1st full day of work

 Saturday, July 14th
We met in the lobby for our trip to the worksite and were joined by a group of 8 young people from to the woksite. Fortunately with our competent drivers Melik and Hagop it
only took us 1 hour 10 minutes instead of the 1 1/2 hours it took us yesterday to get there and back. Several young people from  KPMG Armenia organization joined us that day. It took both buses to carry everyone. No turn arounds or requests
for directions. Hagop has been there and this is actually Melik's family region, so he knows this area rather well.
     
    
After passing buckets of rocks in a bucket brigade for a couple of hours, we broke for lunch. As always there was way more food than we could all consume!Fried chicken on a stick, rice pilaf with corn, a peas and greens salad, summer salad, hats, lavash,cheese and more. That "after lunch it must be naptime feeling was settiling over us and conversation slowed a bit.

Toward the end of our meal our fearless team leader (Leo Manuelian) came in with 2 mamoth super soakerwater guns blasting and yelling "Vatrtavar Day!" (It is a holiday that will officially occur on Sunday clelbrating water in a rather "free for all" way)All the fun then began and bedlam became the norm! All the team went every which way with water bottles and went after whoever walked in their path. The locals even joined in and Tigran the homeowner brought out the cold water hose to refill the barrels with which we refilled our various water bottles. We decided that he should be part of the festivities but everyone who tried got thoroughly hosed with very cold water. Armen, Melik and Hagop stayed a bit off to the side. So we began to include them and they reciprocated.

Then Melik went into full swing with a large clean oilpan which thoroughly doused his victims. Several of us made a plan and one by one made sure we got each of them relatively well. Even Armen's son Aram who had joined our team last year was there. He tried to sneak off and hide when he saw us coming. Gohar and I planned a sneak attack pretending to try to sneak up on someone else. We walked down both sides of the bus where we could see Aram in the mirrors returning to watch the action. Once he had passed the side of the bus that Gohar was on and we between the bus and the house, I came around the outside and she turned towards him and there was no escape!

At this point we were all thoroughly soaked, except Armen's second son who was the film maker of the whole event. I can't wait to see it unfold on the big screen!


We got back to work passing large rockes and buckets of smaller rocks until coffee break. The KPMG team had to leave us at 3pm. As it turned out we had pretty much finished the job we had to do so it was determined that we were done as well. Unfortunately for Melik we hadn't all dried off so he will have to deal with the aftermath of our wet dirty bodies messing up his pretty bus. LOL! It meant that we got home earlier than expected as well. No police involvement this time. Some of us even took the opportunity for a nap as we are still trying to get back into a normal bio rhythm for 8 time zones or more off kilter. That and a nice warm shower first.

We met a little bit early to walk to dinner which was a bit further away at a place called "the CLub". Appetizers were already laid out and water bottles scattered across the table. Unfortunately my first attempt was on a bottle of "gaseous Jermuk", as they refer to it. Not my favorite. So we requested that they exchange all the other gas waters for regular- (Unleaded, as some like to say)

One unusual appetiver was a variety cheese plate which had a few less salty than usual varieties. A nice change from the super salty and extra salty usual varieties. Or entres were Monti and Armenian pizza, but no tomato sauce on either variety. One was a delicious vegetable variety with some lovely spice combination. The other was a shredded chicken pizza with (we think) curry seasoning. Not a choice I would
request on a repeat trip. Some of us shared a nice bottle of wine and many spent a little time perusing the aisles of the little connected souvenir/craft shop.

After dinner, some made their way directly back to the hotel. I led the others on the scenic walk back pointing out interesting pit stops along the way. The last 4 of us decided it was way too early to go up to the rooms so we went to the Marriott for a drink and stayed out til about 1 am. Two were on a mission to run up the Cascades in the morning so they figured bed was due about then. By Susan Bosovich

First Day's orientation and 1/2 day of work

     The good news is that our 6 final team mates arrived safely with oly a 2 hour delay. which still gave them the opportunity to get a fair amount of rest before beginning the day. We met in the lobby of the Shirak Hotel where the previous team, led by Suzy Daghlian were also meeting to prepare for their final day's excursion.
      Side note- Suzy is our team leader, Leo's,  cousin. We had met on a visit Dan and I had made to New Jersey last year so we had a happy greeting for each other. They were going to the Holy city, Echmiadzin.
     Fuller Center had to rent a bus for us that day as our usual driver, Melik, was driving Suzy's team in the new, big bus and the old small bus was not big enough for our team of 16. We went to the office for our informational orientation about Fuller Center and the need in Armenia. The bus driver took the bus to go get a tire changed as there was an issue. By Susan Bosovich

     After watching a short film and learning about all the accomplishments of the Fuller Center around the world and in Armenia, each of our team members received a Fuller Center t-shirt and we set off for the first time to our job site in the remote village of Irind in the Aragotsn province.
     Driving in a rented van with a substitute driver, we made several u-turns in order to get ourselves out of downtown Yerevan and onto the main road towards Irind. The ride to Irind took us through the dramatic Armenian countryside. We drove by luxurious homes, typical Armenian country homes, and many half-built homes, most waiting decades to be completed. After asking for directions, we found the village of Irind; however, there was no sign. We asked the local villagers where the Haratounyan family resides and were directed to follow the road up the hill. We finally arrived at our job site and were greeted by our host family, Tigran and Salvi and two of their four children.

Tigran, the father with
1 of the twins

Gohar and Salvi the mother,
 with 1 of the twins



Papik, Tatik and the 3 year old twins,
Sarkis and Sason

     The house is nearly completed on the inside. All the walls are up in their 4 bedroom house, complete with a modern bathroom, fortunately for us. After a brief tour of the house, we set right to work on filling in what will be the front porch with rocks, which were in no short supply. The Armenian terrain is covered with rocks. Our team made a couple of lines and passed buckets of rocks; others used wheelbarrows to gather and haul the rocks to the porch.


Lunch (Jasharan) in their kitchen

     We took our first lunch break at 2pm since we got a late start. We feasted on bread and cheese, delicious beef-steak with thick sliced golden potatoes, and of course, sweet red tomatoes. We returned to work for another hour or so and then had a coffee break of Armenian surj and various local cakes. A few coffee cups were read and there were several predictions of dancing in the near future.


The bus ride back

     Our tired but envigorated team boarded the bus for the return to Yerevan. We came to a fork in the road, first went right, then decided to go left. Our driver found the main road and was very impatient to get home. He kept passing cars on the two-lane highway when, finally, he was pulled over by the police. After waiting 15 minutes in the hot van, our driver was given a fine, and we continued on our
return home to The Shirak Hotel.
     We all met up for dinner at the Color of Pomegranate. We were a large group of about  as were joined by the previous team headed by Suzanne Daghlian. We  enjoyed another delicious meal of Imam Bayaldi stuffed with meat. There was also roast chicken and fries. And of course, tomatoes and cucumbers. Desert was tea or armenian coffee with gata. We had alot of great conversation, some reconnecting with old friends and making new friends. A perfect end to the day.
Written by Alexis Lowe
    

Bari Galust Hayastan- Welcome to Armenia!

A few notes about the week prior to departure:
 Last week the apartment agency I was working with emailed me to say that the apartment I had reserved had had a problem. The "funnels" had blown and it smelled of "dumbness." I have no idea what "funnels" are to have blown, but I really don't want to have to smell "dumbness" for a month I am sure of that. (I think???) So after presenting me with downgraded second runner up they mentioned that instead of all utilities being included as per their previous agreement, now they were willing to pay only the first $100  . Excuse me?!?! I have no clue what expected costs should be to know if this would be reasonable or not. So I balked.
     And I checked with the agency I have used previously to see if they had any openings. Three choices weregiven to them. 2 in my price range, the 3rd being $10 more, but where I needed it and I needed an alternative badly! Of course it was the third that was still available. I explained a bit about my budget and they split the difference with me. Whew! Crisis averted.I think I will stick with Hyur Service every time I need them in Armenia!
     Monday evening after having dinner with my family I was reminded that I could check in for my flights. Delta was going to charge me $60 for two checked bags. Yikes! I was expecting only $50. What else could muck up the works?
 I went to check into Aeroflot to see if I coulod select my seats. I entered the confirmation number and got the message. "This reservation has been cancelled."  Back up there,,,,Try another confirmation number. "There is no destination city listed" WHAT?!?!? Where's my flight tomorrow to Armenia? I was panicking, tried calling my travel agent. Of course it was after hours, so I left a message trying not to sound to panicked, but unsuccessfully so. I continued looking for something else in my emails and everywhere. I finally found another on which worked and showed my itinerary. I printed out the boarding passes and as I was scruitinaizing them realized they were for someone else on a different day, month and destination. Good Grief! But I had the right itinerary and so I'd have to go on faith!
     Dan took me to the airport before going to workon Tuedsay, we said our goodbyes and I went off to check in. The good news is that even though I booked 2 separate flights they were connected and the Delta agent could check my luggage all the way through to Yerevan. YAY! finally some good news! And then the bomb shell....for $75 additional dollars. :-(((( Patiently he looked up my payment for $60 and played around on the computer a bit more while holding my credit card, when he finally said, "Actually I think we can do this for just $15 more." YES! There is a God! Payment made. No thinking of luggage until Yerevan. Knowing I've been there before without the arrival of luggage (and survived to tell about it) I figured I'd just double check in JFK to make sure they didn't pop up there for good measure.

Touchdown Armenia!
       I left Grand Rapids, Michigan on my first Delta flight to Cincinnati at 9am Tuesday. Left Cincinnati at12:45 to JFK and then switched over to Aeroflot for my 7pm flight to Moscow andticipating about 9 more hours over the pond through the night.
       I took an Ambien hoping for a decent amount of sleep before landing but was not very successful. A small catnap and dinner arrived about 9:30pm. A sufficient mixture of beef,veggies and mashed potatoes with a sida salad of sorts and bread, which I saved. Dessert was a rich chocolate mousse which I restrained myself from finishing. Another few catnaps and visits to the facilities later and it was breakfast time at about 2am. Talk about getting youn hours mixed up.
Breakfast was an omelet with bacon and a few tater tots, ham and shredded carrots and more bread and Oreos, which I saved.
      At this point I have changed my watch because Moscow time is the same at Yerevan. I arrived at 4:45 am my time-12:45 pm Moscow time. Next flight 6:20 to Yerevan-expected arrival 8:20. They have not changed to daylight savings.
So after arriving safely in Yerevan at 8:20pm, I discovered there was no one there to pick me up. But there was a Hyur service person there to pick someone else up. Possibly a ride but I checked in with Fuller Center first. They said to wait, my friend Melik, our driver was coming for me. So I stayed put.
     An hour later, when I was about as stressed out as I could get on such little sleep, he showed up. They thought my flight was arriving at 9:20pm. That's what happens when a country decides at the last minute not to go on daylight savings time.
 Communicating between he and the office put our expectaions for waiting anothe hour or so for the next round of team mates arriving at 10:10. Inner sigh of frustration.
     We carried my luggage to the car and then went back in, got me a cold water and looked at the arrivals board only to find out they were delayed until 11:45pm. I just about cried thinking of having to wait another 2 hours for the next group of people. Fortunately it was decided to take me back to get settled into the apartment which he helped me get squared away with the Hyur Service person.
     He then want after the next group of people, Peter Manuelian, Alexis Lowe and her son, Philip. They had been delayed 3 hours in the States only to have an overnight flight of 5 1/2 hours get them to London in time for their next flight which was only slightly delayed in comparison.
     Wednesday, Arriving from a visit to Prague were David Sayian and his niece and nephew,Rachel and David Talanian. Their flight from Prague due to arrive at 3:45 am had been flat out cancelled! Fortunately they were rerouted through Moscow and finally arrived at 2pm.
 Welcome to the concept of time in Armenia....Dare I say this is actually kind of normal? At least it fits the concept of time as seen here. Tomorrow we shall hear if our last arriving team mates arricve without fligt issues. Your guess is as good as mine.
     At least dinner together was pleasant. Appetizers consisted of the usual summer salad (Tomato and cucmbers) a greens mixed table salad and bread and cheese. Dinner was breaded chicken breasts and french fries- (their version of ketchup was rather spicy compared to the mini packets of heinz that Sona brought! Gotta love her!
  

Leo, Sona, Alexis, Philip, Peter,David T, David S, Rachel & Natalie for dinner at Marco Polo

  I hope to sleep well tonight as last night was full of foot and leg cramps from the long flight. Yawn! Goodnight!~

      

Preparing for Armenia in an unusual way

My parents, Alice and Jack Murphy

        I will admit that I am very fortunate! Maybe I'm a little bit of a masochist also. Who else plans a week long vacation immediately prior to departing the country for a month? Yup, that's me. 5 weeks away from home and family. Interstingly, the vacation was actually a decent preparation for the trip in many ways. I shall enlighten you.
       Traveling for example. My parents live approximately 12 hours away. We departed on a Friday after work and drove a little over 6 hours, stopping for the night outside of Pittsburgh. The next morning we got back on the road for another 6 1/2 hours. My flight to Armenia will take 2 days of travel, though many more hours to get there. My overnight stay will be spent over the Atlantic and propped upright unless I get REALLY lucky and have an empty seat beside me for a bit of room to stretch out.
       We arrived Saturday afternoon at my parents to discover that they had had a very bad storm the previous night with trees down all over the state and, of course, the power was out. Now maybe I should back up and explain that we had just finished a week of upper 80's to upper 90* temperatures and the next week was due to remain in the upper 90's and possibly top 100*. It was already 82* in the house and climbing at 2pm(about 16 hours after the power had gone out at 10pm) Armenia is often 95-105* temperature range so this should be great for acclimating, not so great for vacation!

My sister, Laura Goetz

       Fortunately my sister lives 2 hours away and though her house was small, she had power! So we packed my parents up and headed for Richmond. We grabbed a good portion of their food for dinner as she had cleaned the house out anticipating joining up at my folks. We enjoyed appetizers of shrimp cocktail and then a glut of chicken, salad and bread for dinner having prepared all the chicken we had found in the freezer as well as what they had originally thawed for dinner.
       That night we got word that the power wasn't expected to be back on for 2-3 more days. Soooo, Sunday we drove (2 hours each way) back to my parents and cleaned out both refrigertors dumping the dairy and other questionables and packing the rest to go to my sisters house. Yes, the house was hot but fortunately not unbearably. My dad packed a few extra things for he and my mom and we were out of there in under 2 hours with only a minimum lost.  So more travel, heat and work, just like in Armenia.
       We were about 15 minutes away from my sister's house when my Dad got the call that the power was back on. He had already checked into a hotel for that night so we continued on our way planning to return to the house on Monday after it had cooled down and the refrigerators were back up to cold. This night we feasted on big fat hamburgers instead of the smaller normal sized ones we were used to, and corn on the cob all brought back from my parents house. Yes, we eat VERY well in Armenia too!
       Monday we headed back to my parents house with all the food in tow and my sister on our heels to stay. Repacking the few items that remained fully frozen, we determined that it was going to be steak and lamb for dinner. LOTS of it! We settled in and checked everything out to make sure everything was on that should be and visa versa.
       Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday eveings we had power flickerings and wondered if we might lose power again but were fortunately  not to have. It was several days of stick picking up and grouping before the guys came to cut up the huge tree limb that had fallen. Lots of bending and such will help me be in better shape for the trip. :-)
     Fortunately, we were able to spend a little time by the pool thought the first day we were chased away by thunder. So I got some sun, got a bit more acclimated to the heat and a little opportunity to enjoy vacation before we packed up for a 12 hour trip straight home on Saturday.
       I am thoroughly ready for a long trip on Tuesday and the work that follows my arrival. I am actually excitedly looking forward to it! I hope that you will enjoy following our month long experience enough to decide that this would be a great vacation with a purpose for you to do next summer! It's not too early to start planning for 2 weeks of adventure in 2013!

Packing my bags, I'm ready to go

Luggage to be checked- packed and maxed out ay 50#'s. Another 50#'s in carry on and personal item(backpack) that I get to lug around the airport. And still I contemplate...what might I need that I have forgotten to pack?
I will be there for a month so I have packed with laundry services in mind and the end goal to leave an entire suitcase full of belongings to be donated.
So here's my list:
Workboots, flip flops, sandals and tennis shoes. (socks)
Workshirts, dress shirts (some will do double duty).
Shorts and "pants".
Skirts and dresses for dinner and sightseeing.
Work hats to keep the sun off my face- sunscreen and bug spray.
Pj's, robe, unmentionables, swimsuit for Lake Sevan.
Treats, supplemental foods to get me through breakfast at least my first day before I get to the store.
Work gloves, duct tape(in checked bag), paint rollers, and brushes
Gifts for my friends in Armenia.
First aid kit for the team, personal first aid items.
Bathroom kit plus my Qt ziplock wet bag for carry on.
Mini computer, iPod, speaker- cordage.
Team paperwork etc, reading material for the flight,Armenian  translation dictionary.
Vitamins, medicines, make up.
(Hipscarf to practice my  dancing during free time, and perhaps a little show for my friends.)
Photo printer, ink and photo pages- cordage, et.all, as we will create a scrapbook for our host family which I will be working with for the entire month.
Passport, eTicket(in 2 weeks), Cash because credit/debit doesn't go over so well there.


I feel like I am missing something. I may or may not be. It seems like I have an awful lot packed already. I know I will be able to buy certain things there, but still in my desire to be self sufficient I want to be prepared.

I am ready with 2+ weeks to departure. But being ready already now I have to wait. In my waiting will I try to add items to my already burgeoning bags, which will be a burden in the traveling? Each year I try to squeeze the maximum load into my suitcases only to arrive and have items I never wear/use the entire time. The good news is that I am leaving most of it in Armenia one way or another!

Getting ready/counting down

Ready, Set, Travel Count Down!

         30 days til I set foot on Armenian soil for my 7th trip to build houses. And. I. Can't. WAIT!
I started doing week long work trips with my kids through the church youth group. Then as those kids grew up one became a Peace Corps volunteer in Armenia. (Where???)
         Quick geography lesson led me to the Middle East until I was corrected. Armenia is considered Eastern Europe generally. I was ready to step out of my comfort zone into a country I'd never heard of until January of 2006. But I was game for a big adventure!

Temporary home for the last 15 years.

          6 months later I knew a few  Armenian  words       like "Shnorhakalutyun" , Thank you, and  "Vortegh e zukaran?", Where's the  bathroom. My bags  were packed, my camara ready and my expectations high. I was not disappointed!

A real home to move into!

Delicious foods, beautiful and varied countryside, welcoming people, satisfyingly hard work mixed with educational, but enjoyable cultural sightseeing; A very well rounded experience. Plus I made friends there that I really wanted to greet again on another visit.

           And so I went back in 2007, 08, 09, 10, and 11. This year, 2012 I will be there for 1 month, joining a team of friends and then leading my own team. I anticipate another satisfying combination of hard work, great laughter and fun, close friendships form and deepened, and heartfelt sadness to leave and return home again in the end. The exhilaration of the experience inspires repeat returns. That's when you become a recidivist- one who has a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior. Repeat visitor! 

        My team, the second 2 weeks, will consist of 10 dedicated, adventurous souls willing to step out of their comfort zone to give back by offering a hand up to others in need. We will work right alongside homeowners, relatives and community members helping to complete safe housing.


      Join our journey and discover the beauty, joy and hope that will be experienced. See relationships grow and consider how you can become a part of this adventure as a part of the future 2013 team.
                   
                     Your Future Team Leader, Susan Bosovich