For many years, numerous young Diaspora Armenians have been visiting Armenia, sightseeing, visiting historic and cultural monuments, learning Armenian and enriching their knowledge of the language through the “Ari Tun” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for homeland recognition. They also spend their vacation in any one of the exotic corners of Armenia, participate in various events, courses devoted to sculpting, macramé, native studies, as well as song and dance lessons and rehearse for the farewell event around a bonfire. The young Diaspora Armenians also recognize the homeland during the days that they spend with their host families, which introduce them to the customs and lifestyles of Armenian families and traditional Armenian dishes. The young Diaspora Armenians also interact with the young members of the host families.

Member of one of the host families, Susanna Bagratunyan talked about the young Diaspora Armenians whom her family has hosted throughout the years during an interview for Hayern Aysor. From what I understood, her family’s hospitality was close to their hearts since Armenians have always stood out with their generosity and hospitality in all times.

Karine Avagyan: Mrs. Bagratunyan, let’s start our interview by talking about the fact that Armenians are hospitable…

Susanna Bagratunyan: Yes, Armenians have always been generous and hospitable. In this case, our guests were familiar to us, meaning they were young Armenians from different countries around the world. It is not hard to be hospitable, if there is love in your heart and soul (love is the major gift and commandment of God).

Karine Avagyan: How many young Diaspora Armenians have you hosted?

Susanna Bagratunyan: We have hosted three young people from the United States, France and Javakhk throughout the years. We loved them all. We have tried to make sure they feel free and at ease in our house, taste our traditional dishes, participate in various events and speak in the native language. When they would return from their tours, they would tell us about them with so much excitement that we wanted to visit the sites worth seeing in our Homeland again, whether we wanted to or not.

Karine Avagyan: Did all the members of your family agree to host the participants?

Susanna Bagratunyan: Of course! My husband and I, as well as our son and two daughters agreed. My husband would mainly take them to the designated venue in the mornings and bring them home after the tour, but sometimes my son would also accompany our guests. Our family has received each guest with warmth and like a relative.

Karine Avagyan: If I am not mistaken, you are an employee of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Staff of the Head of Malatia-Sebastia Administrative District, and you obviously have a heavy workload. Who would make the dishes for your guests and help you?

Susanna Bagratunyan: My mother-in-law, who is a gifted and hard-working woman. She helped me make the dishes and serve them with warmth and pleasure. All the members of my family were willing to host the guests.

Karine Avagyan: Do you keep in touch with the guests?

Susanna Bagratunyan: My children mainly keep in touch with them through social networks, but we are more in touch with the child from Javakhk.

Karine Avagyan: Mrs. Bagratunyan, are you planning on hosting guests this summer?

Susanna Bagratunyan: I would love to, but since my daughter is engaged, we will be very busy with preparing for the wedding. However, I might host some participants.

Karine Avagyan: What memories can you share?

Susanna Bagratunyan: One year, the mother of one of the guests from the United States was also participating in the courses of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program. She was worried and decided to come to our house to see how and where her child was living, and of course, she got a great impression. You can see Mount Masis from our balcony. When our guest saw Masis from our balcony, she screamed “Masis” so loud and expressed her admiration in such an unusual way that we all rushed to the balcony…She would constantly tell her daughter to take a photo of the view. It was truly an indescribable moment for a person who had only heard about Mount Masis from afar and had only seen it in photos.

Karine Avagyan: Mrs. Bagratunyan, what is your opinion of the “Ari Tun” Program?

Susanna Bagratunyan: I think the program is very valuable and important in terms of homeland recognition. There are many young Diaspora Armenians who visit Armenia for the first time, get acquainted with the country’s historic and cultural monuments, interact with their peers living in Armenia and participating in the program. It is truly a commendable program.

Interview by Karine Avagyan