A Part of the Family

Levon Sarmazian
(Toronto, Canada)

Birthright Armenia was an experience I will never forget. I came to Armenia with the goal in mind to see the country on a more intimate level than I had before. This was my third time in Armenia, I first visited in 2012 with my family; we did the traditional country tour travelling to the popular spots throughout Armenia and Artsakh. My second time in Armenia was in 2013 with the Armenian Youth Federation Youth Corps running a day camp for children in the city of Vanadzor. Even with these experiences, I still felt like I was missing something. I’ve seen Armenia on a few different levels, as a tourist and as a volunteer, but I wasn't satisfied per se.

I heard about the Birthright Armenia program, but this was just something I kept in the back of my mind of something I’d like to do one day. Then I asked myself “what are you waiting for?”. I couldn’t answer the question, I had no reason not to do it. I just graduated from university, heading into a next chapter of my life, and why not make this a part of that journey. That’s when I went to the Birthright Armenia website and applied. This was one of the best decisions I made in my life.

It was 4:00am when I arrived to my host family’s house in Yerevan. Of course, I was nervous. What was this family going to think of me? What are their expectations of an Armenian born in Canada that’s coming to live with them? But I really had nothing to be nervous about. As soon as I walked through the door I was greeted with open arms, literally. The warmth and hospitality I received from this Armenian family made all my nerves disappear. The smiles on their faces told it all… I knew from that moment on that I was at home here.

As weeks and months went on I became very close with my host family. I now know why they call it host “family”. They went above and beyond to really make me feel like a part of their family. We got to know each other’s routines: we had breakfast and dinner together, our daily “sourj” in the mornings, and finished off the day after work just chatting. I loved our conversations together. I would often ask a lot of questions about their lives in Armenia. I was so curious about the Armenian people. The diaspora talks so much about Armenia, without truly knowing what’s actually going on there. Having the real-life conversations with actual citizens of the country was so meaningful to me. These are a people that love their country. They opened up their home to me. The least I could do is listen to their side of the Armenian story.

One of the most memorable moments with my host family was when they told me about their marriage. My host mother and father were legally married during the Soviet Armenia times where church wedding ceremonies were banned by the Soviet Union. Their 43rd wedding anniversary was coming up and they decided that it wasn’t too late to have a wedding ceremony in a church now that we are living in a free and independent Armenia. They asked me if I could be a part of the ceremony; I gladly accepted!

We gathered near the entrance of the church and I was being introduced to some of my host family’s extended family. We then entered the church to begin the service. I didn’t quite know what they wanted me to do, or how big of a role I had; I just assumed that they wanted me to be present at the service. But when they asked me to walk down the aisle with them, I initially felt surprised.  There was me, a Diaspora Armenian they only met three months earlier, who was going to be a part of their special day. We arrived at the altar and I realized how close we all have become. I stood right beside them while the priest blessed them as they renewed their vows to each other. I really felt like a part of the family.

This was just one of many enriching moment I shared with my host family while being with them in Armenia. The host family experience gave me a better understanding of the Armenian people’s way of life and local culture. I would like to thank Birthright Armenia for giving me the opportunity to see Armenia through this lens. The relationship that I have built with my host family has allowed me to gain a greater connection to Armenia. I am confident that I have not seen the last of this amazing country. Armenia, I’ll be back soon.