As the semester draws to an end, three Fresno State students studying abroad at the American University of Armenia are preparing to return to Fresno. Cole Egoian, Stephen Gonzalez, and Yervand Boyajyan were awarded the Kashian Family scholarship to spend the spring 2018 semester in Yerevan. This scholarship provided them the opportunity to not only study at an Armenian university, but to visit historic sites, interact with locals, and make personal connections with Armenians.

"I feel like I have been living here my entire life," said Boyajyan, who spent his early childhood in Yerevan.

Egoian and Gonzalez, who are not native Armenian speakers, have been taking Armenian classes at AUA.

"I cannot yet speak fluently," Gonzalez explained, "but I can read and write quite well."

Their lessons have helped them interact with locals. Egoian fondly recalled one of his trips to the GUM open air fruit market.

"I practiced my broken Armenian with them and they became excited and engaged," he said.

The bartender at a local Irish pub greets them with a big bear hug every time they visit and they have been cordially invited to the pub's 100th anniversary celebration.

Boyajyan's most meaningful personal connection has been with his relatives in Yerevan.

"I became closer with my cousins and I will miss my relatives when I leave, but I know we will maintain this connection into the future," he said.

AUA organized excursions for the students so that they could visit sites such as Garni, Geghard, Noravank, Tatev Monastery, the Erebuni fortress, and more.

Boyajyan's favorite experience was visiting Noravank.

"I was so amazed by the monastery," he said. " After studying in Professor [Barlow] Der Mugrdechian's Arts of Armenia class, I dreamt about one day visiting. I got to see the famous relief of God, one of the rare times God was depicted in a relief."

One of Gonzalez's favorite experiences has been his interaction with professors at the AUA.

"They are not afraid to speak their minds about global and local politics," he said. "They provide a perspective we are not used to in the United States."

All three students agreed that living abroad helped them become more independent and cosmopolitan, but also to better appreciate what they have in America.

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