Today we are working with our 3rd family in Udin village. There is a mother, father, daughter Ani and son, Hovakim who is the same age as our youngest 2 girls. Nice that he is very cute as well. We also have three local volunteers, Nune(who had joined my team last year), Taron, and Hasmik. Our job is to haul toof to the roof- Bucket brigade!
Lauren and I join the father and the son in the roof to pour the toof. It is nice and open so we are protected by the tin roof but open at both ends to receive a breeze. Evidently it is very hot down below and "Hing rope" or five minutes is called frequently as they gulp water and change up positions for shoveling and passing and pouring into the buckets which are hauled up by rope.
We stop for a lunch of eggplant slices crisscrossed over a dolma style meat mixture- which Taron, one of our locals has never eaten before but decides he likes it. Plus salads and bread and other delicious dishes which fill us up. Then we switch up places so that others can have reprieve from the heat. The shade is creeping over the passing zone offering more relief as well.
Frequently we switch up places during a 5 minute break. Around 3 pm Gohar V says we should stop and have coffee break and be done. Slave Driver that I am a climb back up the ladder to see the progress. We are so close to being done! I suggest that after break we continue for another 30-45 minutes to finish the job. The team agrees and we are able to finish insulating the roof. It's a good feeling to know we finished the job!
Since it seems that we ALWAYS have too much food wherever we eat, we are changing it up and going for Lahmajoon- Armenian style fast food pizza! It is a big hit with everyone! Though no one is hungry enough to order a second 2 from the group order a chicken sandwich as well. It is nothing like what you are imagining right now. It was a wrap with all sorts of other things inside as well as chicken.
Hasmik, Bill's former exchange student daughter, meet's up with Tamar, they are going to a Karaoke club with Taron and Nune after dinner. It seems they are going for dancing not to sing karaoke. The rest of us walk back with a pit stop at a local souvenir shop. After several purchases we head back and call it a night.
Unfortunately it is time to think about packing up. I have delivered an entire suitcase of goods to Armine for her family so I am down one piece of luggage. I was hoping to leave the other as well, but as I look at all the souvenirs I realize I have to pack the large one AND the carry on in order to fit everything! 3 bottles of "wine" for instance, a wooden bowl. duduk instrument, backpack from a carpet, Grand Candy, a pile of obsidian rocks, a wine stand, 2 doorstop mice, 2 jewelry pouches, 2 Armenian coffee cups and saucers, a Fuller Center Armenia clock, etc... on top of the things I was already bringing home- a few pieces of clothing (required to wrap around and protect items) my mini printer with which we had printed out pics for a scrapbook for our main family, the Haroutunyans,et al.
So much for compactness! I also have to carry with me a framed "painting," 3-d made out of Armenian clay/dirt. given to me by my good friend Armine, as it would not fit the luggage safely. Too much risk that it would be damaged in baggage handling.
So after organizing much of it, I still didn't get to bed much before midnight. Only 2 days of sightseeing then a very early departure for home.
Lauren and I join the father and the son in the roof to pour the toof. It is nice and open so we are protected by the tin roof but open at both ends to receive a breeze. Evidently it is very hot down below and "Hing rope" or five minutes is called frequently as they gulp water and change up positions for shoveling and passing and pouring into the buckets which are hauled up by rope.
Frequently we switch up places during a 5 minute break. Around 3 pm Gohar V says we should stop and have coffee break and be done. Slave Driver that I am a climb back up the ladder to see the progress. We are so close to being done! I suggest that after break we continue for another 30-45 minutes to finish the job. The team agrees and we are able to finish insulating the roof. It's a good feeling to know we finished the job!Since it seems that we ALWAYS have too much food wherever we eat, we are changing it up and going for Lahmajoon- Armenian style fast food pizza! It is a big hit with everyone! Though no one is hungry enough to order a second 2 from the group order a chicken sandwich as well. It is nothing like what you are imagining right now. It was a wrap with all sorts of other things inside as well as chicken.
Hasmik, Bill's former exchange student daughter, meet's up with Tamar, they are going to a Karaoke club with Taron and Nune after dinner. It seems they are going for dancing not to sing karaoke. The rest of us walk back with a pit stop at a local souvenir shop. After several purchases we head back and call it a night.
Unfortunately it is time to think about packing up. I have delivered an entire suitcase of goods to Armine for her family so I am down one piece of luggage. I was hoping to leave the other as well, but as I look at all the souvenirs I realize I have to pack the large one AND the carry on in order to fit everything! 3 bottles of "wine" for instance, a wooden bowl. duduk instrument, backpack from a carpet, Grand Candy, a pile of obsidian rocks, a wine stand, 2 doorstop mice, 2 jewelry pouches, 2 Armenian coffee cups and saucers, a Fuller Center Armenia clock, etc... on top of the things I was already bringing home- a few pieces of clothing (required to wrap around and protect items) my mini printer with which we had printed out pics for a scrapbook for our main family, the Haroutunyans,et al.
So much for compactness! I also have to carry with me a framed "painting," 3-d made out of Armenian clay/dirt. given to me by my good friend Armine, as it would not fit the luggage safely. Too much risk that it would be damaged in baggage handling.
So after organizing much of it, I still didn't get to bed much before midnight. Only 2 days of sightseeing then a very early departure for home.
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