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Kristina Abovyan, AUA math & writing center

Interview with the Winner of the Contest ‘Café on the Edge of the World’

 

Kristina Abovyan, a soon to be graduate of AUA (Class of ‘22), with her pixie hair-cut and warm-hearted smile, is bringing joy to her readers, one story at a time. Kristina, the winner of the writing contest, ‘Café on the Edge of the World,’ organized by the Math and Writing Center at AUA in March, with her short story, “The Last Craving for the Blueberry Pancakes,” emphasizes the importance of happiness and living life to the fullest. Kristina claims that in order to enjoy life, one should leave the past behind. Healing is the first step to welcoming life’s bountiful opportunities. Even the smallest of them is a treasure to be cherished. Thus, according to Kristina, a positive, humble, and forgiving attitude is key to finding happiness in one’s life. Kristina answers a few questions regarding her short story, below she shares her insights:

 

      1.Why did you decide to participate in the contest? 

Well, I participated in another contest, around two years ago. If my memory serves me right, it was for Valentine’s day. I wasn’t really regularly writing during that time, I would just write for myself in Russian. Either way, I participated in that contest and won a prize. That was the first time where I came to the realization that my writing wasn’t just for me, people read and appreciated it; it had an impact on them. That’s why when I noticed that the Math and Writing center was organizing another contest, I had to seize the opportunity. Now I know, my writing has a purpose: it leads them to relate and think in a different way. 

 

     2. What motivated you to write this story?; To tell this specific tale.

Well, I enjoy writing stories and coming up with different characters. It’s much more interesting for me than writing a regular essay. The prompt that was given, triggered my imagination and gave me the space to be creative and invent various characters with different personalities. 

Besides the creative aspect, I believe the message of ‘letting go’ or ‘leaving the past behind as well as ‘finding happiness in the little things,’ i.e., appreciating the small things in life, urged me to come up with the plot and bring the story to life. I mean we shouldn’t hold any grudges against the people who have wronged us, we should learn to forgive. It might be easier said than done, however, life goes on and one should not cloud his/her life by the past. The present, with its little things, gives one so much joy. Why choose to ignore it by dwelling on the past?

Nonetheless, experiencing pain is also part of life and we should not be saddened by it either. I mean, pain, in the form of failure, may act as a lesson to learn from our mistakes. So, both happiness and sadness must be welcomed as they’re both inevitable. One should have an open mind and not be afraid to welcome experiences from either end of the spectrum. As often, the gain is more than the loss. 

 

     3. Is it based on real events or your personal life? Do you know the characters? 

I usually incorporate aspects from our real world into my stories. This particular story was actually taken from one of my close friends- an experience she had during her childhood. My characters do not draw from actual people, they’re a figment of my imagination, yet, I have taken the plot from a real-life experience. After all, stories are all around us, we just have to pay close attention to notice them. 

 

       4. What is the meaning of life for you?

Oh, I don’t know! That’s a really tough question. I’m ever-changing so I don’t have a stable or direct answer. However, I believe at this point in my life, I believe it is just to experience every aspect of life. To grasp every opportunity that life has to offer and to not be afraid to leap into the unknown. In the past, it was about simply being happy and enjoying life. Perhaps now it may be, to find joy in whatever you are doing and the experiences you decide to take. 

 

        5. What would you say to someone who doesn’t know what their purpose is?

I would advise them to slow down and take a break. They should reflect and see what they like- where their interests lie. They can engage in activities like singing, coding, or anything really. If they find something that they truly enjoy doing, then I’d advise them to pursue it. But it’s really important for them to find their passion, I mean, that’s the only thing that can make one feel fulfilled and happy. There is no point in doing something you do not enjoy. So, I’d advise them to try different things and pursue whatever makes them happy. 

 

        6. Why blueberry pancakes specifically? 

Well, actually there isn’t really a specific reason for choosing blueberry pancakes, I just thought that it was cute and sounded memorable. But no, on a serious note, I think we all have comfort food and for the character, it’s blueberry pancakes. It reminds her of her childhood, a time when she was carefree and led a happy life. My friend, however, pointed out that we don’t see blueberry pancakes sold commonly in Yerevan, even though the story is taking place in Yerevan, then again, I guess that’s the perks of fiction and story-telling. There aren’t any boundaries, you’re limited simply by your imagination. 

 

        7. Why did you create the trope of an abusive father again? 

Well, because it’s very common. Many people have experienced childhood trauma and it usually stems from a parent figure. My story is a way for children to express their feelings to their parents because most of the time, and I’ve seen this happen with many of the people I know in my life who aren’t even children anymore, they’re in their 40s, and they still struggle with confronting and talking to their parents. So, I think reading my story may push them to openly converse with their parents, instead of keeping their feelings hidden within. I believe that’s the only way to move forward with one’s life. 

 

        8. Do you think that women are not capable of evil? Why is it always the male figure?

No, of course not! I’m a feminist, I believe women are capable of anything, I think they can even be more evil than men. But, now that you’ve mentioned it, I have to look closer into that trope – of the writers villainizing the men while portraying the women as innocent beings. I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest. But I have written stories where the female figure is evil and not the male. My stories do not aim to stereotype men in a negative light. I do not wish to make my writing biased: favoring women over men, it doesn’t accurately define my beliefs and values. However, given our Armenian context, it is usually seen where the male figure is the abusive one in a relationship. I personally created the evil male trope to make it more relatable to the readers; in order for them to be more connected with the work. 

 

        9. Where do you imagine the café being located? 

Even though I have mentioned that the setting is in Yerevan, for some reason, I don’t really see it there or in any specific city really. Like, I just see some parallel streets and it being in the corner of an intersection. I can explain it by saying “intersection of life”, because if you try to look into it, it seems as if the café is located at the intersection of the character’s life. It’s a major point in her life where she has to choose where she goes, and the café plays an important role in that. It’s mostly left for the reader’s imagination and interpretation. 

 

After her journey at AUA, Kristina is planning to pursue writing, specifically in Journalism. Yet, she will not leave her creative writing and will practice it independently. Her studies at AUA, she argues, have allowed her to work on her craft and have improved her writing skills greatly. Most importantly, however, she is grateful to have been given the opportunity, by the Math and Writing Center, to practice her imagination and bring into life her inner world. Kristina’s determination is driven by the impact her work has on her readers. She states, they are the ones who give value to her work and purpose to enhance her writing.