«That’s life» - Armenia study visit inbetween

by Christian Walti

As the guide of this years study visit, I set myself the goal to Armenia show the participants as a country of opposites. The composition of our tour group was quite special: with only six people including myself we covered an age range of over 5 decades. Would this work out: a group with such diverse participants in a country already diverse itself? Yes, it worked out! Already in the plane to Yerevan, we figured out that we got along with each other very well. Although we had different interests, there was so much to see and explore in Armenia, that everyone could be satisfied. Some went shopping at the bazar «Rassia» others enjoyed a rich breakfast at «Ponchikanoz» while the rest delighted their eyes on the metro station or strolled around the garden cafés. Ghazar from ANU was a great help, giving us Tipps where to eat and what to see, always concerned about our wellbeing. As well as well-known Lusine, thanks to her we had three delicious dinners in the capital city. The jounrey then led us to Spitak, where we could stay at our friends houses and were welcomed by them and their families with open arms. Then we drove on the so-called monastery-road to the monasteries Sanahin and Haghpat and further to Dilidschan, where the area with its green forest closely resemble Switzerland. Passing the modernly constructed tunnel we reached the lake of Sevan, where we could not only visit the monastery but also go for a swim farther south. After spending the night in Martuni we got to the southern part of the country – where bleak landscape alternate thick forest – and visited the astonishingly located monasteries Noravank and Tatev. In Sisian a very hospitable family provided us with lodging. Tatul Bostanchyan joined us on our journey. His affectionate and obliging nature made him soon part of the tour group or even «tour family», as one might say. He even learned some Swiss german expressions. We got fond of our busdriver Genna as well, whose local knowledge and cautious way of driving brought us safely to every destination. My conclusion is that we explored opposites and contradictions, but far away from extreme culinaric, scenical or cultural experiences. It seemed to be contradictorily, that we spoke of «group» and «guide», of «Swiss» and «Armenians» while planning this study visit. In the end, opposites on a personal level were off the cards and we soon reached a level of familiarity. Now, we are longing for Armenia, its beautiful landscape and delicious food, but most of all for our new «family» over there, whose cordiality often comes to our minds in our daily routine back in Switzerland. We are here and they are there. «So isch s’Läbe» – «That’s life» would bet he comment of our new family member Tatul.