Kvakk!

Perfect End of Mission: New volunteer room! :)

2007-06-17T15:34:00.000+04:00

Finally the Red Cross volunteers in Yerevan have their own room! Aprenk! The walls are painted, the floor fixed, and computers donated by HSBC bank are at line along the new desks. The furniture is funded by our activity budget from the Norwegian Red Cross (5400 NOK/900 USD).

This was celebrated with cakes and wine for both staff and volunteers in June. All the volunteers got free tickets to the cinema from the staff/delegates to let them know that we appreciate the good work they all do.

The room is across the hall of the Youth Departement and is open for all volunteers that want to use it. The room will benefit both the Bead group, Smiley Club group, Newsletter group, the English debaters and also for all kinds of recruitment, meetings and trainings for youth .

In addition to the English debates, Satik (to the right) now wants to start with French debates! She is also interested in voluneetring, and here Rita tells her about the programs she can participate in.

Finance-queen Lia donates her calculator to the Bead group! :) Apres!

The Bead volunteers have had the need of more practical space for the making and storage of the items, and finally they can sit around a table with a lot of shelfs and closets close by.

I only had a few working days in this room, but it feels good to know that the volunteers can have this room for a long time (4ever!), and this was a very good end on me and Kajas Youth Delegate mission, and a very good start for the contuniation of the important work that the Armenian youth does for the Red Cross.

Thanks a lot for the cooperation, dear fellow Red Cross volunteers! I will never forget you, and I wish you all the best! Shat merci,u shat aprek aziz jans... ;)

Children's Day in tha Wood!

2007-06-03T21:10:00.000+04:00

The Smiley Club Children that are getting social help from the Armenian Red Cross Youth were taken to the Botanical Garden on 1st of June. They had a wonderful time, and so did we! :)

We celebrated Children's Day with them by showing them games and making a barbecue for them. And giving them surprises: gifts and ice cream and sun glasses for the boys (left overs in a shop that we got for free).

Nice job with the kiddos, Kaja jan! :) Apres!

Kaja and her friend Liv cut the bread... :) Maladetz!

The kids also got a guided tour around the Botanical Garden. And me and Kaja showed them how we should get there. 2&2 holding hands! :)

Kaja handed out Armenian icecream!!

I gave handmade bracelets from the Beads for Needs Group with my fellow bead-friends. :) The kids were happy, but some of them wanted to change colour... And they could! :)

After a long day in the park, the children went back to the dormitory by bus while getting more presents: singlets! It felt good to see the children so happy for relatively little money and work. The day was supported by money from the Beads for Needs sale and fundings from the Federation (Norwegian Red Cross). Aprenk! :)

High lights fra venninne-visitten! :)

2007-06-03T17:20:00.000+04:00

Tusen takk for besoeket, kjaere Anne, Astrid og Guri!!

Det var stas aa faa besoek, og artig aa vaere med aa oppdage nye sider av Armenia og snedige folk som vaar kjaere sprudlende, snakkesalige sjaafoer! :)

Han (alias Oerna!) tok oss med til lake Sevan og Khor Virap, hvor vi kunne se rett over til Ararat i Tyrkia paa veldig kort avstand. (noen faa km). Astrid tok en "Kilkenna" med dette fine bilde som resultat:Artig at dere ville se saa mye av landet, og at Guri endelig fant det komplette dukke-settet av russiske presidenter paa markedet i Yerevan.

Guri fant seg ogsaa en bygning hvor hun gjerne ville bo...

Vi dro paa teater med Emma og Lia, vaare soete venninner fra Yerevan og saa et semi dukketeater om Don Quijote paa armensk!

Snille kompis Paul kjoerte oss til kirkesetet Echmiadzin. Nydelig gammel kirke med flotte malerier (tok ikke bilder inne...). Kan sammenlignes med Vatikanet, men ikke saa storflott av arkitektur... PS: Armenia er verdens foerste kristne stat. (301 AD.)

Etterpaa saa vi ruinene etter Zvartnots som en gang var en enorm kirke, over 40 meter hoy. Det sies at kirka (som lignet en kransekake :)) ble oedelagt av araberne og et enormt jordskjelv for over 1000 aar siden. (Hvem som kom foerst, jordskjelvet eller araberne, vites ikke helt sikkert...)
Skulle gjerne ligget mer paa latsida i ferien vaar, men glad det ble tur til Trivelige Tblisi og skjoenne Sevan (verdens nest mest hoytliggende innsjoe).

Trivelige Tbilisi!

2007-06-03T16:25:00.000+04:00

Drar du til Armenia, boer du ogsaa ta turen til Tbilisi i Georgia! Gamlebyen der er en vakker perle fra slitte sovjet-blokker og slitsom trafikk i Yerevan. Bare 5-6 timer unna! :) Anne koser seg i gresset med utsikt over hele byen.

Jeg har vaert der en gang foer, og viste lett fram de enkleste severdighetene i byen: hoyden over Gamlebyen, de tyrkiske badene, de gamle kirkene, de fine brosteinsbelagte gatene, elva, kafeene og den nydelige franske restauranten "Au sans souci":

Paa kvelden koste vi oss ute med vin&vannpipe og diskuterte religion paa en marokansk restaurant.Og en liten Cola paa kirkebakken! :)

Vi dro med minibuss tur/retur, og det gikk bra med turen, men returen var vaerre... Paa morningen vi skulle dra, moette vi synet av en minibuss med motorstopp det tok 1,5 time aa reparere. Sjaafoeren kjoerte som en gal paa de smale veiene (ble bedre etter at vi sa i fra...), og saa punkterte vi plutselig...

Kjipt, men ogsaa ganske komisk! :) Jeg var overraska over at det tok bare en time aa skifte dekk, og Guri, Astrid og Anne mente det beviste at jeg hadde vaert lenge i Armenia...

Hurra for 17. Mai i Yerevan!!

2007-05-19T11:36:00.000+04:00

17th of May in Yerevan was filled with Norwegian flags, a parade around the Cascades while singing the Norwegian Anthem, dinner and cakes with happy people from Norway and several other countries, Kransekake and games in the grass with Armenian kids participating. :)

The Norwegian Consul Tim Straight had a couple of speeches saying that during the 7 years he has been in Armenia, a lot of positive changes have happened, and he mentioned the Norwegian cooperation with Armenia among the reasons for these changes.

This was the biggest gathering of Norwegians that have ever happened in Armenia on the 17th of May (our Constitution Day); some 30 Norwegians participated (half of them guests/tourists) and it was very nice to share this day with people from Armenia and several other countries.

We walked in the first 17th of May Parade in Yerevan ever! Singing "Ja, vi elsker", "Norge i Roedt, Hvitt og Blaatt", "Vi ere en Nasjon vi med" and "Alle fugler smaa de er". :)

The "Bag Run" and the "Potatoe Run" was a sucess among the Armenian kids, and a lot of people gathered around this event.

(Jepp, I cheated... Sorry Fred! :))

My study friends Anne, Astrid and Guri came the night before and participated in the celebration, great! We walked the Cascade steps (500) to see the view of Yerevan in the evening, from where we can see the Ararat mountains in Turkey. At the bottom of the steps, we met Douglas from the US. He has been in Oslo, and brought his Dale sweat shirt. :) (Looks like a pic from a the Norewgian Magazine S&H...)

In the evening, Tim invited everybody to his place, with Kransekake from Norway!! Maladetz!

Beads for Needs in Yerevan shops!

2007-05-19T10:10:00.000+04:00

Beads for needs is expanding their sale in yet another shop in Yerevan.

During the winter, we started to cooperate with Tulip shop, owned by the Norwegian Consul Tim Straight (the tall man to the left). They have bought the goods they liked the most, and added 50 pst for their sale in the shop.

During February and March our jewellery sold for almost AMD 50 000 (some 140 US Dollars).

We will continue to sell our items from the Red Cross office, and in addition to the sale in Tulip shop, we have recently started to cooperate with a shop next door: Capriccio.

The Day After...

2007-05-15T20:56:00.001+04:00

It's 13th of May, the day after the parliamentary elections and Eurovision song contest. It’s the day of Gossiping! :)

Some friends and friends of friends and I are having a small gathering close to the Opera square in the afternoon. Two of the girls are almost sleeping, they were observing the elections and counting votes until almost 5 am. One of the girls, Anoush, says that the elections that she was observing went quietly and normal without any problems.

(Our friends Emma and Lia voted, and we waited for them outside the school.)

But Tamar is upset about the whole elections, e.g. because of the briberies she has heard about lately. She is telling us that the ones who voted for “Hanrapetakan”, the Republican party, could get AMD 15 000 (42 USD). This party was in power before the elections, and they also won these elections with a large margin.

From the restaurant, we could hear angry voices from the Freedom square near the Opera. The opposition parties and a lot of voters had showed up to show their anger against the elections and the Republican party.

In the country side, we have heard that people got food; flour etc for voting for certain parties. We have also heard that some parties “stole” votes and names if people did not show up, and that blank votes where filled in as a vote for a party…

Nevertheless, several observers say these elections were more free and fair than the previous ones. But that the road is long before they really can be called free and fair…

PS: Armenia became number 8 in the Euro vision song contest, congrats! The group also discussed the fact that Turkey gave Armenia 12 points. It is interesting since the two countries are “enemies”. So despite the fact that the group was upset about the elections, everybody was happy with the Eurovision Song contest!

PS: Kari (Kaja's mother), I hope you are happy with the nice girls and the tulips!

Congratulations, Red Cross!

2007-05-15T20:56:00.000+04:00

The International Red Cross Day in Armenia was celebrated with dancing mice, a beautiful Cinderella, a big cake and a bead exhibition/sale.

On 8th of May, Red Cross is celebrating all over the world, marking the founding of the humanitarian organization. In Yerevan, the Red Cross family (Armenian Red Cross Society, IFRC and ICRC) gathered in the hall of the RC Head Quarter with a lot of active and cute kids.

The Smiley Club children showed us a very charming and nice theatre play: Cinderella. Kaja and the volunteers have been working on the play for 3 months, and had made the costumes themselves. Aprek!
The Beads for Needs group presented their jewelry, and we sold items for AMD 20 000. (Almost 60 USD). And the next day some girls from the account department dropped by the youth department to buy a birthday gift for their friend, and bought items for AMD 4 000. Aprenk!
However, this day was foremost a day for the children from the dormitory, and they enjoyed eating a lot of cake! Look at those charming girls!

The Great Beads for Needs Girls! :)

2007-05-13T12:11:00.000+04:00

"My" adorable girls and I have been making a lot of jewelleries lately, especially for our exhibition and sale on the International Red Cross Day, 8th of May.

The Beads for Needs group has been excisting for more than half a year, and I am impressed by all the nice items the group has made.

Take a look at this cute necklace with brown pearls, for example!

Just a small amount of the money we have raised has been spent on the Smiley Club children; most of it has been spent on further investmens, and savings. But we plan to spend a large amount on Childrens Day, 1th of June so that the kids can have a lot of fun that day. (Picknic, cinema, amusement park etc...)

The hard core girls in the group are Metax, Gayanne, Nelly, Greta and me with a lot of help from Lia (staff, financial issues). The volunteers are all eager to continue with the fund raising-project after I have left, and that makes me very happy. :)

Most of the time we have had a lot of fun, and it is a good feeling to be creative together while supporting a good cause at the same time.

English Debates with the Red Cross

2007-05-07T21:23:00.000+04:00

1. It is easier to be a girl than a boy in Armenia
2. Girls should not work after marriage
3. It is wrong to have sex before marriage

4. Teenagers should not be given condoms

This statements have been the root of several interesting debates at the Red Cross Head Quarter in Yerevan. Since February, we have had English Debates for youth, mostly RC volunteers have showed up, but also some from "outside" the Red Cross Familiy.

I have had some of my most interesting moments during these debates, and in addition to the discussions and stories followed by, I really believe that we have improved the English level among the Armenian participants.

The debates are easy to arrange, does not cost any money and is very interesting! Can be held in all languages, of course! :)

Other suggestions for debates:

5. Armenia is a modern country
6. Boys should have the choice to say NO to the army
8. It is OK to use torture if it can lead to information that saves lives
11. It is wise to have several boy/girlfriends before getting married

12. Sometimes war is the best solution when people disagree

13. Armenian Diaspora visiting Armenia is a positive breath for the country

14. Hiv-positive persons should tell their classmates, friends and colleagues about their illness

15. The future is bright for young Armenians

Armenian Youth Issues in English

2007-05-07T21:06:00.000+04:00

Denne saken med flere finnes på norsk på Røde Kors Ungdom sine nettsider (klikk Dem inn på "Internasjonal ungdomsutveksling"):

www.rodekors.no/ungdom

Armenian Red Cross Youth have recently initiated English debates for youth in Yerevan. The aim is to improve their English skills, and to share opinions about love, relationships, work and war.

The debates are held at the Red Cross Headquarter every Thursday, and it is open for all young volunteers and other youngsters who know some English. The knowledge of English is generally very poor in Armenia, although the pupils learn English for 6-7 years in school.

At each debate, the participants can choose from some 10 statements, and then take a stand at one of the three corners on the floor: “Agree”, “Disagree” or “It depends”. They will all have the chance to give a speech for 2-3 minutes, and then everybody can share comments and ask questions to each other. After the debate, we sum up the opinions and correct some of the language mistakes.

During the first debates, we discussed whether women should work after marriage, and if it is wrong or not to have sex before marriage. In Armenia, it is expected that girls are virgins before they are married, while boys should have sexual experience.

Sargis Bashikyan (18), the only boy participating in this debate, argued that girls should wait until marriage because of the Armenian tradition called “The Red Apple”. According to the tradition, the parents of the groom visit the couple after their wedding night to see if there is blood on the bed sheets, and then they bring a red apple to the parents of the bride as a symbol of loss of virginity.

- Girls should not have sex before marriage, because they should save their body for the man they marry, says Metaqsya Yeghiazaryan (20).

She thinks that Armenian girls are more respected if they are virgins before they marry.

But Nelly Movsesyan (20) did not agree with Sargis and Mataqsya, and argued that boys and girls should decide themselves when they wanted to have sex.
- I think it would be good if the Armenian traditions could change a bit. It is better if girls also can have sex before marriage, especially if they are more than 25 years old before they marry. It is not healthy for their body if they do not have sexual relation before this age, Nelly thinks.

She also adds that the best case is if the sexual relation is with a person you love and later want to marry.

Remembering the Armenian Genocide

2007-04-26T12:14:00.000+04:00

24th of April is the Genocide Memorial Day in Armenia. We laid down flowers at the Memorial site to remember that hundreds of thousands of Armenians were persecuted and killed by Turks in 1915.
In one of the hills in Yerevan, there is a monument which has an Eternity Flame. On the circle around this flame thousands of people put flowers last Tuesday to show that they remember the Genocide of their ancestors. For Kaja and me it was very interesting to see how the Armenians mark the Memorial Day, and we went there with our two Armenian friends Emma and Lia who told us about the site and the history. The weather was horrible: snowing and raining the whole day. Nevertheless, people kept coming from morning to night. From the speakers on the long way to the Memorial site, we could hear mourning music, and several TV-companies broadcasted the ceremony during the day.
In the afternoon, we visited our Norwegian friends Kirsten and Tom and their daughter Ragnhild Helen. They served us coffee and Norwegian waffles with brown cheese. Just what we needed after the cold day! :)

Spring in Yerevan!?!

2007-04-26T11:20:00.000+04:00

The weather in Yerevan has been very strange lately. In the middle of April we had some 20 degrees, however, some days later it snowed!

During one of the sunny days, the girls from the office met in Cascade and had a nice lunch with Lusine, one of the Armenian youth delegates in Norway. (With the big bag to the left..) She works for the Norwegian Red Cross in Arendal for the time beeing, but is now spending two weeks of holiday in her home country. She came on a surprise-visit, which made many people happy!

It is green in Armenian now, and the Apricot trees are very beautiful with their white flowers. (The first picture). When it is warm enough, we often sit out, having dinner with our friends. Shat nice!!!I hope we will have more sunny days in Cascade and the restaurants near the Opera. Inchallah!!

Basketball tournament against hiv

2007-04-14T14:52:00.000+04:00

- The tournament is a mix of info and fun, says the youth leader in Tavush, David Asilbekyan (21). Together with the local Red Cross Youth he has initiated a basketball tournament against hiv/aids for pupils in Ijevan.

Five schools were participating with their own boy team from 8th and 9th grade. During two days they played against each other with classmates and teachers as eager audience. On the walls were big posters with information about hiv-transmission and transmission numbers. There where hundreds of leaflets about condoms, hiv and aids on a table outside.

In an old sports hall without tribunes there where little space, and both trainers and pupils were screaming and cheering for their school teams. The boys from school number 3 impressed from the very beginning, and beat school number 1 with 14 points versus 0.
Before the finals, 14 year old Artsrun Shahinyan from school number 3 thought his team would win the whole tournament. And he was right! His team won all their games, and got sweatshirts from the Armenian Red Cross as prizes.

- I think it was interesting and fun to play against other school teams, and I want to thank the ones who organized this tournament, says Artsrun.

This tournament is also about hiv-awareness, and Artsrun knows that aids is a deadly illness. He also knows that condoms protects against hiv.
Artsons thanks goes to among others David Asilbekyan who is the youth leader in Tavush. He invited all the schools in Ijevan, and all the gym teachers said yes. He is satisfied with the fact that all teams showed up, and says it is the first time that they have arranged such a tournament

- This tournament against hiv is a new way to inform people about hiv, and I hope they read the posters and take leaflets home, says David. – And of course I hope the pupils are having fun!

David goes to Norway as youth delegate this summer, and he would like to initiate a similar tournament there.

The Churches of Gosh

2007-04-14T14:05:00.000+04:00

During our stay in Dilijan for the hiv-seminars, we also visited the Nor Getik Monastery close by: Goshavank.

It is a beautiful monastery consisting of 5 churches. Fact line from my Garden-city Ijevan guide:

"Mkhitar Gosh, one of the foremost Armenian intellectuals from the Middle Ages, founded the Nor Getik Monastery in 1188. At first he had a wooden church built, which was named St. Gregory and was ceremonially anointed."

Our guide told us that the most beautiful cross stone in all Armenia is situated at Goshavank. I have only seen a few hundred (!), but I can imagine that she is right...

After his death, one of his disciples, Priest Martoros constructed new buildings including a library. He initiated the monastery as it is today. Gosh was burried on a hill close to Goshavank, with a beautiful view!

Those interested in reliogion, history and architecture are recommended a trip to Armenia!

Hiv-info for more nurse students

2007-04-14T13:32:00.000+04:00

The local Red Cross in Ijevan and I also held a seminar for the nurse students in Dilijan, the neighbouring little town of Ijevan.

It went well; the students did well on the quiz and were quite active in the discussion about sex before marriage, transmission and stigma.

But the answers where quite the same as I have heard several times before in Armenia: girls should wait until marriage before they have sex, but boys on the other hand should have some experience. This seem to be the overall opinion of both boys and girls in Armenia.

In these debates, I always say that from the Red Cross point of view, it is always up to each person, both boy and girl, to decide if and when they want to have sex. And when ready, it is of course important to use condoms if you are at risk of STIs and hiv! :)

While we where in Dilijan (35 km from Ijevan) we also held a mini seminar for the local volunteers in a class room. (The age gap was quite big, but even the eldest woman enjoyed the chair game!)

We hope that they will visit the local schools in Dilijan to spread more info about hiv and sexual health.

Sjaa snuten!!!

2007-04-14T13:11:00.000+04:00

What a cute puppy!!! This street puppy we fed with sour cream at the stairs outside our RC office in Ijevan.

That is why his snout is white... :)

Vet dere hva dette er?

2007-04-14T12:50:00.000+04:00

Har dere noen gang sett en saann dings foer?? Det er en russisk te-maskin!!

Jeg gikk nesten i fistel da jeg fikk se denne maskina hjemme hos en av de frivillige i Ijevan. Vi fikk foerst servert mange salater, erter, egg og kylling, deretter dessert med frukt, honning, sjokkis og TE fra den russiske maskina... Og jeg fikk helle oppi teen! Med bestemor og mor i huset som tilskuere.

Koselig kveld med piano, trekkspill og armensk gjestfrihet. Jeg fikk drikke fra dronning-koppen! :)

PS: en cola eller halvliter til den foerste som vet NAVNET paa denne russiske te-maskina... Send svar paa bloggen min! (comment). :)

We informed +250 pupils about hiv!

2007-04-14T12:26:00.000+04:00

During my one month stay in the small town Ijevan in the north east of Armenia, the local Red Cross Youth and I informed totally 17 classes in 5 schools. That makes at least 250 pupils! Maladets! :)

In addition to these school kids, we also informed several students in both Ijevan and the neighbouring little town, Dilijan.

House of Hospitality

2007-04-13T14:21:00.000+04:00

My Red Cross colleague Lusine lives with her father, mother and grandmother in a house with a big garden. They have invited me many times, and I got some interesting hours in this house full of food and warmness... And a taste of Russian history and culture!

I have had many meals and coffee cups there, and one day I brought a waffle iron from Norway! The whole family and our friends were very happy, and said it was tasty... :) They will now try to find a waffle iron in Yerevan...

Lusines grandmother is from Russia, and they speak Russian with her. I only know a few Russian words, so the communication was a bit difficult... but she understands Armenian, and with me she tried to speak Armenian. She knows all the words, but since she never speaks it, I could see that she struggled to find the words.

Lusines mother and Lusine and Hermine translated into Armenian, and when I did not understand, Lusines mother said the word in French. All in all it worked somehow, and I found out that the Babushka had been living in Armenia for 57 years (she "wrote" the number with her long fingernail on the kitchen table for me to "read"), she has been skiing in Siberia and living different places in Russia. She also told me a story from the 2. WW:

According to the Babushka, the Norwegian saved some Russian soldiers from the Germans, they where shipwrecked after their submarine was hit. If this was the story in reality I do not know, since there is a big risk of misunderstandings... But her point was that the Norwegians helped Russian soldiers during the war.

She also told me about Russian traditions during Eastern. They have this cake that is fresh for 40 days, and after the Lady Bird day (7th of April) they visit the church yard and put crumbles from the cake on the graves. They also leave eggs and cakes for the dead people to eat...
We also spent some nice hours under the sun on the balcony in front of the garden, which have to be very beautiful during summer! They grow wine grapes on the balcony, and herbs, fruits and berries in the garden.

Palm Sunday in the hills

2007-04-08T14:56:00.000+04:00

On Palm Sunday I went hiking with some friends in Tavush, an Armenian region on the border of Azerbaijan where I am working for the time being. Nice to get some fresh air and view!

David, Arman, Gugo and Sasha from the local Red Cross (volunteers) and Justin from the American Peace Corps were my hiking companions for the day, and our goal was to reach the little chapel on the top of one of the hills.

Very tiny, old church. We had a little picknik there, with Sashas dog! (Can you see her?!)

About 20 000 lives in Ijevan (I guess less since many people have left the last years...), and it is a very green place on earth.

It reminds me of the landscape of "Heartbeat". :)

But it is full of garbage, sadly... :(

And happy pigs!!

Norwegian KEF!

2007-04-03T15:03:00.000+04:00

Armenians love celebrations and party, KEF in Armenian... (or is it Russian?!). I had a Norwegian Kef last Friday with the Red Cross Youth volunteers in Ijevan. Main ingrediens: WAFFLES!!

We listened to some Norwegian music (Gitarkameratene, Grandiosa-sangen (ha,ha) and different pop singers.. Gaute! :)) and danced and ate a lot of vafler! Which they said was "shat hamova", very tasty!!

I borrowed the waffle iron from Harald and Ragnhild, my Norwegian friends in Yerevan. (Tusen takk!) Hermine helped me make them, she did well!!

The volunteers of Ijevan Red Cross are the happiest volunteers I have ever met... For this reason I made a toast for them, and they had several for me...

Some of the boys like to sing, and had a caraoke... I had a quiz about Armenia and Norway before they left (at 21.30), with Melkesjokolade as the prize for all my Red Cross friends! Maladietz! Aprenk!

Free condoms for the students!

2007-04-01T11:53:00.000+04:00

For the first time in Ijevan, the local Red Cross has offered free condoms for the students. We put more than 100 condoms on the table when we had a mini seminar at the Youth Centre in town, and they were all gone after the meeting. :)

Having an open meeting is not often happening in Ijevan, especially not for young people. We had put posters in the University and the few colleges in town, and also invited several students personally, but when the meeting was supposed to start at 15 o’clock, very few had showed up. Being on time is another challenge in Armenia… But instead of waiting and just hoping that more people would show up, we decided to try to recruit people from the classrooms and street.

Since the Youth Centre is located in the same building as the University, this task was fruitful. 40 minutes on “overtime” we could start the meeting with a bit more than 30 participants. I was hoping for some 10 more, but the participants were quite active, and gave positive response after the meeting, so it turned out good after all.

The RC volunteers and I had divided the responsibilities beforehand; Hermine said welcome, David talked about hiv/aids and STIs, Gorgen had the transmission game and the quiz, Lusine had the Agree-Disagree game (discussions about sex before marriage, hiv, condoms, prostitution and stigma).

And I was in charge of handing out the prizes: Norwegian Melkesjokolade and Norwegian condoms and buttons!!

We have the transmission game to illustrate how fast Chlamydia can be transmitted and that having unprotected sex concerns more people than just you and your partner. This is the core of the game:

All the participants get a pen and a piece of paper with the numbers 1, 2, and 3 on it. They are supposed to mingle with the rest of the participants and shake hands with three of them. Then they write down the names of the people they meet and get back to their seats. When every body was seated, Gorgen told that yesterday there was a big party with a lot of food, drinks, music and some unprotected sex…

The names on their papers were who they had sex with. One of the participants (Nareg) had a C on the back of the note, which illustrates that he had Chlamydia before coming to the party. He therefore had to rise and read the names on his list. They where transmitted with Chlamydia by him and they also had to rise. Then they read the names on their list, and they all had to rise and so it went on to all the participants were standing. All but one: Me. I had the note with zero on the back side, and I was supposed to mingle, but say “No thank you” when people wanted to shake my hand. And I never shoke their hands. I did this to illustrate that I did not have sex during the party, and I was therefore also not transmitted.

Two of the participants had an umbrella on their papers, they used protection. We congratulated them and told them that they did not have Chlamydia!! :)

Of course this game is a bit over the top (and more than that!), but it illustrates the importance of using condoms. Because if not, you and several others can have Chlamydia the next day!

As some 20 000 Norwegians get every year…

Hiv dissemination among nurse students

2007-04-01T11:37:00.000+04:00

In the same building as the local Red Cross in Ijevan, more than 30 students are studying to become nurses. They are the possible aids-patient care workers of tomorrow, and we have visited them a couple of times with activities and leaflets to update them and remind them about the important topic.

The students are from different villages nearby, and study in Ijevan for 10 months; basic course. They knew a lot about hiv/aids from before, but less about sexual transferred infections such as herpes, Chlamydia and gonorrhea. The leaflets and booklets we gave them about hiv/aids are important additions to their curriculum, and both the students and the teacher were very satisfied. :)
In addition to the transmission game and the chair game we often have in classrooms (which also was a “hit” among students and became a game where people where falling on their backs laughing…), we had a difficult quiz about hiv/aids, and a group activity about the disease. One group was supposed to write a list about how to avoid the disease, and the other group was writing down what hiv-positive persons should do to keep as healthy as possible.

I did not have a translator this time (David was busy), but the RC girls Hermine and Lusine understand a bit English and I can speak and understand a bit Armenian….

Lusine (orange cap) is also a nurse, and it seems like she knows a lot about hiv/aids and health in general. Hermine (red cap) works with dissemination in the RC, and is trained to give information about the RC.
I am happy to be able to cooperate with such nice girls!

Signature writing in school!

2007-03-24T17:02:00.000+04:00

During the last week we have been visiting 8 classes to tell about sexual health and to have awareness activities about hiv/aids. One of the high lights was when one of the classes wanted my signature on their new hiv-leaflets.

We visited some pupils from the 7th grade, but mostly those from the 8th and 9th grade. All the principals and teachers were positive and thankful for us coming, and we could have the activities and information just as we wanted it; great! But we never handed out condoms as we do in Norway, we only talked about it and asked them if they knew where they could buy them. Many boys said: “Apoteka”! :)

In addition to give some basic info about hiv/aids, Chlamydia, herpes, and gonorrhea, we had the activity “high risk, low risk, no risk” and if the classroom and chairs allowed us: the hiv-transmission chair game. One is without a chair, and will try to get one when those who have the name “mothers milk”, “blood” and “without condom” have to rise to get a new seat. I guess you all know this game, only the names are different…

We have this activity to have some fun with the pupils, and to make them remember the 3 ways of hiv-transmission: through blood, through breast milk and through unprotected sex.
Most of the classes were good to have the activities with, and some of them knew impressively much about hiv, and where very active. But as always: some of the boys are making a lot of noise, and many of the pupils are very quiet.

Some of the girls were giggeling, and it gave me some flash backs to when I was a little teenager; talking about sex and condoms can be embarrassing! :) (Look at these cute girls on the first row!)

But I hope in any case that they learned something new about sexual transferred infections and risk behavior, and that they will take care of their own and other people’s sexual health in the future. Because this is what it is all about…

A cup of fortune

2007-03-24T16:28:00.000+04:00

Our house owner Sosanna claims to have the gift of fortune telling from coffee cups. I have already visited her several times to drink coffee and to know about my future life…

After drinking a cup of strong Armenian Jazzve coffee, it is time to turn the cup up side down, and wait some minutes before my fortune can be read at the bottom and the sides of the cup.

In Armenian Sosanna tells me that she can see a white pigeon which means that I will have some good news. She sees a telephone; I will get a call. She sees a heart with a bird; someone wants to hug me. She sees the letter H, the first letter in a name of a girl of great importance to me. She sees roads; I will have some short journeys and some long ones. She sees the numbers 3 and 7; those are good numbers and will bring luck. She once saw a horse; strength and good luck; something good will happen.

All in all I have had some good fortune cups, and I apparently have a lot to look forward too. :)

Kaja said that she saw an axe in one of my cups once, but that was ignored by Sosanna, she only tells us the good things she sees…

I guess we will visit Sosanna more while we are in the village of Ijevan in Tavush region. It is a small town with some 20 000 inhabitants (maybe less…).

Here we are enjoying the sun in the garden of the local Red Cross with our new Red Cross friend Losine.

Rufus!

2007-03-24T16:08:00.000+04:00

Having a hangover on a Sunday afternoon in Yerevan is not that bad when you find someone looking shabbier than you feel yourself..

This is just one of hundreds of street dogs in Yervan. I think his name is Rufus!

Happy Paddy’s day!!

2007-03-21T19:53:00.000+04:00

Irish tap dance, Irish songs, Irish music, Irish food, Irish flag, Irish green hats, Guinness and Irish whiskey… these are the ingredients of a successful Paddy-day!! :)

17th of March Kaja and I celebrated the Irish national day in Yerevan, Marriott Hotel, with a lot of friends and unknown green people… Dancing, drinking, talking, laughing… especially when I danced with this old guy: We were all alone on the dance floor, and he was such a cutie! With a Shamrock sticker on his forehead… :)
The party was organized by parents and teachers from the QSI, International school in Yerevan. Our cool friend Ragnhild sat in the committee, and looked Gorgeous in Green!

Paul from Norway (half British...) also enjoyed the Paddy-day, boy can he dance! And shout! Aprek!!

Slante! (It is cheers in Irish, is it not??!!)

Culture shock in the region...

2007-03-17T17:47:00.000+04:00

Kaja and I have now been 1 week in Tavush region in the north of Armenia. We are going to stay here for a month to strengthen the youth organization outside the capital.

So far, we have met a lot of kind and open youth in the town of Ijevan who are eager to work with us and discuss with us (despite the fact that most of them do not speak English….). But only after a couple of hours with tea and chit chatting, mind you… Slowly, slowly, but firmly we have developed a couple of groups to cooperate with for the coming weeks.

During this first week, we dropped by several schools to ask if we could visit classes to inform and have activities about sexual health and hiv/aids. All the 4 schools were positive, and next week is full booked with some 8 class visits during 5 days. I am really looking forward to it! I had a mini seminar with some of the activities about the Active Choice program on Thursday, and I think the group liked it, and learned from it. We also plan to have a sport tournament against aids in the schools; that could be fun!

The region has a lot of trees, but they are not green yet, and the mountains and hills are covered by massive fog, typical for this rain season… hope to see the sun soon, cause it makes me a bit sad… But there are lots of funny pigs everywhere, also in the streets, and I will try to get some pictures of them…

Two Peace Corps volunteers also work in Ijevan: Justin works with computers, he wants to help handicapped children use computers, and Rud works with agriculture, trying to get funding to buy a green house in town. And he is also an excellent cook and story teller.

And as always, we have been at Armenian homes eating Armenian food and drinking Armenian wine… this time also with karaoke! With volunteer Sasha performing in Russian, accompanied with Sami people in the music video! (The first pic...)

PS: This week end we are in Yerevan, going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day tonight.

Happy Paddy’s day all of you!

Smil from Norway & Armenia!

2007-03-17T17:29:00.000+04:00

We hereby proudly present Lilit Melkonyan, the next youth delegate from Armenia going to Norway this fall!

She is 21 years old, an economy student at the University in Yerevan, also working on hiv/aids projects in the Youth Department. A nicer and kinder girl than Lilit is very hard to find, trust me!! She and David from Tavush region are going to Norway in September, but the place they are going to is not yet decided… Stay tune, all Norwegians!

Lilit and David participated in a basic training at Haraldvangen (north of Oslo) in February, and brought back lots of Norwegian chocolate from the Norwegian Red Cross. (Thanks, Monika!)

Cozy Cascades

2007-03-17T17:05:00.000+04:00

My favourite place in Yerevan is the steps of the Cascades.

The gigantic stair was build at the 50 year anniversary with Soviet Union, but they did not manage to finish it before Armenia became an independent country in 1991. However, the recent years investments have been done, and they are now trying to finish all the steps all the way to the top of the hill.

It is a great place to relax without all the traffic of Yerevan, and you get a panorama view of the city. If the weather is clear, you can also see Mount Ararat (big and small), now situated in Turkey. I often go there with friends, and of course I showed the steps to my father and sister when they where visiting me.

The altitude of the steps made the SMS work...

Book nerds!

2007-03-09T14:14:00.000+04:00

According to my guidebook about Armenia, you are a fool if you do not visit the Matenadaran book museum in Yerevan. I therefore decided to go there while my father and sister were visiting me.

The book museum contains several thousands of old books and manuscripts, mostly from Armenia, but also from Persia, China, Japan, and many European countries (given as gifts from the foreign governments). The oldest books where written on goat skin, and some of them where used twice. Many of the books are Gospels, Bibles and psalms, but there are also books about linguistic, science, math, music and medicine.

Galileo Galilei is known as the man who proved that the earth is round and not flat, but there was an Armenian writing these theories many hundred years before. He did not manage to prove it though… But his theories are now kept in the Matenadaran Book museum in Yerevan.

The Armenian alphabet is one of the oldest alphabets in the world, developed by Mestrop Mashtots, 401 AD. It then contained 36 letters, and the additional three letters (F, O, &) came more than 1000 years later.

I have noticed that very few Armenian words contain the letter F, and those who have, are often “modern” words, like “foto”, "faks", "kafe" and “forum”. France is called “Fransia” in Armenian, but I guess the country was not discovered by the Armenians in 401, and therefore no use of the name! :) Another thing that is interesting (because the Armenian language and letters are very interesting. Shat!) is that names with F are new names adopted from other countries, like Fillip, Fiona etc…

Our guide gave us a very interesting tour around the main room in the book museum and told us stories connected with many of the books and manuscripts. She also showed us the signature of Napoleon Bonaparte and Alexander the second. Fascinating!

If you ever go to Yerevan, you are a fool if you miss the Matenadaran… :)

The Barrel of Peace

2007-03-04T21:40:00.000+04:00

The Armenians are very proud of Ararat, both the mountain and the brandy. According to the Bible, Noah’s ark stranded on Mount Ararat, and according to the legend, "mankind first tasted wine when Patriarch Noah planted the first vine in the fertile Ararat valley… "

Brandy has been made in Armenia since 1887, and they use white grapes from Armenia and Karabakh. We got to see hundreds of barrels in the factory, but one of them is extra ordinary:

”The Barrel of Peace” contains brandy from 2001, and will be opened only when the conflict between Karabakh and Azerbaijan is over.

My dad and me wrote our names on the barrel and also the words:”Skål for peace” in the book next to the barrel. (“Skål” means ”cheers”, and in Armenian it is ”Kenats”!)

In a certain place of the storage, there were many barrels with name tags on them. These barrels contain brandy for different presidents and artists, and were given as gifts from the factory. My dad is hoping he will have his own barrel soon…. :)

Of course, we also got he chance to taste Armenian brandy: 3 years, 10 years, and 20 years. I have absolutely now clue about brandy, nor do I like it, but the youngest one was not that bad.

The company during our day at the factory was quite interesting: an Armenian from California with a beautiful lady and a group of American business men. The man sitting next to my dad was a Telemark enthusiast from Colorado, and they ended up discussing Telemark style and Sondre Nordheim...

Kenats!

Overnattingsbesøk hos Tatik Emma

2007-03-04T21:20:00.000+04:00

Sør i Armenia er det en gammel dame som kaller seg bestemoren min. Hun heter Emma og er oppi de 60. Vi besøkte henne en ettermiddag i februar, og fikk god tradisjonell armensk mat, vodka og ny oppredde senger.

Slektinger og naboer kom også på besøk for å treffe meg og familien min. De kan kanskje 5 engelske gloser tilsammen, og jeg fungerte litt som tolk. Armensken min er så klart veldig begrensa, men jeg merka at jeg kunne snakke mer med tatik Emma og co nå enn for et par måneder siden.

Den lokale trubadur-helten Krikor dukka også opp, og imponerte med å synge ”Bæ, bæ, lille lam” og ramse opp Øverlands:

”Det er en lykke i livet som ikke vendes til lede. Det at du gleder en annen,
det er den eneste glede.”

Han hadde lært "Bæ, bæ" av Neving, en av de første ungdomsdelegatene i Armenia, og diktet av Håvard Hovdhaugen, den gangen koordinator for delegatprogrammet.

Krikor ville at pappa også skulle lære han noe på norsk, og etter litt stev og div endte vi opp med å lære han ”Mikkel rev”, 2 vers. Krikor tok det imponerende kjapt, og repeterte minst 40 ganger før vi la oss. Neste morning kom han på besøk igjen, og da var Mikkel tilbake!

Små gleder; lykken i livet som ikke vendes til lede...

Armenia rundt med paps og søs!

2007-03-04T20:48:00.000+04:00

Storesøs Ingjerd og paps Tor var på besøk en liten uke i slutten av februar. Vi fikk med oss biltur på vinterføre med sommerdekk, våren i Yerevan, besøk hos bestemor Emma og Røde Kors Ungdom lokalt og sentralt, fest med de norske, konjakkmuseet og bokmuseet og en drøss kirker…

Mandagsmorning dro vi sørøstover for å se et par kirker på veien og besøke tatik Emma og Røde Kors Ungdom i regionen hvor jeg og Kaja jobba i desember.

Vi dro ut med to armenere, sjåfør og guide, og det gikk helt greit bortsett fra at ingen visste at det skulle være så mye snø på veiene! I det ene fjellet var det så mye snø (ved nesten 2 400 m.o.h.) at vi måtte snu og kjøre enn anna vei opp til Sevan sjøen. I en Lada med sommerdekk begrenser det seg noget hvor man kan dra, men armenerne er optimistiske til det motsatte er bevist!

På høyden i enden av en blindvei i Vayots Dzor region ligger Noravank med to nydelige steinkirker fra 12-1300-tallet.

Mens vi var der var vi så heldige å få med oss et armensk bryllup...

Let`s talk about aids!

2007-02-10T21:14:00.000+04:00

The Armenian Red Cross Youth leaders, and Emma and me had a 2 day seminar to improve our knowledge about hiv/aids and to be better in peer to peer education.

Doctor None gave us important info about hiv/aids, and new ideas and activities that can make us improve our approach in the schools. We watched hiv/aids TV-campaigns which was very interesting, tried some activities and discussed different approaches towards youth. One of the programs she works with is called "Let`s talk about aids". I think it sounds refreshingly direct! :)

Some facts:

World wide, some 40 million people have hiv/aids
More than 2 million of them are children
In Armenia it is estimated that more than 3 000 are hiv-positive
In Norway, the hiv-number is 2 500
Euro-asia is the continent where the hiv-number is increasing the most

We also had an hiv/aids quiz, and I scored 17 out of 17! (It was in Armenian, but I got it translated of course...)

One of the best activities we tried out, was an activity with 4 sheets of paper on the wall. We were divided into small groups of 3-4 participants, and we were told to fill out the sheets in turn with our ideas and opinions based on these 4 headlines:

1. Why do young people have sex?
2. What can you do instead of having sex?
3. What can be reasons for choosing not to have sex?
4. Why is it important to use condom?

After writing on the sheets, we discussed our opinions, and it was interesting to see how differently we answered. And also how different Latin letters are compared to Armenian letters... :)

New Newsletter!!

2007-02-10T20:53:00.000+04:00

Armenian Red Cross Youth proudly present our new edition of our Newsletter "RED CROSSroads".

The edition was printed in January, 500 copies, which are now beeing given to the regions, cafees, NGOs and students in Universities. The edition is mostly about Beads for needs, the Norwegian Youth delegates (Kaja and me!) and hiv/aids. Above, you can see some of the regional youth leaders finding the Newsletter very interesting... :)

Emma is enjoying the Newsletter while showing the newest fashion from the Beads for needs group: accesories for bags and purses!

Trip 2 Tbilisi

2007-02-10T20:10:00.000+04:00

During my Christmas holiday I visited Georgia for a little week with my dear Fouad from France. We had some wonderful days with his friends and discovered the interesting and beautiful city Tbilisi.

After 7 hours in a cold minibus we arrived the capital with the feeling of spring. + 4 celcius degrees in Tbilisi was a nice contrast to Yerevans - 13 degrees.... Another contrast to Yerevan is that Tbilisi still has an "Old town" with nice streets, restaurants and old castle ruins.

We visited several churches, some 10 maybe, and I almost felt as if I were on a Pilgrim journey... We also ate a lot of lavash (bread), shat hamova (very tasty)!

Tbilisi has a lot of natural warm sources in the underground, and we visited the Turkish bath a couple of evenings to enjoy the warm sulfat water, great!

Another nice experience was visiting the national theatre watching a ballet play for children. Many colourful and cute dances and costumes. And I rented some cool equipments...

Hiv-info in Armenian schools

2007-01-29T12:43:00.000+04:00

Some 70 pupils and students in Vayat Dzor region learned about hiv/aids from the Red Cross Youth during December.

Together with some of the local volunteers we visited schools in Yeghegnadzor, Vayk and Jermuk. I had meetings/seminar with the volunteers and we also visited the Medical college in Vayat Dzor region within the framework of "Bridges of friendship" (Active Choice/Aktivt valg i Norge).

We had activities/games and discussions about hiv/aids and STIs to raise more knowledge among youth. In addition to give information, our aim with the school visits are to make it easier to discuss sexual health and condoms and to prevent stigma against those who are hiv-positive.

These goals we try to achieve through activities such as the "High risk/low risk/now risk" activity. The participants have to make up their mind how risky it is to have sex without a condom, kiss an hiv-positive, drink of the same glass as an hiv-positive, get a tatoo, hiv-mother breast feeding her child, blood donation at a hospital in Armenia and so on. The participants have to stand on the "risk note" they feel is correct for them and give arguments for the choice.

We also had open question rounds, hiv X-word and we gave out leaflets about hiv/aids.

But I guess I scared some of the girls in Jermuk when I told them about STIs. I tried to give the information in a neutral way, but I guess the info about risk of sterility (Chlamydia and Gonoreha) and open sores (herpes) that can never be cured made a great impression on young girls...

Hopefully, the info they got from us can help them to take care of their sexual health in the future.

Bari 2007!!!

2007-01-23T19:43:00.000+04:00

I was lucky 2 spend my last day in 2006 with a charming Armenian family in Yerevan and our friend Fouad Achiba de la France.

Ingrediens: Armenian dishes, so many that you could not see the coulor of the table.... (Shat hamova!!) Armenian music, Armenian dances and other dances, Armenian wine, Russian vodka...presents...

I got a new pair of jeans and silvery bracelets from my dear Red Cross sisters Emma and Lia. They got a photo album from Kaja and me: a lot of pictures from our stay in Armenia with our new friends. They loved it!

At midnight we started eating, and of course we had many toasts. At 1 am we toasted for our friends in Mosow, and 2 hours later we drank for Norway and France. After all this we danced... shat fun!

We also danced with the cute teddy bears and the mice in the house... You can see one of them behind Emma...

Vi var paa TV....

2007-01-15T20:52:00.000+04:00

The youth channel Nor Alik in Yerevan invited us for a talk about Beads for needs and Norwegian youth exchange in December. It was fun being on air, all in all for almost an hour!!

Emma from the office and the leader of the Beads, Metax, told about the Bead project during the first half hour, starting at 10 am while me and Kaja waited in the producer room....

After a couple of music videoes and commercials it was our turn.... We talked about this and that, the Red Cross youth exchange program, what we liked and disliked in Armenia and so on... We talked a bit in Armenian, but mostly in English. Emma was the translator for the viewers...

And here comes the golden corn from Kaja: (gullkorn altsaa.....)

When the host Samuel asked if we could speak Armenian, Kaja wanted to answer "mi kitch" which means "a bit" in English. But what really came out of her mouth live on air was: "Mi BITCH"!!! :::))) Of course we laughed... And of course we will never let her forget it... ;)

105 000 AMD!!!!

2007-01-15T20:03:00.000+04:00

We sold Beads for needs-jewelleries for more than 100 000 AMD on our exhibition/sale in December. I have already given our inance-queen Lia a kiss.....

105 000 AMD is more than 1 800 NOK, a lot of money in Armenia!! But we had to pay taxes, some 25 pst, and of course the material and beads are not for free....

Some of the money we raised will be used for bus transportation for more than 30 kids from the dormitories when they are going to the Puppet theatre later this week!

We did not manage to sell all the items, but the Norwegian council, Mr Tim Straight, wants to cooperate with us, and we gave the left overs + some new items to his shop in Yerevan. Hopefully people will buy them there as well.... And we are planning a new sale, either for Valentines day or for Womens day! :) STAY TUNE for more beads!

Christmas party for tatiks and papiks

2007-01-15T19:29:00.000+04:00

Kaja and me celebrated our Christmas eve with almost 20 eldery and many Red Cross volunteers from Armenia. It was a Christmas eve we will remember for the rest of our lifes.

The group that Kaja initiated managed to collect 17 000 AMD from local shops and firms. It is almost 300 NOK, and the money we spent on sandwiches, fruits, candy, drinks and Christmas decorations.

The guests were elderly with little money, and many of them are refugees from Asjerbajdsjan. They really appreciated the event, and thanked us many times with both nice words and many hugs.

During the day we sang songs (among them the Christmas carol "Glade jul"), and we had a quiz about Norway and Hayastan which was very popular. Some of the elderly tried to convince the volunteers to give them the answers.... The winner team got pulse warmers which the knitting group had made.

Merry X-mas

2006-12-22T17:25:00.000+04:00

To our dear families, friends, collegues and neighbours:

We whish you a wonderful, peaceful and joyful christmas filled with a lot of love and laughter!

Best whishes from Rannveig & Kaja in Armenia

PS: The pictures are from Jermuk, a wonderful Armenian village 2 200 meter above sea level. All the snow made us christmas moody! :)

Good bye, bye, bye, tatik Emma!

2006-12-22T16:33:00.000+04:00

We have spent one month in Yeghegnadzor village sharing an appartment with tatik ("granny") Emma. Most of the days we had a lot of fun due to language problems, old facilities and a joyful old lady.

Yesterday, we put up the christmas tree and decorated the hall where we have spent most of the time when not in bed watching a DVD or sleeping... (Because the gas oven is situated in the hall...) We laughed a lot decorating each other and the fake silver christmas tree from Russia.

The bathroom with no hot water and the toilet without a flush has been a tiny little challenge for two Norwegian girls spoiled with modern facilities, but we have managed very well, I think.

We are glad that tatik Emma shared her house with us this month, and we will visit her again for sure next year! (She lives in the appartment with the blue plastic on the balkony.)

Then we will practice more armenian and english words with our tatik Emma. On Monday when we are going back to Yerevan, we will all say Emmas famous english fraze:

"Good bye, bye, bye!"

(Wich is often being used insted of good night...) :)

Beautiful Beads for needs SOLD

2006-12-19T19:29:00.000+04:00

Our Bead sale last Friday went pretty well. We managed to raise a lot of money thanks to beautiful jewleries and positive customers. The money will be spent on children living in dormitories in Yerevan.

Exactly how much money we raised, I do not know. But I will tell you when I do... (It is not yet counted...)

The evening started with some speeches from the Red Cross, me included. I said some of it in Armenian, and it went OK, I guess... I told a bit about the Smiley Club project which started some 4 years ago with the ideas of two Armenian delegates in Sogn and Fjordane, Norway.

The Smiley Club volunteers visit the children in the dormitories, help them with their homework and play with them. They also take them out to the theatre, amusement park, summer camp and events. With the money from the Bead sale on Friday, the Armenian Red Cross can arrange New Year events for even more children from the dormitory.

On one of the walls in the restaurant, we had a picture exhibition showing the Smiley Club project and the living condition in one of the dormitories. We put the pictures on the wall to increase knowledge about refugees in Yerevan and to show people what they support if they buy jewleries from us.

Some of our lovely Red Cross girls had a mini catwalk before the sale which was really cool. They showed some of the most beautiful jewleries, and tempted the guests to buy..

My favourite jewlery was this one, "the Planet jewlery". After the mini show, it was bougth by the Norwegian council, Tim Straight. I guess he has a pretty good taste... :)

Luxury in the region

2006-12-14T22:10:00.000+04:00

On the highest hill in Yeghegnadzor lives a wonderful couple from Canada.

They have been helping Armenins the last three years, and this week they shared some of their many stories and a lovely meal with Kaja and me.

Antoine, Armenian, and Sheila, originally from Scotland have a wonderful home in Armenia. The fireplace was amazeing, and we felt really warm for the first time in many weeks! Antoine have had projects on tree-planting, honey-export ans is a volunteer adviser. Sheila teaches English at the university in Yeghegnadzor, and support local handcraft such as sewing and wooden basket making.

They have lived in Egypt and travelled a lot. Interesting to hear their experience and advice. And they gave us excellent food, red wine and Armenian cognac. We brought Norwegian Melkesjokolade and Linie Akevit which they said was good! Skaal!

Antione shared a pomegranate (armenian: NORR) with us, and showed us the correct way of cutting it. It is a certain trick in order not to damage the berries and make a big mess at the table...

Inside, there are 365 berries in each fruit, one for each day...

It was some hours of luxury for both the body and mind for Kaja and me. Shat shnorhakalotion, Sheila jev Antione: Thank you very much!

Warming gifts

2006-12-14T21:42:00.000+04:00

A new knitting group in Yeghegnadzor Red Cross Youth is making gifts for Armenian refugees from Asjerbajdsjan. Next year, 20 of them will get a gift that really warms.

The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) gives 1 000 AMD for each present (some 2,5 $), and we have decided that we will buy knitting stuff for this money. We are now knitting scarfs, pulswarmers etc and will attach nice beads on them in the end.

The group now consists of 6-7 girls, and most of them knows how to knit. Our new leader Anoush even knitted her own sweater! Respect in the knitting world! I am teaching how to knit "right" and "wrong" (okey, I know that these words probably are not proper English words, but I guess you all understand...).

The office at the Red Cross is too cold for knitting (only 14 degrees....), so we use a room at the Vayat Dzor region Civil Center instead. We can use the room three times a week, and it is quite warm. It is not big but we do not need a lot of space, and I am glad that we can share their space.

On Sundays, we are planning to visit some of the elderly people (tatiknere jev papiknere: grandmothers and grandfathers) and knit with them. Hopefully, we will all enjoy it, and maybe they even can teach us some old Armenian patterns! :)

Local work in Armenian Red Cross

2006-12-14T15:26:00.000+04:00

We are helping the local Armenian Red Cross to be prepared for disasters!

Yeghegnadzor Red Cross Branch visit elderly people and have trainings in disaster management and first aid on a regular basis. Kaja and me are participating in their local projects to learn more about the Armenian Red Cross in general and also to help them with their everyday tasks. The group of helpers is a really great and proud team!

The volunteers from the disaster management group and first aiders from 3 regions had recently a training competition near the river in Yeghegnadzor. Once agian, I was a victim in a car accident and I also had some fake injuries. The volunteers took really good care of me, and it was a nice feeling to be taken such good care for of in the middle of nowhere...

Once a month, some of the volunteers visit elderly people who have little money to spend on food and personal hygiene and bring them two yellow bags. In the bags there are for instance macaroni, tea, beans, rice and soaps. The bags we packed in the office, 28 bags all in all.

The women were really glad to see us (they are all women...guess they live the longest in this country!), and all of them offered us coffee... Although they have very little food and money, they still wanted to share whatever they had with us. Really nice people!

Verdens AIDS-dag med politi-eskorte

2006-12-05T11:32:00.001+04:00

Rundt 80 unge gikk sammen i gatene i Yeghegnadzor paa Verdens AIDS-dag. Foran oss kjorte det lokale politiet for aa sikre oss fri vei gjennom hovedgatene.

Ikke vanlig kost at gatene blir sperra av for en stor menneske masse paa landsbygda i Armenia, saa vi fikk mange blikk fra folk paa gata og studentente glante fra skolevinduene. Vayat Dzor Civil center med Oxfam stilte ogsaa med plakater i paraden for aa vise at hiv-smitten maa stoppes. Naa!!!

Over 60 unge ble med paa aktivitetene paa Ungdomsenteret etter marsjen, og overraskende mange turte aa vaere med paa diskusjonene og de kom med mange spoersmaal om hiv og AIDS.

Halvveis i programmet hadde vi hiv-quiz, og 31 svarte riktig paa ALLE spoersmaalene! Det ble premiert med t-skjorter fra Armenia Roede Kors og kule Timeout-kondomer fra Norges Roede Kors. Stas!

Det er klart man blir stolt av aa vaere en aktiv Roede Korser paa en saann dag.....

Vi vil STOPPE hiv-smitten!

2006-11-30T13:20:00.000+04:00

Vi lager plakater paa armensk, engelsk og norsk for aa stoppe hiv. Vi er snart klare for Verdens AIDS-dag 1. desember.

Her legges den foerste bokstaven paa en banner der det skal staa: "Vi kjemper mot AIDS" paa armensk. Du tror kanskje dette er en U, men de av oss som har et trent armensk oye, ser at dette er en M! Vi skal bruke plakatene i paraden vaar rundt om i landsbyen i morra.

Vi hadde plakat-verkstedet vaart i denne gangen utafor det mikroskopiske ungdoms-rommet vaart, og gradene er 5 tilsammen. Vi gaar rundt i jakker og skjerf baade inne og ute i denne landsbyen, og har superundertoy innafor. Her har jeg tatt av meg jakka for bloggen min sin skyld. :)

Kaja sitter i poster/flygeblad-gruppa og lokker med live musikk og kaffe og te for aa faa folk til aa komme. Vi har hengt opp plakater paa skoler, sjapper og apoteker i hele byen.

Klokka 14 lokal tid starter vi hiv-paraden fra RK-bygget foer vi traver rundt i gatene med bannerene vaare foa aa vise at Roede Kors kjemper mot AIDS og for aa huke tak i flere folk.

Klokka 15 starter moetet vaart paa ungdomshuset med hiv-boller, musikk, te, kaffe, quiz og et par aktiviteter fra Active Choice-programmet. (high risk/low risk/now risk og agree/disagree i diskusjonsgrupper med roede og groenne ark.)

Artur er en av ungdomslederne i Vayat Dzor region, og er en ivrig Roede Kors-helt. Han er med i banner-gruppa, og foreslo aa ha en av plakatene paa norsk!! I fjor var han nemlig ungdomsdelegat i Kristiansand, og snakker gjerne norsk, med soete skarre-r-er. :)

Paa den norske plakaten staar det kort og godt " Verdens AIDS-dag".

Haaper dere alle er med aa paa a markere den i morgen ogsaa, herlig aa tenke paa at folk over hele verden er med paa markeringa!!

Og gjett ka!!! Vi skal dele ut kondomer!!! Hurra!!!

Fikk 144 kondomer tilsendt fra Yerevan i gaar, made in India. Testa dem paa en balsam-flaske i gaar, de virker sterke! Og holder til september 2009. Men vi skal nok klare aa bli kvitt dem fra RK-huset foer den tid!

Et rom med utsikt

2006-11-25T15:46:00.000+04:00

En nedoverbakke i asfalt med tusen teppebutikker omringet av enorme fjell. Vi er i landsbyen Yeghegnadzor soer i Armenia. Dette er utsikten fra soverommet vaart!

Her skal vi styrke ungdomsorganisasjonen i den lokale Roede Kors foreninga. Planen er aa drive hiv/AIDS-informasjon blant unge, strikke og kanskje aktivisere handikappede unge (kanskje noen av dem ogsaa vil strikke??).

I gaar starta vi forberedelsene til Verdens AIDS dag 1. desember sammen med ungdomslederen Mane. Vi har lyst til aa gaa i tog med bannere gjennom hovedgata ned til det nye Ungdomshuset hvor vi vil ha aktiviteter, diskusjoner, quiz, musikk, kaffe, te og hiv-boller (boller forma som hiv-sloyfer.)

De er glad i soetsaker i Armenia, her smaker jeg og Kaja paa den lokale baksten: fritert broed med krem.

Landsbygda er noko anna enn hovedstaden. Her ser vi mer fattigdom, mer natur og flere folk som er nysgjerrige paa oss. Byen har 12 000 folk, spredt rundt i sentrum og noen landsbyer rundt.

Vi har ikke internett paa RK-kontoret, men vi har en Internett klubb i sentrum som jeg naa sitter aa taster ivrig paa. Nettet er ikke til aa stole paa, men haaper jeg klarer aa publisere!

Arthur er nestleder for Roede Kors Ungdom i regionen, og er en av 2 i Roede Kors her som kan engelsk. Han kan faktisk litt norsk ogsaa, fordi han var ungdomsdelegat i Norge for et par aar siden. Med soerlandsk dialekt!

Her viser han oss et krigsminnemerke over byen, med en russisk tanks. (T18). Sogaen sier at tanksen ble brukt under 2. verdenskrig og plassert paa en hoyde i byen noen aar senere. Paa 90-tallet ble den paa nytt brukt i krigen i Ngorno Karabagh, foer den atter en gang ble plassert her. Vi faar haape den blir staaende!

Vi bor bak politihuset i sentrum, sammen med 64 aar gamle Emma. Hun kan et ord paa engelsk: goodbye, snakker i ett sett paa armensk og hoerer daarlig.. Bra kombinasjon!

Men hun er veldig hyggelig og disker opp med suppe og te. Hver kveld setter hun paa en video fra et armensk bryllup som vi hoeflig sitter aa ser paa...

Leiligheten i sovjet-blokka er ganske saa slitt og mangler baade dusj og varmt vann. Vi spyler ned doet med 2 boetter vann. Krana paa badet lekker, saa det staar alltid en liten boette med en stor boette over den lille i vasken. I badekaret og paa banken staar kjeler og boetter med og uten vann. Litt av et system. Men jeg gikk opp i boette-eksamen allerede paa onsdag, og fikk bestaatt! :) I morgen skal vi faa dusje hjemme hos den ene datteren hennes. Hurra!!

Fortsettelse foelger med bilder fra krypinnet vaart...

Strikking er STAS!

2006-11-16T13:34:00.000+04:00

Ny aktivitet på ungdomskontoret i Armenia Røde Kors: STRIKKING!

Jer i gang med å strikke en hals i beige, a la den jeg har på meg her som jeg lagde i Noreg. Har tenkt å feste på noen matchende paljetter og donere til perle-gruppa for salg. Vi venter fortsatt på få reise til regionen i sør (de sliter med å finne husrom til oss), og da er det både gøy og godt å ha noe matnyttig å pusle med imens.

"Mønsteret" er falsk patent/perlestrikk, and it goes like this:

1. pinne: 2 rett, 2 vrang, 2 r, 2 v osv ut pinnen (avslutter med 2 v), 2. pinne: 1 v, 2 r, 2 v, 2 r osv (avslutter med 1 v), 3. pinne som 1. pinne, 4. pinne som 2. pinne. (Fikk oppdatert oppskrift av mamma på msn i går...)

64 masker per runde. En fin karusell av rett og vrang og masker på en snor. Vips! Så er en hals straks klar. Og den kan også brukes som alternativ til hijab for de som måtte ønske det:

Oi, GLADNYTT: Vi får lov til å selge smykkene våre på "The Club" down town. En nydelig kafe/bar/restaurant nede i en kjeller med vegger full av stein og stearinlys. Vi skal stille ut bilder av et dormitory i Yerevan med barna som er med i Smiley Club ("leksehjelp" med frivillige fra Armenia Røde Kors) for å vise hva folk støtter NÅR de kjøper smykker av oss.

Skal vise dere skattekammeret vårt når mer er laget. De frivillige lager nydelige smykker, tro meg!

Z-kjendis!

2006-11-10T14:38:00.000+04:00

Jeg er i et armensk moteblad!

Et mikroskopisk bilde av meg fra AIDS-konserten vår i oktober er nå å finne i Afisha som kommer ut 2 ganger i måneden. De skriver på russisk inni bladet, men det selges bare i Armenia. Dog, moro.

Kanskje hvis dere zoomer inn bildet under, så ser dere meg. Et av de minste bildene, ved siden av mannen med mikrofonen. Presidenten vår i Røde Kors. Damen helt til venstre i grå dress med et lite barn på skuldra er generalsekretæren vår. Godt selskap!

Nytt rom??!

2006-11-10T11:42:00.000+04:00

Perlegruppa har blitt ganske stor i det siste (hurra!!), og vi trenger vårt eget rom... Over gangen til ungdomskontoret vårt sitter en mann inne på et stort kontor, og noen ganger får vi dele med han.

Det er uvisst hvor lenge vi kan dele rommet med mannen (han jobber også med Fund Raising som vi gjør) eller om vi en gang i framtida kan overta rommet.

Selv om det er kaldt og slitt og gulvet ser ut som det såvidt har overlevd et lite jordskjelv, er det godt å ha et eget sted å perle i.

Vi perler så raskt vi bare kan for å bli ferdige til utstillingen og basaren i midten av desember. Her er noe av det vi har lagd i smykke-skuffa vår.

I tillegg til å selge smykkene med info-lapper om hiv/AIDS og flyktninger i Armenia, skal vi stille ut bilder av Smiley Club ("leksehjelp" på for barn) og bilder av hvordan de bor i dormitoryene. Vi vil vise folk hva de støtter hvis (les: når) de kjøper smykkene våre.

Vi har også svart/hvitt-bilder av hvordan hiv ikke smitter som er tatt av en Trondheims-fotograf for Norges Røde Kors i fjor. Bildene er veldig fine, og kanskje kan de bidra til mindre stigma og frykt for de som er hiv-positive i Armenia.

Håper det blir en bra utstilling og en fruktbar basar!

Perle-leder Metaks og jeg er i hvertfall snart klare til å samle inn penger på perlene våre og spre viktig informasjon i samme slengen. :)

Øvelse, øvelse!

2006-11-06T13:43:00.000+04:00

Disaster Management-gruppa i Armenia Røde Kors trengte ofre til treningsleiren i Stepanavan forrige helg. Kaja og jeg stilte såklart opp!

6 armenske regioner i nord var med i det som viste seg å være en miks av trening og konkurranse mellom Røde Kors-lokalforeningene.

Den ene øvelsen gikk ut på å redde ut meg og Kaja fra et bilvrak, og vi byttet på å ha skader som beinbrudd og hode/nakkeskade, delvis bevisstløs. Nivået blant deltakerne var veldig forskjellig, noen prøvde å bære ut nakkeskadde Kaja uten å stabilisere nakken først.

Disse gutta gjorde det mye bedre, derimot. De løftet opp hodet mitt, og festet en krage rundt nakken.

En annen øvelse gikk ut på å redde oss over en fiktiv elv ved hjelp av tau. Jeg hadde brukket foten min, Kaja hadde brukket arma, og vi lå og ropte "Oknetsek!" og "Tsavoma!" fra den andre siden. ("Hjelp oss! Det gjør vondt!")

"Dåånt wååry, my dear" fikk vi til svar da de endelig dukka opp fra den andre siden. Supersøtt!

Engelsken er så som så blant unge armenere, og det ble litt komisk da den ene skulle berolige oss med at det var "Nice to miss you". Vanskelig å holde markør-maska da.... :)

Vi ble kompiser med gjengen fra Kotayk-regionen (forøvrig navnet på et veldig godt øl), og de inviterte oss til flere måltid i teltet deres. Bra stemning i gutte-laget!

De diska opp med brød, te, kokt kjøtt, egg, ris... Armenerne er kjent for å være gjestfrie, og det fikk vi merke ved et lite telt også.

Den siste timen før vi dro, spiste vi middag sammen med regionslederen i Stepanavan, Armen. (Mannen med skjegg.) Han serverte det samme som da vi kom: vodka og pepsi.

Vi skålte for Røde Kors, Stepanavan og den døde redningshunden hans som visstnok hadde redda mer enn 10 menneskeliv.

Evakuering av skole 27 og 50

2006-11-03T11:23:00.000+04:00

I jordskjelvtrua Armenia får elevene jevnlig trening i å rømme fra skolen sin. Kaja og jeg var med Disaster Management-gruppa forrige helg for å evakuere to skoler.

Skole nummer 27 og nummer 50 fikk besøk av en gjeng Røde Korsere for å øve seg på å løpe fort ut i riktig retning når jordskjelv-alarmen går. Vi viste elever og lærere nødveiene og hjalp barna ut i skolegården der de stilte seg opp klassevis bak læreren sin. Etterpå var det telling av elever og stor applaus. Elevene ved begge skolene klarte nemlig å evakuere på drøye 2 minutter. Den ene skolen hadde hele 800 elever.

Et par av elevene sprang i feil retning (med vilje...) under evakueringa, og jeg forklarer hvordan jeg innhentet dem og fikk de på riktig spor på dette bildet.

Hvis/når det kommer et nytt jordskjelv i Armenia (knock on wood) kommer nok ikke Røde Kors til å rekke fram til evakueringa. Men det er godt å vite at de nå vet hva de skal gjøre; hvor de skal løpe for å minske kaoset og risikoen for å skade seg/miste livet.

Det var spennende å se hvordan Armenia Røde Kors jobber og å få delta, og det var også interessant å se hvordan skolene i Armenia ser ut.

Se gymsalen her for eksempel. Forteller ganske mye om hvor fattig landet er.

Beads for needs

2006-11-02T10:51:00.000+04:00

Vi lager smykker til inntekt for flyktningebarn og kampen mot AIDS. Vi er "Beads for needs".

Det begynte med en liten idé om å lage armbånd av perler som vi kunne feste til en info-lappe om hiv/AIDS og selge til inntekt for Røde Kors Ungdom-prosjekter. Alle jentene på kontoret, sjefen vår og generalsekretæren tente på ideen. Etter noen uker med perlejakt, prosjektbeskrivelser, møter, shopping og oppheng av postere er vi perlevis på vei!

I pyntelandet Armenia skulle det vise seg å være ganske stor interesse for å lage smykker: Til nå er vi rundt 10 jenter og en gutt. Vi lager både armbånd, smykker og øredobber. Av små og litt større perler. Tre og hardplast, runde, avlange og bittesmå. Fiskesnøre og sløyfebånd i sort, lyseblått, brunt og transparent. Har planer om å lage belter og hårbånd også. Jeg er imponert over hvor flink gruppa er til å lage armbånd og komme med innspill og hvor tålmodige de er til å putte på hundrevis av perler i løpet av en dag!

Vi møtes hver dag. Målet er en basar i desember kombinert med en bildeutstilling av hvordan vi lager smykkene og bilder fra dormitoriene i Yerevan. Rundt 100 barn får hjelp av Armenia Røde Kors Ungdom med lekser og lek. Nå kan vi kanskje hjelpe enda flere. Overskuddet vårt skal også gå til kampen mot AIDS, og vi kommer til å dele ut masse informasjon i desember.

Eks på info-lappe som vi vil feste til ett av smykkene: "3000 lever med hiv i Armenia. Takk for at du støtter kampen mot AIDS." Og: " Rundt 100 barn i dormitori får hjelp av Røde Kors Ungdom hver dag. Nå kan vi hjelpe dem enda mer. Takk for din støtte".

På armensk og engelsk. Forhåpentligvis kan vi selge smykkene ved ambassader, hoteller og noen armenske håndarbeidsbutikker. Vi satser på å skaffe en god del penger og spre masse info!

Uansett resultat, vi koser oss med å lage smykkene! Stor stas!

I want to ride my bicycle

2006-10-25T09:33:00.000+04:00

Det er bare en ting som sålangt har klart å skremme meg og provosere meg i Armenia. Jeg møter den hver dag, og håper jeg aldri blir vant til den, for da kan den ta meg.

Jeg snakker selvsagt om trafikken i Armenia.

På lørdag gikk jeg og Kaja i Yerevans gater sammen med CSI (Civil Society Institute, der vår venn Fouad nå jobber) for å vise bilistene at vi er sårbare som myke trafikanter.

Jeg så syklister i Yerevan for første gangen den dagen. Det finnes ingen sykkelsti i gatene, og overgangene er livsfarlige. Folk kjører på rødt, og den grønne mannen varer bare noen få sekunder før den forsvinner uten å blinke.

Vi ville vise bilistene og folk i gata at vi trenger å beskyttes bedre i trafikken.

Kanskje de ser oss neste gang vi skal over veien...

Purple pills

2006-10-23T16:22:00.000+04:00

Barev dzes! Vonc ek? Hima, yes lav em. Yes khmum em vartaguyn dexer.

Det måtte skje. Det var bare et spørsmål om sted og tid. Venner og familie hadde regnet med det, før eller siden. Og det skjedde forrige helg. Jeg ble magesyk!!

Jeg våknet opp natt til lørdag med diare, smerter i lår, kulde i kroppen. Lå søndag og mandag, gikk på jobb tirsdag. Gudene vet hvor jeg fikk energien til det fra, for alt jeg spiste forsvant.

Torsdag tok jeg til vett og dro til legen med sjefen min Katarina, kollega og venninne Emma (som kan engelsk litt bedre enn sjefen), og sjåføren vår Gevork. En hel liten delegasjon altså.

Vi kjørte til et sykehus litt utenfor byen, det var hovedsykehuset under Sovjet-tiden, og er nå et av de tre største. For et syn! Skulle gjerne lagt ut bilder hvis jeg hadde, men skal prøve å lage bilder i hodene deres i stedet:

På innsiden av et gigabygg i grå mur flerrer tapeten av mens jeg ser på den, taket og veggene har store sprekker mens gulvet er ruglete og skeivt. Kortvokste, lubne damer med rosa lepper tripper rundt i hvite forkle og spisse hatter. Kontorene deres ser ut som de er en del av en utstilling fra 60-tallet, pultene er mange og lave inne på små rom, og alt er brunt og slitt. Jeg tenker at her er det umulig å holde sysakene rene, og er om mulig en smule mer skeptisk enn før jeg dro.

Men legen jeg får tak i er faktisk veldig bra. Hun stiller masse relevante spørsmål, klemmer på magen og gir gode råd, både fra medisinsk og kjerring hold.

Diagnose: betennelse i tarmtottene. KVAKK! På grunn av noe jeg har spist. Bakterier.

Resultat: Maten ble ikke tatt opp, vekttap, tap av energi.

Remedy: rosa og oransje piller og kosttilskudd myntet på babyer. Russiske. Kjøpte dem på apotek rett etterpå, ingen resepter i dette landet. Aner ikke hva det er, ligner på godis, men de funker i alle fall. Hurra!!

I dag skal jeg trene veldig forsiktig på Marriot hotell hvor jeg og Kaja har blitt medlemmer i det siste. Trenger å bygge opp kroppen igjen. Skal spise med venner etterpå. Trenger å fores!

We fight against AIDS

2006-10-19T12:54:00.000+04:00

Frøken blå og frøken RØD fester AIDS-sløyfer til konsert-invitasjonene.

Se mer av forberedelsene og konserten i denne billed-karusellen.

Røde Kors Ungdom sendte ut flere hundre invitasjoner til NGO`er, regjeringa, venner, familie og studenter. Noen var på engelsk, men de fleste var naturligvis på armensk. Som denne. Sjekk bokstavene! Jeg har lært 12 av dem. Bare 27 igjen...

Jeg hadde et mini-seminar om hiv/AIDS noen dager før konserten for å øke kunnskapen hos de frivillige. Mange kunne mye fra før, det var godt å se!

Vi diskuterte risiko for å bli hiv-smitta ut i fra scenarioer som kyssing, blodoverføring ved et sykehus i Armenia, drikking fra samme glass som en hiv-positiv og sex uten kondom. På bildet står folk på en lappe som viser høy, lav eller ingen risiko. Ståstedet de har valgt, må de argmentere for etterpå!

Oppdaget også at det var ganske utfordrende å forklare "vaginal fluid", kjønnssekret, på engelsk. Vanskelig nok på norsk! Men det er altså en av fire væsker som hiv kan smitte igjennom. Tolken min oversatte til armensk, hun hadde litt av en utfordring hun også.

Kan du de 3 andre smitteveiene?

I så fall hadde du hatt gode sjanser til å vinne hiv-quizen vår. Vi hadde multiple choice på 3 spørsmål, og folk måtte svare på hvordan hiv kan smitte ut fra valgene: kyssing, dele tannbørste, dele toalett, blodoverføring, ubeskytta sex, amming, dele håndklær, dele sprøyter.

Vi spurte også om hvor mange som er hiv-smitta i hele verden, og hvor mange av dem som bor i Armenia.

Fasit: 40 millioner lever med hiv på verdensbasis. 3 000 av dem er her i Armenia. Og tallet er økende i landet, særlig blant unge menn som er ute og reiser. De kommer hjem med ekstra baggasje, desverre.

Kondom er den beste beskyttelsen mot hiv.

Jeg sa det på armensk!

2006-10-12T10:49:00.000+04:00

Armenia Røde Kors Ungdom arrangerte gratis AIDS-konsert 10. oktober og fikk med seg kjente armenske artister, dansere, 650 publikummere og mange lokale TV-stasjoner.

Og jeg hadde en mini-tale foran alle disse armenerne. På armensk.

(Som jeg vurderte å spise opp like før jeg skulle opp på scena for så å skylde på mr. Dog who ate my speech....)

Skrev den først på norsk, oversatte til armensk via engelsk ord for ord, og skrev den så om til bedre armensk med god hjelp fra Røde Korsere. Pugga teksten søndag, mandag og tirsdag. Klarte det nesten utenat, men brukte jukselapp på scenen. Hadde håpet på en applaus til slutt, men de klappet etter hver setning. (Og det skulle vise seg å være et veldig smart sjekke-triks...)

Vi hadde info-stand og quiz før konserten som jeg var med på å forberede og rigge opp. Spennende saker. Hiv/AIDS-kampen er universell, og jeg har god nytte av erfaringene fra Aktivt Valg i Trondheim samtidig som jeg plukker opp ideer herfra som jeg vil ta med meg hjem til Norge igjen. En vinn-vinn-situasjon. :)

På slutten av konserten danset nesten halve salen, armensk folkedans. Artig, artig. Jeg havnet mellom to unge menn på scena til slutt (ikke de på bildet), den ene spurte om telefonnummeret mitt, han andre sa "Ai låv jo". KVAKK!

Zero-zero

2006-10-11T15:47:00.000+04:00

7 499 menn og meg.

Et nesten riktig bilde av publikum-stallen på Yerevan stadion sist lørdag.

Armenia møtte Finland i håp om å kapre poeng for å få delta i EM i 2008. Men underholdingen var større på tribunen enn på den slitne gressmatta. Trommer, røykende menn med mage, rabis (armenernes svar på norske rånere) og smågutter som ropte om kapp med de store. Helt hallais.

Glad min nye venn Fouad er gutt, han var alibiet mitt for å se kampen på stadion.

Men jeg ble ganske paff og lettere irritert da vi skulle gjennom billett-sjekken. Jeg gikk først i køa med begge billettene våre som en vakt skulle rive av en bit av. Jeg hadde et godt tak i dem, men vakta nekta å gi dem fra seg, så jeg ga opp og tenkte at jaja, han kan jo bare beholde dem hvis han vil. Det ville han ikke. For det han gjorde nemlig, i patriarkatets navn, var å levere dem til Fouad like bak. meg. Billettene må passes på av menn, må skjønne.

Selve kampen var litt terning tre, selv jeg som har ganske lite peil kunne se at armenerne ikke var av ypperste fotball-sort.

Dog, kampen endte zero-zero, alle de 3 finske målene ble annulert.

Hayastan tok sitt første poeng i kampen om EM-billett. Utrolig nok.

The Office

2006-10-06T14:48:00.000+04:00

Så stort er kontoret mitt.

Men det er veldig koselig, og mange søte jenter jobber rundt meg sammen med en myndig og dyktig sjef, Katarina. Jeg har akkurat drukket en cola til 100 dram. Tilsvarer NOK 1, 75. Herlig billig.

Snart er det helg, og planen er å finne seg et bra sjakkbrett på lørdagsmarkedet og se Armenia spille mot Finland på kvelden. Bolle-fest hos Kaja og meg på søndag. Og vi har endelig funnet oss DVD-filmer på engelsk. (Johnny Depp dubba på russisk var dårlig deal for to norske jenter. )

God helg!

Anoush!

2006-10-06T09:34:00.000+04:00

Like utenfor Yerevan sentrum har Honik sitt eget lille feriested med hage der han dyrker roser, frukter og bær til vodka-produksjonen sin. Han er kompisen til Hrach og Andranik, og deler gjerne av sitt store overskudd.

Vi feirer nasjonaldagen med å spise grillet pølse, oster og frukt mens Honik og Andranik fyller glassene våre med vodka lagd på boysenbær og aprikos. Den sterkeste inneholder visstnok 63% etanol. Noe sterkt, selv for en nord-trønder... Fra det lille huset hører vi presidentens tale som han holdt tidligere på dagen, og fra sentrum smeller fyrverkeriene allerede. Vi trives med å være et godt stykke unna byen, og føler at vi er på ferie.

Den lille valpen til Honik sjarmerer stort, og logrer rundt. Han heter Sevo, sev betyr svart på armensk. Jeg klapper og koser, og Honik sier jeg kan få ta han med meg hjem til Norge. Jeg sier ja takk.

Andranik forteller en liten historie om en mann som prøvde å overbevise døden om at han måtte få leve lenger. Hrash oversetter, og legger til at det er vanlig å fortelle noe før vi skåler og drikker. "Gentatset", sier Andranik, og skåler for oss norske. Etter at glasset er tømt sier han "anoush". Og skjenker i mer, tomme glass er tydeligvis en uting... Vi er høflige, og takker ja i starten, men innser at vi må si nei takk før vi blir ustødige og usømmelige.

Etter et par timer, må jeg late vannet, men Honik har ikke noe do på feriestedet sitt. Jeg tisser under frukt-trærne i hagen, og forteller han at jeg tror vodkaen hans blir ekstra god neste år.

Bari tjanapar!

2006-10-04T12:39:00.000+04:00

En halvtime og noen høydemeter unna Yerevan, ligger det eldgamle stedet Garni. For over 2 000 år siden hvilte kongen seg her, i det gresk-inspirerte templet med utsikt over enorme grus-fjell og rosa blomster.

Vår nye venn Andranik og hans turkamerat og oversetter Hrach kjører oss til Garni og Geghard en ettermiddag i september for å vise oss fjell, stein og kriker. Tempelet Garni har 24 søyler, en for hver av døgnets timer, og 9 enorme trappetrinn, ett for hver av gudene. De er høye for at vi skal bøye oss i respekt.

Gjennom et gjerde like ved, får vi druer av to gamle kvinner som høster inn fruktene. De er som så mange av de andre armenerne vi har møtt til nå: rause med det lille de har.

Vi går en liten tur i fjellet med Andranik før Hrach kjører oss til kirkene i Geghard. En av dem er hakket ut fra et fjell, innenifra. Hrach fekter inne i fjell-kirka, og sier på kav gebrokken engelsk at de først gravde et lite hull på toppen av fjellet for så å hakke seg igjennom rom for rom. "And then they cut, cut, cut...!"

Det er ikke noe annet enn imponerende, når vi ser de store rommene med de fine utskjæringene. Noen har altre, og mange har tent små lys på bordene langs veggene.

Hullet arkitektene begynte fra, er nå lyskilden i kirka.

Det lyser opp et lite kor som kroner dagen vår med nydelig sang.

15

2006-09-26T10:15:00.000+04:00

21. september 1991. Armenia er ute av USSR.

15 år senere står jeg på Republican Sqaure i Yerevan sammen med ti-tusenvis av armenere. Vi ser 5 000 soldater i en parade-oppvisning de har øvd på i flere måneder. Soldatene er den beste tidelen fra den armenske hæren, og de har utkonkurrert mange gutter og menn som nå misunner dem.

President Robert Kocharyan skryter av landet sitt, hæren sin og takker folket for å være sterke og tilpassningsdyktige. Noen festtaler senere durer luftvåpenet over oss, både helikoptre og russiske MIG-fly. De etterlater seg fargestriper i rødt, blått og oransje.

Oransje for aprikos, blått for himmelen, rødt for blod.
Det armenske flagget.

Barev, Armenia!

2006-09-25T14:48:00.000+04:00

Etter 1 uke i Armenia, bortenfor Svartehavet, og vestenfor Turkmenistan, har jeg ennå ikke fått kultursjokk. Litt skuffende, for jeg har jo forberedt meg i 3 uker på at det skulle komme. Kanskje sjokket synker inn uten at jeg merker det...

Natt 1: Vi blir møtt av to Røde Korsere på flyplassen etter å ha betalt 30 dollar for 21 dagers visum: Julia fra Armenia Røde Kors Ungdom, og sjåføren vår, Gevork. Som de fleste armenere kan han ikke engelsk, og samtalen stopper etter at vi har hilst på armensk; barev dzez. Han kjører oss forbi et ti-talls casinoer inn til en by med hallais-trafikk, store statuer, og massive steinblokker. De fineste bygningene er ambassader, USA har den største.

Et drøyt kvarter senere er vi midt i sentrum, og vi skal bo like ved. Julia låser oss inn i en bakgård, og vi leter oss tre etasjer opp i stupmørket. Leiligheten er stor, kanskje 80 kvadrat. Store, brune tepper på gulv, gullbrune fløyelsgardiner, ditto sofa. Rommet som blir mitt har fin seng med tregavel og ok klesskap. Vindu ut mot gata. Badekar og vaskemaskin. Men intet vann i springen om natta, erfarer jeg litt for sent, og må legge meg med såpe på hendene.

Vi landa 2 på natta, norsk tid, og mister 3 timer nattesøvn i ny tidssone. Men jeg er for gira til å sove, må pakke ut først. Setter opp tingene mine i veggskapet. Oppdager TV i stua. 16 armenske kanaler, fire russiske og CNN.

Jeg tror det blir fine 9 mnd.

DumDum-stjerneskudd

2006-09-14T00:39:00.000+04:00

Før jeg stakk av fra trivelige Trøndelag og fantastiske Fosen, fikk jeg med meg et av favoritt-bandene mine på Trondheim torg. Prepple sang om slaven sin, tyven og solnedganger som ble spist som drops før Sola gikk ned og krona kvelden med fyrverkeri finere enn i 2000.

Kul kveld, kises!

DumDum Boys

Ragga-data

2006-09-14T00:24:00.000+04:00

13. september dro jeg på besøk til eks-favoritt-kollega Ragga for å spise omelett og google på nettet. 3 timer ut i kvelden har jeg plutselig min egen blogg, blant millioner av andres. Takk skal du ha Ragga.

Alltid artig å nerde på nettet med deg!

Send meg mail!

2006-09-14T00:06:00.000+04:00

Det er alltid stas med input. Send meg gjerne en mail når jeg er i Armenia.

Eller kom på besøk, så lager jeg vafler.

Snart i Armenia

2006-09-13T23:23:00.000+04:00

Halla. Jeg er i Oslo. På vei til Armenia på mandag. Et land med 3 millioner folk, høye fjell, sjakk-entusiaster og rester av Noas Ark.

Skal jobbe med det jeg brenner for aller mest akkurat nå: bekjempe hiv gjennom Røde Kors.