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BITTERSWEET EXPECTATIONS
Hasmik Piliposyan
BY HASMIK PILIPOSYAN
"Landing in Armenia in five minutes," the pilot says. My heart almost
skips a beat as my face turns the color of a bright red tomato,
extremely nervous and excited that I am about to step foot on land
last embraced more than ten years ago. Armenia: the land I have
virtually held and caressed over and over in my mind. Land ancient and
historically rich, fragile and broken, yet alive and changing, slowly.
Land so breathtaking despite its horrific past and I finally get to
feel and behold its spectacular beauty.
These were my thoughts before landing.
I walk in Zvartnots airport with absolute joy and notice the large
"Welcome to Armenia" banner. My smile widens. I wait to be greeted
by the airport staff, although I am left hanging for a few minutes,
receiving nothing but cold stares that seem to shout, "Why are you
here?" I am immediately overwhelmed and discouraged by the gloomy
atmosphere and tell myself the only thing that will cure the bad
impression and nostalgia is if I see my family. I do not feel welcome
from all of the dirty looks and smirks from airport officials. I had
brushed off many complaints about disapproving stares from civilians
from past tourists because I believed there was a rational reason
for their sullen and sunken faces, and there is.
Often, some say the first impression - even though this was my
third time visiting after so long ago - is correct. One may think
that simply waiting on a greeting when walking into an airport is
not enough to bring a mood down or express a country's well being,
but the sorrow and restlessness in their eyes was proof. I knew what
they were thinking and feeling and I could not blame them. Still,
I was completely terrified. I came in with high expectations and
believed when I made contact with a fellow Armenian, I would feel a
sense of unity and warmth. I felt neither. I had grown so close to the
homeland as a diasporan Armenian with songs, pictures, history,and our
culture and traditions - I had never felt so far away. I went to sleep
that night with a heavy heart that bled for the future of our nation.
Despite the sudden anxiety, I gained more inspiration. I woke up
the very next morning to the most magnificent view of Mount Ararat
from Masis village in the Artashat province, a village about four
kilometers away from the Armenian-Turkish border where my maternal and
paternal family resides. The two snowy peaks spoke to me. They cried
out for peace and unity, something that in reality does not exist in
Armenia, something our nation needs to keep from falling apart. Not to
mention political corruption, it is clear that the Armenian government
does not provide- or does not feel the need to provide- its people,
especially its youth the encouragement and resources needed to bring
about change as future leaders of our nation. Competition and envy
is common among a majority of the Armenian people; there simply is
no solidarity and we, as a nation must work to obtain it.
While easier said than done and often heard, we can take a different
approach, a youthful advance. For instance, youth in Armenia and
the diaspora can become more involved in politics and join political
parties, work towards national projects that will both greatly benefit
Armenia and provide a sense of togetherness, and get our voices heard
with fresh new ideas that will bring hope, happiness, and a reason
to stay in our homeland. For now, we are merely left with the idea
of a unified homeland historically and domestically.
Carefully observing and speaking with some of the youth in villages
and cities, I've come to understand that many of them yearn for a way
out due to poor living conditions, not having enough money to sustain
themselves and their families and being unable to continue on with
their education. It is heartbreaking seeing ten year old children
sell corn on the highways to make a few bucks or the terrible sewage
system where people are likely to develop all kinds of diseases or
the competition among next door neighbors over who is more capable of
surviving for the week with enough food and money or the old and broken
buildings almost everywhere- the list is quite long. In the diaspora,
we picture a much different Armenia, a paradise we wish to return to,
one where we are united with Western Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk
and one where there is true happiness despite little resources and
opportunities. But, that is only because we do not live here.
Armenians in Armenia show very little patriotism but that is because
of injustice and poor living conditions. Many work their tails off
but still can't support themselves and their families making less
than $200 a month. They do not live the life of a tourist; they have
a reason to be angry.
The point here is not to get into too many details but understand that
our homeland needs assistance individually and collectively. And the
only way to assist our nation is through full-on youth involvement
in academia, politics, innovative advancement, and social interaction.
Youthful thinking and engagement will work to reshape our nation. In
reference to Garegin Njdeh, "If you wish to determine the future of
a nation, take a look at its youth". The bright ideas, strong will
and hard work of the Armenian youth, both diasporan and native,
is the best way for long-term success for our people and nation.
http://asbarez.com/111712/bittersweet-expectations/
Hasmik Piliposyan
BY HASMIK PILIPOSYAN
"Landing in Armenia in five minutes," the pilot says. My heart almost
skips a beat as my face turns the color of a bright red tomato,
extremely nervous and excited that I am about to step foot on land
last embraced more than ten years ago. Armenia: the land I have
virtually held and caressed over and over in my mind. Land ancient and
historically rich, fragile and broken, yet alive and changing, slowly.
Land so breathtaking despite its horrific past and I finally get to
feel and behold its spectacular beauty.
These were my thoughts before landing.
I walk in Zvartnots airport with absolute joy and notice the large
"Welcome to Armenia" banner. My smile widens. I wait to be greeted
by the airport staff, although I am left hanging for a few minutes,
receiving nothing but cold stares that seem to shout, "Why are you
here?" I am immediately overwhelmed and discouraged by the gloomy
atmosphere and tell myself the only thing that will cure the bad
impression and nostalgia is if I see my family. I do not feel welcome
from all of the dirty looks and smirks from airport officials. I had
brushed off many complaints about disapproving stares from civilians
from past tourists because I believed there was a rational reason
for their sullen and sunken faces, and there is.
Often, some say the first impression - even though this was my
third time visiting after so long ago - is correct. One may think
that simply waiting on a greeting when walking into an airport is
not enough to bring a mood down or express a country's well being,
but the sorrow and restlessness in their eyes was proof. I knew what
they were thinking and feeling and I could not blame them. Still,
I was completely terrified. I came in with high expectations and
believed when I made contact with a fellow Armenian, I would feel a
sense of unity and warmth. I felt neither. I had grown so close to the
homeland as a diasporan Armenian with songs, pictures, history,and our
culture and traditions - I had never felt so far away. I went to sleep
that night with a heavy heart that bled for the future of our nation.
Despite the sudden anxiety, I gained more inspiration. I woke up
the very next morning to the most magnificent view of Mount Ararat
from Masis village in the Artashat province, a village about four
kilometers away from the Armenian-Turkish border where my maternal and
paternal family resides. The two snowy peaks spoke to me. They cried
out for peace and unity, something that in reality does not exist in
Armenia, something our nation needs to keep from falling apart. Not to
mention political corruption, it is clear that the Armenian government
does not provide- or does not feel the need to provide- its people,
especially its youth the encouragement and resources needed to bring
about change as future leaders of our nation. Competition and envy
is common among a majority of the Armenian people; there simply is
no solidarity and we, as a nation must work to obtain it.
While easier said than done and often heard, we can take a different
approach, a youthful advance. For instance, youth in Armenia and
the diaspora can become more involved in politics and join political
parties, work towards national projects that will both greatly benefit
Armenia and provide a sense of togetherness, and get our voices heard
with fresh new ideas that will bring hope, happiness, and a reason
to stay in our homeland. For now, we are merely left with the idea
of a unified homeland historically and domestically.
Carefully observing and speaking with some of the youth in villages
and cities, I've come to understand that many of them yearn for a way
out due to poor living conditions, not having enough money to sustain
themselves and their families and being unable to continue on with
their education. It is heartbreaking seeing ten year old children
sell corn on the highways to make a few bucks or the terrible sewage
system where people are likely to develop all kinds of diseases or
the competition among next door neighbors over who is more capable of
surviving for the week with enough food and money or the old and broken
buildings almost everywhere- the list is quite long. In the diaspora,
we picture a much different Armenia, a paradise we wish to return to,
one where we are united with Western Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk
and one where there is true happiness despite little resources and
opportunities. But, that is only because we do not live here.
Armenians in Armenia show very little patriotism but that is because
of injustice and poor living conditions. Many work their tails off
but still can't support themselves and their families making less
than $200 a month. They do not live the life of a tourist; they have
a reason to be angry.
The point here is not to get into too many details but understand that
our homeland needs assistance individually and collectively. And the
only way to assist our nation is through full-on youth involvement
in academia, politics, innovative advancement, and social interaction.
Youthful thinking and engagement will work to reshape our nation. In
reference to Garegin Njdeh, "If you wish to determine the future of
a nation, take a look at its youth". The bright ideas, strong will
and hard work of the Armenian youth, both diasporan and native,
is the best way for long-term success for our people and nation.
http://asbarez.com/111712/bittersweet-expectations/