Welcome to the fifth episode of a very exciting project, in which I, your host Christopher Crowson, a participant of the Birthright Armenia program, am conducting interviews with my fellow Birthright Armenia volunteers. In these interviews, I hope to get our listeners acquainted with the Gyumri volunteers, see what they are doing here in Armenia and see what kind of insights they can offer us into life in Gyumri and Armenia today.

In today’s episode we are joined by Texas’ very own Tateos Rae. The Dallas native, who is halfway through his bachelor’s degree in animal science at Texas A&M University, decided that there was no better way to spend his summer than to volunteer in the stunning city of Gyumri. Being interviewed in his final week as a volunteer, Tateos looks back on his experience and provides some great insight into life in Gyumri!

Tateos tells us about the tragic yet fascinating story of his how his ancestors made their way first to Syria and then to the United States, his deep connection with the Armenian Apostolic Church, the importance of volunteering and paying attention to regional cities such as Gyumri and the valuable experience he gained while working in a local cheese factory! Tateos, it was a pleasure!