involvment esccept when dealing with the subject of AG.

 

A Nation can not and should not have ONE sad chapter as a unifing couse for all of its activities and existance.

By saying so, its time to shift some of that enargy and simontainiosly work thourds prosperity and longavity of ROA.

[Takoush]

organization, individual hungry for a power is not such a bad idea IF the input is genuine and beneficial for the Nation, for personal gain there is a army of volentires who are lined up.

 

I strongly belive now is the time Armenia can use a strong man, who is loved and fallowed if guided to the right direction BUT, National pshicy which is developed over the course of our history should be wiped out, the victim mentality, formost, is much more dengiorios then the phisical enamy.

 

by me saying wiped out i ment! AG sould be introduced to those who are able to comprihand and evaluate the events, to inroduce to the 1st grader naturaly would be a foundation for long lasting conflict within that person over time and evantualy will result in distrust and withdrawl of any other involvment esccept when dealing with the subject of AG.

 

A Nation can not and should not have ONE sad chapter as a unifing couse for all of its activities and existance.

By saying so, its time to shift some of that enargy and simontainiosly work thourds prosperity and longavity of ROA.

Pretty good evaluation on matters and thoughts Ed.

 

It would certainly be much more beneficial for our nation to start feeling proud and less and less to have the victimized attitude. But to have a better self esteem as a nation & as people. It sounds to be a healthy minded attitude.

 

It would certainly be good to start teaching in the schools of the Republic about AG if they didn't do it yet. That would be a good thing.

 

It all sounds good to me; now let's have the RofA to implement it. Good thoughts.

Edited November 18, 2006 by Anahid Takouhi

[Lev7]

I am planning to go back for sure

 

first of all I do not feel I am home here, there everything I can say its mine. Second, I want to contribute something back to my country, Armenia made me who I am today

[SanVal]

I think anybody who asks whether or not a diasporan Armenian would move to Armenia has to distinguish between two very different questions:

 

1. Would you move there and live like the majority of the people live there?

The great majority would say no, unless they're from a country that has a comparable standard of living. It's very unlikely that a westerner would, for example, agree to live in a place that doesn't have running water 24 hours/day, where people age a lot faster, and where they can't afford healthcare. I have no doubt that my 57 year old father would've by now died from a heart attack had he lived in Armenia...he wouldn't have been able to afford Lipitor there.

 

2. Would you move there if you could still have most of the comforts that you've grown used to?

I'm sure most in the diaspora would say yes.