OK, I finished last with the Site Visit.  I have a lot to tell since then and it might be a while before I can post this entry.  Just to let you know that I try to post these often but even when I go to the internet and try I am only successful one out of about 4 times.  I try to load up the page I use to post the entry and most of the time the connection at the internet place is to slow to load up the page so I just have to wait until next time and hope it is faster.  I am excited now when I can get a 15kb/second connection.  It is a far cry from my 6mb/second connection that I had in California.  I read that a new company is going to be offering connectivity soon and I am dying to get it set up as soon as I have my own place. 

The next topic of business is that I am going to start locking some of my blog entries.  They will be password protected, as soon as I figure out how to do that.  I want to limit the people that read them to close friends and family, plus a few others who may have an interest.  I am doing this so that I can post sensitive information without running the risk of people seeing it who shouldn't.  If you have a desire to read them just send me an email and I will give you the password.  I would ask that you not copy and forward the post to anyone, but you can print it out and take it to lunch with friends (Bonnie).  If I don’t know you well, and there are at least some people who are family of my A16 friends (more like a family now) then just write me an email and let me know who you are.  I am happy to let you read what I have to say as long as you promise to keep it confidential.  Don’t worry, the A16’s already know!

OK, enough of the house keeping stuff, onto more interesting topics.  The site visit was pretty interesting.  I still stop in at the NGO occasionally to say hello and try their internet connection (still pretty slow).  They told me they had an idea to start an IT technical school.  It sounds good but it is going to be a lot of work.  They need to get a grant and raise money on their own for computers, find teachers and space to set up a classroom, etc.  They are going to work with the Gyumri IT Center where a friend of mine is going for his 2 years of service.  I think they want me to teach classes, that is going to be an interesting conversation.  I guess I mentioned that I got put into the IT program with the Peace Corps.  I am not sure why, yes I am a techie geek but my real background is in business management.  Sure I do my own website and work on my own computers and networks at home, but just ask my sister at how good I am about helping others to do that kind of thing   Any way here I am in the thick of the IT stuff, it should be interesting to say the very least. 

Last weekend I went into Hrazden, the capital city of our Marz.  It is about twice the size of the city I will be living in but it is pretty close so I can get their easily.  It actually consists of 5 villages that the Soviets combined to make into a single city.  This means it is really spread out and has a lot of undeveloped space between the 5 centers.  The have a Cement factory and Hydro Thermal electricity plant in the city that pretty much dominates everything.  They also have a big supermarket called Star.  Ryan, Josh and I took at Marshuti from our village to Hrazden which wasn’t bad.  We actually got seats and it didn’t get that crowded.  For those that don’t know Marshuti’s are large vans that are the common transportation in Armenia.  They pack as many people possible in them and will stop anywhere along the way to pickup or drop off passengers. 

The market is as big as a Safeway back home but doesn’t have the same stuff.  It does have some good things.  We got there and shopped around a bit, I bought the most stuff and was quite happy.  Then we walked to the Marshuti stop where the ride begins.  Out van was already packed and standing room only.  The official capacity for the van is 13 in back, we started off with 20 and a lot of bags of flour, buckets of fruits, etc.  At the high point we probably reached 26 people.  I couldn’t move and stood hunched over and holding on for dear life as we went over roads that were in desperate need of repair when Stalin was still breathing.  I will say that I think the 3 Americans on the marshuti gave the other passengers an unexpected treat ?  I am sure they enjoyed watching us try to stay upright!.  We made it back in one piece but with a bit of back pain, and headed to Josh’s house to work on our practicum.  I and the three other IT guys will be doing two things, working on a website for the Peace Corps Armenia and teaching some computer classes to the local youth.  We had to come up with a lesson plan, which we did.  Josh and I will be teaching basic computer classes and Elliot and Ryan will teach web development.  That should be an interesting experience.  It starts Monday!

Yesterday we had central day which is where we all get together in Charentsavan and get combined lessons.  Yesterday we learned a little about the legal system then we had a session on the “Armenian Genocide”.  First we were told that official position of the current Administration.  We are not allowed to use the word “Genocide”.  Instead we should say “What the Armenians refer to as the Genocide”, so in the future I will use the term WTACG (What the Armenians Call Genocide) so as not to violate the official administration policy.  We were also show a video of a PBS show on WTACG that was pretty detailed and definitely in favor of calling it by the other name.  In the show we learned that it had been recognized by past Presidential administrations and the Turks had been condemned for it.  In fact three prominent Turks, the General of their army, the Admiral of their Navy and the head of their government (I think) had been tried in absentia and found guilty then sentenced to death.  All three had fled the country and were killed by assassins in the following years.  This led me to believe that at one point even Turkey admitted or acknowledged that WTACG had actually happened.  I found it very interesting that we would get a lecture on the political repercussions of using the term but then were show a video that definitely supported calling it something the current administration does not support.  I guess the political ties are strong enough with Turkey that no one wants to offend them.  They officially say that WTACG did not happen and it was a civil war with deaths on both sides.  If you get a chance and are interested try to find the PBS special and watch it.  The topic is still huge here and I have been asked about my opinion several times.  That was before I knew that I don’t officially have one so I guess I said the wrong thing ?

After that session, which was pretty interesting we had another session on Armenian History.  I am sure it would have been great but the room was hot and we were all really tired so I don’t remember much of anything that was said.  After that I went to my NGO to talk to them then had several beers with friends before heading home.  I have a lot more to say but it will be in the next entry.  Thanks for reading this blog.

I would really love to get mail from you if you find what I have to say interesting.  A few friends have written but I will encourage people I have not yet met to write me and let me know what they think.  Is there anything you want to know about Armenia, the Peace Corps, living here, etc.  Just ask and I will put it in a blog or send you an email.  There is a button on this page to write me comments.  If you don’t want them made public just let me know.

Cheers

Brian