Ashley Killough is an American journalist and Fulbright fellow in Yerevan. She blogs about her experiences in Armenia at www.ashleykillough.com.

The Peace Corps Experience: Volunteering in Armenia

When Danny Lovell, 25, received his country assignment from the Peace Corps, he looked at the word “Armenia” on his invitation—and paused. “I remember thinking, what’s Armenia? What’s in Armenia?” Lovell vaguely recalled studying the Soviet Union in high school, but he knew little about the South Caucasus country. “After I looked at the map, [...]

The Khachkar: The Cornerstone of Armenian Symbolism

With its intricate carvings and detailed designs, the khachkar, or cross-stone, has been an Armenian symbol for centuries. The cross-bearing rocks can be found throughout the country, erected in graveyards or engraved in church walls or standing freely outside of homes or monuments. They represent Armenia’s special history as being the first Christian nation, a [...]

Memorial Service in Yerevan Honors Armenian Genocide Victims

I first learned about the Armenian Genocide nearly three years ago from an Armenian professor at my university. I mostly felt disturbed—not only by the tragedy, but by the fact that I was 20-years-old at the time and was just now learning about it. How could such an event be omitted from my primary education? [...]

Violent Clashes Remembered in Armenia

On Monday, thousands gathered in Yerevan to commemorate the deadly events of March 1, 2008, when large-scale violence broke out in the streets of Yerevan between police and oppositionists protesting the results of Armenia’s disputed presidential election two years ago. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, oppositionist leader and head of the Armenian National Congress, addressed crowds Monday night [...]