Armenia - A Best-Kept Secret Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Every week, program participants were required to submit a 1-3 page reflection to the program head in DC. We were provided a prompt and used our experience in our internships, with our host families, and in the host country more generally to address the topics posed in the assignment. Additionally, I decided to take Armenian language classes for 3 hours a week, thinking that learning as much Armenian as I could would be helpful. The Armenian teacher that the American Councils office in Armenia was not only an excellent teacher but a kind person and an invaluable source of information on Armenian culture, and my Armenian lessons were hands down one of the best aspects of my experience on the program.

On-site administration of your program

Karen and Nane were always easily reachable and very helpful and supportive whenever issues, ranging from cultural misunderstandings with our host families to medical situations, popped up.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had the loveliest host family while on the OPIT program in Armenia! Everyone, including my host parents, my 4-year-old host brother, and their relatives, treated me with such kindness and hospitality and made my adjustment to life in Armenia much easier. I will always cherish the time I spent going with my host dad to the open air market on Saturdays, spending time at the village on Sundays, eating borscht in my host grandmother's kitchen, and playing with my host brother after getting home from my internship. I still keep in touch with members of my host family, and I look forward to seeing them again someday.

During the OPIT program, fruits and vegetables were in season, and also, my host parents and I took weekly trips to visit their relatives in the countryside, so there was never a shortage of fresh, delicious things to eat. Additionally, in Yerevan, there are plenty of low-cost food options ranging from fast food places to restaurants. Vegan and vegetarian alternatives are difficult if not almost impossible to come by, but the food in Armenia is delicious, and Armenians will never let you go hungry, so overall, I was very pleased with the food options available.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was told by many Armenians that I looked Armenian, so in terms of appearance, I did not feel like I stuck out, but language did prove to be a formidable obstacle in feeling socially and culturally integrated during my stay. I came to Armenia with a good command of Russian, which was hugely valuable in communicating with people who were older or had a weaker command of the English language. However, in large group settings in which everyone around me was speaking in Armenian, it was frustrating to be on the outside looking in. I would love to come to Armenia for a longer stay and with a better command of the Armenian language.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I have food allergies, so I came to Armenia with enough allergy medications to last me for the duration of the program. One thing that American Councils did that was extremely helpful was give those of us with food allergies small cards that could fit in a wallet that said "allergy to X" in Armenian, Russian, and English, and had an image of the allergen on the back. This, I thought, was a really helpful gesture.

I pretty much never felt unsafe in Armenia, except for when I was crossing the streets, and there were two times when I came close to getting hit by a car, both times at night, so I would definitely advise students to be extremely mindful when crossing the streets, especially at night. On the plus side, if you ever find yourself lost in Yerevan, as I did during my first week, I found that the locals were very willing to help.

The people that I met through studying abroad with American Councils could not have been more amazing, between my kind-hearted and hard-working colleagues at the Startup Armenia Foundation, my incredibly generous host family, and the American students who were studying abroad in Yerevan with me.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Other

• The people (locals, program staff and participants)
• Professional experience
• Having the opportunity to live with locals

• Better guidelines in the program handbook as far as what to pack