Yerevan diaries: Anecdote, Grindr and more :))

Few light-hearted stories and observations from Yerevan.

Let’s start with a joke that made me burst into laughing. (you have to know Armenian to get it)

Հայկը Բելին մի նետով սպանեց [կարդալ “մինետով”]

This follows by remark (in translit using Russian letters):

шат нетагргир а
***

A female teacher at one of Yerevan universities, to make her point stronger (or so she hopes), regularly swears in front of her students on something apparently very sacred to her: “I swear on my virginity” (“Клянусь своей девственностью”) 


Just to clarify, this is not a joke, this happens for real.
***

As Grindr is getting more popular in Armenia, so are the stories associated with its use. This one is about those users who are soliciting money for sex.

Apparently, when you use Grindr in Armenia, you frequently get asked: “local?”

Depending on your answer, you may hear different offers from the same person: 1. if you answered “yes” (i.e. you are local), you may get offer for sex for say 5-10K AMD; 2. if your answer is “no” (i.e. you are foreigner) - expect much higher price for sex: e.g. 200 US dollars or… iPhone.
***

...and finally.

This composition at Yerevan Cascade is dubbed “Artush and Zaur”.

[for background re “Artush and Zaur", the book, check relevant label on this blog]

Introducing yet another bigot – Armenian doctor MP Karen Avagyan

Armenian doctor MP from the ruling Republican party, member of the parliamentary Health Care Committee Karen Avagyan's interview with Aravot daily:

"It’s true, the existence of sexual minorities is not accepted by our society although there are such people in this very society. Regardless of whatever documents our country signs, whatever actions are conducted, acceptance will not get materialised, and thanks God that it won't. This conservatism is very necessary for us. I may well have acquaintances with such people too without knowing that they are such people, but if I knew, I won’t have any relations/contacts with them."

Մերժում է սեռական փոքրամասնություններին
Սեռական փոքրամասնությունների գոյությունը իրոք մեր հասարակության կողմից չի ընկալվում, չնայած նույն հասարակության մեջ կան այդպիսի մարդիկ: Մեր երկիրը ինչ փաստաթուղթ էլ ստորագրի, ինչ միջոցառումներ էլ անցկացվեն, միեւնույն է, հասարակական ընկալում չի ձեւավորվում եւ փառք Աստծո, որ չի ձեւավորվում: Այս պահպանողականությունը մեզ շատ է պետք: Միգուցե ես էլ եմ նման մարդկանց հետ շփվում ու չգիտեմ, որ նրանք այդ մարդիկ են, բայց եթե այդ մասին իմանամ՝ այլեւս նրանց հետ չեմ շփվի:

He is MP. He is doctor MP. Still, no much surprises here as the same doctor MP mentions during the interview, somehow proudly, that he would never marry non-virgin woman.

«Երբեք չէի ամուսնանա մի կնոջ հետ, ով մինչ ամուսնությունը սեռական հարաբերություն է ունեցել այլ տղամարդու հետ»

From his bio on parliament.am:

He was born on December 6, 1974 in Yerevan.

In 1999 he graduated from the general medicine faculty of Yerevan State Medical University/YSMU, In 2001 he graduated from the residency training of forensic medicine of YSMU. 2001 –2004 he was a post-graduate in YSMU, 2003-2004 he was a post-graduate in A. Humboldt University. He is a forensic doctor, candidate of medical sciences, docent.

2003-2005 he was a President of YSMU Students’ Parliament.

2002-2004 he worked at the chair of forensic medicine of YSMU as a senior laboratory assistant, 2004-2006 - an assistant, since 2006 – docent, 2005-2007 he was aide to the Prime Minister.

In 2006 he was awarded a medal of Prime Minister. He is a Chairman of the RPA Youth organization.

On May 12, 2007 he was elected a deputy by the proportional electoral system from the Republican Party of Armenia. He is a member of the RPA board.

He is married, has a child.

Turkey: Virginity Test In A Student Dormitory

If this sort of things happen in Istanbul, with 18 yrs old university student, imagine how things are somewhere more remote...

Bianet: "A principle of a dormitory forced a father to get a virginity report for her daughter C.G. who is a university student (18 years old) in Avcılar Istanbul. The incident happened when the principle of the dormitory where the said university student was staying called her father and told him that he should come and get her daughter, on the grounds that the reddish marks around her face and neck were obvious signs of a sexual relationship. The father had to come and take two virginity reports for her daughter from two different hospitals. The father said he was going to file a complaint." More...