I had to enter that building, which is called “Dom Moskvy”, exactly like that, there is no translation to Armenian or English, so it does not call “House of Moscow” or something like that. Whatever, I had to enter it. I have entered it, and there are several doors, transparent doors. all of them - locked. I was waiting for some of them to open. No electronics, of course. It is called “Moscow”! Okay, how do I enter this? And then I notice the piece of paper with inscription - “ВХОД”. Just a piece of paper. It means “Entrance” in Russian. Okay, I was thinking where to push, eventually just pushed glass and entered the building.

After I had my conversation at reception I told them:

— you know, it was kinda hard to understand where to go at the entrance.

— there is an inscription - “Vkhod” - she told me.

— yes, but first it’s necessary to notice that, and secondly - I don’t read Russian.

Now yes, I read Russian. I know it perfectly. And I like that I know it perfectly. (: But almost all of my friends - don’t, since they were raised or even born in Syria, Iran, Netherlands, USA, etcetera. And I know how they suffer from the assumptions that each and every Armenian has to know Russian. This is one of those situations - it’s a trifle, but you don’t feel comfortable because of that trifle. Same is at the train station. Since Russia got our railways, they don’t write the list of races in Armenian. Only in Russian. When I asked at the cashier’s desk - they told me - “you can ask us, if you are illiterate, and we can explain you”. Okay, what if I don’t want to ask, can you print it in Armenian as well? “No”, - they said. “We won’t”.

So I told her I don’t know Russian. Can they print the same paper in Armenian, indicating that it’s an entrance?

— No - she answered. It’s a Russian building.

And that’s not a good thing to tell if you want someone just to leave. What does it mean it’s a Russian building? It means you expect only people who knows Russian? You have hell of offices in this buildings, are you sure no other person can come?

— It’s located in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia - I said. We have the law regarding the language.

She didn’t even want to talk about it. “It’s a Russian building” - she said. - “That’s all. We won’t add another inscription”.

That’s it.

I don’t feel happy because of similar stories. I don’t feel happy at all.

#russian #armenian #armenia #language #imperialism #expansion

բնօրինակ սփիւռքում(եւ մեկնաբանութիւննե՞ր)