Day 1: Yerevan in the Daylight

After arriving in Yerevan last night with little more than flashing casino lights and what little the streetlights revealed, it was refreshing to awaken this morning to a more detailed, vibrant place! Yerevan most definitely has a heavy soviet-era influence in architecture and street layout, but it also has character all its own. From street level, all you can see are shops, especially retail, convenience marts and cell phone carriers. Built above those shops are layer upon layer of apartments with laundry blowing on open porches.

Yervan is watched over by various mountains, including Mount Ararat (which we haven't seen in all of its glory yet!). The hills leading up to those mountains have outcroppings of shantytowns on them. One of those hills has the statue of Mother Armenia, which hovers as a protector over the city.

Our crew would probably tell you there were two memorable moments of the day. The first was a wonderful visit we had with the Heifer Armenia office and presentation by Anahit Ghazanchyan, Country Director. We learned all about the history of Armenia and Heifer's part in that history. We learned about the types of projects we'd be visiting, and also new ones that have just been approved for funding. We nibbled on delicious cookies and chocolate candies, and warmly received gifts (a notebook, pen and pencil, annual report and postcards) from our gracious Heifer hosts.

The second memorable moment came in two car rides from the hotel to Heifer Armenia office and back. No roller coaster or bumper car ride could compare to the action on the streets of Yerevan taking place between the many cab drivers and few local drivers as everyone competes to fit cars where lanes don't exist. Our drivers didn't know what to think of the gasping backseat drivers from America.

Tomorrow we visit our first project, an hour outside of Yerevan. The schedule has changed a bit, so check below if you're eagerly following our progress! Hopefully we'll have enough energy for me to finagle one of the other participants into writing tomorrow night.