Meet The Band...

If this trip were a concert, then this would be the point at which we would take a break and say, "Let me introduce you to the band."  It dawns on me that not everyone reading this knows everyone writing this, so let's do some introductions (all the names used for them by various travelers are separated by "/").  My loyal travel companions are...

Mama/Sylva/Medzmama: The family's matriarch, chef, and most recent visitor to Armenia. We get our travel genes from Mama for sure. She is easy, flexible, and will adjust to the environment like a chameleon.  Our mama came here 39 years ago with my dad when she was pregnant with me, and was also here two years ago for a family wedding with her companion, Jim. This trip is an extra special one for her as she gets to walk the streets of her mother country with her children's children. 

Mama/Sylva/Medzmama

Dzovag/Mama/Mokalah: My second oldest sister, and family compass.  This is Dzovag's 3rd time in Armenia, having lived here 10 years ago while working at the American University of Armenia. It's impossible to photograph Dzovag on this trip without a babe in arms.  She is a fearless traveler and full of love and pride for this land.  She is also the village doctor, providing relief and advice as we each combat foreign agents.  

Even without faces...you get the whole feeling of this photo.

Chaghig/Mama/Magoo: My third oldest sister and family nurturer.  You won't find her crossing streets without first always looking around and  taking a hand or two in hers.  Chaghig is highly attuned to the needs of the group. This is Chaghig's 2nd visit to Armenia, the first one was with me (Hasmig) and Trey (see below) in 2001 with Land and Culture Organization.  We spent 5 weeks in the village of Datev renovating a school and steeping ourselves into daily life. 

Chaghig/Mama/Magoo

 

Trey/Amo Trey/Aghper Jan: Trey is my brother-in-law and husband of Chaghig, father to Amar, Karek, and Arev.  Trey is also the sole brave man who has joined this family adventure full of Alpha Mama Women. He is cool in this heat and easily the most adaptable member of the band.  Trey last traveled to Armenia with me and Chaghig in 2001 through Land and Culture.  Then, like now, he bravely learned parts of the language and never hesitated to use them, even if it meant stumbling. Trey models poise and patience for kids and adults alike. 

Aghper Jan

The kids... 

Arev, age 12: The oldest grandchild and daughter of Chaghig and Trey.  Arev is also Mara's (see below) second mama and best companion.  She has attended almost a decade of Armenian school and it shows!  Arev is who we go to when none of us can read a sign or a menu.  Arev has also perfected the selfie and the famfie, both important skills while photographing stone as old as time. This is Arev's first trip to Armenia.

Arev, full of sunshine, and "of course!" is always the first thing out of her mouth

Sevan, age 10:  Sevan is #2 in the grandchild line and my son.  He has been hearing about Armenia since he was born and named after one of its most well known (and beautiful) landmarks, Lake Sevan.  He is known here for his bravery with the cuisine, always trying something he might not know how to pronounce (though he tries).  This could account for the first stomach bug of the trip as well, but his spirit is unsquashable as he skips and sips his way through this family adventure. This is Sevan's first trip to Armenia. 

Sevanoush

Karek, age 9 3/4: Karek is Chaghig and Trey's 2nd child and plays the part of middle child with grace and style.  Karek has also put his hours in at Armenian school and is very diligent about reading signs and making sense of words he doesn't know.  By far Karek's most important role is family Entomologist, capturing and photographing most living creatures we see here.  Follow him on Instagram at "crittersifind" for a look at all we've seen! This is Karek's first trip to Armenia.

The bug doctor is in

  

Shant, age 7: Shant is first son to Dzovag and Grant (who we miss)  and patiently loving older brother to Mara.  Shant was labeled "the original Armenian" by a local here because of his blonde hair and blue eyes, from way back in our DNA. He also gets the most hair tousles and cheek pinches for his cute and welcoming smile.  Shant also chooses the most authentically Armenian ice cream flavors: grape, apricot, and watermelon.  This is Shant's first trip to Armenia. 

Shant, lover of authentic Armenian ice cream

Amar, age 6 3/4: Amar is Chaghig and Trey's 3rd child and the family's neatest and cleanest traveler. She will likely be spared the family's stomach bug because she does not share cups, spoons, or ice cream cones.  She has no problem keeping up with the rest of the family both in speed, creativity, and intellect.  Amar asks the best questions--her latest about why Turks in 1915 wanted Armenian land.  She loves to climb everything and slide down anything, turning all of Yerevan into a parcours course!  This is Amar's first trip to Armenia. 

Amar the climber, jumper, and scavenger extraordinaire

  

Mara, age 3:  Though Mara is Dzovag and Grant's youngest, for us she is team Minassian's mascot. The youngest in the band, she is running the show with her expertly timed one-liners, "Mama, does a king live here?" as well as her irresistible smile.  It is not easy being 3 years old in 100 degree temperatures and Mara is making the most of it, traveling from open arm to open arm, each of us hoping to catch her infectious and limitless energy. When I asked her what I should write about her she said, "That I love my daddy." This is Mara's first trip to Armenia.

Mara A little tuckered out...

We are a party of 11 feeding off of one another's joy, wonder, humor,  exhaustion, curiosity, and resilience.   

In spirit we carry with us our missing companions--Arpi Tante and G2, Grant, Ilana & Noa, and Jim, lighting candles along the way for each of you and our many friends and family who are following along.  

We are also keeping close at heart our father, Vartan, and great-grandparents who traversed some of these same roads under harsher and more relentless conditions.  We look for them in the mortar of the bricks.   In the wise words of Mara,  "We traveled all the way here from Armenia."