“Hello Armenia”: How Armenians said “You are welcome” to a Syrian-Armenian family
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YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Syria will remain a peaceful, calm place without war and shoots in the memories of the Derderian family. This is not because the Derderians want to keep only the positive things in their memories, but because they saw no Syria in blood and war. They came to Armenia 3 and a half year ago to stay here only for 4 months.
“My mother lives in Gyumri. She got sick 3 and a half years ago and we decided to come to Armenia for 4 months to take care of her. We came here unprepared; without any winter clothes and the necessary things. Some time after our arrival war started in Syria and we stayed here,” Dsovinar says, adding that they left everything in Syria; home, the shop, money and even their clothes.
She said that everything in their house, including the armchair, the table, the cupboard and the furniture, was given to them by their good neighbors in Armenia.
Dsovinar confesses that she was in shock in the beginning and could not understand what was going on in Syria. They used to live very well in Syria; she never had to work. Everything changed here in Armenia. They have nobody here, they are alone. However, she is thankful that strangers helped them both in Gyumri and Yerevan, giving food, money and they try to create a second life in the Motherland. Dzovinar tailors in Armenia. What was only a hobby in Aleppo became a way to make a living in Armenia.
Dzovinar faces a dilemma now. She says that they have been welcomed in Armenia but she misses Aleppo.
“Aleppo was different. I doubt I will ever have the life I had in Syria. I pray every day so that the war ends in Syria soon, so that people live in peace. You know, I miss Syria. My memories, good and bad events of my life are connected with Aleppo. Three years have passed, but I cannot imagine my life without Aleppo. If the situation settles, certainly, I would like to return to Aleppo, my home, everything is there,” she says.
One of her sons is in Yerevan, the other – the USA. Dzovinar faces dilemma here too. One of her sons wants to stay in Yerevan, the other invites the parents to the USA. Though she does not know what to do, her husband and she encourage each other with the fact that their sons are safe and sound. In this case, the place of residence is secondary.