some random thoughts

ok first of all SOPHIE QUIT LAUGHING!!  so i went to see the police man in G this am, don't worry-nothing's wrong, and was quite pleased when he told me that i speak faster than i used to.  that's always nice to hear!and if i might brag for just a bit i will add that i didn't have my dictionary OR nargis, counterpart and translater, with me and got along fine.  yest was my groups 5 month mark in Bulgaria.  today, this is going to  random so either put up with it or close the blog, my B. teacher told me she was going to give me 3 books in B. to read, and retell back to her, before my stint in G is over.  pretty heavy stuff but i told her to "bring it on" and when i said that everyone that was in the "teacher's lounge" looked at me like "what in the heck is she saying?"  of course i may get one page read a day...if even that!   i told her i was going to give her 3 english books to read but i don't quite think that would be fair since i have had 5 months of B and she doesn't know english very well, but she continues to surprise me.  tomorrow a rep from the yd program will come to G and check on how i'm doing (which means to clean my apt! it's not bad at all mom!).  i've also been put in charge, american person for an american holiday, of planning something for halloween.  i've got some great plans!  now they just have to work which may be the problem!  now, to be even more random, i got a letter from my aunt and thought i'd address some of her questions.  i'm doing well although right now my foot hurts and i'm thinking the 15k i was going to do with another volunteer next oct isn't going to happen.  more than you wanted to know i realize.  i'm still at the english school 2 days a week and helping with an english class for 5-7 yr. olds at the kindergarten 2 days a week.  the adult english class i'm going to have hasn't started yet b/c i can't find a place to have it and, as of the information  i got this morning-no one knows, is on hold for awhile.  this is all the better for me b/c i can plan lessons and be more prepared!   i have to say the only time i have physically spent with other volunteers is for the mandatory meetings the corps has.  weekends would be my chance to travel but weekends are my chance to catch up on the next week as well as do necessary things around my apartment.  and i have to say i really don't feel the need to leave, i like it here!  as far as integration goes, i feel pretty integrated.  i say hi, in either B or Turkish-if an older person, to everyone on the streets and they always answer.  of course integration has more to do with being visable but i have to say i think i've done a pretty good job of this so far.   the people i workwith are all ages but the english school is from 8th-12th grade.  alcohol???  it's a problem but it's also a way of life.  for instance, there are drunk guys every night in the center, which is close to my apartment.  i know they're drunk, or at least i assume and i don't think i'm wrong but i could be, because i can hear the smashing of the beer bottles.  over here that's kinda what people do.  you go to a kafe with friends and drink and smoke.  so when i'm asked if it's a problem of course i think it's a problem because i don't drink to excess but it's tolerated.  in the states we have a big problem with drinking a driving.  over here few have cars and if they do don't drive more than a mile, if that, after they've had a drink.  in G you're not stopped by the police for drunk driving.  if there's violence that occurs when someone is drunk i haven't heard about it.  it's just different.  compared to the states with the violence, theft, and other things that are associated with alcohol i would have to say it's not a problem.  however.......like i said before, it's just different.  Love to all!