As he felt the wind blow, seeing the leaves fly and the clouds in the sky, he goes into a flashback of his hometown. An old man with great ambitions and dreams remembered the superb days that he spent. He misses his family and friends that created the marvelous memories that will never be forgotten. A seventy- nine year-old man named Manuk Asatryan was sitting in the park closing his eyes, picturing the beautiful savannas of this town, as if he was really there breathing the fresh, crisp air. He might be a strict grandfather, but he has lived a most joyful and adventurous childhood and grew up in a town of great communication and beauty. This town had what most towns didn't have, clean air, beautiful green hills, and much more. He visits these scenes once again with responding to his granddaughter's questions of her interview on the small town, Diligian
Diligian got its name by from an Armenian family in the 1900’s, which where a Boy was born named "Dili". Then when the family loses the child, the mother calls out "Dili Jan! Dili Jan! Dili Jan! "They imagined that as the name of the City so it came from that and spread out all over Hayastan knowing that it is called Diligian. They call Diligian Little Switzerland because of its savannas, its greenery, the environment is clean, the water, the environment is clean, the air is clean, the water is good, the mountain waters are also. They compare the similarities of the savannas in Switzerland and Diligian.
The people were living with communism and soviet ways. At Diligian , there was no such thing as peasants or wealthy men, everyone was the same level. Everyone was equal. 90% was Communist overall, and the other 10% were probably ones who were like half and half, someone who don't like believing in one way. There was Factories, there was a Factory called Impulse that made many furniture. People worked a lot. Eight hours everyday except Saturdays and Sundays. I worked there. Many of us did or other factories that would have Constructed home things, furniture, etc. and we chose whichever ones we wanted. There wasn't a different religion it was only Christianity, nothing else. People were all taught and they chose anything they wanted to work as like construction. Like mixed, plumbing, wood making, etc. If they didn't know how to do the job they want they had to go to learn for it. People could have gone to learn how to sew shoes or make stones, doorknob making, metal making, furniture, etc.
In school u had to like graduate high school, 90 % of us did? And then later on went to a university and Stuff. But in Diligian, at those times they would go to Yerevan for university because there weren't many universities. 50% of us went to universities. There were militaries and we went to them and from Diligian some would go to Russia at the age of 18 to serve for 3 years. I went for 3 years. However, I came little earlier because of my eyes...my vision wasn't well.
A very well known person in Diligian was respected. We all knew each other very well. We would invite each other, gather, at their house or my house. Celebrating, eating, basically, it was like family. Everyone was with each other. We would meet with our friends, like my friend Varuzhan, we would joke around, had lots of humor. Or like my other friend Movses, we would go to his house to drink tea or coffee or at night I would go to Karo's house and celebrate or we would all come to my house. That's how we all spend time together, by meeting up. There was a writer named Vaxtan Ganinyan, which his writings were mostly about Himself, animals, and forests. Then there was A Producer named Paranjannov who did many films. Also, there was a singer Aysia Vosgannyan and many others. Others liked them a lot. They were very well known in Diligian.
There were certain celebrations in Diligian. For example, The Navarsardi day (Holiday) people gathered around in one place in the fields, playing games, dancing. There were competitions, certain competitions for sports. Then Comes along Musaler (Holiday) at once they would gather at a church meeting making Harisa (Food). There were "Varte Var" (water fight) people wetting each other in all ages around summer. Summer time ...the hot time...Everyone getting wet.... Doesn't matter who... every one got wet with clothes and no one have mad about it? The food we ate around Christmas was like xorovats, pilaf, and different kinds of food, mainly things we also eat today. There were certain greenery vegetable plants that grew; Aveluk, which was made in soups and many foods, Axtsan, Shushan, and Tree mushrooms... which were planted by many Diligian people.
The news and information was told by the radio or newspapers. People couldn't wait for them so they can find out what is going on. They would turn on the radio and listen to the news, or wait for the newspapers to get printed or delivered. Diligian's Newspaper was called Diligian News. The papers not only told news about Diligian but whatever happened all around Armenia. There was news that was true in a certain amount or not true. Not everything was true. Or some things weren't told to people and were kept secret. They didn't tell us because we weren't supposed to know...at those times it wasn't required for everyone to know everything. The Diligian Newspaper was delivered to everyone. It was made around the 1930's. Journalist Mkrthchyan was who printed it. Everyone believed the radios ...because it was like the newspaper. Some didn't because they didn't have the money to buy it.
Different people came from other countries to visit Diligian but not to live there, they came to see the churches, savannas, or like vacation. But overall, citizens of Diligian were Christian. In Diligian, Haghartsm and Goshavank were Historical Architectures, that we would go to which were also like churches. Tourists Came and visited these Architectures from different places like Russia and many others, but around my time there wasn't much touring mainly our Armenians visited it until later on.
I miss Diligian, my house, the forests, mountains, savannas, Diligian's water, mountain waters, teachings, childhood memories, everything basically. I Also miss my friends Varuzh, Karo, Everyone. Looking back to it makes me sad, because I miss everything and I would wish to go back to that day, but it is impossible. Diligian is very far away so I can't visit it all the time, like walk over with two steps there or drive. It's not easy. I moved away far from it and now it's hard for me to go back. I miss everything, it's far away and I wish to go but I can't go back, I cry and get hurt because I can't experience the good memories over there.