mary-go-round

spinning stories from peace corps armenia

all blog posts

  • PC armenia watchlist

    Before coming to Armenia, I tried to learn as much about the country as possible. For me, the best way to learn about a place is through art that highlights it. Armenian cinema does…

  • gyumri has a face, yerevan has a soul

    Armenia is a nation of contradictions. East and West, ancient and developing, untamed and connected. For me, these contradictions can be understood in the differences between its two largest cities, Yerevan and Gyumri. Two…

  • stranger in an even stranger land

    Last week, I took a solo trip up to Georgia and realized what living in Armenia means to me. Traveling to other countries from Armenia is difficult. 72% of Armenia’s border is closed. 27…

  • xosum em hayeren – i speak armenian

    Six months ago I couldn’t speak Hayeren (Armenian). I remember touching down in Yerevan, seeing all the signs written in this new alphabet and thinking “I’m never going to learn this” The greatest thing…

  • the new normal

    Now that I’ve been in Armenia for just under six months, I’m starting to adjust to the new culture I live in. “Arten hay es Meri jan” is something that I hear more and…

  • blood and belonging: learning to dance in armenia

    Before I moved to Armenia, I never danced. I’ve always loved dance as an art form. If I could go back and change something in my past, I would have my parents force me…

  • kuzes kofe?

    “Կուզես կոֆե՞” This is a phrase I have heard everyday in Armenia. It means “will you drink coffee?” My answer is always yes. Incase you didn’t know, the world is divided into tea and…

  • introverts don’t exist in armenia

    All my life I’ve labeled myself as an introvert. I prefer peace and quiet. Being around people drains me. I draw myself up into my head and become comfortable there. For me, solitude is…

  • crazy march – Գիժ մարտ

    Armenians have a saying for March, Գիժ մարտ (“geejzh mart”) which means Crazy March. It relates to how the weather can be unpredictable in early spring. Since arriving here, I have seen sun, rain,…