There is a reason nobody wants to leave this country. But it is unexplainable. You can only understand when you come here and experience this country like we have. I have spoken to many people who have come here before me volunteering for two or more months who come home depressed, just thinking about the next opportunity they will have to come back. I never understood that feeling before. How can you not want to go back to your home country and familiar surroundings after being away for so long? But now I know what that feels like.

Well I was scheduled to leave Armenia yesterday. I knew that November 22 would be a very sad day ever since I arrived in Armenia September 14. My friend, who is himself a Diaspora Armenian, took my to the airport along with two other Birthright volunteers who were seeing me off. Upon arriving at Zvartnots I was told that British Airways had changed the time of the flight to 9:20am instead of the original time of 10:25am. So they would not let me board the flight. The next flight was Friday. So after all the emotional goodbyes and the depressing ride to the airport, I found myself driving back to Yerevan an hour later with two extra days in Hayastan.

As Birthright Armenia volunteers, we had an experience that no tourist can ever have. For the time that we were in Armenia, we were residents of this country. We did not stay in hotels but either with host families or apartments on residential streets. We went to work every day and formed bonds with the locals. Every Saturday we went on excursions with Birthright Armenia, allowing us to get out of the craziness of Yerevan and see the striking beauty of this country. We got to take trips to Artsakh to see the land that so many of our people fought and died for. We had many forums where the most important issues in Armenia were discussed and argued with experts in the respective fields. We had havaks which brought us closer together. We had language lessons two hours a day every Tuesday and Thursday at Birthright and our Armenian has been much improved.

I will never forget the times I had with my fellow volunteers. We laughed together, argued together, and had deep conversations. We had a smaller group over the fall. And even in our free time we always spoke about our opinions on the issues that Armenia faces. After spending so much time with my fellow volunteers I know that all of them care deeply about Armenia and want to do everything to make this country strong. In the short time that we have been together all of us became very close friends and we will always keep in touch. All of my new friends here have touched my life and the memories we created will live on forever.

Today is Thanksgiving and I was supposed to spend it back in America with my family. I wish that I was with my family on this day but at the same time I know at least I have close friends here to enjoy the holiday with. I am proud of all of us for sacrificing our time and part of our lives back home to work to help this country that we love.

So I leave and now I know what all those who came before me felt. I understand.

Sevan Ohanian (USA)
AVC volunteer and Birthright Armenia participant