My Way Home

18.09.2017
Repat Story
Yeva Voskanyan
Yeva Voskanyan
Moved from Moscow, Russia, in 2013

Yeva, a repatriate from Russia, had moved there in the dark and cold years of Armenia. Born in her homeland, harsh circumstances led the family to leave the country for better living conditions. Attending school and university in Moscow aided Yeva in being integrated into the community, life was easier. But that wasn’t enough for her. She wanted the cozy feeling of home which she had experienced in Armenia. 

“I’d visit Armenia every time I had some time off of work. My frequent visits made me consider moving there. Maybe I could make it, maybe I couldn’t, but I had to try. My parents were supportive of my decision. They said whatever happens, at least you will know you have tried. First, I had to devote my time to learning the language properly. Sure, we spoke Armenian at home, but I had to learn the correct terminology for work. I didn’t have much to lose, so why not? I didn’t want to have any “what-ifs” in my life.”

“Life in Armenia is different when you come to stay. As a tourist, you visit and enjoy all the monuments and the touristic sightseeing places, even when you realize that the country is in a bad condition. But when you move to the country, you have to deal with all the challenges existing there. I was told by others that my moving to Armenia was a bad decision because most people move to Russia to work; some people even didn’t take my decision seriously. No one from them is saying anything now.”

When making a big decision like Yeva’s, you must take into consideration what others tell you about the country whether it’s good or bad. But you also have to find a silver lining in all the negativity. If you set your mind to accomplishing your deeds, the field you want to work in will definitely find a spot for you. Some people live in their mental borders, and they refuse to think outside the box, they don’t want to see the truth. Yeva broke that cycle and saw things for herself. She saw that you can provide yourself and your family with comfortable life. If one has motivation and knowledge, everything is possible.

One of the biggest changes Yeva has noticed since she moved here is that Armenia possesses a lot of potential, and we have to work together to make it stand out. Many fields are fast developing – like IT, tourism, state infrastructure, so there are many fields where you can find something that fits to your goals. 

 “People are afraid of investing in the country economy because of it is unstable. We are at war with the neighboring country and that’s one of the biggest setbacks Armenia suffers. But somehow, we see people opening new businesses here, even if they face difficulties in the beginning since it’s inescapable. In reality, making baby steps is bigger than it appears. The first steps are always the hardest. Having willpower is vital. If you look closely, you’ll see how the youth is striving to do their best. The new generation is very hardworking and motivated. I see a lot of people interested in programs that offer gaining new skills to have early work experience. Diligent is how I’d describe us.”

What’s a good thing about Armenia? It’s calm. What’s a bad thing about Armenia? It’s calm. But it is only a first impression What others don’t understand is that Armenians are always working, they wake up early, but the country itself is calm because it’s small and everywhere is a 15 minute walk. It is a busy country, but you never feel the need to rush. People don’t live like robots here, we’re alive. Armenia is a comfortable place to live, it’s home.

 
Posted by
Annie Akkam

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