September 1
Trip Start
Jan 15, 2005
1
36
52
Trip End
Apr 27, 2006
Today is an important day for me for three reasons 1) It is my Dad's birthday back in the States. Happy Birthday Dad! See, I didn't forget, I just didn't remember in time to do something in time for today. 2) Three months ago today the UZ-18ers boarded a plane and left Uzbekistan. It has been three months! That's just crazy! 3) Today was my first day of work in Armenia. Well, if you can call today a work day since I was only there a couple of hours. I got there and talked to my counterpart. Well, really she talked to me and I answered as best as I could. I understood nearly everything she said to me. She does not speak English so, I have to keep learning Armenian. But, she told me she would like for me to get them computers for the library and internet access. Luckily I had remembered her telling me this during the counterpart conference and so found out a little info about internet access in Dilijan. It ain't good. The phone lines are not good, hence internet isn't that good but, first I will try and get some computers and a printer and a way to keep financing that after I am gone. I can't write any grants until February or so. Peace Corps does grant training and we can't apply for any grants until we do the training. After I talked with her (her name is Manush) We went to the assembly room and the mayor made a speech, the cardinal made a speech and said a prayer and then diplomas and grades were given out. After that I went with the librarian into the library. It is the size the Bryant and Stratton College one was before it was split between two campuses. I felt right at home. I think I will like it here. Especially after seeing that the librarian but the barcode (here it is a book number because there is no computer to read a barcode) handwritten into the book like i did at B&S. Woohoo!! She is using two different catalog systems because she has divided the books into Russian and Armenian language. So, for the Russian books she is using the Russian system and for the Armenian books, she is using the armenian system. Both systems I don't know at all. She also showed me the book diplays she has around the college and in the library. She will change them in about a week. So, what will I be doing? Working in the library! First things first. I need to learn what is in the library and find out what she would like to add to the library and how the budget works in this library. She has shown me her record keeping and I am impressed. She keeps track of what books are falling apart and how much each and every book cost. Oh! Hey! I know how to repair books. I know how to do it cheap! Hmmm..... But, my very first task is to either make new labels for all the books or shelf read. Of course, the labels will be done by hand. YIKES, my handwriting sucks! Oh well. As for learning new library systems... hey! I taught myself the library of congress system after I was hired at Bryant and Stratton. Oops!! I don't think Lloyd or Kate knew that until now. :) So, now I am going to go home and study a little, watch bugs bunny in english, and spend some time with the family. The baby is now 9 days old!! He is so cute!! Anna drinks a lot of tea and eats a lot of watermelon because it will help her produce milk. Hmm, didn't know that. Will have to lok that up to see if there is any truth to that. Again, Happy Birthday DAD!! Take care! Laura
