Maggie's Journey to Armenia

If this is October and I am already in my long john’s, I am just wondering how I will survive winter here in Hayastan. Don’t get me wrong, the snow on the mountains (let me remind you it is October) is beautiful and breathtaking, but I am cold. All this complaining is coming from a Chicagoan too; I thought I knew cold! Ok enough with the complaining, I finally got around to another post because things are looking up and what better time to write a blog post!

My site mate and I started aerobic clubs this week, once a week at each of our schools. Although we had few in attendance, I think it will continue to be a great success. We chose to do the club with middle school girls, as the Healthy Lifestyles class in the Spring targets this age group. Starting clubs finally gives me something meaningful to do here while my language is improving. In class, I feel like there is not much to do but yell at kids in the imperative (Don’t talk, listen, don’t turn around, etc.). I also think I may start doing some domestic violence awareness work in country due to an article I read this week about a woman’s death due to family violence here. This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so the topic has been particularly on my mind.

In other news, I am feeling more and more a part of my host family. This has it’s advantages but I know that makes moving out a much harder thing for them to accept. Next week my host father and brother will leave to go work in Russia and my host mother said she would be lonely if I left soon. I love my host family but there is something nice about living independently. I am cat sitting my site mate’s cats right now and I love going there to cook and relax! I guess this will be just one more obstacle to overcome here.

Minchev muse ankam,
Maggie