11 Aug, 2016

Top 7 Reasons to do Birthright Armenia

Lorig Pirinjian

San Rafael, California

1. Improve your Armenian skills. Whether you want to brush up on your reading and writing or you just want to learn the ins and outs of spoken Eastern Armenian, Birthright Armenia will give you the tools necessary to speak Armenian like a local.

2. Learn about your Armenian heritage and history. You can take dance lessons, watch Anoush opera, eat at a famous local eatery, or just visit an old Armenian monastery. Armenia is chalk full of history and the possibilities are endless.

3. Make real connections with Armenians from all over the world. Throughout my Birthright experience, I’ve met Armenians from all over the world, including Kuwait, Buenos Aires, and France.

4. Explore the opportunity to live with a host family. Host families are easily the highlight of most Birthright volunteers’ experience.

Me and my host mom at an Armenian dance performance.

5. Discover the chance to develop professional skills through internships. Birthright is super flexible about letting volunteers try out different internships and they really cater the experience toward each individual. The possibilities for professional development are endless.

6. Witness firsthand the magic of Armenia through weekend excursions around the country. Through the Birthright excursions I’ve gotten to go to Dilijan, Sardarapat, Tatev, Oshagan and many other places. It’s a great way to see the country.

Learning the art of Armenian carpet making at the Sardarapat museum.

7. Get out of your comfort zone. Birthright will give you the chance to do things you never thought you could do. Embrace it and enjoy the ride!