Catherine Yesayan
BY CATHERINE YESAYAN
I’d like to share with my readers a joyful afternoon I spent at the Armenian Navasartian Center in London, a venue where events are held by the whole Armenian community. On Sunday May 31, the center was occupied by ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) to celebrate the Independence Day of the first Armenian Republic which falls on May 28. The center is located at the west end of London.
I was staying at East London and it took me about an hour to travel with the Underground to West London. However when I got to Ealing’s Northfield station, it was a short two minutes’ walk. The Center was just about a few hundred yards away from the station – like a stone throw away. I was delighted to see the genius of my people to purchase a piece of property in such close proximity to the station.
Originally, the event was supposed to be held in a Park, but they changed the plans for it was raining. The event had started at 2pm. I arrived at 3pm, just about the time to start the program.
At the entrance the youth had set up a table, where we could order food. The food was Persian-Armenian. They had a choice of chicken Kebab or beef koubideh (ground beef) with basmati rice and salad. There were also other condiments that you could purchase in pre-packaged containers. I ordered a plate and found an empty chair at a table. As I got situated moments later the mistress of ceremonies, Alenoosh Avanesian Artin took the stage.
The program was opened by Homenetmen London’s Scouts singing the Armenian Anthem. Everyone of them was neatly dressed in their scout uniform.
Then a group of youngsters from the weekly Armenian Saturday school, again neatly dressed in white shirts and dark blue bottoms, delivered poems and patriotic songs in Armenian. I should admit that aside from my best loved poem of Yeghishe Charents, which says (I love the sun sweet taste of Armenia) I did not know the other poems. All of them had lovely words creating patriotic emotions. I jotted down the words, so not to forget them.
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Dancers perform at the Armenian Navasartian Center
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One of the poems said, “when I say, Hayastan, my eyes become teary…â€
