YEREVAN. – Retired German pedagogue Wolfgang Rieckmann first came to Armenia in 1989 to shoot a film with his friends about the devastating 1988 Armenian earthquake, also known as the Spitak earthquake, which occurred in the northern region of the country.

Today, however, Rieckmann cannot imagine his life without Armenia, he told Armenian News-NEWS.am. Furthermore, he spends most of the year in the capital city Yerevan, and considers himself “105-percent Armenian.”

Now, the retired German pedagogue is an amateur photojournalist.

Rieckmann also said Armenians are much better, friendlier, and more helpful than Germans.

“[But] the thing I don’t like the most is that Armenians celebrate New Year for two weeks. Frankly, I’m surprised how they can eat and eat for fourteen days straight. Two years ago, I celebrated the New Year in Yerevan; I had gained five kilograms,” the German laughingly noted.

According to him, people in Germany, on the other hand, celebrate Christmas only, and for just 1.5 days. Rieckmann also ensured that the Germans’ festive tables are not as lavish as those of the Armenians.

“[But] a two-week holiday is too much in a country like Armenia where 50 percent of the people are unemployed, and it harms them.

“Besides, I’ve heard only in Armenia that a [bank] loan can be received and New Year be celebrated. It’s astounding that people prepare lavish [New Year] tables with borrowed money, and then pay off loans the entire year,” Wolfgang Rieckmann added.