Being in a foreign country is not always very easy. Whether it be the food, friends, coworkers, or traffic laws, the differences between any two countries can be overwhelming at times.

Being in my ancestral homeland does not exclude me from experiencing the culture shock of living in a different environment. As an active member of Armenian diasporan organizations, however, I view myself as having an advantage over others when it comes to assimilating into Armenian life. I search for certain aspects of Armenian culture that I know will remain constant regardless of my location on a map. Considering I have found many differences, it is vital to focus on the similarities and use them as a basis for integrating into a culture.

Within my first two weeks in Armenia, I probably visited more than 10 churches. It was incredible to see so many of these ancient churches, each with their own unique history and beauty. I didn’t, however, grasp the bigger picture of the Armenian Church as a whole, until heard the Holy Badarak being sung as I walked up to a small church in Ashtarak. Here I am, in Armenia, on the other side of the world from where I live, I heard the same harmonies that my little sister sings back home in Houston, TX… and I was moved.

One week later I found myself singing at Soorp Zoravor church. I was surrounded by local Armenians who didn’t dress like me, didn’t speak like me, and didn’t look like me, yet I felt right at home. It was truly an incredible experience to be able to go to a church, across the ocean from my own parish, and feel as though nothing had changed. Although I do not have much spare time during my four months here in Armenia, I will try to frequent Soorp Zoravor on as many Sundays as possible. I know now that despite all my differences, I can always turn to the Armenian Church to be the constant in my life here in Yerevan.

Anoush Dekmezian (USA),
AAA volunteer and BR/DH participant