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June 26th, 2008 by Thomas
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On casse tout on recommence

March 27th, 2008 by Thomas

Ca y est, followtheway.info version blog a vécu.

J’ai plus vraiment la motivation pour reprendre le blogging de manière régulière, par contre j’ai qques idées derrière la tête à creuser, donc cet espace est amené à évoluer dans un futur très proche :)

à bient

Reboot :)

January 13th, 2008 by Thomas

Voilà je me remets à écrire en français. Je continuerai à écrire certains articles en anglais (comme le post Hospitality 2.0 en cours de rédaction), mais je suis de retour en France. Alors voilà

Alors avant d’oublier, bonne année 2008 tout le monde. Je vous souhaite tout ce qu’il y a de plus agréable pour cette nouvelle année, joie/amour/réussite/rock n roll/etc et des projets aussi nombreux qu’ambitieux :)

Perso, il est temps de faire le point pour 2008.

Manheim, centre ville, janvier 08

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From Esfahan

July 21st, 2007 by Thomas

Just a small post to tell y ou that everythig is OK here in Iran.

I am actually in Esfahan, since 3 days and 1 more.

Words are missing to describe the Imam square, the blue Mosques and endless bazars. Hopefully my camera is pretty much often ON.

No pictures for the moment, but don’t worry, they will come in time.

The country is really different from what I could have expected. So developped, pretty much rich and the people are sooooooooooo friendly and helpful.

More to come very soon.

Give some news

Away in Iran

July 15th, 2007 by Thomas

7 hours before taking the bus to Qazvin.

Two weeks in Iran. Qazvin so, then Qom (one of the oldest Holy cities of Islam), Kashan, Esfahan, Yazd, Shiraz, Persepolis and finally Tehran. Then flying back to Yerevan :)

Hospitality club powered :)

And I will try to meet Romain in Esfahan.

I don’t really know neither how often I will be able to blog during the net two weeks, nor if I will be able to photoblog.

See you in two weeks in the worst case :)

Le fil du rasoir, suite

June 13th, 2007 by Thomas

[Sorry for english speaking readers, I'll translate this pretty long post later on this week.]

Le fil (du rasoir) s’est coupé.
Et j’ai enfin tranché.

Je reviendrai (sait on jamais ;)) en France aux alentours de la fin juillet (j’ai un billet ouvert, donc la date exacte dépendra des offres de job que je trouverai d’ici là). Mais dans tous les cas, début août, pour sûr je serai de retour à Paris.

C’est objectivement la meilleure décision pour moi, même si elle n’a pas été évidente à prendre.


on the road again?
Eté 2007, On the road again, destination unknown (Mastara, Arménie)
Qu’est ce qui s’est passé, me demanderez vous?, qu’est ce qui t’as poussé à changer d’avis?
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Greetings from Georgia :)

April 30th, 2007 by Thomas

Hi there.
just arrived in Tbilissi for a few days vacations.
The city is really amazing.
Totally different from Yerevan, much more european indeed.
And people here seems crazzy.
I’m really looking forward to discover this culture a bit more in deep.

Will come back in Armenia in the end of the week :)

The razor’s edgefrançaise

April 18th, 2007 by Thomas

I still have a few weeks to decide either to come back in France, or stay here in Armenia.
I have the strong impression that it will be pretty difficult to find something else than a technical oriented job in an IT company. Or I’ll be f*cking lucy (any case let me know). Local NGO experience was too much diversified, so positive humanely speaking, but the professionnal point of view wasn’t that good.

So if I find an interesting job here, I’m staying. but not in KASA anymore.

France or Armenia (or somewhere else), that’s the question.

Anyway, what’s up?

  • I shaved my two monthes and a half old beard. I am now feeling a bit traumatized.
  • French presidential elections are coming this week end, and I still don’t know for whom to vote.
  • Holidays in Georgia in 2 weeks
  • I’m listening to ukrainian punk rock from NYC Gogol Bordello’s Underdog strike
    , and rajasthani music from my friend Laurent.
  • And I just realized that after one year here, my integration level is still below zero. I’m speaking survival armenian (that means 20 words), and I’m feeling more and more disconnected from the local reality. I’m living in a classy appartment downtown,, living with more and more with expats. Don’t miss undestand me. I like it. really. But it’s not Armenia anymore. So I’m facing it a bit as a mitigated end.

    So what’s next? The answer is getting more and more clear. See you in two and a half monthes. And one day. With a maybe real job here. and starting my armenian courses. And a coming back to normal life :)

    By the way, I’m starting up blogging again :)

    Job opportunity(ies)française

    February 2nd, 2007 by Thomas

    A job opportunity is being created in my organization, starting in the end of march. We’ll launch a recruitment process in a week or two. But as the job profile is called “Internet projects”, I guess the ideal candidate should be at least reading blogs. So let’s see.

    A very good level of french is required so I’m posting the job description in french. There is not (yet) informations about salary and so on, but I can give you global informations by email.

    If you’re interested, all my contacts are here.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    December 27th, 2006 by Thomas

    Tous ceux qui sont venus ont été marqué (au sens figuré hein) par la circulation pour le moins chaotique, pire que les plus grandes capitales africaines, beyrouth et Damas réunis.

    Et le genre d’histoire sordides qui suit n’en est que lq conséquence directe.
    Enkerner, khntroum em aytselek kaykeche, yev ajaktsek Melikian entanikin yev Hayastani bolor hetiotnerin.

    Friends, please do visit this webpage and support the Melikian family, and all pedestrians in Armenia.

    http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/araz

    *******

    Dear friends,

    As many of you know, my cousin, Araz Melikian, was killed by a taxi driver in Yerevan this past summer. Her precious life was cut way too short…3 weeks shy of her 18th birthday. For those of you who have been to Armenia, I’m sure you’ve experienced the reckless driving conditions. I also experienced the frustration and anger in the streets of Yerevan when we went for the funeral proceedings. After several court hearings, the killer has now basically walked away free. Therefore, in an effort to enforce new laws/regulations & improve driving conditions in Armenia the below petition was created by my father, Soorik Melikian, & Alma Eskandary. Forwarded is also the letter that will be sent to three of our ministers in Armenia. I’m certain that all of us believe in the same cause–improvement in our country. We have to start somewhere…hopefully via this petition our joined voices will be heard & results will take effect.

    Furthermore, my uncle, Derik Melikian is the chief editor of “Alik” newspaper in Iran. He’s using this media outlet to voice several articles. Additionally, we’re hoping to produce a documentary that features several families who share the pain of losing loved ones due to unsafe driving conditions in Armenia. Hopefully, this documentary will be televised in Armenia.

    I hope every single one of you is doing great. I thank you in advance.
    Best wishes,
    Gaia
    __________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Dear friend,
    A petition has been created in response to Soorik Melikian’s plea of justice; shown below, for his niece, Araz Melikian - a victim of unsafe traffic laws, in Armenia.
    If you are a resident of Armenia, or if you have ever visited the country, you will know the dangers pedestrians face everyday, first hand. If you wish to visit our beloved land, in future, you should be warned that crossing the roads are dangerous, and presently there are no proper regulations in place to assure the safety of the pedestrians.

    If you agree with this petition, please go to the website http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/araz and enter your name, then pass this information to your friends and contacts. If you have no interest in this matter, we thank you for taking your time reading this email, however, please forward this petition on to your other contacts as they may be interested.
    This petition will be sent to:
    Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Justice.

    PETITION:
    Dear Ministers,
    We, the undersigned are concerned citizens, visitors and devotees of our beloved land, Armenia. Our concern is the safety of all pedestrians, especially those in the streets of Yerevan. The traffic laws and regulations presently in place do not reflect the rapid increase of motor vehicles and unsafe drivers in the country. Our request from the government is: to act fast upon this life-threatening and concerning issue. Since the present laws do not work in favor of pedestrians, there is neither a safeguard nor justice for the victims, and the ramification for the motorists is from minimum to none.
    As concerned Armenians we would appreciate your cooperation and sharing of our vision, for a pedestrian-safe Armenia .]

    Soorik Melikian’s letter:
    sireli enkerner;
    I am writing to you out of desperation & disgust for the rule of law in our motherland (fatherland) ARMENIA…..
    AS YOU KNOW, MY NIECE (ARAZ MELIKIAN) WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT.
    NOW, AFTER SOME 3 MONTHS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS, THE KILLER, A TAXI DRIVER, IS BASICALLY FREE…..
    COURT IN YEREVAN RULED FOR THE KILLER TO BE ONLY ON PROBATION FOR 2 YEARS; NO DRIVING & NO OUT-OF-THE-COUNTRY-TRIPS FOR 2 YEARS….
    THAT’S ALL.
    WE ALL KNOW THERE WILL BE NO ENFORCEMENT OF EVEN THE ABOVE. WHO IS GOING TO WATCH HIM WHAT HE IS DOING..????
    ABOVE IS JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, TO BE AWARE OF THE DEGREE OF LAWLESSNESS (CORRUPTION.?) IN OUR ARMENIA….
    MY BROTHER (AND HIS WIFE) ARE DEVASTATED AND THEY CAN DO NOTHING!
    AS IT IS, OUR ARMENIA HAS A LONG WAY TO GO FOR DEMOCRACY AND “JUSTICE FOR ALL”……….

    SOORIK