Արևելահայերեն
Արևմտահայերեն
РусскийParticipant of 2016 “Ari Tun” Program: “Armenia is in my heart and on my mind”
“I live in a family where patriotism, national preservation and Armenian culture are topics of daily conversations. My parents don’t spare any effort to make sure my brother and I grow up as dignified Armenians in a foreign country.” This is what participant of the 4th stage of the “Ari Tun” Program Mikayel Gevorgyan from Plovdiv said in an interview with Hayern Aysor.
MIkayel attended an Armenian school for three years in Bulgaria and continued his studies at a Bulgarian school. On Sundays, the young Bulgarian-Armenian sings in the choir of the Saint Gevorg Armenian Apostolic Church of Bulgaria during Holy Masses.
True, he lives far away, but Armenia is in his heart and on his mind. He regrets when he hears bad and troubling news about Armenia and Artsakh. His dream is to see the Armenian people live in peace and to see all Diaspora Armenians unite around Armenia.
Mikayel, 15, has his explanation of why he is patriotic. “My mother, Aghavni Gevorgyan works at the Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Plovdiv where she carries out different kinds of programs for preservation of the Armenian identity and organizes Armenian cultural festivals along with Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia Yeghiazar Uzunyan, helping the Armenians of Bulgaria preserve their national identity. It is obvious that I would also have my mother’s spirit.”
Mikayel says the “Ari Tun” Program is fun and that he has great impressions of the visits to all the places in Armenia, but sets aside the visit to Noravank Monastery and the visit to a military unit where he became familiar with the soldiers’ daily lives and ate the food that they eat.
“The “Ari Tun” Program helped me meet new people and improve my Armenian and knowledge of Armenian history. I enjoyed the love and warmth of Armen and Elena, the parents of my host family. Although the landlady is Russian, she speaks Armenian wonderfully and provides her children with an Armenian upbringing. She also makes tasty meals for us, and I liked the Khinkali the most,” Mikayel concluded.
Gevorg Chichyan
