Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Eddy Thurber
Staff Writer
I studied abroad in Armenia for the Fall semester of 2022, together with four other Fresno State students, and had the time of my life. Travel is always exciting no matter where you go, but my semester in Armenia was particularly productive and meaningful for me, both as a student and as an Armenian. I learned a lot about the world and about myself. The experience has greatly strengthened my Armenian identity as I learned to read, write, and speak Armenian and discovered that I could navigate my newly discovered homeland.
As a Christian, the experience changed my life as I learned to rely on God through prayer, separated by not only thousands of miles, but also a twelve-hour time difference from my family and closest friends. I would have had a very different experience without the mental grounding brought about by my faith.
In terms of the day to day, American University of Armenia (AUA) is a wonderful school. The administration was notably friendly and jumped at any question our group had with quick fixes and cheery responses; more so than I have seen in any institution that I have been a part of. From a professor bringing Armenian food to our last day of class, to watching classic movies in a different professor’s home, to debates about capitalism, I had an amazing time in class. Many of the professors at AUA are from the Diaspora, which gives them a unique perspective on the geopolitics and business classes I was taking. It is a very different experience being taught by someone who witnessed a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon or saw the aftermath of an airstrike against the Kurds in Iraq, than it is listening to a professor whose experience has been limited to the classroom.
The other international students studying at AUA, in particular, were the highlight of my stay. I met many diasporan Armenians and other non-Armenian students hailing from far-off countries such as the Netherlands and Dubai. I forged amazing connections with them as we learned about each other’s lives and taught each other our languages.
The local Armenian students were very welcoming to us and endlessly curious about life in America and showing us life in Armenia. It was very interesting to contrast our experiences in Armenian culture and especially the Eastern Armenian dialect and traditions, with my own Western Armenian background. The local students are more welcoming to outsiders than many in America are. There was definitely a contrast between the older and younger generations, however, as those raised in the Soviet era were generally less trusting. Nonetheless, I had positive interactions with nearly everybody I came into contact with.
I absolutely loved my stay and highly recommend that any student, especially those with Armenian ancestry, learn more about the Kashian Foundation Scholarship and the opportunity to study at AUA. The Kashian Foundation program sent me to Armenia with all expenses paid and the AUA liaisons for the program are amazing people. If you have any interest in deepening your understanding of Armenian culture, learning some Armenian, or exploring a new country, you must study in Armenia.