Coffees, Friendships, and Fulfillment

What Was the Best Part?

Coming home from volunteering from Armenia 2 weeks ago, I was asked the same question repeatedly, what was your favorite part of your trip? After spending 2 ½ months volunteering in Armenia I would have thought there would have been a singular moment that stuck out to me, but I still have not been able to point out a singular thing that “made” my trip, whether it was the people I met at during my internship, my host family, or the great friends that I made. I think that’s the beauty of having been able to have the experience that Birthright offers, that everything you do sticks out and leaves and impact.

Being active in both the Armenian communities of Orange County and San Diego, the topic of being able make a difference as part of the diaspora always comes up, and the difference between being in Armenia vs not, which was always in the back of my mind. Coming to Armenia before as a tourist, and not having the opportunity to immerse myself into the daily lives of those that were always the target of numerous fundraisers and events, was something that I knew I wanted and needed to do. This was the motivation that brought me to Birthright Armenia as well as only hearing good things after having many friends and family that participated in the program.

Preparing to start my Birthright experience, I was not sure what to expect, whether there would be awkwardness with my host family or difficulty understanding each other with my background in Western Armenian, and how long it would take to get adjusted to my jobsite. But as soon as I arrived in Gyumri, I was welcomed by my host family like I had known them my whole life and welcomed to my jobsite with Nor Luyce as if I had been working there for years. Looking back, I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but whatever my expectations were, they were more than surpassed.

The most important thing that I learned from my Birthright experience was that your experience is what you make of it. Some of my fondest memories during my stay were having coffee with locals that I met on the street and trying all the different restaurants in Gyumri with my fellow birthrighters. If you are constantly open to trying and learning new things, meeting new people and hearing different perspectives then every moment of your stay will be memorable, not just one specific thing.