Personal Growth: being comfortable being uncomfortable

Is it too cliche to say “where do I even begin”? Because I really don’t know where to start. This was the trip of a lifetime. The most fulfilling experience. The most precious memories. From meeting new friends to discovering different parts of Hayastan to exploring different career paths to traditional dancing in the motherland. It was tough to say goodbye and close this chapter.

I started this journey as a not-so-confident girl from Australia that loves her motherland so dearly and was ready for something different. I was ready to get out of my comfort zone. At first I thought the hardest thing to do while being here was make friends or communicate with people at new job sites.

But that ended up being easy. Birthright Armenia made that very easy and I feel especially blessed because I chose to start in Vanadzor. A tight knit group of people that made me feel like family from the second I walked through those doors. And I soon began to realise that the hardest thing to do while being here was just deciding what part of Hayastan we wanted to explore on the weekends.

It was my first time in Vanadzor when I started the program. I wasn’t sure what to expect. My amazing Vanadzor office team was great in making me feel settled and well looked after. It took no time to be able to find my way around and call Vanadzor home for the next two months. I taught English to beautiful kids at two different schools, helped Margahovit Youth Centre in their greenhouse and marketing initiatives. I was also blessed to contribute to the renovations of Nor Khachakaps Community Centre. I got to witness such gratitude from the most humble people as they can now thrive and use their space more functionally. On a personal scale, I not only developed some practical experience in a field I already enjoyed but also in fields I never knew all while I positively contributed to the people of Vanadzor and surrounding villages.

I can’t forget the best host family that I was so fortunate to stay with. From the moment I arrived, they were eagerly waiting for my car to pull up to the house and from that point forward, they looked after me like their own. Great food. Open arms. Endless laughs. Little sisters that I always dreamed of having that I still keep in touch with to this day.

Now moving onto Gyumri, again I was welcomed with open arms by the office and volunteers, some of which were familiar faces from excursions and some new faces that soon became my closest friends. My host tatik was the sweetest and I was welcomed by her with a table full of food that could feed 10 people. From that point forward I knew I would have the best time and make unforgettable memories. It was nice to explore different jobsites. I strengthened my marketing skills at KASA Guesthouse while balancing my week helping Miasine Foundation learning all things Armenian and Artsakh baking. Aside from jobsites, it was great to bond with locals and connect with them through cultural Armenian folk dance classes, VOMA training, gym or merely just talking to locals in the area. Another great city allowing me to create strong ties to my homeland.

Lastly, ending my journey in Yerevan. Living alone, having friends over and enjoying my independence. It was a time for me that I had never experienced before. Living out of home and navigating my footsteps. I continued my work with KASA and helped a start up wine business with their marketing too. At this point in my journey, I could reflect and understand the impact I was making but also the impact Birthright had on me. It gave me clarity in understanding what career path I want to undertake now.

Birthright for me was so great in connecting me to my motherland when I was in each of the three cities. Amongst all this, I loved the havaks, forums, language classes and excursions every week. Connecting me through language, dance, culture and the people while exploring each city for how they contribute to the country. I strengthened my language and put it into practice at my jobsites, at restaurants, with Birthright staff and even my family and friends back in Australia. However, one of the biggest highlights of this experience was dancing traditional Armenian folk dances with fellow volunteers during our excursions. There was something incredibly special about dancing in the motherland that can’t quite be put into words.

Being back and getting asked about my experience, I tell people that it was the best thing I have ever done, I was always on a high and every week just kept getting better than the last but it really is so hard to explain the real impact. Prior to this trip, I had been to Armenia four times and I thought I had seen the entire country, I really hadn’t. Through the excursions, I got to see places and do things I had never done before. Whether it was visiting an ancient Armenian church, hiking somewhere new, harvesting grapes at a winery, or seeing Meghri in Armenia's Syunik region for the first time. And not only that but getting to see all these new places with people that are now my best friends and having that flexibility amongst excursions and our weekly schedules to travel around Armenia.

I have always come to Armenia with a purpose of giving back and helping others. However, although I did do this, this time around was for me. Putting myself first while living in the best country. And I cannot thank Birthright Armenia more for this opportunity.

Now, I could go on forever about how I had the best time of my life but I better wrap things up. I have personally grown a lot in this experience. I was able to be independent and make decisions for myself, explore new things, push through challenges and learn to be resilient. This was the trip of a lifetime. It is bittersweet to say goodbye to the most rewarding experience I have had. I wouldn’t change anything about my time in Hayastan… except maybe staying longer.

Now my advice to anyone thinking about starting Birthright Armenia is DO IT. Don't hold back. Talk to the locals. Embrace the culture. Do it all. Say yes.

Be comfortable being uncomfortable. You will be rewarded ten-fold.

It truly is a journey of self discovery.