We are glad to be the first represent Armenia in EASA

text by Nanar Kalantaryan; photos by Meroojan Minasyan

On July 27 2003, three best students from Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction (YSUAC) left Armenia for Denmark to participate in European Architecture Students Assembly (EASA). This year’s EASA meeting, which was held in Friland Denmark, was about    “Sustainable Living”.  Narbeh Betrosyan, Meroojan Minasyan, Nanar Kalantaryan were the proud representers of Armenia participating in EASA for the first time?

“We started our journey at 3:00 am and it took us about two long days to get to Denmark”. “Armenia is too far from Denmark and besides we had to stay as transits in Moscow”. “In Copenhagen airport one of us (Narbeh) forgot his bag pack in the luggage department of the airplane”. “So we had to return for it and missed the first train to Arhus”. “We lost one hour waiting for another train”. “Fortunately the rest of the journey passed without accidents”.

“The train ride to Arhus took 3 hrs’. . . If Danish price Hamlet was asking “To be, or not to be”, we had another question “How to be” or “Where to go”.   “We were provided with some piece of paper, which was considered to be the map of Arhus”. “Funny enough we weren’t the only one’s lost”. “Most Aborigines (most of them were already drunk) as well were unable to find Arhus architectural university”. “No one was able to give us a hint about its location either”.

Finally! Our geographical neighbors, Turks found us.

“The next day we were at the camp”. No need for telling you about workshops, lectures, parties etc”. “You can find it all in easa003.dk”. “We just want to let you know that we had a very good time there”. “We made lots of friends, met amazing people, had interesting discussions and got enough information on “how to live sustainable””.

““National Eve” was as good as all organized parties”. “We were delighted with Danish dances”. “All others were delighted with Armenian brandy, pomegranate wine, mulberry vodka, dry fruits sweets, provided by us”.  

“We promised to take more next time”!!!

“Dinner in the castle was fantastic”. “It was a rainy day”. “The number of participants surpassed the number of food portions”, “so it took our heroic efforts to get more food”. “Once again we understood that you must fight for sustainable living or sustainable eating”. “Soon we found out that we were not alone”. “There were another three hundred hungry students”. “But we found a way out”. “We bought some wine”. “We preferred it to food”.                                            

“Two week passed like one day and we had to leave the camp”. “But we had one more day in Copenhagen before leaving”. “And one of our new friends (Rune) invited us to stay at his apartment in Copenhagen”. “Many thanks to him”.

“Now we are in Armenia”. “Our wonderful memories about the fortnight spent in Denmark will survive forever”.