Childhood Dreams

Many of us are fortunate enough to say we grew up with playstations, barbies, an abundant amount of yummy daily snacks, and resources for hygiene purposes. The sad part is, we can all openly admit, at some point in our lives, that we’ve complained about the lack of video games, toys, our mothers buying the wrong snack, or not having the cool spongebob shampoo that the other kids have. I’ve realized one thing while being in Armenia, I was, and I’m pretty sure along with every other youth corp participant, a spoiled child. As we hit the fourth day of camp here in Gyumri, I’ve come to see how special these kids really are. They all share humility and appreciation for the things they have or receive. One of them being my own students from the Red group, seven year old Hovhannes (John).

Our mornings at camp Gyumri begin with breakfast that we supply for the children, because unfortunately, some of our campers’ parents cannot provide breakfast daily for them. These kids eat fruit yogurt and this delicious sweet bread thats coated in honey. Within a few minutes, you won’t see a trace of it on their desks. On one of the days, one child did not finish his share so he gave his portion to Hovhannes. Usually whatever is not eaten, we collect and take it back to the our Youth Corps working room. As I walked around gathering the uneaten sweet bread, Hovhannes looked up at me with embarrassed eyes holding tightly to his bread. I politely asked him if he was done with it or was going to eat it later on. Slowly under his breath he muttered if it was ok if he can take this extra bread home, even though he already had one for breakfast. I didn’t know how to react at first but I smiled and said of course he can take one home, it wasn’t a big deal. Had it been an American child, he or she would have snuck it in their bag and not even have asked. These kids are far from greedy, far from unappreciative, and far from any of the children I ever dealt with as a counselor, at any Homenetmen scouts camp or AYF Camp at Big Pines.

It honestly put my life into perspective a well, not just the extra bread aspect, but in obtaining any type of object in our lives. Even as a twenty-two year old, I find myself sometimes complaining about the small, insignificant things in life. It sucks knowing theres kids out there, with not enough food at home, no toys to play with, and I’m chilling in the U.S. spazzing out over missing out on the newest phone that everyone and their mom has or not being able to go to the Harout Pamboukjian barahantes that “everyone who’s anyone” will be attending. It’s pretty pathetic when you think about it. I’ve come to appreciate and respect the opportunities that life has dealt me so much more while being on this trip than in any other event in my life. We should be blessed to know that there will always be bread on the table when we get home, not having to worry about the water getting cut off, or any other issues these kids deal with on a daily basis. They’re not kids actually, but little adults, and I genuinely admire them for constantly staying positive and happy, regardless of their situation at home.

-Big kid at heart, Knar Kahkejian