Vaché Petrossian | Executive Recruiter

Where are the members of your club from?
We have members not only from Armenia, but from North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia, the common thread being that we are all of Armenian heritage.
Is it easy to bridge cultural differences between Armenians from different continents?
It can be challenging. However, [whether from Russia or the U.S.], we all consider ourselves Armenian. Most of us can speak Armenian and almost all of us know our people’s long history, especially the genocide during World War I.
What sorts of activities does the club hold?
Starting in 2008 we are going to hold regular monthly dinners. There is also an annual barbecue in September to celebrate Armenia’s Independence Day.
How do people find out about this group and these events?
Most of our members were referred to us by our non-Armenian friends and a couple managed to find us through your magazine’s website. Thanks a lot City Weekend! Are there any Armenian sayings about Shanghai, Armenian Shanghai-isms?
Interestingly enough, in the Armenian language, HYE (pronounced like ‘high’) means Armenian. Therefore, we sometimes like to spell Shanghai as “ShangHYE.” It’s as if we are ingrained in this city.
Are there other Armenian groups around Asia?
There is an Armenian church in Singapore which was built in 1835 and it is the oldest church in that country. The Singaporean government has classified it as a national monument and the local Armenians there help maintain it.