I have mixed feelings regarding this article.

It is a no brainer that generally speaking, the main reason a student wants to receive a degree is to be a able to earn a decent amount of money in the future (unless a weirdo like me would want to remain in school for the rest of her/his life). However, realizing that the future might be unpredictale after completing the university, how motivated will someone be to remain in a country while the gates of opportunity are closed? Consequently, that student will aim for a country that values the education the person has attained.

However, I find it to be sad that some students in Armenia tend to forget that the reason that they are so educated is because of Armenia's educational system (of course, thanks to the Soviet for ingraining those ethics in the Armenian educational system). Imagine if these groups various of professionals would apply their knowledge to the system, imagine how much Armenia will improve?

I think Armenian youth should rise up and protest as a movement and demand for their rights, demand for suitable jobs instead of working at restaurants after finishing Masters!!!!

...hasmik...

Here the "heroes" of that infamous inteview claim that the American reporter misinterpreted whatever they said to her, also she never included nice things about Armenia they said:

http://forum.armkb.com/showthread.php?t=14455&page=1&pp=15

Moreover, she was trying to force them to say that they like the Soros-sponsored "revolution" in Georgia. Looks like a provocation.

The kids who gave this interview feel betrayed and are mad at the b*tch.

By the way, the guy who complained the most gets $650/month which is the same as $40000/year in the US. Moreover, he's not Armenian actually: he's a Russian-citizen, half-Jewish, who can move to Moscow whenever he wants. Still he stays in Yerevan and continue complaining about Armenia.

I though the article was quite balanced in at least the sense that it contrasted two opinions. That of youth in Yerevan and that of youth in Gyumri.

I don't know. As for "revolution," I didn't get any sense of that. Just that many educated youth still think of leaving Armenia. It's not just about money, it's also about general attitudes in society, democracy, rule of law etc.

A friend of ours, for example, gets $250 a month working at a bank which is a good salary for Yerevan but she still wants to leave if given the opportunity.

Anyway, I salaries are a problem -- $650 isn't typical in any sector of the economy except for IT. There is also no real political involvement of youth in Armenia which I do believe is necessary for any country.

Maybe the AYF are an exception but I don't count Baze has anything other than an attempt at mind control and keeping young people here cynical and apathetic. In this sense, it would be beneficial for youth to become politically active. For example, wanting to leave Armenia is not the same as wanting to agitate for change. This is, perhaps, a result of apathy and cynicism about Armenia.

However, if the students in the article think that they were misquoted then they should write a letter to the NYT and request that it be published. Incidentally, Red Bull, the bar mentioned in the article, is quite a place on a Friday or Saturday night.

Unlike most venues in Yerevan it has an atmosphere and the clientelle an interesting group of what I would describe as upwardly mobile young Armenians who have managed to combine Armenian, Russian and western influences in their lifestyle.

I recommend it on Fridays and Saturdays to anyone visiting Yerevan. Decor is quite nice as well.

Cheers,