Good morning, good afternoon and good evening readers,

We got up quite late this morning. I think my body is still in UK time and 10:30 feels like 07:30. We tackled the bus on our own today and I can say I have mixed reviews. The first bus journey went without a hitch, flawless if you will. The second… not so much. We got off well past our stop and not because we refrained from saying the required “gangaram gagarnek”. We just had no idea where we were. Luckily, Amy checked her phone on Google Maps and it was only a twenty minute walk back on ourselves. We spent the day in the office researching about the Armenian Red Cross. It is quite amazing the amount that they contribute to the country. I feel very grateful to be a part of their projects.

At 16:00 we made our way into town and I started to feel slightly frustrated. We went into a beauty shop and this woman would not stop following us around. At one point we held eye contact with each other and neither of us would give in. At home, people are less obvious and security guards behave like clumsy detectives. However here shop assistants seem to just be like “yep I am following you”. This will take a while to get used to.

After this, we went to a coffee shop and had coffee boiled on sand?? This was the turning point of the day. I asked the waiter how to say a word in Armenian and what a conversation starter that was! He now wants to meet for coffee so that we can teach him English and he can teach us Armenian. He said has always dreamed of having English friends. I am still adjusting to the novelty English people seem to have out here.

The Number 27 Bus

After that, the Universe threw more kindness our way!

We got on the number 27 bus as instructed, however we had gotten on the wrong way. On the way a woman held our bags, as we were stood up. When we got to the other side of town the bus driver stared at us to say “this is the end guys, where are you going!?”. He could not speak English and I remember Gayane had written down our street name for us. BINGO! After a lot of hand waving a young man got on the bus who could speak English. DOUBLE BINGO! Then another woman translated our road name into English. TRIPLE BINGO! The young man spoke to Vahe on the phone in Armenian and then told the bus driver where we needed to go to. As we chatted with the young man he told me that he knew where the University of Essex was. What are the Odds!?!? Apparently, it is quite well known here. Big up Essex. When we found our stop, the bus driver’s friend (who also spoke no English) got off the bus with us. He walked us the twenty minute journey to our estate. Amy spoke to him in Russian and I was in awe. You go Glen Coco! When we got home he said “safe” to us in Russian, shook are hands and walked off. The kindness that we were shown throughout that journey was overwhelming and certainly lived up to the Armenian’s friendly and hospitable reputation. I will be sure to pass the kindness on.

In Kindness,
C x