I’m back in Yerevan just in time to catch up on some sleep after an exhausting (but totally thrilling) first week. The Children’s Center was our final stop before coming back to the hotel and it was honestly one of the most unbelievable experiences I’ve had…I know, cliché, but seeing the faces of children excited to see some fresh visitors was uplifting after a long van ride. The kids loved to play with our cameras and I now have some great shots of legs and walls after they had their chance behind the lens. It was almost cruel to take my camera home with me.
The most touching moment happened after my first step off the bus when I recognized one of the children I have been updating stories for on Facebook. I wrote that he had little to no contact with his biological mother prior to entering the Center but I saw her leaving from a meeting while the boy yelled a final “MA” and she turned around to wave goodbye. I was absolutely elated to see that she’s now visiting. It sounds like a story you’ve heard a million times, but this just pulled on my heart strings in person. I felt a special connection to the Center because of my involvement with FAR. I was disconnected from Armenia on my New York computer, but now I have the chance to see my work in action and it this trip is a more powerful experience for it.
Ts’tesutyun for now!