This morning, I attended the usual Friday breakfast with the whole Teach For Armenia team. As the twenty-something of us piled around the conference room table, we ogled the chocolatey croissants, coffee cake, fruit, and pot of steamy coffee. I will start eating healthy at lunch. I will. I will. I will. Each week, the team who brings breakfast also identifies a topic for conversation. Today, we discussed the ideal candidate for the programme since Recruitment, Selection and Matriculation hosted and are in the midst of recruitment season.
In Armenia, and throughout the Caucasus region I'm told, it is customary for conversations and debates to quickly become shouting matches. As one of the few Americans in the room at this morning's breakfast, I noticed how comparably comfortable most everyone else in the room was with the conversation as, from my perspective, it escalated into an argument. It wasn't an argument though. My colleagues were debating about a new requirement of our fellows. They are passionate and entirely dedicated to positive outcomes for the students we serve. They simply show this by sharing their perspective at a higher volume.
The energy of the discourse here is incredibly inspiring, but to be frank, I was mightily overwhelmed in the moment. Every so often, I insert myself to summarise the shouting and invite a quieter colleague to share. It isn't clear if this is helpful, distracting, or just a mouse squeak between lion roars.
