After talking about Hayasdan, the "homeland," my whole life, sometimes placing it upon a pedestal, I tried not to have high expectations before my departure from the US. After all, Armenia was "Sovietised," right? How could Armenians have withstood so many years of Soviet rule without losing their "Armenian-ness"?

Although I've been here for a short time, and although my stay will last only 2 months, I can confidently say that I've never felt more at home anywhere else. Everything feels so natural, despite my slowly progressing Armenian language skills. Since my arrival, I've met so many wonderful, kind people who are often as excited about me being here as I am.

Now, I know why some Armenians are afraid to come here; they are afraid that they might never want to leave, and might have trouble picking up the roots they have planted elsewhere. But the deepest, strongest root is deeply buried in Armenian soil, which is why so many of us feel like we are coming "back" when we come to Armenia, even if we've never physically been here before".

Sonia Shahrigian (USA),
AVC volunteer and BR/DH participant