(Cross-posted on the Oulu Chaff Blog.)
Two weeks ago I was greeted by this gentleman as a long lost friend because he was reading this blog. 
I really enjoyed his company.
When I opened my email INBOX today morning, the first post I saw was with this
I am sure all of you will join me in sharing in the joy of our dear friend Ildikó, at this great honour bestowed on her father Arpad and his colleagues at the IAEA.
(Ildikó - Annikki and I hope that we do not have to wait 30 years till you get yours to keep that family tradition going!)
Yesterday afternoon Ilari, Antti, Ildikó and I went on a trip to Raahe, about 75 km from Oulu. Ilari and Antti are in the process of starting an Association of Finnish-Armenian interests. Antti had said that there was a great restaurant in Raahe which served Armenian food.
So off we went.
When I saw this sign it revived memories of when Annikki and I were flying to India and suddenly both of us noticed the huge formation of an ark on top of a mountain, visble from a height of 10000 metres. That was the ark on top of Mount Ararat. It was an experience neither of us will ever forget, not from any Biblical sense, but the sheer enormity of the sight below us.
The Ararat Restaurant is owned by a delightful Armenian couple, Samvel and Gohar Zakarian.
Ilari spoke a few magic words of the Armenian language that he knows. The floodgates of true friendship and hospitality opened from Gohar. We learnt the story of this family which runs this restaurant.
Samvel is a Highway Engineer but because of the wonderful work policies in Finland, he is now reduced to running this restaurant. His wife is a qualified nurse, but now she has to work as a waitress. Their eldest son, 22, is stuck in St. Petersburg as he cannot be reunited with his parents in Finland because of the stupid EU and Finnish rules on family reunification! A person above the age of 18 obviously does not need to be reunited with his family!
The saddness in the heart of this mother was so evident, even through her smiling face.
Their second son, aged 14, was with them in Raahe and was in school. I wondered what tremendous upheavals in his life he was facing in this hostile Finnish environment.
But despite all this saddness, they have truly worked hard to set up this small and beautiful business. Antti and Ildikó ordered the Armenian Shaslik which was based on the filet of chicken. Ilari ordered the Lula Kebab with fried potatoes, while I ordered a version of the Pitakebab which is called Shaverma based on grilled chicken with salad and the special pita bread.
The food was excellent. The service was great and anyone visiting this small town should make it a point to drop in and eat at this resataurant and share a few special moments with this special couple from Armenia. A joy worth keeping in one's memory bank.
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