Tags
1995-97, Armenia, first English-Armenian dictionary, Gyumri, Lord Byron, Peace Corps, School #20
This was the reason I was sent to Gyumri, Armenia. To teach English at the Lord Byron school. It was a gift from the British government after the earthquake. Turns out that Byron helped to create the first English-Armenian dictionary. There was a statue of him outside the main building. My students had less of an idea of who Byron was, though. One day a boy, Aram, told me “please, next time you see Mr. Byron, tell him he is a very nice man.” I smiled and told him that I certainly would.
memories of my ghost sista 
Wondering why a country like England would see fit to pay teachers to teach a language that has so little to do with their welfare, when they could have sent them some spuds – or a few thousand copies of “A Modest Proposal.”
On my Way…
Actually I was sent there by Peace Corps, I volunteered after college. Teaching English is sort of the fall back job they give volunteers who can’t teach business or development or something useful. I won’t say my teaching experience was useful to the locals, the director of the school didn’t actually want me to teach anything (they were still using the old Soviet methods) but would take me to other schools and show off “their American.” I ended up running an after school English conversation class, which more or less frustrated me to the point I went off on my own looking for work that would be worthy. One day a friend took me to the local orphanage and I more or less never left.
Was just reading the Q and A section in the back of “The Orchid Thief” where Orlean was talking about the temporary relationships creative non-fiction and reportorial writing breeds. She talked about a ten year-old boy who thought that attention and interest from a reporter meant the reporter was truly attenuated and interested in his world…and when she was done and leaving to write the story, he asked if she would be coming back “tomorrow” to which she told him it was over. He was crushed, and she felt like awful. The mind of a young and naive point of reference.
Later…
The Orchid Thief, was that the book they based the movie Adaptation on with Nicholas Cage? I’ve never read it but you got me curious. I am going to see if my local library has a copy. Hurrah for good reads =)
I like to digress…bounce around a lot, and The Orchid Thief is a wonderful example of taking one small incident – a guy stealing some orchids from a park – and spinning out the whole story of the guy, orchids, orchid hunters who never came back, the sleazy history of Florida, passion for singular objects…it became popular for some reason, and it’s a strange read…not the normal bestseller list gunk.
Later…
It sounds like fabulous story telling, thank you for the advice. I checked my library’s catalog and they indeed have one copy which is sadly checked out but I put a hold on so I get it next. Happy days!
Was going to write about it in a post about digressions, of which W.G. Sebald is the king…with Orlean his princess.
Later…
Please, I would enjoy reading that!
Done…coming soon to a post near you.
Later…
Cheers!