Lessons from Yerevan 🇦🇲

Travel has a way of teaching us things we never knew we needed to learn, and my trip to Yerevan was no exception. So here I am, sharing a few of those lessons with you on this lovely, rainy December day.

1. Resilience Is a Legacy

Yerevan’s streets whispered tales of endurance to me. From the tragic events of the Armenian Genocide to centuries of foreign domination, Armenia has faced immense challenges, and it shows in Yerevan. Yet, the people have preserved their identity, their FASCINATING language, and their traditions with unwavering strength.

It’s a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t just about survival—it’s about honoring and evolving a legacy. It reminded me so much of Greece and Cyprus, amongst other nations.  The human ability to survive and thrive is a testament to the enduring spirit that connects cultures shaped by adversity.

2. Pure Love Is Everywhere

I’ll never forget a comment that once struck a nerve. An acquaintance said, “We are different; we take care of our own, not like the Americans who don’t know what family means.” That hurt me deeply as it’s sad to think that some people don’t recognise love as a universal human experience.

One thing I realised early in my travels is that love is simply part of being human—period.

While crossing Republic Square, I watched a grandfather with an unlit cigarette pick up his granddaughter in a bear hug to keep her from stepping in a puddle. Later, on a €0.70 bus ride to Zvartnots International Airport, I saw a father gently caress his baby son’s face, his eyes full of laughter. These moments reminded me that love is the fundamental quality connecting us all.

Maybe love is what makes us human. Or animals. Or beings of something higher. Whatever it is, we are so lucky to have it in this experience on earth.

These moments in Yerevan reminded me of others: like the wonderful family in Chiang Mai who helped me when I was lost and slightly scared, or the incredible hospitality I reluctantly accepted in Istanbul.

Yes, the world can be cruel. There’s doom, pain, suffering, and a whole lot of greed and ego driving society forward. But love pushes us forward as humans—and I never want to forget that.

3. National Origin Discrimination

I used to think of myself as “woke,” but I’m not. During this trip, I confronted the depth of my own unconscious biases.

On my flight back from Yerevan, I was the only Cypriot on board—a fact that became evident to me very quickly. When I reached passport control in Cyprus, I noticed many people were in “my lane,” which I unconsciously thought of as “the Cypriot lane” and my brain immediately thought that they shouldn't be on "my lane".

It’s funny when I think about it because I’m not even 100% Cypriot myself. It’s also ironic, considering my earlier reflections on love as a universal human experience.

This trip taught me to dig deeper into where these biases come from. It reminded me that I have work to do—conversations to have and prejudices to confront. There’s still so much to learn about my own limiting beliefs.

As I sit at my favourite cafe reflecting on these lessons, I’m reminded that travel is more than just visiting places—it’s about discovering layers of yourself you didn’t even know existed. Yerevan gave me a chance to reflect and to be humbled. 

And so, I’ll  keep traveling, within and without myself.  Not just to see the world but to keep learning, keep loving, and keep becoming. 

Who knows where the next adventure will take me—or what it will teach me?

Who knows where the next adventure will take you- or what it will teach you!!!