Ringing in Reality: "Last Bell" isn't what it used

[anileve]

I came across this article recently and was shocked at what I was reading. It is almost impossible to believe that such incidents occur in Yerevan. It was so different when I was there, I am afraid to see what else has changed. Flames have you heard of this before?

Ringing in Reality: "Last Bell" isn't what it used to be

"Last Bell" signaled the end of school.
Traditionally on this day, students dress in their best clothes, arm themselves with flowers and hold special ceremonies in their schools to remember the day.

For those finishing 10th form, Last Bell means entry to adulthood.

These days in Yerevan, the tradition has taken on another color. Last Bell has become big business, akin to the United States tradition of Prom Night. Gifts, extravagant outfits, fancy restaurants and limousine rides are becoming the norm. For some, that trend has turned the day of celebration into a day of alienation and embarrassment.

Fifteen year old Gegham Muradyan won't be participating at his Last Bell party, because to do so would require spending about $150, a sum his family can only dream of.
"You have been studying for 10 years impatiently waiting for the Last Bell and after that you don't take part in it as you haven't got money," Gegham says. "Who decided that Last Bell is only for eating and giving presents?"

He stopped talking and quickly left the room as he didn't want to show his tears. His mother says Gegham hasn't been attending school for a month "as they are regularly rehearsing Last Bell ceremony, talking about upcoming parties and about clothes they are going to wear and cars they are going to drive that day.

Last week we called in an ambulance two times because as a result of his worries and hurts he had terrible headaches and nervous system disorder when his limbs turned numb."

Last year a teenage girl at School No. 77 committed suicide two days before Last Bell. The family lived across the street from the school and their daughter hanged herself on the balcony in view of her classmates.

Before taking her life she wrote a note to her parents saying she did not want to become a burden to them. She knew, she said, that they could not afford Last Bell, so she took her life so they wouldn't borrow money.
There are many children who find themselves in such a situation on the edge of their new life. Still, Last Bell is becoming more market scheme than tradition.

Expenses for the Last Bell ceremony start at $150 in the well-known schools of the city. At Puskin School some pay $200. In the remote schools of the city pupils can get by on $70 to $100 - still, three to four times the average Armenian official salary.

For that amount students get a rented hall, a class photograph and a party. But the most expensive cost has become gifts for teachers. Depending on whether a teacher's subject involves final exams, typical gifts range from flowers to gold chains. It is traditional to give the form master a gold diamond inlaid piece.
An added expense is a present for the school director. In many schools, classes have taken to giving $50 (per class) to their director. With four to five graduating classes, that makes Last Bell a lucrative day for directors of some schools.

An important part of Last Bell is concerts and ceremonies organized by schools. In times past, the students wrote their own programs and sketches. Now, however, some are hiring program directors and purchasing scripts.

"The greatest pleasure of the Last Bell ceremony is when children perform using their own strengths and create themselves," says teacher Rima Kerobyan. "It's ok if it isn't a performance of high-quality but when they create themselves it is always more touching and beautiful."
Kerobyan says that today's celebrations have turned into a "dress-off and fashion show where everyone demonstrates luxurious clothes. Those who can't afford it, sit in some corner of the classroom and hardly hold back tears waiting until everything will be finished."
Decades ago, recalls journalist Arevik Avagyan, Last Bell was a different time.

"We prepared dolma," she says. "One of the class mates brought meat from somewhere and that part of dolma with meat we gave to our teachers. That was our party and it made us happy. Today the important part is the is dress-off ."
Some parents put themselves in debt to assure the child's participation in Last Bell.

"It happens only once in my child's life, that's why I borrowed money at interest for buying clothes, shoes and paying ceremony fee," says parent Nazely Saghatelyan.
Today children from outside regions also come by buses to Yerevan. Usually they make circles around Republic Square. But as it is under construction, they gather instead this year at the Institute of Manuscripts. Their capital is changing and so are their times.


WHAT A SHAME!

[sSsflamesSs]

Wow, that stung like a slap in the face. Although I came to the US (1993) loooong before MY Last Bell could have taken place, I did go back in 2000. When my best friend from school complained to me how everything and anything was turning into a high-priced popularity contest, I didn't pay much attention to it. But to see that young adults are so traumatized as to suffer through nervous ailments and take their lives for this??? It seems as though the way things happen in the government are also defiling the sweet memories of school days.

[anileve]

Snap, you came to the US a little after me. I moved to NYC in December of ’92. You must have been 10 then. I used to live on Abovian Poghots and went to Pushkinski dprots. I remember when I arrived to NYC, I didn’t want to leave the house, I hated everything about the city. I missed our Apartment, my bak, my school, my many friends that I missed so much, my café where we used to eat paghpaghak and drink the most delicious water out of the fountain next to it.

I even missed those Rabiz who used to wear penny loafers, awful jeans and leather jackets and used to squat on the corners and spit…well maybe not them, but I missed everything else about my life in Yerevan. Those last years that I spent there, western craze started taking off. Remember comisionkaner? There was emptiness in supermarkets but commisionkaner were exploding with imports and high prices. When bananas used to arrive in stores there would be a huge line waiting to get a little bunch at a high price; we used to savor them. I swore that I would never stop loving bananas if I could only eat them every day, now I don’t even like them.

Remember those little brown uniforms with little white aprons we used to wear to school and how girls in miniskirts were considered loose? Or the memorable phase when boys used to glue mirrors to the top of their shoes and walk up to girls and suavely place their feet between theirs? I figured out that trick immediately, so whenever a boy would attempt to apply the same trick on me, he would be blessed with a powerful slap in the face. And the funny thing is that they took it, laughed and never returned a favor. And what about the Women’s day March 8 (I think), when the teacher would organize for girls to leave the classroom and when we would return there would be little bouquets of forget-me-nots on every girls desk. Or when they used to carry our books or help us putting on our jackets?

It all seems so funny and sweet now. I miss my childhood.

[sSsflamesSs]

Camisyonkaner? :D Haha, I can't believe you remember those. They sprung up like mushrooms. The school uniforms, the "fashionable" glossy black dress shoes, the varyonka yubka :D ...man oh man, where did the years go?

We left right before the truly hard times hit.

I don't know how it is for you, but for me, when I left, my real life ended and a not so tasteful one began here. I was a different person there than I am now. The life is oh so different. Man, why did we ever move? I remember when, around the time before we were going to leave, all the trees kept disappearing because people burned them for heat. Remember that? The winters were too damn cold.

But I also have my sweetest memories in Armenia. xxxx, I'm going to cry now...

[anileve]

Do I freakin remember????!!! How could I not? We used to sleep with our winter coats on. Damn you have reminded me of varyonka yubka!!!!!!! Haaa, wow, I think everyone from Abovian poghots to Cherumushki owned one!

You have no idea what I go through remembering everything. I miss every bit of it. But you know what? We miss our childhood and that we will never get back. It’s all different now, we are and our friends are. If we were to stay, you and I would be struggling to make $20 a week, if not less. That is the sad truth, but all of it will forever remain in my memories. We have to discuss more, I have so much stuff to share, but it’s awfully late and I have to hit the sack, so come up with some more and I’ll add to it tomorrow. Ay aghchi, bari gisher.

[sSsflamesSs]

You have no idea what I go through remembering everything.

You're friggin kidding me, right? Tell me it is so, puh-puh-puh-leeez?

How could I have no idea? You and I both left our motherland at a relatively old age (me being 10, and you being 13?). I lived out half of my life there, the better half by a landslide. So don't tell me that I have no idea (sorry if I sounded a little prissy here :? ).

Aaaaanyway...

Yea, about the bananas and the ananas...haha, I didn't even taste those until I came here (actually, I think I tasted pineapple once in Armenia, but I can't remember). I remember yearning so much to be able to eat them, and NOW look at me...my mom has to force feed me :D .

I lived on Halabyan poghots, by the Physics Institute (I think the taghamas was called Cheremushka? I can't remember for sure). But I spent most of my time at my grandparents', who lived by the metro (Barekamutiun kangar :D ) (Marshall Baghramian poghots? Dammit, I can't remember the names of the streets). I went to the 'posi dprots' - Anglyakan tequmov :D (I don't know if you remember). Then I came to this hellhole "for a better life". Yea physically, but mentally and emotionally?

Yes, it is sad that the economy sucks, but hey, it hasn't been that long since we got our independence. It WILL get better, there's no doubt about that. I just hope it's during my lifetime, because more than anything, I want to go back.

[xBaron Dants]

AAAAAAAAWWWWW!!!! You two are too cute :)

I haven't been through all of that, but it's almost as if I have, just reading your stories. Yes, Armenia has already come a long way from the days when people had to cut down trees. Almost EVERYONE has power in Armenia, and by 2004, all of Yerevan should have water 24/7, and it will gradually be likewise in the rest of the country. This summer, I saw a growing middle class, which I had feared that I wouldn't see. Young families in their zhigulis going out to restaurants, dancing, etc. Say what you will, but despite the constant complaining Hayastantsis do (let's all admit it), they are mostly very happy people.

lol, this reminds me of the "who plans on going back home" thread we had a while back flames. We were all getting pumped up about it. Is the deal still on? And anileve, are you ready to join in?

[anileve]

Baronchik, I would love to go back to Hayastan, I haven’t been there for 11 years now. We can all go together only if you sit between me and flames, so that I can pinch your little 17 year old apple cheeks. :D

[xBaron Dants]

lol, this is why I was reluctant to share my age with you people.

But honestly, do you consider a MOVE to Armenia? Or just a visit?

[anileve]

Flames you are killing me! Memories, light the corners of my mind Misty watercolor memories of the way we were…

I too forgot most of names of our streets. I remember distinctly ploshad Lenina (I am sure it was renamed) and Komitas poghots and I do remember Barekamutiun kangar. Remember Vernisaj, my friend and I used to always go there on the weekends to look at the art. It was all so colorful. I used to play tennis in that big park with a café and a statue of Nalbandian, I don’t remember the name. Oh I do remember in the course of my last years, passing by a statue of the Mermaid (I don’t know if you have any idea of what I am talking about), and this mermaid by the way was depicted with a bare bust and a tail, and the western hype was in full effect at the time and a fascination with American movies. I got carried away there, so that poor mermaid had the word “sex” written across her breasts, it was so pitiful.

Oh oh oh, remember “ISAURA”, I used to think she’s the loveliest, smartest and strongest woman I have ever seen. She was cross eyed if you remember. There was an obsession with that soap opera, the whole city was fixated on religiously watching every episode and then they would get together and start bambasel doing : “Vay aghchi, uremn gites inch eghav, koranam yes, et kheghch aghchika….” And when there would suddenly be a “very rare” occurrence of a blackout, someone would place a little TV on batteries bakum and everyone would gather around not to miss a word of that ridiculous show.

Wow, the stuff we went through, eh!

[anileve]

lol, this is why I was reluctant to share my age with you people.

But honestly, do you consider a MOVE to Armenia? Or just a visit?

Baronchik, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s hard to contain myself since you are 2 years younger than my brother, and so terribly smart. I miss those days when he was as sensible as you are, and I would have liked to pinch his cheeks too, but he’s 6’ and one hell of a stubborn ass. :D

As for my move to Armenia, I doubt it. It’s recently that I am experiencing feelings of nostalgia; I want to pay Yerevan a visit, just to see what has changed. As for living there…there are many factors as to why I wouldn’t. And most of all it’s that there is nothing there for me. My family is untraditionally tiny and they are all here, I’ve lost touch with my friends and we are in distant relations with our relatives. Just to name a few reasons.

[Artsakhtsi]

Remember those little brown uniforms with little white aprons we used to wear to school and how girls in miniskirts were considered loose? Or the memorable phase when boys used to glue mirrors to the top of their shoes and walk up to girls and suavely place their feet between theirs? I figured out that trick immediately, so whenever a boy would attempt to apply the same trick on me, he would be blessed with a powerful slap in the face. And the funny thing is that they took it, laughed and never returned a favor. And what about the Women’s day March 8 (I think), when the teacher would organize for girls to leave the classroom and when we would return there would be little bouquets of forget-me-nots on every girls desk. Or when they used to carry our books or help us putting on our jackets?


Ow,,,, i almost forgot this things...... *brown uniforms* .... eh... realy girl, it was a nice time then......
Women's day.....getting flowers from the boys(funny days)... well... keep dreaming...... specially here in Sweden....where women are extream feminists... i mean they lost any feminity.... So here, u do not feel special..... if u know what i mean girls :rolleyes:

Any way, thanx for reminding me this days ;)


p.s. .... i'm shoked about this crazyness in Yerevan ..... :(

[anileve]

Hey Artsakhtsi,

I’ve been meaning to “hey” you, but you were so passionately involved in an, excuse me for saying this but, “overly exhausted” subject of Genocide, that I decided to let you pour it all out and then greet you.

Inch lava vor du Hayastanitses, many memories to reminisce about. I do have to make a comment for a future reference, I am one hella ofa feminist and yet nonetheless feminine and like my coat to be held by a man, so please refrain from using “feminist” as a derogatory term.

I did hear that Sweden has some serious feminists, however the liberal and uninhibited nature doesn’t only apply to women, and men have developed a similar liberal way of thinking as well. Also from certain sources confirm that relationships and commitments are not usually on their list of priorities and they thrive on exercising unattached relations. Would you agree?

Well, feel free to contribute to our memory lane, I am getting swept away by nostalgia. Tell us some about some other good stuff from the past.

[Artsakhtsi]

Hey Artsakhtsi,

I’ve been meaning to “hey” you, but you were so passionately involved in an, excuse me for saying this but, “overly exhausted” subject of Genocide, that I decided to let you pour it all out and then greet you.

Inch lava vor du Hayastanitses, many memories to reminisce about. I do have to make a comment for a future reference, I am one hella ofa feminist and yet nonetheless feminine and like my coat to be held by a man, so please refrain from using “feminist” as a derogatory term.

I did hear that Sweden has some serious feminists, however the liberal and uninhibited nature doesn’t only apply to women, and men have developed a similar liberal way of thinking as well. Also from certain sources confirm that relationships and commitments are not usually on their list of priorities and they thrive on exercising unattached relations. Would you agree?

Well, feel free to contribute to our memory lane, I am getting swept away by nostalgia. Tell us some about some other good stuff from the past.

Barev Anileve! 8)

Vontses? Es Artsakhits em, tsnvel em Stepanakert....

Gites, es haskanoum em inchou es tents asoum “overly exhausted”, bajts vor imatsa et ahchike turkha.... chem karetsel sus mnam..., unfortunatly im anglerenes lav chi, dra hamar chem karoum normal knnarkel ira het... , hamel es nor masnakits em stegh.. dra hamar petka eghel to pool it out of me :rolleyes: ..... hima mikhich hangist em hehe....

ABout feminists in Sweden, don't know much about it, but they are fighting, u see we have a problem here - like man and women r doing the same job, but man gets a bigger salary...So it's a biggest priority here for women to change this stupid system!

Hm, u have a good sources girl ... swedish ppl do not like to merry, they like "grazhdnskij brak" haskatsa? :?: it's a popular thing here....

Memory? hm.... my first Pepsi Cola hahah,,,ow.... we where lil kids ( me and my sis) and my dad, where on the trip in Moscow, so he bring our first Pepsi and bananas from there, damn ... i was so happy :D the taste of of my first Pepsi..will stay with me forever...... however... i hate bananas now :D

Hajogh girl !

[Artsakhtsi]

Oh oh oh, remember “ISAURA”, I used to think she’s the loveliest, smartest and strongest woman I have ever seen. :shock: :D :D :D :D :D

U r killing me girl, it's jsut too much...STOP :D

[TigranJamharian]

anileve and ssflames i seriously started crying when i read your posts. i lived in vanadzor and came to the US pretty young (7) in 1995 but i remember everything and i really do think that the best times of my life were in Armenia even though we only had makaron kartoshka and hats to eat for a couple of days and people used to rip the wood off the benches in the park for heat but it was so nice. i remember that our hayat was surrounded by apartments on one side and garages on the other but nice little unique garages, and the garages had their backs to this old ladies house and she had 20 cats and 2 dogs and we would climb on top of the garage and pick the apples off of her tree that was right there and eat apples on top of the garage and then we used to go steal sand from the construction crews and use it to make a sandbox to play with our toy cars. I remember going to get bread from the store and eating half of the loaf on the way back and man do i miss ARMENIA. I rememeber going to my friends house on sundays because they had a battery television and we would watch a disney movie they showed once a week. there were lights for like 2 hours a day but it was the best. i dont know why i came to this xxxxhole country america.i want to cry.i want to go back but i dont have a greencard i will be getting by card in february but i will be 16 and if i go then i will be forced to stay for military draft and my parents wont allow that. AW man vay vay HAYASTAN JAN.

[Anonymouse]

Screw the last bell.

Although I didn't go to school in Armenia, my parents would always tell me about it.

It's amazing how much material culture has replaced humanity.

It's like L.A.

I hate this xxxxhole.

[ckBejug]

:( why does reminiscing about things have to be so sad?

in my entire life, i have been to armenia all of twelve days, and they were the twelve most incredible days i have experienced in the 21 years i have been alive. and that's God's honest truth. Nothing i have ever done compares to that in any way, and I don't think anything ever will equal it's awesomeness. after having gone to armenian schools my entire life and learning about this place that has had such a sad and tumultuous yet glorious and incredible past, Gosh I can't even describe how i felt AT HOME all of a sudden. This place was MINE, my people. Even now I can't put it into words. It was incredible. 37 people we stepped off the plane and took one look around and seriously breathed a sigh like all together. I xxxx you not. I didn't want to leave.

I still remember when I was a kid in AYF and we had these tramahavaks to raise money because people in Armenia had it so bad they had to burn whatever they could get their hands on just for heat. it made me SO sad. I remember asking my mom why we couldn't just give some of our heat and blankets because we really didn't need it so bad. And now, to hear how you guys lived through those times and still came out with these beautiful memories of a life you loved, damn, seriously, can i say how much i LOVE being armenian??

i want to go back soon. very very very soon. I say we take a group trip.

as for reminiscing about growing up there, well that's one thing I can't do. Where is anyone who will reminisce with me about going to Mekhitarian and growing up and going to AYF on fridays and scouts in Glendale after which we had Kebab, EVERY SUNDAY?? Who gives a crap about these stoopid dirty streets in LA, i wish i grew up somewhere that pulled at my heartstrings every time i thought about it :-/ If anything, i want to give my children the chance to grow up in that kind of environment. I used to sit at the AYF meetings and wonder why we couldn't all just pick up a gun and shoot those stupid turks for making us live now so far away from our homeland, in addition to the etc horrible things they did. I was about 8-9-10 years old then. Now i know it's not so easy, and although it may not happen in this lifetime, i do dream of a time when I can move back to Armenia and live where my ancestors lived. It's just this feeling of owning a place. not in the stupid monetary sense of the word. in a different way i can't explain.

well that was quite a spilling of my guts. i was listening to enya and thinking about days past. excuse my mushyness