Week 1:
My first classes have started. It is difficult to speak only Russian because I know little, but that's why I'm here. I'm here to learn. This week, I met my conversation partner, who was very kind and patient. My cohort met with the Armenian Secretary of the Council of Europe, who spoke about international relations and the future of Armenia, and we also walked around Yerevan, drank tea in a very old café, and visited the National History Museum of Armenia.
Week 2:
We visited a lot of places this week! On Wednesday we went to the river and swam. It was very cold but very refreshing. On Thursday I went to the opera and watched Puccini's Madame Butterfly. The musicians, actors and production were very talented. On Friday we went on an excursion to Garni, the Symphony of the Stones and the Geghard Monastery. Geghard Monastery is built into the side of a mountain! That stunned me. On Saturday I went to the Vernissage Market and bought myself some cool souvenirs.
Week 3:
Wow! What a week! Starting on Monday, I watched Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 and 3, and was pleasantly surprised by a live session of interpretative painting set to the music! The pairing of painting and music made for one the coolest concerts I’ve ever seen! Two days later I was back at the Opera House to watch Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. For our Friday excursion this week, we traveled to Khor Virap and Noravank Monastery. I loved learning about Gregory the Illuminator, who spearheaded Armenia’s conversion to Christianity well over a thousand years ago, and his history connected with the Khor Virap Monastery, where he was imprisoned for 14 years. Noravank was beautiful both for its well-preserved church and its surrounding nature.
Week 4:
This week started with an amazing event. I went to see Swan Lake at the Opera House with a friend, and the lead actor proposed to the lead actress during their bows! Then the week ended with a trip to Lake Sevan. We visited Sevanavank Monastery, which dates back to the 800s, and we also checked out the lake and spent time on the beach.
The next day we took a taxi to Dilijan, where there is a lush national park located nearby a charming village. We walked around the old town and sat in a cafe by the river, drank tea and ate lunch, and read for a couple of hours. It was so peaceful and made for an awesome day! We boarded the train back to Yerevan to conclude the weekend.
Week 5:
I visited the Etchmiadzin Cathedral and took a tour of the complex. The relics museum there had an amazing collection! There was a piece of Noah’s Ark, the spear that the Romans used to make sure of Jesus's death on the cross, a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on, and even the bones of St. John the Baptist! What a wonderful tour and an unforgettable experience that underscored the ancient history of Christianity in Armenia.
This week I also saw some outstanding performances, both big and small! I caught the Armenian ballet Gayane at the Opera House and went to a jazz concert on Thursday night at a cozy local club.
Week 6:
Well, here we are, the week before finals. Things are looking up and I only have a week left after next week! The program has gone well. After a group trip to Gyumri, I feel rested, energized, and ready for finals week. I’m excited to see how much I have learned as we approach the end of the program!
Weeks 7 and 8: Here are some photos from my final two weeks on RLASP in Yerevan!
Watching the sun set and the moon rise from the top of the Cascade Monument
Brady Fendt
Dan E. Davidson Fellowship Recipient
Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP)
Yerevan State University (YSU)
Yerevan, Armenia, Summer 2025