Final destination: Armenia

The sons of the Armenian nation eventually return to the Homeland someday and to the pure sources from which they can’t be detached for a long time…

They return with the belief that they can help empower the Homeland with even their small contributions and knowledge. Hayern Aysor presents the short conversations with the students of the branch of Moscow Lomonosov State University in Yerevan.

Davit Manukyan, 19, Aktobe, Kazakhstan

“I was born, raised and received an education in Aktobe. In Kazakhstan, I would attend an Armenian Sunday school where I studied Armenian history, became familiar with Armenian culture and learned Armenian. Every summer, I have visited Armenia to see and experience all that I had read in books.

Besides studying in Armenia, I really wanted to spend some time living in the Homeland to become more familiar with the mindset of the Armenian people. It was hard at first, but I adapted over time. I want to use my professional knowledge for the benefit of the relations between Armenia and Kazakhstan.”

Raia Khachatryan, 18, Moscow, Russian Federation

“I spent the first 13 years of my life in Armenia. Unfortunately, it so happened that my family and I moved to Moscow. I was stubborn and didn’t go. I would stay with my grandmother, but I would miss my parents, and I eventually moved to Moscow. Everything was new and strange to me, including the people, the streets, the homes and the morals. My familiar city of Abovya was so small, yet so close to my heart…After that, I was in the big Moscow with “big” people who are rushing to go somewhere and seem to disregard one another.

I lived in Russia from 2012 to 2015. We would always speak Armenian at home, and it was not because we didn’t know Russian, but because we wanted to preserve the Armenian language.

When I had just moved to Russia, I wasn’t thinking about returning to Armenia. One day, I told my parents that I wanted to return to Armenia, and they got very happy. I was very lucky because that was the year when Moscow State University opened its branch in Yerevan. My two dreams could come true at once-to study at MSU and live in Yerevan…and I returned.

I have been living and studying in Yerevan for the past two years already. I have been discovering Yerevan again and again over the past two years. I am certain that I wouldn’t feel so good in any other part of the world. Everything here is very unique, picturesque and cordial.

Armenia is my home. I don’t know. Perhaps I am inspiring myself, but I feel that my love for my Homeland is mutual.”

Syuzanna Davtyan, 19, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

“I was born in Tashkent and lived there for 16 years, but I would visit Armenia every year. I have had the opportunity to participate in the 2012 “Ari Tun” Program, which helped me discover Armenia and make new friends with whom I keep in touch to this day. I truly have unforgettable impressions. I still remember how we would learn Armenian songs and dances. I have video recorded all this and keep the videos.

Recently, I had a chance to participate in the event wrapping up the 2nd stage of the 2017 “Ari Tun” Program. I experienced the same joy and wanted to watch the videotape of the 2012 “Ari Tun” Program again.

What really helped me preserve the Armenian language were my parents and, of course, my yearly visits to Armenia.

In 2015, we moved to the United States of America where I graduated from school and finally decided to move to Armenia to receive a higher education. Currently, I live and study in Yerevan. It was hard to adapt in the beginning, but now I feel that I am fully an integral part of Armenia.

I love Armenia and urge all Diaspora Armenians to return to the Homeland.”

Arman Maloyan, 18, Vladikavkaz, Russian Federation

“I lived in Armenia, more specifically Gyumri until I was ten years old. I received an Armenian education, after which my family and I moved to Vladikavkaz.

My forefathers have initially brought up their generations to be pro-Armenian and carry out pro-Armenian activities. Therefore, my father brought me and my sister up the same way. When we were little, our father would give us Armenian books to read. Besides that, I grew up in an Armenian environment. Years have passed, and now I am in Armenia again. I have decided to receive my higher education in Armenia.”

Nona Barkhudaryan, 19, Nizhnivardovsk, Russian Federation

“I visit Armenia every year. I have stayed at a camp in Kapan many times. In Russia, I have participated in events devoted to Armenian holidays and have performed songs, dances and recited poems.

My brother was living in Armenia, and he and I decided to receive our higher education in Armenia together. In 2014, he got accepted to the Faculty of Dance of the Armenian State Pedagogical University and was drafted to the army. I was supposed to get accepted in 2016-right when he would complete his military service. Unfortunately, my brother Norik Gasparyan was killed during the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016. Now he is a hero of Armenia. I take pride in my brother and all the soldiers who defended our borders by sacrificing their lives.

Despite the great sorrow, I managed to study and got accepted to the Yerevan branch of Moscow State University and moved to Armenia. It was hard at first since I had spent my entire life in Russia. I went through a cultural shock as I faced hardships in terms of lifestyle and even the mindset, but I managed to overcome all the hardships.

The important thing is that I am not among foreigners. I am home, that is, Armenia!”

2nd year student of the Faculty of Linguistics of Yerevan branch of Moscow State University Edviga Tevosyan

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