It is official I am in my new place! I took some photos so you can see its current state. I hung up some pictures, lit some candles and most importantly turned on the space heaters…brrrr. I think I am going to ask my landlord if I can get a gas heater. It is cold. Oh winter is only three months, right?..he he..barf.

I had a fun start to my stay when I tried to get money out of the ATM. But instead of giving me money it took my card and didn’t give it back. So, I will not be paying my landlord tonight like I had planned. Oh well, it will allow another awkward conversation at the bank. Last time this happened (yes, it has happened before..ha), I told them that the bank machine had eaten my card. In English this translates well, but I don’t think Armenian bank machines eat things like in America.

That should be pretty easy to fix. After that is worked out I am going to do some shopping! I am wanting to buy an oven to cook things like pizza, macaroni and maybe even brownies!

What I am most excited right even as I sit in my new apartment is the fact that I will be coming home in a week!!! There has been some mix up with Visas here which is a little unsettling.  But, I have been guaranteed by various staff members that I will be able to leave the country next Thursday…without being deported in the process..ha.

Hope you enjoy the latest installment of photos!

#1 – Winter has arrived in Talin. The snow has since melted but the cold has not left.

#2 – I love this picture. This was taken in Gyumri at one of the newest culinary establishments: Ms. Burger. It was McBurger, but I think there might have been some broken copyright laws or something…ha. Here are Steve, Kim and Kelsey and I enjoying our Armenian versions of the quarterpounder with cheese!

#3 – Meet Hasmik, she is one of my favorite people in Talin. This past week we met in Yerevan and went to see a tribute concert for her piano professor that recently passed away. It was incredible, 5 of his students played for about an hour while in between various friends came up and told stories about his life…in Russian.

#4 – Sunset looking out from the church last week.

#5 – Hasmik is definitely one of my favorite people in Talin, but the prize for favorite goes to this guy. This is Gayane, my Armenian tutor’s, nephew. Here he is playing “Need for Speed” on the computer. It is car racing game where all you need to do is press the forward arrow to play. He is surprisingly good. It must be the pacifier.

Now on the apartment pictures:

#6 – the family room

#7 – my bedroom connected to the family room

#8 – the toilet…and the NEW toilet seat!!!

#9 – the bathroom, where you can see the best thing in this apartment – the hot water heater!

#10 – the kitchen, which as of 20 minutes ago includes a mound of apples and jam provided by my landlord, Stella. Already ate two

There are three beds and a couch so…come one, come all!