Things I think about during the day: pretending snow is sand, warm things, music, grad school apps, food, other random nonsense.
I guess I'll start with music because things just got interesting. Let me just say what song just popped up on Spotify: Monster Mash. Highly recommend the 1960's Nostalgia playlist, pretty great. I've been so indecisive lately with music, some of the new Indie-pop bands are really dope, just some of the songs are starting to sound the same -- feel indifferent about some of them. Everyone keeps talking about Adele though, that's cool, I guess. But Night Fever just popped up, so the BeeGees will have to do for now.
Anyway, Winter, yeah....winter. Yerevan is beautiful covered in fresh snow. If I think the snow is sand my feet get a little warmer, which helps most days. Speaking of weather: I went back to the Central Coast when I was back home in California, and I forgot what a little bit of rain can do to California. El Nino finally brought life back to the Central Valley. I had never seen so much green in years; so thankful for it. For those who don't know, California has been in a five-year drought (more like forever drought) , which sparked water-wars between the farmers and the local governments. Fun fact: a good amount of the agricultural sector is ran by Armenians.
Next song: Tragedy by the BeeGees.
Applications aren't fun, I'll leave it at that. I think all my friends, abroad and in the United States know that's been one of the only things on my mind. Anyways--
Next song: You Should Be Dancing, same artist. Too bad it's not Friday-- They always play the BeeGees later at night at my one of my favorite bars here in Yerevan (Melrose)
Mini-story time:
I had a mini "ah-ha" moment during the screening of the Woman in Gold, the one about Maria Altmann and her quest to retrieve the painting of her aunt, (the Woman in Gold), Gustav Klimt painting. Earlier this week, it was International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust and speaking of my graduate school apps and I guess genocide in general, definitely reminded me of a few different things.
One: There's a scene in the movie where Altmann's (played by Helen Mirren) young character is fleeing Austria and leaves her family and her dad switches from German to English. As Maria is about to flee Vienna and head to the US, her family embraces one last time.
Maria's Mom: You must live, Maria. You must move forward. There is no future here. Maria’s dad: And so, from now on, we speak in the language of your future. Maria’s dad on moving to Austria: We did everything to contribute and belong and we are proud of what we’ve done.
Maria’s dad: I ask you only one thing, remember us. Take us with you in your heart and learn to be happy again.
The last words spoken before Maria's family was taken by the Nazis. Definitely hit home in so many ways; I can't even begin to explain.
Next Song: Daft Punk, Instant Crush
Throughout the movie, Maria fears about going home to a country she considered home, but had so much fear about going back after everything that had happened. As she gains her confidence to go back and stroll the streets once again, she finds peace with herself. One of the men on the committee to approve her getting back her painting questions her as to why she won't leave it in Austria, a place where she once lived and considered home. Maria: I have to do what I can to keep these memories alive, because people forget—especially the young. Throughout the whole movie, Maria discusses the fact the painting is all she has left of her family. One painting. At the end of the movie, it shows Altmann at Ellis Island trying to speak English and all the new immigrants.
Two: For myself, this whole movie was so relevant to my own life. I can almost say every Armenian in Fresno is a descendant of a genocide survivor. My whole interest in human rights began after knowing what happened in Cambodia. I never knew about the Khmer Rouge, or the events which took place in Cambodia during the seventies. And of course, it ties me back to Armenian culture and our own Մեծ Եղեռն (Medz Yeghern, which means Great Crime) But yeah, the whole idea of escaping the past, but keeping the memories.
About a year ago, my tatik (grandma in Armenian) showed with me my great-grandfather's story. In 1972 I believe, he sat down one day and wrote his whole escape from Western Armenia, describing what he remembered during the journey. He describes every single moment of his escape and coming to America and this idea of survival, assimilation, and keeping the memory alive. Assimilation is a big thing and the desire to blend in.
Next song: Canon in D Major
Language is an important thing, it keeps culture alive in my opinion. Even if it is only a few words.I haven't been able to put all my energy towards learning Armenian until I finish writing/editing applications, but it will be better soon. Basically, the whole point of this story is it is important to keep these things alive and this whole idea of remembering where your roots are, where you came from. These things are important. Family is important, the good and bad.
Three: My family never passed down Hayaren due to the fact one spoke Armenian and one spoke Turkish, and the desire to assimilate. Difficult times happen throughout lifetimes, that's why we are all different. Some words are still spoken today, but hopefully I can pick up what was missed out on. But then again, that's why we are all so different, so we can learn from one another.
I guess I'll start with music because things just got interesting. Let me just say what song just popped up on Spotify: Monster Mash. Highly recommend the 1960's Nostalgia playlist, pretty great. I've been so indecisive lately with music, some of the new Indie-pop bands are really dope, just some of the songs are starting to sound the same -- feel indifferent about some of them. Everyone keeps talking about Adele though, that's cool, I guess. But Night Fever just popped up, so the BeeGees will have to do for now.
Anyway, Winter, yeah....winter. Yerevan is beautiful covered in fresh snow. If I think the snow is sand my feet get a little warmer, which helps most days. Speaking of weather: I went back to the Central Coast when I was back home in California, and I forgot what a little bit of rain can do to California. El Nino finally brought life back to the Central Valley. I had never seen so much green in years; so thankful for it. For those who don't know, California has been in a five-year drought (more like forever drought) , which sparked water-wars between the farmers and the local governments. Fun fact: a good amount of the agricultural sector is ran by Armenians.
Next song: Tragedy by the BeeGees.
Applications aren't fun, I'll leave it at that. I think all my friends, abroad and in the United States know that's been one of the only things on my mind. Anyways--
Next song: You Should Be Dancing, same artist. Too bad it's not Friday-- They always play the BeeGees later at night at my one of my favorite bars here in Yerevan (Melrose)
Mini-story time:
I had a mini "ah-ha" moment during the screening of the Woman in Gold, the one about Maria Altmann and her quest to retrieve the painting of her aunt, (the Woman in Gold), Gustav Klimt painting. Earlier this week, it was International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust and speaking of my graduate school apps and I guess genocide in general, definitely reminded me of a few different things.
One: There's a scene in the movie where Altmann's (played by Helen Mirren) young character is fleeing Austria and leaves her family and her dad switches from German to English. As Maria is about to flee Vienna and head to the US, her family embraces one last time.
Maria's Mom: You must live, Maria. You must move forward. There is no future here. Maria’s dad: And so, from now on, we speak in the language of your future. Maria’s dad on moving to Austria: We did everything to contribute and belong and we are proud of what we’ve done.
Maria’s dad: I ask you only one thing, remember us. Take us with you in your heart and learn to be happy again.
The last words spoken before Maria's family was taken by the Nazis. Definitely hit home in so many ways; I can't even begin to explain.
Next Song: Daft Punk, Instant Crush
Throughout the movie, Maria fears about going home to a country she considered home, but had so much fear about going back after everything that had happened. As she gains her confidence to go back and stroll the streets once again, she finds peace with herself. One of the men on the committee to approve her getting back her painting questions her as to why she won't leave it in Austria, a place where she once lived and considered home. Maria: I have to do what I can to keep these memories alive, because people forget—especially the young. Throughout the whole movie, Maria discusses the fact the painting is all she has left of her family. One painting. At the end of the movie, it shows Altmann at Ellis Island trying to speak English and all the new immigrants.
Two: For myself, this whole movie was so relevant to my own life. I can almost say every Armenian in Fresno is a descendant of a genocide survivor. My whole interest in human rights began after knowing what happened in Cambodia. I never knew about the Khmer Rouge, or the events which took place in Cambodia during the seventies. And of course, it ties me back to Armenian culture and our own Մեծ Եղեռն (Medz Yeghern, which means Great Crime) But yeah, the whole idea of escaping the past, but keeping the memories.
About a year ago, my tatik (grandma in Armenian) showed with me my great-grandfather's story. In 1972 I believe, he sat down one day and wrote his whole escape from Western Armenia, describing what he remembered during the journey. He describes every single moment of his escape and coming to America and this idea of survival, assimilation, and keeping the memory alive. Assimilation is a big thing and the desire to blend in.
Next song: Canon in D Major
Language is an important thing, it keeps culture alive in my opinion. Even if it is only a few words.I haven't been able to put all my energy towards learning Armenian until I finish writing/editing applications, but it will be better soon. Basically, the whole point of this story is it is important to keep these things alive and this whole idea of remembering where your roots are, where you came from. These things are important. Family is important, the good and bad.
Three: My family never passed down Hayaren due to the fact one spoke Armenian and one spoke Turkish, and the desire to assimilate. Difficult times happen throughout lifetimes, that's why we are all different. Some words are still spoken today, but hopefully I can pick up what was missed out on. But then again, that's why we are all so different, so we can learn from one another.
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