“I wish I knew that Armenia wasn’t the scary place that I thought it was, because of all the negative stereotypes that I had heard about the country and Armenians from Armenia growing up”, said one repat, who has now lived in Armenia for almost 10 years, “Of course, a lot of those people had not even been to Armenia.”

“I was so scared to go outside of Yerevan because of the negative stereotypes”, said one repat, “But now I travel to the villages all the time. I wish I knew sooner that Armenia is not a scary place. The fear comes from within but is not based in reality.”
 

“People are very open and collaborative here”, said one repat, “I thought I’d have to figure everything out on my own, but in reality, everyone is incredibly willing to help if you just ask. Community plays a huge role here—and once you tap into that, things really start to move.”
 

“I wish I had known that things won’t always go according to plan, and that that’s completely normal here”, said one repat, “Whether it’s bureaucracy, timelines, or unexpected delays, flexibility is key. This felt frustrating at first, especially coming from more structured environments. But over time, I’ve learned to adapt, problem-solve on the spot, and trust the process more.”

“I wish I knew that Armenians prefer to call”, said one repat, “If you really want something to get done though, you should turn up at the place in person.”

“I was afraid of homophobia in Armenia”, said one repat we spoke to, “I wish I knew that Armenia was not this scary place where they beat gay people. I have found that I can live a really full life here and be open with the people that I want to be open with and still do all of the things that I want to do.”
 

“Each region is spectacularly different and unique”, says one repat, “The mountains are so different in each region. I need to venture outside of Yerevan to keep my balance. Our water runs fresh, delicious and clear.”

“Professional associations are growing, driving local industry development by sharing knowledge and nurturing their members”, says one repat, “They elevate local standards and promote collaboration over competition.”

“I wish I knew that it’s different from what they taught us. Like the food, the language, the culture. It was a shock for me the first time I came. As a Western Armenian who went to Armenian school they taught us about an Armenia that doesn't really exist and made us fall for it”, said one repat, who adds, “But getting to know the real Armenia is beautiful and different.”

“Advocacy and political engagement are nuanced and delicate but so needed”, said one repat we spoke to, “Building relationships, coalitions and working towards bringing change is how we can overcome the widespread apathy and despair, starting with ourselves.”