Gyumri – where beauty lies within

When the Birthright Armenia staff recommended that I begin my volunteer service in Gyumri, I had no idea what to expect of the city. All I had heard about Gyumri prior to my arrival was that it has been ravaged by a devastating earthquake towards the end of the Soviet era and that a Russian military base was stationed there.

Upon my arrival to Gyumri, especially to Ani district (where the majority of the Birthright volunteers live with their host families), let us just say that it was not love at first sight… I would like to think that I am not some sort of princess, who requires luxury to live well, however, I would be lying if I said that I was not at least slightly taken aback by the conditions of the infrastructure in some parts of the city.

In Ani district some of the roads are unpaved, streetlamps are few and far between and the apartment blocks are, to put it in the words of a former volunteer, a little rough around the edges. Moreover, the only public transport that the city can offer are these eternally crowded minibuses that were certainly not designed to fit the dimensions of a man, who has ancestors from Northern Europe.

Overcoming Initial Challenges

Was I really in Armenia’s second largest city? Why does it seem years, perhaps even decades behind Yerevan? What was I doing here?

Despite my initial impressions, it did not take me long at all to find my feet and become enamoured with this stunning city. For this, I first of all have to thank my wonderful host family, who welcomed me into their home and their lives with open arms. During my first evening with them, they told me that their home was now mine and that they would treat me as if I were a member of their humble family. It was at this moment that I got a sense of the hospitality, friendliness and warmth of the incredible inhabitants of Gyumri.

Secondly, I have to thank my colleagues at my jobsites. Possessing practically no experience in the journalism field, both the employees at Regions TV and Radio Mariam were incredibly patient and accommodating towards me and I soon felt like a valued and respected member of the teams. Before I knew it, I was crafting articles in Russian on the latest developments in a volatile world and hosting a podcast, in which I was conducting interviews with volunteers in Gyumri, Birthright Armenia alumni and more! In Gyumri, my work feels especially meaningful and rewarding. Not only was I helping to put Armenia on the map, but I was helping to put Gyumri, the regions, and thus the ‘real’ Armenia on the map.

Thirdly, I have to thank the Birthright Armenia staff in Gyumri and the slew of volunteers that I have met during my time here. In the short period of time that I have been here, I have developed some of the deepest bonds in my life and I say it with pride, when I tell people that I am completing my volunteering service in Gyumri. It is no exaggeration when I write that we are a family from every corner of the globe, united by an important mission to contribute to the development of the regions of a country that has a special part in all our hearts.

As the reader can probably tell, it is the people that I have met along the way that have made my experience in Gyumri as incredible as it has been. In this city, human interaction holds a sacred place – something that can be hard to come by in this day and age. Through my host family, my jobsites, the Birthright Armenia program and general life in the city, I have experienced some of the most fascinating and unique encounters and interactions of my life and I know for a fact that this was only possible because I decided to volunteer in Gyumri.

When coming to Armenia’s second city, remember the old adage to never judge a book by its cover. Yes, in places the city can have a rough outward appearance but understand that the beauty of the city lies within; adventure awaits around every seemingly insignificant corner, an enthralling story rests on the lips of every person you meet and magic can be found within each moment of one’s time in Gyumri.