Did you ever google your name? I do it once a while and even get surprising results sometimes :)

Did you google other people? or search in facebook? or in odnoklassniki.ru? I got this habit of doing some small research on people, if they interest me :) or if i have to meet somebody (client, partner, friend of a friend etc..) i know only the name... and get some basic information before the meeting which is so handy ;)



I found this funny song:

I Google you

late at night when I don’t know what to do

I find photos

you’ve forgotten

you were in

put up by your friends

I Google you

when the day is done and everything is through

I read your journal

that you kept

that month in France

I’ve watched you dance

And I’m pleased your name is practically unique

it’s only you and

a would-be PhD in Chesapeake

who writes papers on

the structure of the sun

I’ve read each one

I know that I

should let you fade

but there’s that box

and there’s your name

somehow it never makes the pain

grow less or fade or disappear

I think that I should save my soul and

I should crawl back in my hole

But it’s too easy just to fold

and type your name again

I fear

I google you

Whenever I’m alone and feeling blue

And each scrap of information

That I gather

says you’ve got somebody new

And it really shouldn’t matter

ought to blow up my computer

but instead….

I google you

and a live performance by Amanda Palmer.



but seriously, this lyrics reminded me of own experience so much!



I also found that there's even a movie entitled "Google me"...I will look for it :D

as i promised, i did couple of photos today.





will try to shoot more on the upcoming days :)

Yesterday I went to the opening of the photo exhibition of "Manana" youth educationa-cultural media center's students at Naregatsi Art Center.



"Manana" center is my native organization. 10 best years of my life were connected to it :) first, I was a student of the journalism, photography and filmmaking clubs, then - a teacher of Web design and computer skills.



"Manana" non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1995. The center brings together people of different ages and interests, who are all educators, irrespective of their main profession, and are deeply concerned with children's issues. Throughout these years Manana has been working towards the spiritual, intellectual and physical development of the children. Different years there have been Journalism, Photography, Film making, English language, Painting, Animation, Handicraft, Computer skills, Web design and Debate clubs...

The Center started its activities literally from nothing. It began in a one-room apartment where the first classes took place on the floor. There was no in-kind or financial support, and no expectations to ever acquire any. The deep awareness of the importance of this new undertaking, and the sheer enthusiasm of the teachers, were the basis of everything. The Center's most valuable resource today still lies in its talented and devoted members, volunteers, parents, and students, whose numbers grow each year.

As for me, the uniqueness of Manana is that it's not just teaching-learning like courses of journalism, etc. It's a learning-by-doing method with elements of peer-to-peer education. The kids have opportunity to publish their works, so they are working on the "products" themselves.

For example, they need to publish a newspaper. Apart from writing articles, stories, interviewing different people and making the photo & graphic illustrations for own articles, they are also learning how to make the layout of the newspaper, how to publish them on the website, how to translate etc... same with the films and other products.



The teachers are mostly the alumni of Manana. Like me :) This fact makes the classes (club meetings) more comfy and effective. The kids see that we are enthusiastic for helping them in their learning and they help us too.



The children of Manana have the unique opportunity to develop their talents and to realize own capabilities. They get the opportunity to participate in many international & local events, travel, explore and experience things that are usually not available to average Armenian schoolchildren.

Manana is open to youngsters from 8 to 16 y.o. that can contribute their time and skills. Clubs' meetings take place in the afternoon, after the kids come from their schools. Each club usually meets once a week, for 1.5 hours. For some years, I used to be in "Manana" for almost everyday after my classes, participating in all clubs' works.



"Manana" is non-commercial and the participation in the clubs is free, so it's accessible to kids from families with limited possibilities. Currently "Manana" is being funded by Tufenkian Charitable foundation and Paros Foundation, and throughout the years it has received support from different individuals that were helping to get the needed technical equipment - computers, cameras, editing hardware and software etc...



I like it also that there's always a very cozy and nice atmosphere... always lots of work, lots of upcoming events and achievements. It's difficult to name all the awards, certificates and recognition that "Manana" has gained throughout these years since it's a veeeeeeeery long list!

We have participated in numerous film festivals, photo exhibitions.. stories have been published in many magazines and websites...

"Manana" is a full member of European Youth Press, CIFEJ.



Our old website with the works is here: www.mibanasem.com. ("Mi ban asem" means- "I got to tell you something")



Just the fact that Manana is more known abroad than in Armenia is a bit confusing...



I can definitely say that if not my involvement in Manana, I won't be the same person. I learned so many things, met so many people and seen so many things there that I just cannot describe my gratitude... it's simply invaluable.

As you can guess, there are so many things you can live in 10 years... but imagine when it's so active, different, interesting and fun?!

I have a huge collection of photos of Manana....I want to share with you some of them...

My today's walk to home was the most pleasant one of the recent time…

I generally don't like winter time, and become depressed more often, but today I realized that I can enjoy it as well!



I went out from the corner of Grigor Kochar & Koryun streets and walked to the Mashtots avenue.

It was again crowded at the Ponchikanots and there was again a queue for taking photo at the decorated tree in front of it. Kids were messing around and making difficult to walk :)

Then I saw the Place de France already decorated for the holidays. The illumination was nice, though I don't generally like those neon colors they used this year… I liked it that it was foggy and bright in the streets, feeling the happy spirit… People were smiling… I walked near some happy families.. Heard phrases like "I put the letter at the general post office on the Square!"… (I guess it was about Santa's letter ;)… then I walked by the Tumanyan street… saw billboards announcing different parties and shows for the New Year… then took the Northern Avenue… and got to the Abovyan street and the Republic Square. I just loooooooooove the illumination of Abovyan street's beginning!!!!

I love to see people's faces under that light! Yesterday city officials officially turned on city's main New Year's tree's illumination… well.. It was better than previous years… nicer style but the lights were a bit…:/ ...well.,. they made it all in Armenian tricolor… Red, Blue, Apricot-color.

Then they also put some small neon-lighted trees on fountains.. And decorated also the National Gallery building with the same neon colors.. It was soooo Web 1.0 !!! (as my friend Masha would say :D)…then I crossed Nalbandyan street and walked near the Republic Square metro station, and General Avenue to Hanrapetutyan street where I live.

All the way I had Sigur Ros playing caressing my ears and nice thoughts about some good expectations for tomorrow and upcoming days…. It was not cold or windy, and I had my comfortable boots and warm coat on me... and I was feeling very confident and satisfied.



Could I dream about this feeling ? Yes !



I didn't have my camera with me today so now I'm putting some of previous years' photos...



I'll try to shoot the streets tomorrow :)

It was wonderful.. My favorite type - water, bridges, old buildings… the most disturbing thing was the weather that was not allowing to take nice shots with beautiful skies in the background :)

It was quite big comparing to Yerevan. Our hotel was in the center but to reach the central Nevsky Prospekt, several subway stations needed to be passed. Distances there are long.. It takes a lot on the roads.. That’s why locals have small format books with them.. So you can always see people standing and reading in the subway trains… subway there is very crowded.. It's deep because of the water. There are 4 lines and some stations are like a 'tunnel'… train doors open and another door opens from the hall so you get right there (no space in between the hall and tunnel) unlike in Yerevan's subway.

Some places were reminding me of Amsterdam, less - of Venice, but I was having kind of déjà vu moments and remembering different cities I have been in. It was more familiar to me than Europe.. Well.. The language, culture, mentality.. Lots of things in common. It was also important knowing the language, being able to read the signs, having more sources of information available.

The drawbridges are one of the most famous landmarks of St.Petersburg. From March to the end of November (until the channels are covered with ice) the bridges are drawing twice at night, letting ships to pass.

There are lots of monuments from the tsar's and emperors' era, but also from communists. The historical center of the city is well preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

And I was happy seeing the beautiful Armenian church of St. Catherine right on Nevsky Prospekt…
Hearing Armenians talking and seeing nice Armenian faces was really good there.. ;) Among those blonde and blue/green/grey-eyed people of whom I had an overdose there :D

The embankments of channels and Neva river are really very pleasant for walking and enjoying the city.

Well, I didn't have much time there, but for some hours I was alone, wandering in the streets and with some nice music in my ears I enjoyed it the most right then.

I have lots of photos for you! Just click to enlarge them :)