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DRIVING AND WAITING: TAXI SERVICE IN ARMENIA FEELS INFLUENCE OF SYRIAN ARMENIAN ARRIVALS
http://www.armenianow.com/society/features/49485/syrian_armenian_refugees_yerevan_taxi_service
FEATURES | 24.10.13 | 16:10
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
For two weeks Khose Teperjian, a jeweler in the recent times, is
mastering a new profession of a taxi driver in Yerevan.
"The best part in this job is the attitude of the clients. They are
very sympathetic. Many people would ask my phone number, as they say
they appreciate the service and want to keep in touch," says Khose.
Enlarge Photo Enlarge Photo
Khose, the 37-year-old Armenian from Syria, does not think such kind
attitude toward him is conditioned by his origin, but rather by his
own attitude to the clients and to the work.
Still, the common opinion in Yerevan is that Syrian Armenians are
very polite and respectable, they are qualified employees, no matter,
in which sector they are engaged.
Taxi drivers like Teperjian, neat and well-mannered, unfortunately have
become rare in Yerevan over the past years. The large number of taxi
services operating in Yerevan did not create a healthy competition,
instead, most of the taxi services offer dirty and defective cars,
untidy drivers, who are violating traffic rules, often smoking or
listening to loud music and reluctantly give back change.
Whether or not such situation is caused by objective reasons, given
the fact that drivers are socially unprotected, work overtime, without
proper agreements, many Yerevan citizens had an unpleasant experience
with boorish taxi drivers. Some remember with nostalgia the Soviet
times, when the sphere of taxi service was regulated by the state, the
drivers had to pass professional and medical exams, to get permission
for work, and all cars should have been examined before work.
"People ask me where I'm from, as soon as they get in the car,"
says Khose. "We speak of life in Syria, and here, in Armenia. Many
people demonstrate good will, often left tips. I used to hear that
local people are not very sympathetic to Syrian Armenians, but since
being in Armenia, I have never seen an attitude, other than kindness."
Khose and his wife Gayane escaped from Syria last March, a year
after they got married. Despite the war, the couple decided to have
a wedding party and a church ceremony.
"When we were delivering invitations to the wedding, we would add
"if you do not come, we will not be offended", 33-year-old Gayane
remembers now with smile.
Gayane and Khose met at a jewelry workshop, where they both worked
for 11 years; Khose was a jeweler, and Gayane was a manager.
"After getting married, we did not know either stay or leave. We had
our honeymoon without water and light, and the situation was only
worsening. After all, we decided to leave, because, it is a hard task
for newlyweds to make plans for the future in a time of war."
The family arrived to Yerevan and found a one room apartment for $150
on Komitas Street. Khose found work as a waiter in a cafe. The daily
fixed wage was $5, plus tips, the amount, barely was enough to cover
the rent and food expenses. Khose's friend advised him to work at
the taxi service, where daily profit can reach $15.
The Teperjian family is one of many Syrian families who have found
refuge in Armenia since the conflict in Syria started. According to
the Ministry of Diaspora, Armenia is now home to more than 10,000
Armenians from Syria.
Housing and employment are obstacles that still confront the new
arrivals; many leave because they can't find jobs.
Those who stay, gradually adapt to the new environment in the
historical motherland. The Western Armenian dialect, spoken by Syrian
Armenians, could be heard now in dozens of bistros, restaurants and
shops, opened mainly in Yerevan's center.
And more recently, the Syrian Armenians could be met among taxi
drivers.
In the taxi service Orange, where Khose works, seven drivers out of 19
are Armenians from Syria. According to Movses Shahnazaryan, the manager
of the taxi service, they are gladly cooperating with Syrian Armenians.
'All drivers in our office are decent and professional, no matter, if
they are locals or not," says Shahnazaryan. "Yet the Syrian Armenians
slightly differ. They are more disciplined and punctual. People often
call to our office to express their gratefulness for the service. "
Despite the job Khose found, and the good attitude the family meets
in Yerevan, the couple says they are undecided about their future
in Armenia. The suitcases in their home are still packed and they
regularly keep in touch with their relatives in Europe and United
States to consider the various options for the future.
"They are so many good things we found out about Armenia," says Khose.
"We feel here, like it is our home. But the money I earn now, is
neither enough to sustain a family, nor to provide a humble living. I
would like to work at my profession. So, time will tell us what to do."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianow.com/society/features/49485/syrian_armenian_refugees_yerevan_taxi_service
FEATURES | 24.10.13 | 16:10
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
For two weeks Khose Teperjian, a jeweler in the recent times, is
mastering a new profession of a taxi driver in Yerevan.
"The best part in this job is the attitude of the clients. They are
very sympathetic. Many people would ask my phone number, as they say
they appreciate the service and want to keep in touch," says Khose.
Enlarge Photo Enlarge Photo
Khose, the 37-year-old Armenian from Syria, does not think such kind
attitude toward him is conditioned by his origin, but rather by his
own attitude to the clients and to the work.
Still, the common opinion in Yerevan is that Syrian Armenians are
very polite and respectable, they are qualified employees, no matter,
in which sector they are engaged.
Taxi drivers like Teperjian, neat and well-mannered, unfortunately have
become rare in Yerevan over the past years. The large number of taxi
services operating in Yerevan did not create a healthy competition,
instead, most of the taxi services offer dirty and defective cars,
untidy drivers, who are violating traffic rules, often smoking or
listening to loud music and reluctantly give back change.
Whether or not such situation is caused by objective reasons, given
the fact that drivers are socially unprotected, work overtime, without
proper agreements, many Yerevan citizens had an unpleasant experience
with boorish taxi drivers. Some remember with nostalgia the Soviet
times, when the sphere of taxi service was regulated by the state, the
drivers had to pass professional and medical exams, to get permission
for work, and all cars should have been examined before work.
"People ask me where I'm from, as soon as they get in the car,"
says Khose. "We speak of life in Syria, and here, in Armenia. Many
people demonstrate good will, often left tips. I used to hear that
local people are not very sympathetic to Syrian Armenians, but since
being in Armenia, I have never seen an attitude, other than kindness."
Khose and his wife Gayane escaped from Syria last March, a year
after they got married. Despite the war, the couple decided to have
a wedding party and a church ceremony.
"When we were delivering invitations to the wedding, we would add
"if you do not come, we will not be offended", 33-year-old Gayane
remembers now with smile.
Gayane and Khose met at a jewelry workshop, where they both worked
for 11 years; Khose was a jeweler, and Gayane was a manager.
"After getting married, we did not know either stay or leave. We had
our honeymoon without water and light, and the situation was only
worsening. After all, we decided to leave, because, it is a hard task
for newlyweds to make plans for the future in a time of war."
The family arrived to Yerevan and found a one room apartment for $150
on Komitas Street. Khose found work as a waiter in a cafe. The daily
fixed wage was $5, plus tips, the amount, barely was enough to cover
the rent and food expenses. Khose's friend advised him to work at
the taxi service, where daily profit can reach $15.
The Teperjian family is one of many Syrian families who have found
refuge in Armenia since the conflict in Syria started. According to
the Ministry of Diaspora, Armenia is now home to more than 10,000
Armenians from Syria.
Housing and employment are obstacles that still confront the new
arrivals; many leave because they can't find jobs.
Those who stay, gradually adapt to the new environment in the
historical motherland. The Western Armenian dialect, spoken by Syrian
Armenians, could be heard now in dozens of bistros, restaurants and
shops, opened mainly in Yerevan's center.
And more recently, the Syrian Armenians could be met among taxi
drivers.
In the taxi service Orange, where Khose works, seven drivers out of 19
are Armenians from Syria. According to Movses Shahnazaryan, the manager
of the taxi service, they are gladly cooperating with Syrian Armenians.
'All drivers in our office are decent and professional, no matter, if
they are locals or not," says Shahnazaryan. "Yet the Syrian Armenians
slightly differ. They are more disciplined and punctual. People often
call to our office to express their gratefulness for the service. "
Despite the job Khose found, and the good attitude the family meets
in Yerevan, the couple says they are undecided about their future
in Armenia. The suitcases in their home are still packed and they
regularly keep in touch with their relatives in Europe and United
States to consider the various options for the future.
"They are so many good things we found out about Armenia," says Khose.
"We feel here, like it is our home. But the money I earn now, is
neither enough to sustain a family, nor to provide a humble living. I
would like to work at my profession. So, time will tell us what to do."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress