I have this strong desire to feel local. That is probably why I enjoy taking foreign friends to trips in Armenia. Because I know many things to show, often not obvious, and thus I can feel local. That is when I enjoy tourists who make photos in places regular for me.

However I feel sad when locals approach me as if I were a foreigner and start by saying “Hello” or “Privet”. This is because I don’t correspond to the pattern of a typical Armenian which exists in the mind of a typical Armenian. I am sure I am not alone. Many don’t. That does not make me feel better.

It would be pleasure if it were like in Tbilisi, where people approach me and start talking Georgian. Because why shouldn’t I be Georgian? What’s there that should make them think I am not local? I have this big curved nose, definitely not European or Slavic, but rather something mountainous.

And those taxi drivers, who always ask me where did I come from. And when I explain that I am local, I was born in Yerevan, then they say - you’re lying, it is obvious from the way you speak. Indeed, I cannot make contacts as good as “locals” do.

This is so much frustrating, to not be considered local, though you explicitly decided to not emigrate and remain local.

բնօրինակ սփիւռքում(եւ մեկնաբանութիւննե՞ր)