As some of you will know, I recently enjoyed a brief visit to Armenia. 

Didn't really know what to expect, but I loved it! I only got to see the capital (Yerevan) but, from what I could gather, its a very proud country that's determined to rise above the poor hand it has been dealt by history. Despite appalling government corruption (the current President is apparently an old school friend of Vladimir Putin) and some of the worst neighbours (Turkey and Iran) any country could have, it continues to hold its head high and hope for better days.....I sincerely hope that they come soon.  Although Armenians supposedly look back on the communist era as a 'golden age', this is not a country that has had its soul destroyed by state socialism.

I managed to take in an opera while I was there....a piece of local colour called 'Anush' by one Aprmen Tigranyan, of whom I'd never heard before.  There was no info in my programme about the composer, whom I've yet to google, but I'd say the piece could date from any time between 1860 and 1930.  It wasn't at all memorable, being the usual fluff about gypsies and rustic chivalry, padded out with interminable ballets.  However, it was good to see a piece of the home product - equally interesting was the behaviour of the audience. I'd been warned about Armenian opera audiences beforehand - and it was all true.  The opera began 20 minutes late, when the auditorium was full-ish.  We then got to stand for the national anthem, which some members of the audience sang along to. Once the opera began, people continued with their conversations (though never to the point where it seriously interfered with the music), took photos (a couple of people were filming the whole thing on home movie cameras) and made and received mobile phone calls.  At Covent Garden, of course, they'd have been lynched and I did find it rather annoying...still, it was an experience, and what else is travel for?

A concert by the Armenian Philharmonic was going on elsewhere in the buildling, as well as numerous bits of theatre and chamber music. Very enterprising for the small capital of a small country! And, I noticed, the opera itself was sponsored by a trade union.....can you seriously imagine the TUC sponsoring a production at Covent Garden?!

All told, I had a great time.  Anyone who finds themselves in this part of the world would be well advised to check out Armenia! 

What are they now?

I don't know what happened to many people who were scientists. There were many Armenians living in Moscow when I was growing up. We had many Armenian friends.
Probably many are still living in Moscow. I don't know.
Erevan conservatory and especially opera theater was valued a lot.
Many good opera singers would go there to the opera theater.
The opera theater is old there (if my memory is correct).

I have no idea what is there now (what kind of economic situation). They are very resourceful people usually.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=NUN8TTqcRRU&feature=related

I think there is a big armenian community in Azerbaidzhan. There are many Armenians in Moscow and St. Petersburgh.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=vn-hyylJgjo
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=qiTbh3QKYXQ&feature=related

I don't know many Hungarians.
In my time there were Hungarians who were business people of a sort.
There was a woman-translator (interpreter) who used to come to Moscow on regular bases. She would bring old (second hand) clothes. My mother always wanted to be dressed well. She got to know this lady when she went on vocations to Budapest.
My mother would buy clothes form this woman who charged exuberant prices. My mother would find buyers for her.

On the way back home she would buy Russian watches, some calculators and electric things.
Romanians are close second (if they come from Bucharest). If they are from villages or small towns they are very nice.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Ib8h1z41U
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq2WjGemEXk

I hope you are glad that I am not your neighbour. I am terrible neighbour. Just to start I don't spell well. That will be very inconvenient for both of us. 
Honestly, there are good people everywhere, but there is also culture.
People from certain countries are very ambitious and want to succeed by all means. Some people can see it and some like to lull themselves to sleep.
I can tell you many stories of naive people that were taken in by PC.

Couldn't it just be coincidence, Milly? Perhaps there are also some Turks, Italians and West Indians somewhere who are bad neighbours, and some Hungarians who are lovely? ...

I lived next to Hungarian lady.
Before we left Toronto we took her to the restaurant. She told us to distract the waiter and put the whole chicken leg in her bag. (It was chinese all you can eat restaurant and a good one.)

That doesn't make her a bad neighbor, of course.
One should not be prejudice, but one should be aware of culture.

My Polish friend did not like "new Polish women" as she called them.
I don't like all Russians, but most of my friends are Russians because we have the same culture.
Some cultures are too loud and others have other things in common.

I've really got it in for the Greenlanders.