Impressions of an AYF Intern

By Michelle M.

Michelle is a summer intern with the AYF Internship Program, working at the Hrayr Mahroukhian Foundation at the ARF Bureau office in Yerevan. She is from Los Angeles.

4 a.m.: The airbus was nearing Zvartnots International Airport. My 21-hour journey from LAX was about to come to an end. The fellow Armenian sitting next to me of similar age was peeking out the window over my shoulder. He was a frequent visitor of our motherland; a month had not passed since his last visit. However, the excitement in his face would have said otherwise. Chills ran down my spine as we glanced at the scattered city lights. The realization finally was hitting me: I was about to step foot on Mayr Hayasdan for the first time.

Michelle and Tevin with Atom Egoyan — While my work is valuable to our office, Maria always insists that I make my time here as enjoyable as possible. She took my co-intern, Tevin Polatian, and I to a talk pertaining to social issues of Armenia, where she introduced us to Atom Egoyan and Arsinee Khanjian.

I came to Armenia with no expectations; I did not know what to expect. It’s now been three weeks since my arrival and the one word that I can use to describe my entire experience is “love.” During the weekends, we visit the tourist sites in Armenia and Karabagh with the AYF Youth Corps participants. This portion of the AYF Internship Program granted me the privilege to go to the places I have only been able to see in books and pictures. I have gotten to know some of the locals at the places we’ve traveled, learned more about our history, and have gotten to see how beautiful our homeland really is. From seeing Mt. Ararat for the first time, to sailing Lake Sevan, to visiting the churches, all my experiences thus far have touched my heart.

My most cherished time during this trip was our visit to the day camp that the AYF Youth Corps runs in Gyumri. Seeing how much their efforts positively impact the youth of our country is very special. The kids did not want to go home at the end of the day. On the other hand, during the weekdays, I have been granted the privilege to be directly immersed in Yerevan’s culture. I share a house with my co-interns right outside the heart of the capital. I leave the house at 9:15 a.m. and walk to work. Despite how much I may feel like a Yerevantsi, the lack of four-inch heels gives away the fact that I am otherwise. Along the way, I buy a delicious khachapouri, gata, or boncheeg from the store down our hill for breakfast and munch on it along the way. The site of familiar faces and the occasional “Barev dzez” along my morning commute makes me feel like a local.

On a clear day, Mt. Ararat can be seen in the distance and I cannot help but admire its beauty. Just around 10 a.m., I get into the ARF Bureau office and am warmly greeted by all those there. On a typical day, I do computer work (making lists of parliament members or transcribing speeches). What I value most, however, is having the opportunity of sharing an office with my “boss,” Maria Titizian. Maria is vice president of the Socialist International and she is the director of the Hrayr Mahoukhian Foundation. The foundation, named for the longtime activist and leader Hrayr Mahroukhian, aims to build social democracy in the south Caucasus. Maria is an inspiring woman filled with knowledge and passion for Armenian social issues, and she is also incredibly passionate for life.

While my work is valuable to our office, Maria always insists that I make my time here as enjoyable as possible. She took my co-intern, Tevin Polatian, and I to a talk pertaining to social issues of Armenia, where she introduced us to Atom Egoyan and Arsinee Khanjian. From the small talk we make throughout the day, she has inspired me to look into helping the future of Armenia through public health and environmental work.

I could not have wished for another program to have been a part of to experience my first visit to Armenia. I have made memories that I will cherish for a lifetime and have become a part of a family that will always be in my heart. I haven’t left Armenia yet, but I can’t wait to be back!

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is an international youth organization that works year-round to guide the social, political, cultural and moral development of young Armenians. The AYF Eastern Region operates an internship program that places ambitious youth in offices in Yerevan in order to experience our homeland and contribute to its development. The AYF Western Region operates the Youth Corps program that runs a day camp for underprivileged children in Gyumri during the summer. For more information about the AYF’s activities, visit www.AYF.org (eastern) or www.AYFwest.org (western).