A Day In the Life of Jampar

Today was an interesting day. First, waking up to the breathtaking mornings of Gyumri’s clear skies and to the soft chirping of the birds flying. Opening my eyes to something like this was more like a dream. I truly appreciate every minute of my trip here, especially when my dream has always been to be in Armenia. Moreover, being in Armenia to do this very program fulfills a dream I’ve had for years.

The walk to the Jampar was a relaxing and funny start to my morning. The funny parts consist of the conversations shared amongst the “team” and the bond being built. Arriving to the Jampar was good as usual, seeing the kids waiting there for the start of a new day. First, we took the kids to the gym and sang our national anthem with their young, strong voices, and then back to the classes for breakfast. After eating, as energetic and happy as they were, we started our English lessons. I felt really good teaching them English, because after each word I mentioned, they repeated it multiple times and mastered it. Confident in themselves, they learn fast and help each other when need be.

The kids know their Armenian songs very well and sing in a great projected voice, competing with their friends in the other groups. They also enjoy playing soccer and are actually really good at it. I was surprised to see the ball disappear from my feet in a matter of seconds as it gets stolen by the kids. After the tiring play, we split up into our colors and had an educational to teach them the general aspects of everyday life. They enjoyed the lesson and were anxious to learn more. However, with a tight schedule, we jumped right into the singing. Throughout the whole time, I was shocked to see how well they taught each other and how their strong voices rocked our classrooms. After the singing was over, we lined up the kids in their colors and had them sing Mshag Panvor in front of their anxious parents. And that concluded the fourth day of camp.

I can’t wait for tomorrow.

AYF Youth Corps 2013,
Asbed Levon Sarkissian