Yerevan Top 10

[gamavor]

I was slightly nervous and undecided as to where would be the most appropriate section of the Forum to host this. Initially I thought about Gender issues, since some parts of Top 10 of Yerevan deal with Women wearing high heels, but then I decided that Life would be more appropriate since women most of the time wear high heels because of US - men!

 

Yerevan Top Ten List

 

There is so much to appreciate about the capital of Armenia. As unbelievable as it may sound, many will attest to the fact that Yerevan feels like both a bustling metropolis and tiny village at the same time. Life in Yerevan can only truly be appreciated by an outsider when one starts to notice the patterns in everyday life. Here is a top-ten list we have compiled of our favorite sightings that occur all the time in Yerevan.

 

10. Women with the highest stiletto heels on the face of the planet. Someday, a doctor will make a revolutionary discovery as to what gene is in the Armenian woman that makes her able to walk on cobblestone streets and through rubble in 4-inch stilettos. Truly miraculous!

 

http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/feature/images/stiletto.jpg

 

9. While on the subject of attire, another favorite would have to be the occurrence of strange English phrases screened onto women's clothing. "Love me now" was spotted on Mashdots Street, written all the way down a woman's pant leg in bright orange. The most common shirt these days is "Love Team" in huge letters on women's shirts. Can someone explain this to me?

 

8. In general, Armenians have an intense concept of their appearance to others. Both women and men will fully dress themselves just to pop into the store around the corner for milk. It is a rare occasion to catch someone in public in a t-shirt and sweat pants.

 

7. Furthermore, they have passed this 'dressed-to-the-nines' mentality onto their sons and daughters. The children of Yerevan prance around parks in their Sunday best on every single day of the week. The little girls with lacy white dresses and patent leather mary janes will make you want to melt.

 

6. Sunflower seeds. They're everywhere and they're delicious. So common is the pastime of eating sunflower seeds that the Armenians have actually created a verb for it. It is called chrtel, which derives from the word for lips. Now that's just genius.

 

5. The experience of the Armenian soccer game is unique in and of itself. Expect loud drums and angry men shouting at the field in Armenian, Russian. The absolute best part about the soccer game…no beer, no hotdogs…just lahmajoun and of course, sunflower seeds.

 

4. Street squatting is a phenomenon impossible to miss in Yerevan, it's on every single street corner. It does, however, require some explanation. As aforementioned, Armenians care very much about their appearance, so rather than sitting on the dirty sidewalk or curb, Armenian men squat on the streets for hours, so as not to soil their pants. The squat involves heels being flat on the ground and preferably, a cigarette in one hand. Try it some time, it's not that easy. How they are comfortable enough to play an entire backgammon game in this position will forever be a mystery. That doctor that figures out what makes Armenian women walk in heels will have to get on the case.

 

3. Yerp gamoosnanas?? In Armenian, this means "when will you get married?" Learn it, and learn to love it if you are single and plan on coming to Armenia. Of course, this stems from every Armenian just genuinely wanting to see you happy and with a family of your own, but the sheer frequency of the question becomes completely comical after awhile. It is also not out of the question that woman who sold you some popcorn might ask you to marry her son or daughter. That would really be a story for the grandkids.

 

2. The service (or rather, lack there of) in restaurants. The waitresses of Yerevan leisurely stroll around the restaurant as if prancing is their actually profession, but in their spare time, they'll try to bring you your coke. Though the service is sometimes excruciating slow, the young women and men in the service industry are never ever rude. It is not uncommon to ask for at least three different items on the menu before finding one that the restaurant actually has. Speaking of menus, like many other countries, the English translations are not to be missed. Apparently, someone with a sense of humor came into Armenia and told every single restaurant that word is actually "mashroom", not mushroom and they all listened. I would like to shake his hand.

 

1. The single most enjoyable observation in Yerevan is the degree to which people help each other without ever expecting anything in return. From taxis stopping to help someone fix a broken-down car on the side of the road to stopping at someone's house to use their telephone, Armenian kindness and hospitality is abounding in this big city. Once you become a part of this phenomenon, it may be the single most rewarding part of your stay here and even reinstate your faith in humankind.

 

http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/feature/index.html

 

[ED]

5. The experience of the Armenian soccer game is unique in and of itself. Expect loud drums and angry men shouting at the field in Armenian, Russian. The absolute best part about the soccer game…no beer, no hotdogs…just lahmajoun and of course, sunflower seeds.

 

 

http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/feature/index.html

 

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sudya na garshok, Ararat hup tur.................... verjum, vay qzer ax u hats@ $%^&*(() tuuuuh

 

 

once a long time ago we had guests from England our relatives, so they asked me if I could take them to football match, and everybody around us forgot about the match they were in the center of attention (the guests, 2 good looking ladies)) so we left the game but I was so ashamed about the whole experience, shouting, cussing, steering, and Ararat lost to Dinamo Kiev as usual, 3:0

[MosJan]

ehhh Edward jan

jamanaknern antsnum en

thos war teh good old days

 

Ararat

Ishtoyan

Kavalenko

 

Hardanak

 

isk hima ~~~

[gurgen]

10. Women with the highest stiletto heels on the face of the planet. Someday, a doctor will make a revolutionary discovery as to what gene is in the Armenian woman that makes her able to walk on cobblestone streets and through rubble in 4-inch stilettos. Truly miraculous!

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I love it I love it I love it....

 

A thing direly missed in Holland

[America-Hye]

Now I understand why I am so divergent from the Armenian community. I like my women barefoot. I rarely wear shoes, myself. My suits are in moth balls. I prefer surfing to soccer. I take a beach chair everywhere. Sunflower seeds and helpfulness are the only two aspects of Yerevan that I coincide with. Edited September 17, 2004 by America-Hye

[gurgen]

You sound like a hippie describing yourself like that

[America-Hye]

Gainfully employed. Don't smoke no dope. Hair is fashionably cut, not long and straggly. A reformed hippie, perhaps. Edited September 17, 2004 by America-Hye

[gamavor]

Now I understand why I am so divergent from the Armenian community. I like my women barefoot. I rarely wear shoes, myself. My suits are in moth balls. I prefer surfing to soccer. I take a beach chair everywhere. Sunflower seeds and helpfulness are the only two aspects of Yerevan that I coincide with.

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No one is perfect!

[America-Hye]

I will never forget the young attractive Yerevantzi woman who came and sat next to me on the tour bus to Garni. She was clearly flirting with me until she heard that I was a vegetarian. Then she abruptly got up, stated that she does not approve of Armenians becoming Hindus and moved to another portion of the bus. I was flabbergasted. I am not a Hindu, but have read and do practrice aspects of Zen Buddhism. Edited September 17, 2004 by America-Hye

[Boghos]

I will never forget the young attractive Yerevantzi woman who came and sat next to me on the tour bus to Garni. She was clearly flirting with me until she heard that I was a vegetarian. Then she abruptly got up, stated that she does not approve of Armenians becoming Hindus and moved to another portion of the bus. I was flabbergasted. I am not a Hindu, but have read and do practrice aspects of Zen Buddhism.

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Was she wearing high heels ?

[America-Hye]

no

[Anileve]

Was she wearing high heels ?

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Love the list Gamavor.

[Armen]

Thanks for the list Gamavor. What I like about Yerevatsies is that everybody likes to go out and meet and talk with people every single day. You can see that in downtown Yerevan. Almost no one stays home if they have enough money for a cup of coffee or tea.