Leaving Armenia... and a piece of us as well.

Today is the last day the Mercer Service Scholars will spend in Armenia. We will be shipping off tomorrow at 9:30 to Tblisi, Georgia. We could not have asked for a larger 'bang' on our final day. As usual, we went to the work site of the second family. We had spent the first two days making concrete and filling it into the floors of the house. Two days in and we had the job complete. Today, our job was to level out the slanted land behind the house and remove the mounds of dirt next to the house. This provided two things. One, the water can easily drain away from the house during rain, and two, the massive piles of dirt next to the house posed as a danger to the house. All along, we enjoyed the company of and played with Samson and Vahan. We were also surprised to have a short visit from Gohar, our guide from Yerevan. Afterwards, we enjoyed a large goodbye feast, inside the nearly completely house! It was bittersweet leaving. We had enjoyed our time there, and had greatly enjoyed the company of Samson and Vahan, who had gotten very close to the group. I can personally say, part of me remains at that house and with those two kids. It was amazing, despite all their hardship, they still could smile, laugh, play, and be merry like an other child. The amount of laughter those two brought to our group was spectacular.

After leaving the site, we refreshed ourselves and prepared for our goodbye dinner from Tatavik. After a night of toasting, smiling and feasting, we all moved to the balcony. During the dinner, we had heard loud music from the opposite room. Once in the balcony, we met an Armenia lady from Los Angles, California. She invited us to a engagement party, which the group wholeheartled accepted. Scratch that from the bucket list. Crash an Armenia engagement party. Check!

During our toasting, one thing stuck out. We had given the two families a lot according to Tatavik. But I have to politely disagree. The bonds, memories and thoughts that those two families, especially Suren, Samson and Vahan have given me are tenfold what I could have given them. If I could, I would pack those three boys into my luggage and bring them to the States. The joy of children is universal. Despite the language barrier, we understood on thing from the children that is universal in all languages. A smile.