The first time I met Sanan Kantaharian was three years ago (click here to read the interview with Hayern Aysor) whe she was still studying in the Dance Division of the Department of Culture at  the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan and was dreaming of settling in Armenia someday. “My biggest wish is to have my children live, grow up and receive an upbringing in Armenia and to not have them be in a constant struggle to grow up as Armenians in the Diaspora.”

Two years later, on August 8, 2015, Sanan fulfilled her dream and took perhaps the most daring and the most important step in her life…she got married and started a family in Armenia. The symbolic and beautiful start of her new life intersected with the path to the homeland, becoming the strong foundation for her move to Armenia, and Sanan talks about this with so much joy and pride. “My wish came true (the wish that I had talked about during our previous conversation). I got married last year and am now living in Armenia with my family. I also obtained my Master’s Degree and am very happy for that. I also work for “Oghak” Non-governmental Charitable Women’s Center, which was established in November 2015. The Center has over 150 members and offers dance lessons, sewing and knitting lessons, English language courses and courses on making handmade items. The Center also organizes meetings and lectures devoted to various topics. We try to help the women take a load off and forget about their worries for a little while. I also give dance lessons for three groups of dancers of all ages at the Center and as a volunteer at the kindergarten in Nork Marash Administrative District.

Working changed a lot of things in my life. It helped me establish a closer connection to the people and average people and see how they live and what problems they face.”

Living in the homeland for six years, Sanan has managed to cross the very delicate threshold of living as a guest and a landlord in Armenia and has come out victorious. “When I was a student, I didn’t know much about the real life in Armenia. Only when I started working did I understand the reality. Now I see the worries and hardships of the people around me. Sometimes I also live the life they live and understand what they are forced to undergo every day. Like them, I also underwent those difficulties, but I have no complaints. By learning and teaching, I was able to see and understand the real life with its entire beauty and difficulties.”

The most important thing that Sanan has learned throughout the past six years is to be simple, have peace of mind and be far from all types of ostentation. “In Armenia, I learned how to be happy with the simple things in life. For instance, taking walks in Yerevan is the best way for me to relax. Everything is so close to my heart. The most important is that I enjoy being happy here. I also feel safe, and you can’t feel like that in any country in the world.

I recently visited Stepanavan. I went crazy as I looked at the vivid flowers, green fields and trees. I was looking at that beauty and couldn’t get enough. I had the same feeling when I visited the Home-Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan in Dsegh.”

Sanan has also “infected” her husband, Aren with her dream of living in the homeland. Aren left his family and life in France and moved to Armenia thanks to Sanan’s will and persistence as well. “Aren also wanted to move to Armenia, but had doubts. However, I managed to convince him. The main reason for his concern was employment. We all know it is hard to find a job in Armenia and the salary is low, but I think if a person sets a goal, he will overcome everything and fulfill his dream. I am saying this based on my personal experience.

The first two months were very difficult for Aren. I had also taken the same path and understood him very well. You find yourself in a new environment and are far away from your family, but after two months, you are ready to overcome all the difficulties. Aren took that same path and faced the same difficulties that I had taken and faced years ago. The only difference was that he wasn’t alone. It is easier to overcome difficulties when you’re not alone.

I kept telling him that if we lived in France, our children wouldn’t grow up as full-fledged Armenians no matter how much effort we made and how much we raised them in an Armenian environment or took them to an Armenian school. It is very hard for an Armenian to preserve his identity abroad. It is a constant struggle. Diaspora Armenians are always in panic as they try to make sure their children receive an Armenian upbringing. Why should I let my children undergo that torture?

With this and other arguments, I tried to instill confidence in Aren, and his life slowly got back on track. He now has a job as a correspondent for France’s Nor Harach newspaper in Yerevan. He writes articles and does translations. He has become so adapted to life in Armenia that he has a hard time leaving for France.”

Sanan proudly says that Aren wasn’t the only one whom she “infected” with the desire to move to the homeland and considers this her small achievement. “One of my friends is also studying in Armenia. This might sound surprising, but we only knew each other at a distance in Lebanon, but became closer in Armenia. While living in Beirut, she had heard that I give dance lessons in Armenia and wanted to continue her studies in Armenia as well. She is currently in her third year of studies. I am happy that I was able to inspire her to establish a connection to Armenia.

My nephew, Varag Siserian got married in Beirut and has been living with his wife in Armenia for the past five years. We live in the same apartment building. Varag always tells me: “You are the reason for my move to Armenia. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t come.” He studies at the American University of Armenia and works as an assistant lecturer.

I believe and am certain that everything will slowly get on track. My biggest dream of seeing my children grow up in Armenia has already come true. Now I dream of having a child. God willing, that dream will also come true.”

The four-day Artsakh war in April became a unique test for Sanan’s new family to revalue the homeland. “Right after the war began, Aren and my nephew, Varag left for Artsakh. Aren said: “Why should we only benefit from the goods of the homeland? We are also ordinary citizens and must bear the same pain that our people bear.”

When they left, I was very afraid and even wanted to go to Artsakh and be with them, but Aren didn’t let me. Now I am very proud that they left for Artsakh on the very first day of the war. They stayed for three days and returned. They told me that there were only women in Stepanakert since all the men were on the border. Those who had traveled from Armenia and the Diaspora were trying to join the volunteers. Everyone was doing everything they could to be of help.

They returned with great emotions. Both were very sad and not in a good mood for almost a month and even felt bad that they had returned. To this day, Aren doesn’t like to talk about those days. However, one thing is clear-they became more attached to the homeland during those days.”

Sanan no longer pictures her life far away from Armenia. For her, living in the homeland is not a dream, but a reality, and nothing can stand in her way. The most important thing for her is that she sees the real homeland. She doesn’t feel like a guest, but a person who is also responsible for the homeland. “Those who become disappointed with the homeland are mainly those who think the homeland is heaven and a place where everything has to be ideal. Like other countries, the homeland also has errors and difficulties, but also has positive sides and a beauty that you won’t find anywhere else.

I believe that if an Armenian wants to come to Armenia, he should come at a young age so that he can overcome the difficulties with the people instead of leave everything or wait for someone else to overcome those difficulties for him. For instance, when your family has a problem, you don’t go to your neighbor’s house and wait for the problem to be solved. You need to try to solve the problem with your partner so that you can live more peacefully. I get frustrated when I hear people say they will return to Armenia when they retire. The homeland is not only a land for pensioners. The homeland needs youth who can do something for their country, learn, teach and help the country develop.

Sometimes our youth lack reason and aren’t able to look at issues from the right angle. They need to be more flexible. Many think everything is given easily abroad. Let them go and see how people suffer abroad. That’s when they will know the value of the homeland.

For me, Armenia is like a family. Everything in Yerevan is mine, including the people, water and air. The only thing I want is to see my country overcome all difficulties very quickly, to see justice and to see that each person lives the life he or she deserves.”

Sanan currently lives the life and in the place that she has chosen thanks to her persistence, determination and never-ending optimism. As I listen to her, the only thing I want is to see many people who will think like her, fight like her and not be disappointed when facing the first difficulty. “I repatriated six years ago. I am happy and proud that I was able to fulfill my decision and take this road. I thank the homeland for giving me the strength. I don’t think I would be able to live far away from my family in any other country. Armenia and the Armenia people “saved” me and helped the new Sanan, the citizen of Armenia come to life.

Based on my personal experience, I would like to advise my peers in the Armenian Diaspora to not be afraid of making a sudden decision and come to the homeland. I can proudly say that I am an Armenian in Armenia.”

Lusine Abrahamyan

Source: Hayern Aysor