Reaching Out to Others

When I moved to The Netherlands for the first time in 1984, I couldn't be bothered with finding the American Women's Club. I was there to be immersed in Dutch culture and learn the language by living there and doing a little study. 

By 1990 when I moved there for a second time I had wised up. When you have an empty nest, you have to find new ways to reach out, I learned. I found the AWC of Amsterdam and became very active. In fact, my work with AWCA is what took me to Casablanca for an international conference in 1992! 

The club was mostly American women living in The Netherlands temporarily because their spouses were on assignment there from Boeing or AT&T or DeLoitte Touche. Some were Dutch women married to Americans living in Holland permanently. It was a good experience and I made some nice friends and had a good time going on club excursions.

So when I heard about the International Women's Association of Yerevan (IWAY), I was more than ready to participate. Today there were 32 women, aged 30 to 70, gathered in a special room at the Marriott Hotel for morning coffee and pastries. 

President Pam Karg

Several members are American, including the Wisconsin-born president, Pam Karg, who is an educator. But many are Armenian women who have returned to Yerevan after living in Aleppo, Beirut, the U.S. Still others are from Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Britain. 

I found four women whom I had met on Sunday doing the art walk sponsored by IWAY (see 9/17/12 post), which immediately gave me a feeling of connection. Several Embassy spouses were there, including Libby Heffern, wife of the US Ambassador. I had the good fortune to meet Jane, a retired Foreign Service Officer whose husband has still not retired from the FS.. She is a social worker-turned FSO by way of another master's degree in International Relations. Adrienne still has one child in high school and two in college in the States. She loves the FS life.

Armine--our art walk guide--is organizing a cooking class this Sunday in a closed restaurant where we will prepare and then share a meal of Armenian food. Others are organizing city tours and play groups for those with young children. A whole lot of work is starting on the annual charity bazaar. 

This is one thing I like about groups like this--they are always looking for a way to make things better where they are. Last year's fund-raising went to help make improvements to the gym and also to buy sports equipment for a school in eastern Armenia.  Now they are taking suggestions for the next beneficiary of the funds they raise. I felt a little sorry I won't even be here when they hold the bazaar, but I can enjoy the handicraft days they will hold leading up to it!

And next month's meeting will be held at the US Ambassador's Residence. What's not to like about this camaraderie so far from home?