Due to the war in Syria, many Syrian-Armenians have settled in Armenia. Some have found jobs, while the newcomers are still in search of jobs. My interview for Hayern Aysor was with Kevork Seraydarian.

“I came to Armenia in late 2015. Of course, I had always dreamed of the Homeland since childhood and had always had the hope of seeing it someday. Since my years in school, Armenia and Mount Masis have been a sanctity and an unfulfilled dream for me…The first time I visited Armenia was back in the Soviet era. When I set foot in Armenia and saw Yerevan in 2015, I was amazed and charmed. Yerevan has changed a lot and has become very beautiful. I live in Yerevan with my wife and our six-year-old son, who is already going to school here. My wife is a cosmetologist and an expert in tattoos, and I am a barber. However, we are currently unemployed. In the beginning, I started working at different barber shops, but I wasn’t earning enough and couldn’t pay my apartment rent and take care of our daily expenses. I was spending money on transportation and lunch breaks for no reason. I want to change my working style and receive my clients at home, but I don’t clients for the time being. I hope someone knocks on our door someday. I have made many new friends here and have no problem with the locals. I also have a lot of friends and acquaintances from Syria. I love my Homeland. Of course, I miss my hometown, but even after peace is fully established, I don’t want to go back to Syria. I must also say that I don’t believe that peace will be fully established in Syria. The most important thing for me and my family is safety, and we feel safe in Armenia. I don’t want my child to grow up seeing the horrors of war and destroyed homes and districts. What hurts me a lot is the fact that our house in Syria is no longer standing. We are currently living in the Homeland with the hope of having a home here. If a person has a job and a roof above his head, he can achieve anything. I am a patriot and highly appreciate the fact that we have a familiar corner and a citadel in the world called Armenia, the home of all Armenians!”

Interview by Karine Avagyan