Today I had my first all-Armenian experience and I haven't even left Los Angeles yet. I went to the Armenian consulate to apply for a visa. It was an interesting office, a little suite inside a medical building (mostly plastic surgeons).... And this little office with lots of Armenian people waiting around, all looking each other up and down, and throwing one question after another to the overworked woman behind the glass. Listening to people's issues was kind of interesting in a weirdly voyeuristic sort of way. An elderely man was asking about the rules to lengthen his grandson's Armenian passport. Conversation was taking place all around us, but it suddenly became very quiet as the man said "Erekhen tsnogh chuni, vortegrats a." That's not something you hear everyday. The woman replied "vonts tsnogh chuni, uremn duk ek tsnoghe." He went on to explain that his daughter adopted a child from Armenia and was raising him as a single mother. Everyone in the room looked at each other with raised eyebrows...Especially the grandmas, drama drama.
On a lighter note, I would like to elaborate on something else I saw in the office. This is something I've seen in many other places but I think it's worth an analysis here-after all it is somewhat of an enigma to me. Picture it...Bvlgari rhinestone sunglasses (which never come off even indoors), seven jeans, ed hardy t-shirt, ed hardy belt (sometimes I think ed hardy is a closeted Armenian, I mean why else would something so aesthetically unpleasing have such a monopoly over Armenian youth), black pointy boots, louis vuitton monogram wallet/coin purse, a rhinestone dior keychain with 35 different keys on it, two cell phones an Iphone and a Blackberry(which was used extensively with blatant disregard for the "No Cell Phones" sign on the wall), and an unsmiling very brooding disposition..... What is this creature that I'm describing here?? It is the stereotypical Armenian girl. This is the image we all hope to differentiate ourselves from when we get dressed in the morning...sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Now, I'm not criticizing this woman specifically or insinuating that it is somehow uncool to be an Armenian woman, but I just wonder why does THAT stereotype have to prove itself over and over again. Besides the physical appearance, I think it's an attitude issue...I mean really can't you crack even a little smile? Why must every sentence out of your mouth be a "munat"? Do you really have to talk so loudly about your "business" and how busy you are for all the rest of us in the vicinity to suffer through? Can you bring that nose down just a millimeter? And please, take off the damn sunglasses indoors....
All in all it was quite the interesting afternoon....If you're ever bored I recommend a visit to the Armenian consulate.
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