The things that make me happy and sad

by Maria Titizian

Published: Saturday November 10, 2007 in Living in Armenia

Northern Ray Boulevard: This past Sunday we took a stroll along Teryan Street, which cuts Northern Ray Boulevard, to get a first-hand look at all the buildings that make up this new neighborhood of downtown Yerevan. It has been under construction for the last several years. The architecture, the color, the glorious inlaid colorful stones on the walking paths were fantastic. I told my husband that 20 years from now, with some wear and tear and loving care, it would resemble a new Europe.

Sadly, whoever planned this new neighborhood forgot about the fact that there are things called grass and bushes and trees and flowers. You feel as though you are in a concrete bubble - yes there are colors of coral and pink and brown and yellow that adorn the facades of these buildings, but the color green is blaringly absent. Along one stretch of Northern Ray Boulevard that begins on Toumanian Street, where Guess and Ecco have opened their new stores, there was a half-hearted attempt to plant some trees in large, square concrete planters. Only four are living; the rest have withered and died. Hopefully we will learn from our mistakes.

Singing fountains in Republic Square: Stunning, beautiful, breathtaking; these are some of the words used to describe the newly constructed singing fountains in Republic Square. For weeks, every night when the sun would be setting, hundreds of Yerevantsis would gather around the fountains and watch the spectacular light-and-music show in awe. During the day, however, the square has been turned into one huge parking lot. Every possible square meter of free space is used to park the cars of government employees and others who work in the vicinity. Well, at least they took down the huge screen that had replaced Father Lenin. Now there are flowers planted in that spot. What will eventually be erected there is still up for wild discussions and disagreements. Hopefully it will be a symbol for all Armenians and not in honor of some popular figure or regime.

New roads, bridges, overpasses, underpasses: Fewer potholes to contend with; new traffic lights; new street lights; new bridges and overpasses and underpasses; and ultimately better flow of traffic. However what Yerevantsis have to contend with is un­believable, unimaginable congestion, traffic, complete paralysis of the city's transportation network. Hopefully I will be able to maintain my composure and sanity in the coming weeks and months until everything is completed, as promised by city of Yerevan officials. I hope that I will not allow myself to disintegrate into a mass of unspoken obscenities.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis' recent visit to Armenia: It's a good thing when important people come to Armenia. It makes us feel special. However, when they claim that Karabakh is a separatist regime, maybe they should read a little more about history, including their own. (See story on page A4.) When asked by a student at Yerevan State University if he could point to one British colony that didn't disintegrate into war or mayhem or complete collapse when the British were withdrawing, Terry Davis said he could think of probably one but wouldn't say which one so it wouldn't be used against him. In his speech at Yerevan State University, Mr. Davis kept talking about reconciliation. With respect to relations between Armenia and Turkey he had this to say: "This relationship is still difficult because of the events which took place not ten years but more than nine decades ago. We all know that many people died, but the time has surely come to pay respect to the victims but also look to the future." I hope that people who come to our little country, in this far-flung corner of the world from places "where the sun never sets" they should take a long, hard look at their own history and then wag their aristocratic fingers and try to "educate" us.

The Catholicos in America: His Holiness Karekin II was in the United States meeting with Armenian-American communities and blessing newly built churches. What a fantastic opportunity, both for the Vehapar and his flock to meet one another, to be inspired by one another. For hundreds of thousands of Armenian-Americans to receive the blessings of the Catholicos is surely an experience they will remember and cherish. At the same time, dear friends, hundreds of desolate villages dispersed throughout Armenia are without churches, or ministers or priests or even a shack with a makeshift altar where they may go to pray, to beseech their Lord for some mercy and repreive. Where must these ­people go to for spiritual guidance? Do they not need religious, spiritual inspiration? I hope that we start thinking about them.

The production of the first Armenian soap opera: After airing Brazilian and Mexican soap operas, and hearing the complaints of viewers in Armenia and abroad, someone came up with the brilliant idea of producing an Armenian soap opera. Kudos for their briliance. The only thing is that it is worse than the Brazilian/Mexican ones. I hope as the country ages, and we gain more experience and hopefully sources of funding, we can begin producing better-quality programming for our citizens.

Internationally known brand name clothing stores opening in Yerevan: After years of not being able to find clothes that fit or that suit my, let's call it "appropriate for my age" style, there are finally familiar brand name stores opening in Yerevan. Gone are the days when I have to go to Hrazdan Hanra­khanout or Hayastan Hanrakhanout and battle ­other hardened customers to get to a pair of pants that just might not have any glittery rhinestones plastered on areas only good for sitting. I no longer have to try on clothes in makeshift changerooms which are constructed in tiny corners of even tinier shops with shower curtain rods, providing a peek show for cigarette smoking, pointy shoe adorned salespeople who like to stare incessently. Nor do I have to try tops on kneeling behind a pile of clothes with a towel held over my head by a salesperson. (I swear this is true.) However, as elated I am that there are clothes that I would now like to purchase, the price of said clothes is so ridiculously expensive it makes you wonder who can afford to buy them. I certainly cannot justify buying designer pantyhose on sale at Wolford's for $175. I don't know who can. I suspect that the vast majority of women young and old browsing in these stores are simply window shopping. I hope that more stores open not only in Yerevan, but throughout the country, but not catering only to the rich folk who can afford them.