I'm Like Your Grandma, Only Without the Knitting Needles

I'm sitting here, waiting patiently for Spring. With Spring comes, not only sunshine and warmer weather, but all the things I miss and love about being a volunteer here in Bulgaria: my volleyball team, my adult English course with the best Bulgarian ladies EVER, and the ability to exercise and not feel like a hybernating bear.

Though, there are a surprising number of things going on currently that I'm pretty darn excited about. First, I'm a Co-Secondary Organizer (Official title. Fancy, right?) of the International Writing Olympics here in The Bulge. Several countries from this neck of the wordly woods are competing and Bulgaria is participating for the first time. Which means, we're kind of new at this. Vaune, the coordinator, basically our boss, is an amazing volunteer who has taken-on this project with gumption and only minor skepticism. She has delegated to Megan (the other Co-SO) the task of collecting 21 prizes for the first round of the competition. Things started off slow - like us planning a trip to Sofia with letters written in English and Bulgarian asking major bookstores and publishers to donate to our event only to find that all the bookstores were closed - no one is interested in reading on Saturdays, apparently. But, after the PC office promised us old Bulgarian-English dictionaries and the amazing Valya gave me the email to a woman at the embassy who has already started looking for other prizes for us, things are looking up!

The event takes place this Thursday and I have some students from the local high school interested. Though I've taken on a bit too much lately and haven't been able to make my way over there in awhile, I hope that more students have decided to sign-up and I'll have some seriously great essays to take with me to Sofia for judging in just a few short weeks. Then, it's on to the the International part of the competition (which means our work is pretty much over and the more exciting aspect of the competition begins!)

Also, some more awesome volunteers are coordinating a spelling bee for Bulgaria and I and my counterpart, Reni, are participating. I am working with not only my school, but a school in a neighboring village becuase the English teacher there had a PC volunteer at one time and is still very intersted in the things we do, naturally. We've decided to have our own practice SB between the two schools at the end of February and then move on the the regional aspect of the competition in late March. Eventually, our best students will wind-up in Sofia to compete nationally. I'm pretty excited about this as I have some pretty amazing 2nd and 6th graders (as well as one stupidly smart 4th grader) who I feel will go really far. The list of words for each grade is long - 250 words - but I know they can do it, I've got some smarties.

Being a teacher here in BG is exhausting. So exhausting that I've been abbreviating for some time now, I'm sure you've noticed. Also, I'm too lazy to spell-check and find out if "abbreviate" has two b's or not. I go to bed at 9:00pm. Like an old lady or a 3rd-grader. I'm either 9 or 79 depending on whether I drink apple juice or warm milk before falling asleep. Don't judge me.

Anyway, like I said, I'm sitting here, waiting not so patiently for Spring. It snowed today. Snow, I'm beginning to really despise you. Though, I recently bought (or PC bought) a ton of wood for my pechka (stove) to keep me warm over the next couple months - as soon as I get a key to the garage it's locked away in, I'll be warm and toasty. Mmmmm, toast. I'm gonna go make some. Ciao.

Wait! I also recently found out I'm going home to the States for a two-week vaca in June!!! I'm so excited that 3 exclamation points really don't feel sufficient so...

! x Infinity = my excitement (it's probably algebra and can't be debated. Math never lies, I'm that excited.)

-Age

Flucation

Written last week when I was actually on flucation and away from my computer:

The oblast, or county, I work in closed its schools this past week due to a flu epidemic that has broken out this winter season. Many schools around Bulgaria have shut down as well and many TEFL volunteers including myself have found ourselves in the midst of a surprise vacation. That is not something I ever considered possibly (hence my usage of the word "surprise" in the previous sentence). At the most, I was looking forward to the prospect of a snow-day or two, something unheard of in my Sunny Southern California, but 7 full days of school off? All I can say is Woo Hoo!

I'm sure all the kids are excited as well, whether or not they're one of the many suffering from the flu, as final exams for the end of this first semester have been postponed. For some students this means the ability to momentarily put-off the inevitable F's that they know are coming their way because they crack open their books to study just about as often as they ask for extra chores or put themselves to bed early (though they'll act outraged when they receive their grades - it's a matter of principle, after all). For others, this will mean an opportunity to study further and do really well on their exams. From what I've seen of Bulgarian students, there's very little middle-ground. They either know the information or they don't. They either study all their subjects with dedication or they don't study at all.

Even at a young age, some students are aware that their future starts now. Ambition is an uncommon emotion for many students and because of this, an extremely valuable asset for those who have it. Others seem already doomed to a disappointingly mediocre fate regardless of their potential or any available opportunities. Much like the States, motivation and desire are everything and if the students lack these things, if they or, more importantly, their parents, aren't capable of valuing education and showcasing an optimistic attitude towards the future, they won't go far.

It's unfortunate but true.

Education is a problem here in Bulgaria, most Bulgarians will be the first to tell you. There needs to be a complete overhaul in the education system. Families from all over need to regard their local schools as an important part of the community and the learning going on inside as the future of Bulgaria - full of opportunity for prosperity.

Bulgaria's generally defeatist attitude, fostered under years of oppression where one's views and desires were of little importance because individual effort didn't influence the outcome of one's life, is what keeps them from making a united, proactive change. They have so much potential as a country part of the European Union and with genuinely clever youth who could grow up to make a real difference if raised with the right attitude and examples.

Basically, the problem is bigger than me but I can still do my part. My contribution, if combined with the contribution of others in my community in positions of influence: teachers, parents, directors, students, community leaders, and so on, can create a small change moving in the right direction. It seems lofty, because it is, but it's also absolutely possible.

But, right now, I'm on flucation and enjoying every minute of it...as are my students, each in their own way.

-Age

20/20 Special

There has been a lot of talk lately regarding the special 20/20 has recently aired discussing the Peace Corps and its safety. I was aware that it did not show Peace Corps in a positive light and I thought, “What poor timing to degrade Peace Corps right before they celebrate such a monumental anniversary, 50 years of service.” Though, whether their motive was to increase ratings while Peace Corps is in the news or whether they honestly wanted to make people aware of this serious issue, it's an important topic and one to think about. What I’m about to write in no way reflects the thoughts or opinions of the Peace Corps or the US government.

Update: I've been informed that the Kate that was murdered while serving in the Peace Corps was killed during March of 2009 - so the girl I had referred to in a paragraph that I have just deleted from this exact spot is someone else entirely. I apologize. I made an assumption and you know what they say about those. In the future I'll put a bit more effort into researching "facts" that I pluck from the back of my dusty brain. (Though I still find the death of the 20-something girl who died of "natural causes" while serving in the Peace Corps a bit suspicious.)

This isn’t the place to get too far into my thoughts and opinions regarding the safety and security of volunteers here in Bulgaria but I will say that if our safety is their number one priority than Peace Corps should not hesitate for a second to do what is right and necessary regardless of how it may reflect on their image or reputation. In fact, being open about their lack of tolerance for any form of harassment would be more reassuring then the hushing up of situations that are later heard through the grapevine…or aired on national television. If a female volunteer feels unsafe and has perfectly good reasons for wanting to be moved from her site or even just her current living situation, then it should happen. Period. Regardless of whether she came home a half-an-hour after dark or she had a beer at the local restaurant. She should not have to endure any behavior that makes her feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way. I certainly wouldn’t.

I feel very opinionated on this subject because I’ve felt in the past that I wasn’t receiving the whole truth from Peace Corps. Not lies, necessarily, and nothing as important as major safety and security issues but I do wish that they were a bit more open with volunteers and the public. I was not at all surprised that they asked a woman who had been gang-raped to tell her fellow volunteers that she was going back to Washington to have her wisdom teeth pulled. The fact that I was not at all surprised is what worries me.

Despite what I’ve written, I have in no way ever felt unsafe here in Bulgaria. I think the staff are amazing people who are great at their jobs and each one of them believes in Peace Corps and its mission which fills me with admiration for our work here. The vast majority of my views towards the Peace Corps are positive. It is a wonderful organization doing truly incredible things all over the world and I’m proud to be a part of it. But it is not perfect. The flaws that have been presented, though unfortunately timed, need to be addressed and I would very much like to hear more from Peace Corps regarding these matters. The statistics are strong, Peace Corps is a safe organization. But, when there are warning signs, safety should come before image, before reputation, in all circumstances.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Kate Puzey and her family for all they have been through. I hope she has found peace and that her bravery is remembered by the people and community in which she served. She truly was a hero just as her father said, as are all people who stand up for the rights of women and minors despite how difficult it may be to come forward and be the one who has to take action. I’m very impressed by all who have done this, those of whom I know personally and those of whom I do not.

“Doing what’s right isn’t always positively accepted and doing what’s positively accepted isn’t always right.”

20/20 Special

-Age

Wallflower? Who Me?

There are a lot of Peace Corps related things happening to me right now. So many that I don't really feel like talking about them anymore. So, instead of chatting about what's most relevent to me at the moment I'm going to instead travel back a few days...I was sitting on a train chatting with a friend about the difference between introverts and extraverts. It was an interesting conversation and the gal has since facebooked me a fun article with a detailed explanation of what makes an introvert tick and why it's not easy to be one in modern, American society (not that I'm in America but there's still a cultural relevance, especially when I'm around lots of Americans which was the case earlier this week during our In-Service Training). It's called "Revenge of the Introvert."

I thought I'd begin by stating the obvious - I'm an introvert. Shocking, no? I've taken that Meyers-Briggs test that everyone and their second cousin has taken and I am officially an INFP (the "I" stands for introvert) and dang proud of it! That particular personality type is called the "Idealist" which is fitting. Here's some quotes I found interesting about the article and I thought I would expand upon:

"Often confused with shyness, introversion does not imply social reticence or discomfort. Rather than being averse to social engagement, introverts become overwhelmed by too much of it...as a result, introverts are not driven to seek big hits of positive emotional arousal—they'd rather find meaning than bliss—making them relatively immune to the search for happiness that permeates contemporary American culture."

I've had shy stages in my life but I would no longer describe myself in that way though I am acutely aware of feeling out of place in some social settings. This article helped me to realize why that is: I feel overwhelmed. I've used this word, when talking to friends, many times to describe the way some of our PC trainings have made me feel. When all 85 of us get together, including PC staff and often many B25's, I feel overwhelmed by all the people and all the social interacting. I feel that the Peace Corps, in general, encourages a more extraverted attitude and approach to life but I don't think it's necessary for a successful service. Introverts come with their own set of social skills and advantages that are often overlooked cuz, well, we're kinda quiet.

"It's often possible to spot introverts by their conversational style. They're the ones doing the listening."

"Introverts are collectors of thoughts."

We're quiet for a reason. We're processing. As introverts, we often despise small talk (cuz we're bad at it and have significant trouble coming up with quick answers to meaningless questions cuz we're spending too much time pondering the deeper aspects of the conversation and situation itself - we ponder) and we don't toss out words, opinions, or ideas without having first given them significant thought. Actually, we do, at times, in order to fit in, but it never goes well. At least not for me.

The article goes further into this point I've just made, that in a society that praises and encourages, highlights and even expects extraversion, the introverts are left feeling inadequate and that they have to make excuses for their behavior or even change it:

"Personality-culture clash hypothesis: "Psychological adjustment depends on the degree of match between personality and the values of surrounding society." To the extent that introverts feel the need to explain, apologize, or feel guilty about what works best for them, they feel alienated not only from society but from themselves."

Also:

"Researchers have found that introverts who act extraverted show slower reaction times on subsequent cognitive tests than those allowed to act introverted. Their cognitive fatigue testifies to the fact that "acting counter-dispositionally is depleting."

Acting counter-dispositionally is depleting! This made a huge impact on me when I read it. I have felt this! I often feel exhausted trying to keep up with some of my more gregarious friends. I have relationships with many extraverts which I think testifies to the idea that opposites attract and we together create an ideal relationship of give-and-take but too much of it or too many extraverted people at once can make me feel drained and withdrawn.

I once referred to myself in my own mind (as introverts tend to self-reflect far more than is healthy) as detached. I immediately felt that this was a terrible word and tried to dissuade myself from feeling this way but couldn't get away from it. Now, after reading this article, I realize that I'm not detached (well, I might be) but I just require more quiet reflection and personal time than others, which is OK. I'm allowed this without feeling guilty. Also, 50% of people are introverts in the States (probably way less in my PC world but whatever) but we simply don't realize it, according to this article, because the extraverts draw more attention, naturally.

"...a preference for solitude, reflection, internal exploration of ideas vs. active engagement and pursuit of rewards in the external/social world..."

"Solitude, quite literally, allows introverts to hear themselves think. But extensive internal dialogue, especially in response to negative experiences, can set off a downward spiral of affect. And indeed, anxiety and depression are more common among introverts than extraverts. In general, says Robert McPeek, director of research at the Center for Applications of Psychological Type, introverts are more self-critical than others—but also more realistic in their self-assessments. Call it depressive realism."

One of my main reasons for joining the Peace Corps stemmed from my belief that I spent entirely too much time self-reflecting. I was so concerned with bettering myself in whatever way possible and spent the two years following my graduation from the credentialing program trying to achieve this, without much success, that I was sick of myself. I knew I needed to focus on others and give myself a break from myself. I love watching TED videos and a recent clip talked of the importance in serving others as a way of achieving bliss. We've all been told a million times that money doesn't buy happiness (though many people still try) but we fail to reach further and try and understand the factors that do influence our happiness. Turning the focus from ourselves to others is one way.

(Sorry, I don't know why the background looks like that or how to fix it)

Anyway:

"Even a simple opener of "Hello, how are you? Hey, I've been meaning to talk to you about X," from anyone can challenge an introvert. Rather than bypassing the first question or interrupting the flow to answer it, the introvert holds onto the question: Hmm, how am I? (An internal dialogue begins, in which the introvert "hears" herself talking internally as the other person speaks.)Even if the introvert responds, "I'm good," she's probably still reflecting on how she is: Good? That's not quite right. I really have had a pretty crummy day, but there isn't a quick way to explain that. She wants to first work out privately her thoughts and judgment about the day. She also may evaluate the question itself: I hate that we so often just say 'good' because that's the convention. The other person doesn't really want to know. She may even activate memories of how the question has struck her in the past. While the introvert is evaluating the question on at least two levels (how she is feeling and what she thinks about the question, perhaps also what this says about our society), the speaker is already moving on to sharing something about his day. The introvert must take the incoming message from the speaker and tuck it into working memory until she can get to it, while more information keeps flowing in that demands tracking, sorting, searching, and critical analysis."

The article discusses how an introverts brain fires off more signals and is far more active when engaged in conversation than an extravert. For extraverts, talking and conversing is second-nature, like tying a shoe or riding a bike, for the introvert, it's a complicated process that seldom seems to get easier or less involved. That's why we suck at small talk. I hate small talk. Hate it. Always have - this explains it. Finally.

For those of you who have stuck it out this long here's some tips on "What Not to Say to an Introvert":

• "'Why don't you like parties? Don't you like people?' is a common remark introverts hear," says Marti Laney, a psychologist and the author of The Introvert Advantage. "Usually we like people fine," she insists. "We just like them in small doses." Cocktail parties can be deadly. "We're social but it's a different type of socializing."
• "Surprise, we've decided to bring the family and stay with you for the weekend." Anyone anywhere on the -vert spectrum could find such a declaration objectionable, but it's more likely to bring an introvert to a boil, according to Nancy Ancowitz. Introverts count on their downtime to rejuvenate their resources; an extended presence in their homes robs them of that respite.
• Don't demand immediate feedback from an introvert. "Extraverts think we have answers but just aren't giving them," Laney says. "They don't understand we need time to formulate them" and often won't talk until a thought is suitably polished.

• Don't ask introverts why they're not contributing in meetings. If you're holding a brainstorming session, let the introvert prepare, or encourage him to follow up with his contributions afterward.
• Don't interrupt if an introvert does get to talking. Listen closely. "Being overlooked is a really big issue for introverts," Laney says. Introverts are unlikely to repeat themselves; they will not risk making the same mistake twice.

• Above all, "we hate people telling us how we can be more extraverted, as if that's the desired state," says Beth Buelow, a life and leadership coach for introverts. Many introverts are happy with the way they are. And if you're not, that's your problem.

I found this article insightful and really helpful. I feel less guilty for being me and I have an explanation for the crazy things that go on in my mind and the awkward situations I sometimes find myself in. It's OK to be the quiet one who simply observes while others do - it's what works for us and makes the doing so much more meaningful when we're able to take it at our own pace.

-Age

Adjustment My Задникa

So I got an email from a lovely girl named Jez who happens to be one of our volunteer representatives for big, fancy Peace Corps meetings asking if anyone would like to write some articles for the upcoming Peace Corps Bulgaria Newsletter. Of course I did. So I wrote back, explaining my interest and she sent me a list of topics. I chose "Impact." I then forgot all about it for a couple weeks and when I decided to start writing the article I'd somehow gotten it into my head that the topic was "adjustment." Don't ask me why. I even thought, "I should probably check that email again and make sure this is right before I start typing." But, yeah, I didn't. I started typing. Not only did I start typing, I starting interviewing people so I could include it in my article. I'd nearly finished the thing (it only needs two more paragraphs that I no longer have the heart to write) when I finally referred back to the email and realized, yet again, that I'm a huge idiot. Sigh.

Anyway, I thought I'd share the article here anyway so that it doesn't go to total waste. I was pretty excited about it actually but now I've got to purge myself of this mistake and start writing about our impact.

Adjustment My Задникa

Television a little fuzzy? Twist those rabbit ears to left and, viola! Clear picture. Underwire feeling a bit too restrictive? A subtle yank is all you need. Comfort restored. Little brother needs to have his attitude adjusted? Backhand him. Problem solved.

But adjusting to a new country, language, and culture? Not so easy. Not that we haven’t tried. Oh, we’ve tried. Immediate and complete integration has been grilled into our heads throughout PST and failure is not an option (oh, PC staff, you know I tease). However, not everyone goes about their adjustments the same way. There are different approaches, each with varying levels of difficulty and success.

The first, when I’m feeling optimistic, I like to call “Diving in Head First” but usually in the morning before I’ve had my coffee, I call it simply “Ouch.” This involves ones’ head popping off of one’s pillow and a happy voice devoid of all morning grogginess declaring, “I will meet at least 10 new people today and we will become good friends, na gosti’s are in my immediate future!” Whistling as they go throughout their day, “dober dening” everyone they see, and stopping to help every baba they can find cross the perilous streets of Bulgaria, these eager volunteers know their way around a Bulgarian village and a Turkish toilet. Often, this degree of enthusiasm works well with Bulgarians, they love a cheerful and ambitious American. Bravo. But it can be exhausting and if the morning’s lofty goals are not met, detriment for the zealous volunteer whose day ends with a bowl full of tarator and tears.

(This is where the two missing paragraphs would go)

And though adjustment isn’t always simple, in some ways it is comparatively easier here in Bulgaria than other countries where Peace Corps serves. We remark on the fact that we are not living in mud huts like some of us may have originally assumed upon applying, and when referencing PC Bulgaria we often jokingly refer to it as the Posh Corps. There is even a deliciously funny bit of quote-collecting floating around the internet started by our own Megan Lindstrom. She decided to ask fellow volunteers what makes their Posh Corps experience difficult and here are some of the richly sarcastic answers:

'I was given too much free fruit to eat at once.'

'I forgot to plug-in my air conditioner, so I had to get up from the couch to plug it in before the remote would work.'

'I've only gotten 7 care packages in 4 months.'

'I have to turn two different knobs and a faucet in order to take a hot shower.'

'My new washing machine has too many options.'

Getting more serious about the topic at hand, I asked several volunteers about their approaches towards adjustment and the answers varied from bringing baskets full of apples to neighbors and getting to know colleagues to starting an adult English course in hopes of meeting people within the community and “updating” their wardrobe. It would seem that people associate the idea of adjustment with integration. It makes sense. As Tyler Wolfgang put it, 'Feeling comfortable in a new place could depend a great deal on how accepted you feel in your community. The more integrated you are, the less you would have to adjust.'

So, it would seem, the goal here is simply to continue what you’re doing. Live your life. Go to work. Get to know people. Ask questions. Give answers. And, using any one of the above-mentioned approaches, find that happy-medium where you feel that you fit in here in Bulgaria. I now know to bring tissues with me everywhere because toilet paper is never a guarantee. I now know that I put myself at great risk of eating random chicken parts with each na gosti invite I accept. I now know how to spakoyno. There are still many adjustments that need to be had and many more lessons to learn and mistakes to make along the path of integration but I’m not worried. After using my first outdoor, Turkish toilet in the middle of the night during a lightning storm with chickens, pigs, and donkeys making end-of-the-world noises, I can adjust to just about anything. And since every volunteer I know has a similar hilarious and horrifying story to tell, I know we can all make the adjustments needed to learn, grow, and leave an impression that lasts."

So. Yeah.

-Age

English

The children I’ve recently started to teach here in Bulgaria don’t take English very seriously. It’s not that way with all of them, but most of them. You see, here in Bulgaria, the high schools are very specific. A student can apply to an art school, a technical school, a language school, and many others depending on their interests. So, for those students who don’t plan on going to a language school and feel that they don’t need to check the bilingual box on any future job applications, they just don’t care all that much about my class.

I also feel that their lack of knowledge combined with textbooks that are not only above their heads but completely unrelatable culturally, they get frustrated and that frustration manifests itself as a couldn’t-care-less attitude. I won’t let this discourage me. They’re great kids. Funny and witty and full of ambition. I know that if they were given a reason to care, a reason to take English class seriously, they could be great students. I’m not saying they’ll all be fluent by the end of the year but they’ll make progress.

Right now I’m just trying to figure out what makes them tick. They may not enjoy English for English’s sake, but there’s got to be a reason or two out there for them to buckle down. Getting to know my students well is going to be the key here, and keeping a positive attitude. I plan on wowing them every chance I get. Going above and behind and dragging myself back home at the end of the day from pure exhaustion. But they will learn. They will. If God is my…just kidding, I’m not that dramatic, usually.

Anywho, wish me luck as I try to woo the hearts and minds of 60 or so elementary and middle school students. 

-Age

Vote For Me!

Hey friends! The Peace Corps sent us an email about this great contest the Trazzler traveling website is doing called "On the Road." Peace Corps staff encouraged us to enter and write about our villages. So, of course, I did. Here's the link below. Please check it out and vote for me - I could potentially win a trip or money for people within my village (I can't actually accept the prize myself). I would greatly appreciate it!

Rediscovering the True Beauty of Experience in Momin Prohod:

http://www.trazzler.com/trips/momin-prohod-in-bg

-Age

Why Yes, That is the State Seal on My Underpants

So, I've had a pretty eventful time recently. I just got back from a week-long training that involved the cutest damn 3rd graders anyone's ever seen and a group of veteran volunteers and knowledgeable Bulgarians that taught me so much. I feel truly prepared for the upcoming school year. Though, I'm sure when the first day rolls around all of that will fly out the window and I'll have a "what was I thinking?" moment...again. But I've gotten used to those. I usually respond to the over-panicked side of my brain with a soothing, "Shut up, whiner."

I got to see all my PC friends again, I didn't realize how much I missed my satellite group members until I saw their beautiful faces peeking through the window of the train. The 9:00pm train. The late-ass train that they had to take because they missed the reasonable-hour train that was supposed to bring them into my village before it was creepy and dark. Stupid punks. But, yeah no, I really missed them.

On our way back from the training city of Blagoevgrad we stopped in Sofia, the capital, for some Starbucks and a dooner. At the dooner stand we met another American who referred to us as "yanks" and was immediately our favorite American in the room. He told us he worked for the US embassy. We were impressed until he told us not to be, so were weren't. Except that we still were kind of. He told us that he thinks the Peace Corps volunteers and Embassy employees would make a good team because people are often intimidated by them (what?) and we are so in-tune with the locals with all of our grassroots awesomeness (my word, not his), we could learn from each other. No argument here (but that's mostly cuz of the whole being intimidated by him thing).

He told us that other Embassy people were getting together for a party and the man hosting was a former PC volunteer from Macedonia. He invited us but only I could go. I said yes, of course. This wasn't because I was intimidated to say no but because I immediately thought of what a cool facebook status I could write if I went to an Embassy party. I know that's dorky but I'm hoping the honesty of it will put me back in your favor. And if it helps, no one seemed to care all that much. I blame it on jealousy. Or misspelled words which is also a serious possibility.

I went. Met some very cool, young, funny, down-to-earth people and I hope I get to see them again soon. Well, since I accidental left my sunglasses at his house I probably will have to see them again soon but at least I won't be intimidated. Well, only a little. I'll try to imagine them in their underwear. Matching, American flag underwear. With the state seal sown into the label. Those would be some pretty intimidating underwear. Crap.

I have pictures but it's late and I'm too tired to post them. I will soon though cuz the kids we taught were well worth having their faces bragged about on my blog. Maybe even more so. Love you all.

-Age

Do Bulgarian Teachers Wear High Heels?

I got a package today from my mom. It was a bit bulky and oddly shaped, stretching at the cardboard seams and, upon examining this box in the small post office in my Bulgarian village, I was quite intrigued as to what my mother had sent me. I’d given her a list of things I wanted but my mom doesn’t always listen to me and it was very possible that this package either contained everything I asked for or a magic set and a signed poster of Tom Selleck.

Here’s what I got:

• · A book based off of Pride and Prejudice
• · Numerous office supplies (awesome!)
• · 5 dresses (one of which is actually a Halloween costume – Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, naturally)
• · A bracelet with a small owl charm cuz owl’s are my favorite
• · And a ridiculous amount of tampons, which is what gave the box it’s odd shape

And let me tell you, it was like Christmas! I got, pretty much, what I'd asked for and I’ve never been so happy to receive post-it notes in my life! But that kinda stuff is so rare here and when I do find it, it’s just so expensive that I cannot justify the purchase.

So, of course, I immediately tried on all the dresses, remembered what it felt like to be girly and thought, “I don’t have shoes for these!” How in the world I could be regretting having not brought my black, peep-toe, platform heels as a Peace Corps volunteer is one of those great dichotomies that exists only in PC Bulgaria. While in January, I was expecting to be sent to a place where I could potentially live in a mud hut and bathe in the river, I was not expecting to have to learn the lesson of practicality as all the luxuries of the world are at my fingertips but not actually close enough for me to grasp.

*

The fact that there are clubs and fancy restaurants and places to buy beautiful clothes I think actually makes living in Bulgaria more difficult than a mud hut. Because I can’t have those things. I want those things. I see a washing machine in a shop window for 300 leva and I think, “I want that right now!” I see a pretty pair of shoes or a dining set that sparkles, taunting me with its shininess, and then see the reflection of the covetous look on my face before turning away.

Basically, I’m having trouble being frugal here. I was told by the volunteer who lives near me, a very hard-working girl who’s been here for over a year, that these first few months will be difficult, “you’ll wonder how in the world you’re going to survive on so little but, eventually, you’ll get used to this life, spend less and less, and then begin to save money without even meaning to.” I certainly hope so. Cuz right now I’m fighting the urge to go buy a pair of black heels. To match a dress I don’t know when I’m going to wear.

It’s not to say that I was rolling in the dough when I lived in California. Quite the opposite, actually. I worked between 50 and 60 hours a week most of the time and still could barely manage to pay my rent. I never knew what sort of paycheck I’d be receiving as my work hours were always changing and maintaining two, sometimes even three, jobs was often a nightmare. I’d save up for weeks to buy something like a black pair of heels. But I bought them. I genuinely felt I needed them. I know I don’t need those things here but it’s gonna take some serious will-power not to start a “shoe’s for Adrienne” fund instead of devoting my time to fundraise for the many needs of this community. I’ll do what I should, and gladly. I’m just saying it’s not gonna be easy. Or, it would be easy, if I were doing it in a pair of black, peep-toe, platform heels.

-Age

Thanks, Billy!

Enough silly rambling from my head. I just received the Peace Corps monthly newsletter and there was an article, written by a currently serving volunteer here in Bulgaria, that really struck me as something pretty wonderful. I thought I'd share it here with you:

International Development

By Billy Knox, B24 COD

Two years. Not a lot to show. Completely satisfied.

I joined the Peace Corps with visions of grandeur. Seriously. They told all of us that there would be a lot of adjustments to be made, that we would need to be flexible and patient and that we probably would not change the world with one brilliant stroke. I thought I was the exception. I was going to move into my small community and capture people’s hearts and change their minds and maybe learn a thing or two about them in the process. I couldn’t have been more ignorant or, since we are talking about international development here, further off in my concept of what it means to be a grassroots development worker.

It has been two years since I started my Peace Corps service and I have learned a thing or two. I would like to take a minute to simply list some of the more important ones (in my humble opinion):

Development is hard. It is easy to sit in a classroom and toss around theories about solving the world’s problems but it is exponentially harder to actually get dirt under your fingernails. Nobody told me that. There is no manual or flip chart (sorry Peace Corps) that makes it any easier. Every last one of us is shooting from the hip. Sometimes it works and is brilliant and sometimes it fails miserably. But you should be proud of yourself for stepping in the ring because you have already done more than the majority of humanity ever will.

Peace Corps volunteers are not development workers. We are. But we are not. We do development work. But it is a third of our overall mission. Development agencies like USAID are completely different animals and it is not right or fair to compare what we do to agencies throwing millions of dollars at problems. We live next to people. Not across from them. Not above them. Next to them. We do not have stockpiles of resources but rely on our unparalleled resourcefulness to accomplish amazing things. We are incredibly resilient. And we are connected at a very real and personal level to the issues we are trying to address. This is what sets us apart, and what, I believe, makes Peace Corps dollar for dollar one of the most effective aid agencies around. What we do is human development and it is much harder to quantify and measure but, in the long run, much, much more important.

You can build a thousand schools and a hundred hospitals and all that is good and right but if you do not change people’s minds and educate them then it is highly probable that your grand accomplishments might not be around too long. Sustainability is both extremely important and extremely difficult to achieve but it is well worth the due diligence.

Because I have your ear: Drop books, not bombs. Educate and you will sow peace and prosperity, tolerance and love. We are never going to destroy the dark ideas in the world with M16s and laser-guided bombs. We will only make them ever darker and stronger.

I came here thinking that the Peace Corps was about me changing the world. I now know that this whole experience was much more about the world changing me. We, as Peace Corps Volunteers, are far more
aware, engaged, active, compassionate, etc, etc, etc… than we were before we came here and that is going to follow us for the rest of our lives. It is both our blessing and our curse.

Life is all about the little things. It is about human relationships and conversations and the small things that fill our daily lives. I wanted to change the world (I still want to), but I have learned to be okay with the idea that just changing one person’s mind is a monumental accomplishment worthy of praise and celebration. We never know what the seeds we now plant will grow into.

I am a Peace Corps Volunteer here in Bulgaria coming up on the end of my service. I have been here two years. I do not have an illustrious list of grand accomplishments that I can rattle off to you. I have not built bridges or hospitals or schools or empires. If I am completely honest, which for proprieties sake I probably
should not be, then I must admit to you that I do not have much to show from my time here.

But there are all of these things that you, and for that matter I, cannot see.

Thoughts

Ideas

Questions Raised

Minds Changed

The human relationships that we cultivate are immeasurable in their importance. The ideas that we share are infinite in their possibilities to bring about change. The small number of people that we directly influence are, without a doubt, forever changed. Change is certainly slow and often immeasurable. The things we do now often need years to grow into full-formed ideas and philosophies supported by actions and lifestyles. And still some things do not stick. Some people do not change. Some people never will. But even if they do not we most certainly have.

So yes it has been two years. And yes I do not have anything particularly spectacular to show you. And yes I am completely satisfied.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am the first volunteer in my community and when I was being interviewed by one of the PC staff, Jason, on whether or not I felt ready to accept this task and become a full-fledged volunteer, he told me that being the first was going to be a challenge. He told me that there will be other volunteers doing amazing things in their communities and it may take a toll on my motivation because I won't be making the same strides. He didn't say I wouldn't makes strides of my own but that they would be less measurable. My job is to lay the foundation here. Change hearts and minds so that in the future they will be more open, willing, and able to implement some community-changing projects and ideas, with or without the help of another volunteer. This article of Billy's really hit home and I realize that I need to change my focus in the sense that I need to expand my focus. Do all I can while at the same time remaining open to any small accomplishments as well as learning from my many mistakes and so called "failures." So, let's do this!

-Age

Pregnant Donkey's and Writing Contests

My mom sent me an email with a link to a writing contest entitled, "I never thought I'd..." She thought I might enjoy giving a crack at winning her a trip to New York. She's so sweet. I immediately became interested and drafted up several version of what I hoped would meld into one award-winning essay. We shall see. Here it is, please feel free to critique, comment, and suggest. I am more than open to your ideas and opinions. Wish me luck!

"Turn Right at the Pregnant Donkey" by Adrienne Hadaway

“Turn right at the pregnant donkey.” That’s what I tell people when they ask for directions to my home. Turns out the donkey was never actually pregnant, just fat. I’m relieved never to have asked this donkey, “boy or girl?” That would have been awkward. It may seem strange to some to give directions in this way but for me, here in Bulgaria, it’s been quite useful. Though, I suppose, if that donkey were to decide that the grass was actually greener on the other side, not to mention tastier, I may never have another visitor.

I never thought I would join the Peace Corps. That’s where I am currently, in a small village in Bulgaria teaching English, integrating into a new culture, and studying a language so difficult that I often think to myself, “What was I thinking? I can’t do this!” However, those moments fade when I look into the faces of the beautiful children living here, when I see the old women walking through the village streets as if from another era, when a 50 kilometer bus ride can transition one from a tiny town full of red tile-roofed cottages scattered among the hills to a bustling capital city of 7 million. I always knew I wanted to experience adventure. I always knew I wanted to relate to a new culture. I always knew I wanted to challenge my assumptions and general way of thinking. But I never thought I would join the Peace Corps.

Upon leaving my beautiful state of California for this daunting adventure many people asked, “Why are you going?” or “The Peace Corps? What’s that? Is that like the army?” Apparently the word “peace” was not descriptive enough. Though, to be honest, while I did have a basic idea of what joining this organization entailed, I had always imagined it consisted of a group of individuals completely dedicated to a very specific cause. I had no idea that it’s actual mission was so simple, so broad, so all-encompassing: spreading peace and friendship. That’s it. Though to say “that’s it” is to imply that it lacks importance or influence which couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Spreader of peace and friendship” is much too long for a business card though still a title not to be dismissed as outdated, cheesy, or trite. People have always pursued peace. The idealistic will never give up on peace and even the realistic know that, though total harmony may not actually be achievable, the amount we strive to achieve it is proportional to the happiness of everyone. And friendship is as old as time, the cornerstone to any relationship worth having. Friendship transcends peace and takes it from a passive tranquility to an active desire to make others happy. To be a “spreader” of these two things is an important task that can be performed in any number of ways, down a multitude of avenues, and from a variety of personalities, perspectives, and passions.

My passion happens to be education. I value knowledge and wisdom, as many people do, and desire to motivate and encourage others to feel the same. To value something is to consider it of such significance that it plays an important role in ones’ life and education is truly something to value, something of such worth that it should play an important role in the lives of all. This will be my course, my method of spreading peace and friendship here in Bulgaria, accomplishing the goals I have set for myself to encourage passion for knowledge as well as to increase my own.

Though in my wish to encourage learning and it’s pursuit, I did not initially think to myself, “Hey, now, the Peace Corps seems like the way to go.” No, I went to school, I got my degree, I received my credential and I tried, in vain, to acquire a job teaching elementary age children in California. The timing was bad, the economy worse and I found myself, like so many others, in a rut. I don’t like ruts. The word itself is unattractive and my desire to claw myself out of this rut was all-consuming. I’ve never worked so hard in my life to achieve so little. Though, maybe I gained more than I thought, because it lead me to the conclusion that all this effort I was putting into myself was a bit selfish. I had focused on me for so long that I forgot the importance of focusing on others, that by helping others you, in turn, often help yourself. I decided to dedicate my time, my knowledge, my skills, my life to helping others though secretly knowing I would receive a multitude of blessings in return which makes the seemingly selfless task of joining the Peace Corps not quite as shiny and pure as one would think but definitely more genuine.

So here I am, a hippie of sorts, a pursuer of knowledge and peace and friendship. A dedicated volunteer with arms and a heart that open up a little more each day. I always knew I wanted more from this life but I never thought I’d join the Peace Corps. But I’m so glad I did and cannot wait to see what wonderful things come as a result of this unexpected yet pivotal choice.

-Age

Run Down

All right. Even though I don’t have a clever post in mind at the moment I’m really feeling rather weary about the fact that my last post is titled “Mafia Bitch Geese” and I know my mother reads this (actually my mom may have found that post to be more hilarious than anyone else, but still). So I’m gonna just give a quick run-down of all that has been going on in my neck of the woods, that is, Bulgaria in case you’re new.

My satellite group and I finished Pre-Service Training with a bang and I passed my language test (phewph!).

We had a big Swearing-In ceremony in Vratsa before all being swept away to our permanent sites. I didn’t get to say the good-byes I would have liked to but I will be seeing all my PC friends soon as we are getting together for a week-long training at the end of August (I can’t wait).

Tom, from my satellite group sent me a long good-bye letter through facebook that made me cry (in the living room of a Bulgarian family that I had only just met that day). It was just what I needed to hear as I was feeling a bit lonely and overwhelmed. That first weekend alone in my new apartment was, yet again, a “what in the world have I gotten myself into” moment. But it passed and now I’m starting to feel as though this new place is really home.

Next week I start teaching two adult English courses (yikes!) as well as summer school for the kids. It will be nice to be busy and involved in the community. I’m anxious to really get to know people and make some friends.

My Bulgarian tutoring starts tomorrow. My counterpart, Reni, will be my tutor and we will study three hours every week, a welcome change to the three hours every day that I was studying in Pre-Service Training. Though, I really can’t wait to be able to speak Bulgarian well enough to have real conversations with those around me. Right now, I can really only talk to my counterpart and a very nice girl named Marietta who has befriended me. She is 25 and getting married next month and within 20 minutes of meeting her she invited me to the wedding. I love Bulgarians!

I’m still struggling with the same issue that I have been since day 1: How to make an impact. I have all the answers tucked away somewhere in my brain. Every time I doubt myself or my purpose here they just come flying out of nowhere. Quotes from Peace Corps staff, other volunteers, friends, family, bible verses, even things I’ve told myself. I know why I’m here. I know what I’m capable of as well as my limits but I still can’t seem to shake the feeling that I have no idea what I’m doing. I plan to have a positive attitude, to work hard and do absolutely everything I can think of to help my new community but I feel like this is going to be one of those experiences where I gain far more than I give. But, that’s a good thing, right? I’ll welcome the idea the best my overachieving, America brain can and even embrace the mistakes I will, without a doubt, make on a daily basis. Time to get serious.

I’ll be getting internet in my apartment soon which means pictures! Yeah! I have so much to share and since a picture is worth a thousand words and I’m pretty lazy I’ll just let them do the talking.

-Age

2 Men. 1 Vespa.

Now, I've only been to 2 countries in Europe, Italy and Bulgaria, so my experience is a bit limited but there have been 2 pretty constant themes I've noticed among European men.

The first being:
Their need to acknowledge the fact that they find a woman attractive.
There are several ways a European man can go about this but the most popular seem to be: a whistle, a honk (if they happen to be driving by), or a shout out of some kind.

The second is:
Two men. One Vespa.

These two things alone may seem unrelated but in fact, when combined, they are one of my favorite things about this part of the world. When two men on one Vespa drive by and either honk or whistle in my general direction I always think, "Really?"

In their minds they must imagine I'm thinking, "Man, if you weren't straddling another dude right now, I'd totally be all over that!"

Nothing says sexy like two men holding tight to one another traveling at a moderate speed.

In other news, we have only 3 weeks left of Pre-Service Training and then it's off to Sofia to be sworn in as real volunteers and to redeem our adulthood!

Here's what the agenda looks like for these next 3 weeks:

1) Plan and teach 2 weeks of Summer School
2) Plan and Conduct a community meeting with the Mayor, City Council, and School Director
3) Identify community needs
4) Create a community project to help fill those needs
5) Write a project proposal
6) Implement said project
7) Pass our Bulgarian LPI!!!
8) Go to 3 more HUBS in Vratsa
9) Plan a 4th of July celebration!
10) Plan and give a community presentation to the entire TEFL group (gulp)

So...I'm gonna be pretty busy. We're all feeling a bit overwhelmed actually. It seems like so much has been crammed into these last few weeks and we barely have time to breath let alone feel any sense of accomplishment. But that could all change once we've actually successfully finished out stint in PST. Then it all becomes real. Again, what have I gotten myself into?

-Age

I Want to Go to There

This past week has been a busy one, and it went by so fast! It was the week of Counterpart conferences and our visits to our permanent sites.

We spent the first 3 nights in Vratsa. After an agonizing 2 hours of listening to who knows what, as we were all entirely too anxious about finding out our permanent sites than to listen to a damn word they were saying, we were all taken to a large courtyard with a map of Bulgaria on the ground and several cities identified with a colored sheet of paper.

 We gathered around the outside of the mini-Bulgaria and watched as, on-by-one, our friends were told where they would be living and working for the next 2 years and spread all over the country. Some were ecstatic to be near the Black Sea while others stood near their location with a look of “I know absolutely nothing about this place but I’m still really excited about it.”

Our PST site, T---,  is going to be hosting a volunteer and my site-mates and I under no circumstances wanted to be placed there. Basically, we were all too entrance by the mystery of being swept off to some unknown location to consider the fact that we absolutely love T--- and whoever was to be assigned there would be incredibly lucky. However, as luck would have it, Kristen, our P---ian neighbor, was given T--- and we all clapped and cheered partially because we were happy for her, partially because we were happy for T---, but mostly because we all felt a sense of relief. Our city of mystery was still out there among those 8.5” x 11”, bluish-green pieces of paper.

When our group was called, I had no time to be nervous as I was almost instantly swept away with a congratulatory carnation in my hand to M--- P---. Uh…where? I’d never heard of the city and didn’t know the area well but I decided to be instantly in love. M--- P---became the best city, excuse me, village, in all of Bulgaria and probably the prettiest. Oh, and with the most interesting people. I was also pretty sure it was going to smell like Disneyland.

I excitedly looked around to see which volunteers would be close by – I got some good ones. I was also friggin’ excited to find that the capital, Sofia, was only an 1 ½ train-ride away. To top it all off, my language trainer came over to inform me that it’s a resort village. Of course it is, I had little doubt. It is, afterall, M--- P---, the best damn village in all of Bulgaria. Closely followed by T---, a place I will, truthfully, always love and miss.

I went with my counterpart, Reni, to M--- P--- for 3 days to meet the principal, mayor, teachers, and students. I was expecting a village just like T--- as the population is the same and it’s only a few hours away. It couldn’t be more different. The village is at the base of the beautiful Bulgarian mountains with little red-roofed houses scattered all along the hills. There’s also many shops, cafes, and even a few hotels. The scenery was breathtaking and I was thrilled.

Right as I got off the train I met the Director, Mrs. Petrova, and a few of the students who were all very sweet. I expressed my happiness with “Priatno Mie”s and smiles. It was a really nice welcome and I have a feeling that teaching in this small school is going to be challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. Basically, it was a great trip and I can’t wait to get started!




Also, I'm having computer issues (what's new) and I'm using a friend's computer to post this so pictures will eventually be posted just not until my bad computer juju goes away.

-Age

I Know How to Spell Camouflage Now!

As trainees and future volunteers of the Peace Corps we were each given a medical kit. Mine was marked with an “F,” appropriately. What’s inside this medical kit is simultaneously fascinating and hilarious and I had the opportunity to peruse it’s contents the other night with a group of Bulgarian women. It was one of those moments that transcends language. I knew exactly what they were saying and they knew exactly what I was saying and it was beautiful.


First, upon opening this Kit-O-Fun, we find a stream of condoms. 10 to be precise. All connected. All camouflage. Camouflage? I’m not really sure why that’s necessary in life though I have in mind a couple possible explanations:

1) If they need to be hidden for any reason, it’s simple, put them just about anywhere and no one will ever see them. They’re camouflage.

2) They are only meant to be used during times of war when becoming pregnant would be most inconvenient.

Secondly, there’s a pregnancy test. In case the condoms run out or prove to be defective (chances of them being defective are slim considering they are up to army standards and all). These two things combined created the perfect opportunity for us all to make inappropriate jokes and laugh hysterically. My neighbor, while holding her 1 ½ year-old son, told me she probably needed the condoms more than I did. I agreed and offered them over which produced about 10 minutes worth of uncontrollable laughter. It was great fun, though I wouldn’t want to potentially upset anyone (PC staff) by discussing the bright orange “attack whistle” and how the 1 ½ year-old seemed to enjoy it immensely. So I won’t.

I feel that now’s a good time for some sort of explanation. For those of you who thought this silly blog of mine would suddenly turn into something insightful and deep involving important cross-cultural affairs: reality check time. I don’t really know how to do that. I’m sure, at some point, those moments will come and I’ll share them with you here. I’ll try my best to convey the importance of my experiences and you’ll try your best to write a comment that let’s me know my effort was worthwhile. And I’ll appreciate those moments. I will. But they will be scarce as my mind tends to be drawn to things like camouflage condoms and 1 ½ year-olds blowing attack whistles. So until the time comes when I feel I’m immersed enough to actually give you a fair depiction about the people and culture I am currently trying to assimilate into, we’ll just have to stick with these sorts of topics. My poor mother. Sorry, mom, I really am doing more than just giggling about condoms. Promise.

Oops.

-Age

Medical Kits and the Perfect Man

We had a visit from the Peace Corps Medical Officers today. We talked about how to stay healthy and about potential health concerns. Mary and I also found out that we have fleas. Yup, we're flea buddies. I only have a few bites on my lower legs which makes me think that they hop on when I'm walking through the streets and fields, have a quick snack and then jump off. I don't think they're in my room or clothes or anything. Though I sprayed the crap out of my room with bug-repellent just in case. Fleas. Sheesh. Apparently that pretty common in small farming villages like this one so I might as well get used to it. Maybe I'll start a circus, you know, to make a little money on the side.

We also got free bicycly helmets (cuz riding a bike without one could actually get us kicked out of the Peace Crops, yikes!) and tampons. Yeah for free tampons. Apparently they have a limited supply and when the PCMO's stash is gone we have to fend for ourselves and scour all of Bulgaria in order to find them. They are not common. But, as you can see, we're pretty excited about it. Bug repellent, tampons, helmets, and a water purifier. Doesn't get better than that.

I have more to say about the medical and health issues. Namely the medical kit that was given to all of us. My silly computer won't let me upload those photos right now for some reason but, oh, they're comin'! And you should be looking forward to it cuz that medical kit is full of fun goodies that I cannot wait to show you. Get excited.

This is a really fun acticity we did in language class the other day about My Ideal Man or Идеален мъж ми. I circled tall, dark, and handsome at the bottom. I also circled Al Pacino (circa 1980-something). I've got "very nice and smart but a little bad" as well as "around 30-years-old" and "charming and funny." I think that's a pretty good list concidering my limited Bulgarian.

Oh, So That Wasn't Funny? Not Even a Little? Bummer.

So, I try to be funny just about as often as possible. I have a high regard for funny. Wit, sarcasm, and very dry humor  tend to be my favorites and I'm apt to forgive many a vice if someone can make me laugh on a regular basis. Unfortunately, however, I've gotten it into my head that everyone feels this way.

Not so.

I learned a fun trick from a friend of mine named Charlie: you measure the success of your humor on a percentage-based scale. By giving yourself a certain percentage you also give yourself margain for error. This way, when no one laughs or, gasp, they get offended, it's OK, you just chalk that up to the amount of time you're allowed to be un-funny.

Get it? In the States, I tried to be funny about 70% of the time. So that 30% was always there to keep my self-esteem in check.

"So then the guy was like, 'That's not my leg, that's a popsicle stick!'"

----------------------------------

(OK. That one's gonna really take a toll on today's average...)

But, in Bulgaria, I've decided to bump it down to 45%. You know, to be fair to myself. Things can get lost in translation and blank stares after what I consider to be a funny joke can kinda make you wanna cry. But now that it's 45%, I'm back in the game!

Also, Katelyn (one of my satellite group members) is a Theater Major. Have you ever tried to compete for laughs with a Theater Major? Not easy. She's skilled in the art of monologuing and using her body and facial expressions to take a story from funny to FUNNY. Maybe I should make it 35% just while I'm here in T----.

Personally, I think the majority of our time should be spent in laughter, having a great time just being alive. Too much seriousness makes you ugly. It's definetely bad for the complexion at least.

You remember what happened to the girl who was too serious for too long, don't you?

She died, People.

Oh, and just FYI, the word "die" in Bulgarian means "give me." So if someone in Bulgaria reaches out to you with both hands and says "die" over and over again, they're not trying to kill you. Common mistake. But just to be on the safe side, you should probably give them whatever you're holding. Immediately.

I'm gonna try and upload pictures soon (my internet's not being too friendly when it comes to uploading pictures) but here's a fun one of the pregnant donkey that serves as a street sign for me. "turn right at the pregnant donkey...turn right at the pregnant donkey..."

And here's us at the fireworks show to honor Hristo Botev (I've already written a post about this Bulgarian National Hero/Guy from The Hangover look-alike):

-Age

Kashkaval!

Okay. My village is awesome and so unlike anything I've ever known and these pictures in no way do it justice. I'm hoping to become one of those "picture people" that are always documenting everything (those one's that I've always relied on to give me their pictures cuz I never remember to take any). I'm gonna have great, insightful photos that give you amazing insight into my experience here in rural Bulgaria. But, until then, here are the few I've managed to take so far.

(Oh, and kashkaval is cheese in Bulgarian)

Children's Day - a national holiday in Bulgaria

Our language trainer, Veronika

My satellite group: Tom, Mary, Me, Katelyn

Where I live (pretty, isn't it?)

-Age