#armenianproblems

[useless-armeniafacts]

When you're so excited to be free and independent that you say it three times in the first verse of your national anthem #armenianproblems

[marykasimoglu]

Armos in Vegas be like feat DJ BASE #bombagranate #armenianvines #armenianproblems #beirut

[victoriauchiha]

Having "The Talk" with your Armenian Dad feat. Michael Srourian #bombagranate #armenianvines #wereback #beirut #armenianproblems #armodad

[thebrainfilth]

So. Much. Frustration.

When living in a town where people of my ethnicity are sparse, I get rather excited to find out if someone who lives around me is Armenian. That really really gets me excited. I don't know why particularly. Possibly because I don't have family around me or perhaps because I'm curious to have Armenian friends--just to see what its like. I kind of just want to find someone like me, who gets me, who I can spend time with and just be comfortable around. 

But it is SO complicated for no reason. There are three kinds of Armenians that I have known to live around here:

1. The Armenians who come from goddamn criminal families. Like seriously they've done some shady business shit and now they're just chillin' in Cincinnati thinking that no one will catch them. I guess no one told them that they actually stick out here more than anywhere else and laws are more strict but alas let them go on thinking they're safe. 

2. Armenians that have been here for so many generations or so long that they don't even really consider themselves Armenian. Sorry, but if you can't at least speak the language or understand most of it, I don't consider you Armenian. (I'm awaiting serious backlash for that statement but I don't care. I'm a snob like that. Language and culture go hand in hand.) 

3. Armenians that moved here from LA and who are hella pissed that they are here. Like excuse me I didn't ask for you to come. Its really not that bad here. Maybe if you took off that slanted baseball cap, put away your big ass diamond cross necklace, and stopped scowling, people would actually be nice to you. You're in the midwest, okay? People here are friendly for no reason and like, for example, when you go to the grocery store... they actually go out of their way to put the carts in the outdoor corralling area. And when you're on Facebook raging about how bored you are and how much your life sucks, why don't you turn your phone off for one second and actually try exploring the city. Bougie ass snobs pissing me off and shit. 

Sorry, guys, this wasn't really meant to be another rage session. But it's really hard sometimes. Is it so hard to find someone ANYONE who is Americanized but not so much that they're not Armenian anymore? UGH I'm done. 

[thebrainfilth]

I am really confused about this situation and when I am confused about anything Armenian-related, I take to the streets of tumblr to hear everyone else's opinion. 

I don't understand why gender equality is such an objected thing in Armenia right now. Maybe its because I am born and raised in the United States and I find gender equality a (roughly) common expectation. Let's keep this general because I know I will have those who say WHAT ABOUT THAT WORKFORCE? No. I haven't forgotten about the "glass ceiling" so relax. This isn't about that kind of equality (though I do see that as a problem too). 

But I have read a couple of articles like the one I've attached above that states that there are so many "traditionalists" who are freaking out about the gender equality law in Armenia. They say its an attack to Armenian families. Wait... I don't understand how this is an attack to Armenian families. Increased reporting of domestic violence against women isn't an attack to Armenian families? Alcoholism isn't an attack to Armenian families? Poverty isn't? Unemployment isn't? Please tell me because I am ignorant and I want to know. Having women share the same equal and unalienable rights as men somehow or another will undermine Armenian families and eventually destroy our state. 

Let me tell y'all how its going to be. If all of the things I mentioned above doesn't kill the state and if rigged elections don't kill the state--women's rights are going to do the trick? This is laughable. The fact that the Church is getting involved and opposing this is laughable. Why doesn't everyone focus their attention to some of the other EXTREMELY critical problems that are really affecting the "children" of Armenia. Not the hypothetical apocalypse of women actually being treated with the same rights and dignity as men. 

End feminist rant. 

[thebrainfilth]

Reflections and Apples

My family really loves getting philosophical. When women get together, there's coffee ready, sunflower seeds set, and low-fat desserts available, discussions begin to blossom. The conversation starts from a really small topic and somehow or another evolves into prophetic and deep musings. 

Recently, one of the topics that came up (don't ask me how) was whether offspring have a chance to evolve into their own persons or are they merely a reflection of their families? This was a really heated debate. Us, Armenians, are very family-oriented (or family-involved is more precise). Constantly in each others' lives and business. When it comes to this topic, there was a divide in parties. 

Opinion: Children are a direct reflection of how their parents raised them. Every virtue and fault will inevitably surface in the course of that child's life. It is impossible to escape. "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree" is the motto. My mother has sworn to me that she will examine my future suitor's family in every possible way. Maybe more so than she will exam the poor dude. 

My questions to this opinion: How true is this? If a guy seems hard working, ambitious, kind and respectful (theoretical total catch)--is this undermined a little if his family is the total opposite? How can anyone be sure? Is it possible for someone to come out of a "great" family and be a total disappointment? 

This seems like something that could be so subjective. So how does someone navigate the courtship process? What do you look for? What do you examine? Are those judgements really fair? Should anyone shy away from a potential mate if their families are total "train wrecks"?

[thebrainfilth]

Circumstance Confessional

As many of you guys who know me already (as much as it is possible to know me through the internet), I have mentioned that I live in a city that doesn't harbor that many Armenians. This is okay--I've accepted this and I'm cool with it. But that doesn't mean that we don't have other nationalities.  

My favorite is when I come across Iranians, Jordanians, or others of the likes who look like they could be my family. AND YOU BEST BELIEVE THAT THEY STARE ME DOWN. Literally, they gaze at me all curious and look like they're thinking "we think you might be one of us and we're not really sure but I feel like we should know because you look pretty eligible to marry one of our sons." 

Its really funny. It entertains me how much people want to connect with people that they think might be like them or some variation. They can tell I am different by the way I speak, look and carry myself. How strange is that? No matter how much I think that I'm assimilated into society, I still stick out and I always will. I don't fit in completely with my American friends and I don't fit in with my purely Armenian friends/family. I'm at a really strange point. I can't even say that I want to be completely one or the other. I just glide in between, understanding both sides, without committing to one or the other. 

One of the many components of being a diaspora Armenian, first generation born in a land that's not Armenia. Things just become confusing. 

[thebrainfilth]

Parlez-vous hayeren?

Sometimes my feelings are better expressed in Armenian than in English. I don't know how it is for other people but for me, Armenian is increasingly a personal experience. Its the language my parents raised me with, the one my grandparents spoke to me in--I've never had to use it for any professional reason. Purely devoted to my personal life. Armenian words just have so many layers of depth. 

Okay. That was my serious moment. Let's get to my REAL reason as to why I brought this up. Sometimes I really want to call someone an "esh" էշ. The word jackass just seems so much harsher than I ever intend to be. My favorite word is "ichte" իշթե which roughly translates as "WELLLLLLL i-don't-really-know-what-to-say-about-that or i've proven a point and choose not to comment about it." OR the best word ever to say to someone: "xiar" խիար --I use this STUPID word more times than I care to admit. But it just works for so many situations like: a guy who is a total loser, a dud, an idiot, a guy who thinks he's smart but he's forreal an idiot, a guy who has no suave bone in his entire body, amongst other examples. 

I honestly feel bad for other people because if I hadn't grown up learning this language I don't think I would really have been able to learn. You know how like they can teach you French or Spanish from a book? I honestly doubt you can learn Armenian from just a book. But then again I have heard that people have travelled to study in Armenia and have actually tried to learn the language so I guess everything is possible. 

Also the benefit of living in a city where there are very few Armenians YOU HAVE A SECRET LANGUAGE. When you need to tell your parent something private, talk shit about someone or discuss something secret--YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. But then there are those horrific and traumatizing moments when you feel violated just because someone was able to understand you. I don't feel safe anymore.