by Tewell Avazian
After nine months, 31 year-old American Peace Corps Volunteer shares anecdotes of his work and life in Armenia.
"Are you sitting down? I've received my assignment and I'm going to Armenia." This was the message Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) John Perfitt left on his friend's phone machine one year ago. Before that, if you asked John where is Armenia, he would have responded, "somewhere near Romania, or perhaps Afghanistan." Now, he is living in Sissian, a town five hours away from Yerevan, 10 miles from Azerbaijan, and 50 miles from northern Iran, teaching marketing and business concepts to Armenian students, and signing his letters home "Hovaness Perfittian."
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, John is a graduate from Michigan State and was living in San Francisco working in sales and marketing for Kodak before he took a serious look at some of his lifetime goals. Although he spent his time outside of work volunteering with local organizations in California like the Big Brothers of America, John felt that it was time to serve those less privileged in a more committed and meaningful way. And on May 31, 1995, he got his chance to do so when he, along with 31 other PCVs boarded a plane headed for Hayastan (Armenia).
"I'll never forget the first time I was introduced to Hayastan hospitality," says John. "I think it was somewhere over Hungary when our plane to Armenia was struggling to make it through stormy weather. A couple of the Armenians on board noticed the look of terror on my face and immediately rushed to my side with cognac and stories to calm my nerves." Welcome to Yerevan John.
Since he landed, John spends his days as a PCV teaching English and economics at a local college in Sissian and working with Junior Achievement to help high school students develop their own small business enterprises. "I've found the student's eager to learn," says John. "And I hope to capture their interest and help them better understand the idea of a free market economy. More importantly, I hope that my students walk away with a better understanding that Armenia's number one asset is its people."
He has also spent his time working closely with Junior Achievement (JA)- an American-based program introduced in Armenia in 1992 to teach high school students about free market economics. The program started with eight pilot schools and today 125 high schools participate in the program. "The JA teaches students," says John, "about how to operate a business from soup to nuts. They learn how to buy materials, price products, and sell and manage stock." Through the JA, students have started companies which manufacture and sell gym shorts. Others sell authentic Armenian arts and crafts. Students learn how to watch the bottom line and increase their profits. Many of these concepts are foreign to students. In fact, some students have asked the question, "what is a profit?"
The Peace Corps has been working with the government of Armenia since 1992 to promote world peace and friendship by sending 93 PCVs to Armenia for 2-year terms of service. With the break-up of the former Soviet Union and the devastating earthquake in 1988, PCVs have helped reorganize and rebuild the country's shaken economic structure by working on projects geared toward education and business development.
Among other ongoing projects, they have organized the first English language teacher's conference of Armenia held last June. They have helped the American University of Armenia (AUA) graduates develop and strengthen HiFM, Armenia's first independent radio station, and coordinate the music with the Voice of America. They have also helped develop a tourist brochure for the town of Dilijan, located near Lake Sevan.
PCVs are provided a living allowance comparable to the positions in which they serve. In doing so, they develop a keener understanding of the people's lifestyles in the country where they are volunteering. Each PCVs assignment is varied, but all volunteers receive an intensive pre-service training for the first three months in Armenia, and additional training throughout the year.
Many PCVs, like John, live in dorms where they teach. In Sissian, where John lives, half of the college dormitories are used by the college, the other half are used as refugee housing. Armenian refugees from Baku, Azerbaijan have been relocated to temporary housing locations in such public buildings as hotels, hospitals and schools.
While John and other PCV's work daily to make a difference in the lives of Armenians, they can't help but being challenged daily by the differences in culture. "Throughout the day, my classes are interrupted by visitors," notes John. "If class starts at 10 in the morning, they walk in to say hello or pass on some information. I have expressed my American opinion on this subject many times hoping these interruptions would cease so class could be more productive. I think word has traveled that these disturbances bother me. People still come in unannounced, but now they say "Ganerek" (excuse me)."
More recently, at his site in Sissian, John was going to his translator Gohar's house to review some information about his classes. Unknowingly, John went to the right apartment but the wrong building. When the door opened, John did not see Gohar and thought that Gohar's family and friends were over for dinner. The family insisted that John sit down and have dinner with them.
"As they pulled me in to sit down," says John, "I realized that I did not know anyone and asked them if this was Gohar's apartment. The family said, 'No, but don't worry. Sit down, relax and eat. You'll go later to find Gohar.'" To a guest in a foreign land, the Armenian people truly roll out the red carpet.
"I am constantly amazed how involved people are in every aspect of each other's lives in Armenia," comments John. "If a bus breaks down, everyone in the neighborhood-young and old- helps solve the driver's dilemma. If someone needs money, neighbors will lend it. Growing up in America, we exchange pleasant "hellos" with neighbors, but we do not assume responsibility for caring for individuals outside our intimate family unit. In Armenia, taking care of family, friends, and neighbors is the natural, expected way of life."
In his free time, John frequently visits Yerevan, which he refers to as "the city." He's had the opportunity to hear the Yerevan Symphony, and he frequently uses the resources available at the American University of Armenia. There, he is able to research information, find materials in English, and access the Internet which enables him to communicate back home.
"The Armenian experience has been incredible," says John. "I hope I am able to do good here in Armenia and provide people with knowledge and new techniques. They truly are deserving. I only wish others could come and see for themselves."
John, thank you for the invitation. We may just come.
