mary-go-round

HELLO!

My name is Mary. I am a writer, a reader, and a Michigander from the Metro-Detroit area. After months of preparation, I am embarking on a two-year journey as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia, serving in the Youth in Development sector.

This blog is for my family, friends, coworkers, professors, future Peace Corps volunteers, and anyone who wants to keep up with me over the next 27 months. I will chronicle my experiences as I learn to speak Armenian, integrate into my new community, and work toward my service goals. The views and opinions shared on this blog are my own and do not reflect those of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.

ABOUT ARMENIA

Armenia is a landlocked country in the Caucasus region with over 3,000 years of history. Bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and Georgia, it sits on some of the oldest continuously inhabited land on Earth.

In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion. Ancient monasteries and churches dot its territory, tucked within a dramatic mountainous landscape. The Armenian language is one of the oldest on Earth, an isolate branch of the Indo-European family with a unique 39-letter alphabet.

Armenia’s political history is a story of survival and resilience. It has endured Roman, Persian, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, Ottoman, Russian Imperial, and Soviet rule. Parts of its history remain unacknowledged on the world stage, and territorial disputes continue to shape the political landscape and cultural identity of this nation.

The Peace Corps has been present in Armenia for over 30 years. Volunteers serve in the Education and Youth in Development sectors, teaching English and leading community development initiatives. All volunteers spend their first 10 weeks near the capital, Yerevan, for pre-service training before moving to their permanent site for 24 months of service.

WHAT I’ll BE DOING

Peace Corps Volunteers serve in one of five sectors: Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, or Youth in Development. I am a Youth in Development volunteer, and I will be working with young people ages 12–17.

Here’s what my work could look like:

• Mentoring and training youth on professional development and employability skills– both soft skills like leadership and communication, and hard skills like resume writing and interview preparation.
• Developing and facilitating camps, clubs (including English clubs), workshops, and other activities that support leadership, civic engagement, and service-learning.
• Organizing internships and networking opportunities that offer youth new skills and real-world experiences.
• Collaborating with local staff to design and improve events, trainings, and workshops that strengthen young leaders in my community.