Disappointments and other musings

Have you ever met an old friend or acquaintance after a long period of separation? They seem the same at first, just like old times, until you start noticing how different they, in fact, are from your memory of them. You suddenly realize this is not at all that nice guy or kind and understanding girl you thought they were, and you start wondering if maybe they always were like this and you just didn't notice because you were young and stupid? Or is it both - you have grown and they have changed?

So what, you may ask? Nothing, except it happened to me several times recently, and I must say it is very sad and disappointing. That's all.

Yet another topic for musings - our Armenian youth . There was a post on "Armo Life" blog recently (I have a link to it here somewhere) about how one can be harassed in Armenia if they look different or speak a foreign language. Guys (!) were complaining about being hailed, meeting smirks and snickers from the local youth. Okay, maybe it just takes time - after the doors of our country were opened to the world after years of seclusion - to accept the rest of the world as they are. In this case, it might take quite a bit of time, since the society is extremely conservative to start with. Even the guys who go to college, study languages, meet foreigners regularly and travel abroad can suddenly reveal deep, dark pits of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. What about the first generation country folks, who come to the city to study or play and look at everything through the prism of "this is not how it's done in our village"?

I was talking to an old acquaintance the other day in the street when a group of foreigners passed by - jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, backpacks. "Nice and comfy looking," remarked I with longing - I was coming from work and was wearing heels. "Come on, those Western women have no clue how to dress - they just wear these rags all day," said the acquaintance. "Maybe there is a richer content in that simple package, than in a nicely wrapped shiny feather-brained parcel walking down the street," said I. And what do you think popped out of this nice guy? "Women are women, what do they need content for?"

I told him I'll punch him if he ever says something like that again. You could read it on his face: "Those darn Americans!"