Friday, January 28, 2011

the flu

The flu has hit Bulgaria!!  Some schools are on "vacation" (1 week vacation) because the majority of their students are sick.  However, my school is still functioning but we were told today by the Principal to watch the news on Monday (because it's the semester break we have Monday off) to see if we have school next week.  You know the feeling you get, or got, when all the schools get a snow day in the states EXCEPT your school?  It's kind of like that at my school and I can say that the teaachers are crossing their fingers for no school next week!  Whereas that doesn't mean a whole lot to me, I work 24/7, it would be nice for the students and the teachers to have a break.  Let's face it, everyone is doing it!  I found out today at lunch that if more than 20% of school kids are sick with the flu the doctors inform the Ministry of Education and then the schools are closed.  I have no idea right now about the kindergarten but my counterpart's daughter goes there and I'm sure I will be informed!  I saw a teacher from the kindergarten last night and when I asked her if I would see her on Tues. and she said maybe we'd have a 1 week vacation because of the flu.  Like I said before it really means little to me whether we have school/kindergarten or not; I'm still working.  Today the 9th class had a birthday party for their teacher, my counterpart.  Originally I was not going to be able to attend because I had class of my own.  THey invited me and really wanted me to go  but I decided not to try to switch my schedule to make it fit.  I could have.  My reason for this decision had to do with the fact that they organized it all by themselves.  THEY took the initiative and THEY put in the effort.  If I remember right initative is one of the reasons we are here; to help with "the spark."  In thinking about it what would asking them to change their plan to a better time for me say to them?  Turns out I popped my head in for a "happy birthday" (they asked me again if I was coming and I had to say I couldn't but promised to stop by if I got a chance) and my counterpart told me to bring my class of 4 to the room; afterall they had been her students once upon a time too.   So that was my day and now I'm off to figure out the next week with the kindergarten!  Love and hugs and WELCOME WYATT ALBERT BELIERES!!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

my wow moment

Once again nothing as far as differences to write about but I am going to share a good day with you all.  Since it is the end of one semester at school all the teachers are very busy and rushing to get grades in and so on.  Yesterday I went to 2 classes with my counterpart for "fun."  If you read yesterdays blog you realize the fun was learning too.  In one ofthe classes we made a "human knot."   I think most of you know to "solve" this requires lots of teamwork and communication.  I really wasn't sure how it would go as far as the teamwork part is concerned.  I guess I'm saying I wasn't sure how much of a team they were going to be.  I was plesantly suprised!  It went very well and the students wanted to do it over and over again.  We "solved" our "human knot!"  So toeay when one of the teachers asked me to fill in for her while she finished up her work I said "sure" while thinking "ok, what am I going to do in this class?"  I gave them a couple choices and they chose the human knot.  (i'm assuming everyone knows this is where you make a big circle and hold someone's hand across from you and then do the same with the other hand.  The object is of course to untie the knot without unclasping hands).  Again I wasn't sure how much teamwork there would be... and again I was plesantly surprised!!  We must've played 5 times!  Then after the class was over they played again...ON THEIR OWN...WITH OTHER STUDENTS!  I just stood and watched them go and it was so fun!!!  Allow me to indulge myself...I'M AN AUNT FOR THE THIRD TIME!!!  So on to another class.  I totally had something else in mind but grabbed UNO as as afterthought just in case.  The class saw it and wanted to play.  We played UNO the whole class period, using English is always the plan but usually only 1/2 works, and ended up playing about 3-4 games.  When class was over one of the seniors, it was a 12th grade classs, told me "that game is better then poker!"  Let's just say never in my dreams would I think anyone would tell me that UNO beats poker!!  I so love that they think that and get a kick out of these games!  I have to get a move on and find some more!  I do have to say that the corps gave us an awesome cd with resources on it before I came here and that has helped a bunch with ideas.  So anyway that was my day and now I'm going to share my news with my friends here if you'll excuse me.  Love and hugs and welcome Wyatt!  Glad you're here!  I'll see you in "real person" in about 2 yrs!  Your aunt Lisa

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

learning and fun!

Once again I'm having trouble finding something to write about and promise to think of new things this weekend.  I have to tell you about the 8th grade SIP (extra classes schools have outside of "normal" school).  They were practicing their English vocabulary and writing skills (shhh! don't tell them they were learning!) while having a blast!In fact I had to tell some of the boys to "chill out!"  Of course the game we played where teams were involved became boys against girls.  I even lost a point for the boys because I played on their team but started to write on the girls side of the chalkboard when it was my turn!  Oops!   Don't you just love when learning is disquised as fun??!!!   Tomorrow I get to sub for the 11th and 12th grades.  We'll see if we can't come up with an interesting lesson!   I got some wonderful artwork and the words to the song "Do you know the muffin man" from my nieces today as well as letters from my friends from Conseco and some church friends.  I so enjoy the fact that you guys think of, pray for, and miss me!  I really don't know where I'd be without all that!  Thank  you again for all the support.  Thank you also for all the volunteering you continue to do while I'm away!  That's what makes this world go round, people helping people!  Love and hugs!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

mish mash

I have to say I've been sitting here for a couple minutes thinking about what to write!  I'm out of ideas and have to sit and think or some new ones.  I will say that I had my first sewing lesson today and my coworkers couldn't stop laughing!  It's hard to see those little (I'm going to call them) boxes you need to put the needle through!  I can't see me getting more than one done while I'm here if I even get that one done!  I guess that can be a summer project in my free time!  At school tomorrow is the end of the semester so all the teachers are preparing tests and wrapping things up.  I think when I blogged about the schools and grading I mentioned that some of the testing was oral.  This morning I was in the 8th grade Bulgarian class and witnessed this oral format.  Actually I've seen this several times in the B class that I attend.  The teacher calls a name and that student either stands up or goes to the blackboard.  They have to write something and explain why they wrote it that way.  The teacher even asked me how to write something today; to help one of the students.  I got it wrong!  Oh well; "ima vreme!" (there's time, I have time)  It snowed on and off today and it's cold!  I'm very glad my apt is small!  For lunch today our "kitchen" ladies made my favorite:  cream chicken!  There are no biscuits but I've found bread works just as well.  We also had spinach soup so the fatty, non healthy cream was balanced by nutritious spinach!   Sorry this has been extremely boring and a run of the mill blog!!  Love and hugs!

Monday, January 24, 2011

my grandma

You'll have to excuse me for today because this blog is going to be different.  I'm not going to tell you about something different here or tell you about my day.  I dedicate this blog to my grandma Miller who passed away this past Saturday.  She was 89 years old and suffered from dementia.  I don't know my dad's side of the family that well because they are from the Eastern part of the states and I'm in the middle.  I get my Mennoniteism from his side of the family.  My mom's side is close but not Mennonite(M).  In fact there is a  story about this very thing I have to tell you.  For those of you who don't know M's believe in the simplistic lifestyle.  I am willing to go into details but another time if someone's interested.  Now just like with any religion, anything really, there are various...ok I can't think of how to finish that so let me just say there are some people who are more conservative and some people who are more liberal in their beliefs.  My grandma and grandpa were more on the conservative side and that was kinda hard for my sis and I when we were little.  We'd go visit, no tv.  The story I'm going to tell you has to do with "g" words.  I don't use The Lords name anyway in everyday talk but we were told by dad that ANY "g" word was basically the equivalent and shouldn't be said, at least in front of our grandparents.  The word "gosh", and now "oh boshe," regularly comes out of my mouth and did when I was little too.  So, I was helping my gma make pies.  (Something else that might be helpful...they lived next door to a butcher shop).  ALL of a sudden the kitchen door opens and there stands gma with about 8 cartons of eggs balancing ontop of each other!  The first thing out of my mouth, and sometimes to this day this is still the case, was of course the wrong thing.  I exclaimed "oh my gosh gma!  You sure do have a lot of eggs!"  She stopped and said "what did you say?"  Now I'm not sure if she actually heard what I said or not but I rephrased that thought with something like "you sure do have a lot of eggs!"  My grandpa was gone a lot an I don't think spent much time with her.  I always spent more time with my grandma because I would help her in the kitchen.  My grandparents relationship was more stereotypical, women do the dishes and men earn the money kinda thing, than I was used to and and I thought she deserved some help!  Another thing I just remembered.  Now I've never seen Santa Claus to know if his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly or not, but I can tell you  my grandma's did!  It was so fun to watch her laugh!  She had a hard life and had to adapt quite a few times in her 89 years and I have to give her credit for that!  They both came all the way from Delaware for my high school graduation and were at my sister's wedding.   She lived a good life and is with Her Maker now (a place she couldn't wait to get to!), looking down at all of us and smiling!!  I just hope somewhere between here and there she met my nephew and told him he's got a lot of people waiting for him on Earth so he better hurry!  Love and hugs!

Friday, January 21, 2011

winter dangers

Not sure what to blog about (if you have any ideas of things you would like to know more about please let me know) so I'll tell you a little about where I live and how snow, ice, and the cold temperatures are not the only problems during winter.  I live the the Northern part of B and as  you know the Danube River is up here too.  In the states we hear all about the lake effect snow and such.  Well here I don't know if we get much "lake" effect snow but we sure do get our share of "lake" effect fog (mugla or мъгла!)    Now we have our share of fog in the states, maybe I should say Indiana, but here during the winter it's almost a nightly occurance!  Last night traveling by bus back home from seeing a play I would have had to pull over if I was driving; I couldn't see more than right in front of the bus!  Luckily the driver could and knew the roads.  I wonder if it has more to do with the fact that it's been warmer than usual this winter.  Or at least I think it's been warmer than usual but am not really qualified to make that call since I've been here a total of 8 months. So far I've seen more fog here in a month then I usually see in IN. in probably 1/2 years time!  So mom if you're reading this, gosh I hope pretty soon you don't have much time to read my blogs...at least until you're back in FL, you can tell your pastor who got me the little keychain flashlight that it comes in super handy when it's foggy.  Now about the day.  Last night 31 of us went to a play and I think I figured something out.  I knew between 50-75% of the words that were spoken.  What I was lacking was the meaning behind those words.  I've noticed that in some of the English classes I've gone to and with some of the students.  They know words but the meaning isn't there.  So I think I'm going to stop with the grammar, not really that much of a  problem for me:), and tell my tutor I need to work on understanding.    Oh!  I'd be curious to know how much snow Indy got from the recent storm!  Not much else is going on now or this weekend.  I'm trying to start a "girls night out" for the young ladies in the hostel.  Not sure of any of the specifics yet but it's in the works!  I sure know how much I enjoyed it in the states and figure it might go over here.  We shall see!!  Love and hugs!  No news is good news I guess!?

Thursday, January 20, 2011

why I got my new phone

I was emailing a friend last night telling her about things here when it occured to me that I didn't write about my "adventure" when I lost my phone!  At least  I don't think I did; I checked but  apologize if I did already and just didn't see it.  THAT was an adventure!!  It all started because I was having some eye issues and the corps wanted me to see a Dr.  I took the bus and had about 2-3 hrs before my appointment to find the hospital and walk around and chill. LITTLE DID I KNOW!!  It was colder and snowing with snow on the ground, I'm going to say 4-5 inches.  I had gone over directions and everything with my counterpart the evening before and felt pretty confident.  So I got off the bus where I normally do and started the trek to the hospital; I'd relax after I found it.  I had walked for maybe 20-30 minutes when I realized I didn't have my phone!  Now it took me awhile to get a cell phone in the states because I figure if someone needed something it could wait till evening and they could call my landline.  Well here things are a little different.  Our phones are basically our lives!  In the states I know where people live and can jump in the car and go see them.  Not the case here!!  At this point I started wondering where it could be and if I lost it or someone took it.  Since I had been walking basically by myself the whole time I figured I dropped it.   This is where I surprised myself a little...I didn't freak out too much and remained somewhat calm, which is unlike me in those kind of situations.   backtracked and tried to find my phone with no luck.  What I needed to do was call my counterpart and let her know what was going on but the one thing I needed to solve my problem was lost.  Long story a ittle shorter I borrowed the Dr's phone (I figured I should get there since I couldn't call and cancel:) )and called the corps and asked them what to do.  I ended up going to a phone compay store and explained the situation to them.  Once again I'm glad I encountered someone who spoke English because doing all this in B wouldn't have gone well!  I encountered a little problem getting my phone # blocked (believe it or not I had trouble explaining that I did not know anyone in that town and the few people I did know I had #'s for IN MY PHONE!!  I think I should be a little flattered that he didn't believe I was that much of a stranger!)  Then, after I made some calls and felt a little better about things I had the problem of either waiting there and getting a new phone or missing my bus and having to wait 3 hrs for the next on to my town.  ith the help on my counterpart I opted to catch my bus and get to a familiar place.  So after walking a long ways to catch my bus the only reason I caught it was because everything was behind because of the snow!  I just thought of this.  Once again delays come to my rescue!  When I got home I was so incredibly glad to be where I knew people and things were familiar!!!  Once again something kinda bad can make the best memories.  Not fun while it was happening but it is a memory I'll never forget!!  Love and hugs and being pateint.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

new years

After getting a card from my Aunt (thanks Sue!)  I looked back at my blogs and don't think I ever told what I did over New Years!  If I did and I overlooked it you can stop reading right now.  Since I had just returned from my trip to Italy over Christmas I hadn't planned on leaving my town and was content to unpack and watch the festivities around the world on tv from my apt.  However I got invited to some friends house here.   Not quite sure what to think about the time or a gosti gift I called my counterpart to ask advice.  (I've begun to realize even though I think I'm more of a "if it happens, it happens" and a person not as dependant on time as other Americans are, when it comes to doing things with others I would like to have a "ballpark."  Are they going to pick me up at 8 or 4?  Is he coming to study at 2 or 6?  I'm flexible but kinda need a timeframe of 1-2 hrs.)  So she called them and I was ready at around 6 (that I'm totally fine with!).  I got to their house and of course we had a big meal.  First we had soup called Tarator.  The typical American description is yogurt mixed with water as a base with cucumbers in it.  Of course there was salad and rakeya.  As I think I've said before in a blog soup can be a meal for me....but it's not here, just a start!  The main meal was next and that consisted of diced potatoes, 2 "qufte" or bigger meatballs, a small chicken leg, and some cabbage.  Of course after the rakeya was finished it had to be replaced with something and that something was beer.  I had been trying to pace myself through dinner when all of a sudden a big piece of cake is put in front of me.  During dinner I tried to get a sense of what was going to happen and if I was in fact going to be there at 12.  I picked up on the fact there would be fireworks.  Meanwhile we're still eating and I just had this sense that I should hurry, that something was going to happen.  So I finished my cake and then promptly went with the woman to the other house (?) where we laid down and had a "pochievka" for a couple hours.  Being new years it wasn't much of a pochievka at least for me, I was getting text's from friends and, being that my phone was new, had to figure out who they were from b/c I hadn't put lots of numbers in yet!  (That story was a different blog in Dec!)   I had been asleep maybe 30 minutes when it was time to put my coat on and go outside to watch the fireworks.  After about 10-15 minutes outside we went in and as quick as that it was over and time for me to go home.  The fireworks were being set off right across from my apt so I wasn't quite sure if I was going to be able to get back to sleep or not.  I must have b/c I don't remember not being able to.  That was my New Years!  All this sounds familiar like I've told this story before so I apologize if I've blogged about this already.  Love and hugs!  and the waiting continues.........

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

favorites

The theme for the month of January where I used to work in the states is "favorite things."  I'm GOING TO be better at communicating with them so I can expose them to a little part of my corner of the world right now.  So I asked some coworkers at school today what is their favorite thing to do or whatever and decided I will share with all of you too!  Now one might think that this being B and the states being America the favorite things to do might be a different.  Why wouldn't they you ask?  After all, if one's hardly heard of Bulgaria, and I'm poking fun at myself  here pre-Peace Corps, how can it be fun or have the same things we do in the states?  Let me tell you there's not one thing on my list that we don't do in the states!  One of the first answers I got to my favorite question was "surfing the net."  I think we can all agree people like that (sometimes) too much in the states!  Women here LOVE to sew!!  Sewing is kind of a lost art in the states it seems.  In fact it's almost like if you're a woman and you don't sew here there must be something wrong!   And yes I can hear the questions now and I can say that just today I told one of my coworkers I need to learn how.  Who would have thunk (for Bulgarian people reading this thunk is not a word. however it's like  a slang term for "never in a million years did I think Lisa would want to learn how to sew! UNBELIEVABLE) it!  I have to digress a bit.  The B word for a picture that has been made by sewing, or actually the kit and everything, is called a "goblin."  Of course different spelling and all but I laugh a little each time I hear that word!  It's not as common to have a car here as in the states but driving is another favorite activity.  That's also a favorite of mine in the states and I'm taking volunteers to ride shotgun with me after my service is over.  Some explaination here:  I can't drive while here and have been told it's not easy to get behind the wheel when service is over and I am able to drive again.  Only brave persons need apply!  Drinking coffee is also big here but with a slight difference from the states.  People in the states can go through cup upon cup .  There is more of an emphasis on drinking with friends here than I see in the states.  It's more of a social thing than a "I need this to stay awake" or "I can't function without my coffee"  kind of thing.   This isn't the best comparison but the only thing I can think of.  In the states people will go out with friends and have a beer; they are a social drinker.  Here you replace the beer with coffee and do that several times a day!  Reading books, going for walks, and playing with the grandkids made my "favorites" list and they are also very much enjoyed in the states.  It's getting late and this is long so I'll sign off!  Love and hugs!!  Thoughts are (still) with my sister's family.

Monday, January 17, 2011

jobs

We are used to both parents working in the states, that's not a new concept.  That's sometimes the case here with a little bit different twist.  Several people I know here have significant others working in other countries to make ends meet.  Yes it's true we have lots of commuters in the states...but to other countries!  The "job market" here in B, or at least my town, is pretty much non-existant.  So you go where the jobs are to support your family.  I first was introduced to this during PST, the 10 wks before I came here, when I went to an English film (maybe only subtitles in Eng, I can't remember) with some friends that highlighted my PST town.  I saw children eagerly waiting for parents to arrive with Christmas gifts only to see those same children cry when their parent had to leave again, knowing it would be forever till they got to see their mom or dad again.  I can't imagine how hard it must be to visit your wife, son, or daughter for a short period of time and then have to leave them!  That's a way of life over here and something people get used to because they have to.    Or sometimes it's not a husband or wife.  The baba who lives upstairs has a daughter who works in Holland.  I've asked a couple times about jobs around here and it's pretty much teach or sew.  Of course there's a police officer and government jobs.  Even to be a teacher isn't secured.  If the schools lose students (it's a big time competition over here) they lose teachers as well, there's no money to keep them.  There is the job of cleaning up the trash on the streets, or ice and snow when it's snowy, that a person can apply for in the Mayor's office  but even that's temporary.  Right now I'm not sure how temporary; I'll check that out.  You do the best you can for your family!!  Sometimes what's best for the family is in another country and means only seeing your family 1 or 2 times a year.  Love and hugs!!!  You know I'm not the one having the baby (my sister's pregnant and is due today) but yet I think my sister is being more patient than I am right now!!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

P.D.A.

Touch is so important!  It says "I care."  At my past 2 jobs there was nothing I enjoyed more than getting a hug from a child!  I consider myself to be a touchy-feely person but have to admit I had to make an effort to remember hugs.  From what I've seen so far over here things are a bit different.  I thought I was going to get the biggest bear hug from one of my kindergarten kids; I even braced myself for his jump into my arms-he was running-and he stopped just feet in front of me:(:(:(  I didn't get my hug.  Over the summer I saw some of the kindergartners and they gave me hugs.  Today I told one of the students at the English School I thought she was going to give me a hug,  I have a nametag I have t wear at school and it was on my back me and she went to put it on my front, and then started to give her a hug and it took her awhile.  Of course that may have been because she didn't understand what I said.  I don't see public displays of affection here and hugging is rare.  Of course in saying that the way you greet someone if it's been awhile since you've seen each other is to kiss each other on either cheek and you kind of have to hug then.  Women walk down the street all the time arm and arm or holding hands, but more arm in arm.  That happens in the states but it's rare and  if members of the same gender hold hands or walk arm in arm people jump to conclusions and assume it's a homosexual thing.  I see this as more of just something you do rather than a "I love you" kind of thing though.  Correct me if I'm wrong but that's the opinion I get.  THe other day, ok maybe a month ago, we were having unusually nice weather and some of the boys were outside playing a game and having so much fun.  The boy who started things off bent at the waist and propped himself with his hands against a tree while other boys ran and jumped on his back and this continued until no one else could fit!  I thought to myself that game would never happen in the states because of the way it looked.  THey were having so much fun; it is obvious nothing about it looking funny crossed their minds!  I hug the teachers when they make me happy.  ( that sentance sounded funny, sorry)  For instance my language tutor has all but quit smoking and I asked her about it today.  She said she has 3-4 over the weekends but that's it and I gave her a big hug.  Speaking of hugs!  Hugs go out to all of you as well as my love!!!  Thinking of my sister's family!!    Almost time for dinner so I'm going to close!  chao!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

a humbled servent

First of all I have to say a HUGE thank you to my moms family and the kids and staff at my former employer!!  Over the holidays things got delayed and because of the snow packages could not be delievered by airplane.  I got a call from the post office today and had several letters and a package!  I have to say I have the best family in the world!  I wish I could fly you all over here to see what I'm doing and who my family is over here!   After I had been here for maybe 3 months and had gotten several packages, I'm ashamed of it now, and to tell you all the truth was kinda starting to wonder what everybody thought seeing me carry these packages I got from America (that's the hang-up I have to deal with)!  I asked my counterpart and she simply said "no.  we don't judge or anything like that.  We just see all the love and concern your family and friends have for you."  I have to say right now, and I'm sorry if I turn some people off or whatever, I wish the whole of America was like my family!  I can't begin to let you know how much it means to me and thus to Glodzhevo!!  I have to say I kinda chuckled when I unfolded the "blanket" only to find out it was a snuggy!  I am so glad our family is representing America!  The food, warm clothes, and other goodies were all wonderful and I say a piddly thank you.  It comes straight from my heart but doesn't seem enough.  I really am humbled and so grateful for everything right down to (and especially) the prayers!  Then I opened up the large envelopes from my former work and was just overcome again by all the love that went into making those projects!  And the kids!!!  OH MY GOSH!!!  I vow to do a better job for all you guys!  Thank you so very much from a very humbled (now) Bulgarian!

Monday, January 10, 2011

second nature!

It's funny how things just become second nature and you do them without even realizing!  This was the case for me in Italy.  Now I'm by no means great at B or even good, ok maybe a little-I'm in the 6th grade for B, but some things have become second nature...which is why I'm in the 6th gr and not the 5th anymore.  There are certain people I am used to speaking English with, namely other volunteers, the students, and my counterpart.  With everyone else it takes me awhile before I realize "hey, they're speaking English so I should too."  I'm used to thinking English is my back-up language here.  Because of that fact we, my friend and I on our Italy trip, tried every language we knew between the 2 of us BEFORE we tried our native tongue.  That wasn't an intentional thing, we just didn't think about it!  Then when we got to Italy little B words just came out on accident, they were second nature.  We would brush up against someone and say excuse me in B.  Or if someone asked us if we wanted something we would say yes or no in B.  I think we even answered Tyra, who we went to visit and a fellow Americana, in B a couple of times!  yWe laughed at this at first and had to tell ourselves that in fact no one speaks B outside of B, certainly enough to be understood.  We were still speaking B the day we left Italy!   I remember getting very frustrated with myself when my tutor pointed out I needed to start thinking in B.  I guess there's no other way to start than to start smell!  Today I started reading one of the B.fairytales in the staff room and the teachers helped me.   I tell you, first I see Scooby Doo on tv in B and now I'm reading 'The Three Little Pigs' in B!  Love and hugs!  Thoughts are with my family as I will be an Aunt for the third time on the 17th!!  Before if my sister has any say!

Friday, January 7, 2011

putting others first

This follows along a little with yesterdays blog about the friendliness I have experienced here.  Another difference I've noticed here has to do with going out of one's way to help one person despite 25.  I know I didn't say that right, those of you who know me better know sometimes I have a way with words, but I'll explain.  When I was coming back from a conference for the corps the bus I was going to take said , on the internet schedule, it was going to stop in a certain town and I planned to get on there and travel the rest of the way back home.  Only come to find out it didn't stop at the bus station, it stopped at the hospital.  So I missed it.  However I was with my host father, he had a meeting and was going to drop me off, who was NOT going to let me miss the bus!  We ended up chasing the bus with his car!  He called the driver WHO PULLED OVER  TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD to let me on.  Now, the bus was full of people but yet he stopped just  for me.  Somehow I don't see this happening in the states.  I have another experience with this kind of situation.  I've said before and I'll say again, I would not have made it to Italy had it not been for several strangers who helped me.  I also don't think I would have made it had I been going from the states.  Time was running out and I had to get to the airport.  The bus I was traveling in, thanks Leo!, pulled over at a gas station when we had just entered Sofia AND got me a taxi to the airport!  Again, bus full of people but yet they did me a HUGE favor!  They took time out of the trip just for me.  On both of these occasions all I could do was say a quick "thank you very much" and be on my way which, again for those of you who know me better know I struggle with, is hard for me to do.  I've written blogs about how the words "thank you, blagodaria, and merci" just don't seem to get the job done.   Again all this may be subject to where a person is, small town or big city.  Now that I think about it maybe it has something to do with the "pochievka, or break" mentality of the B people.  B is more laid-back, more relaxed than I've experienced in the states.   Everyday when I leave work my collegues tell me to "go take a break" or they assume that's what I'm going home to do.  Of course that's not the case but the mentality is such that after a long day of work, or around the hours of 1-3 give or take, a person takes a break, for sleep or what have you.   In addition to "pochievka" being a popular expression there's also "ima vreme!"  That means "there's (still) time!  Things aren't done as hurried as in the states.  If they don't get done kinda when they should be done..."ima vreme!"  (of course this can also be the answer to the question "are you married" or"have you met a Bulgarian yet?  No!  Ima vreme!" I have gotten that before too! : ) : )  Love and hugs and happy early birthday dad!!!  Mom, you can get up off the floor and stop laughing now!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

foreigners

When I first got to Bulgaria I remember someone, I can't remember who right now, told me that Bulgarians really like foreigners.  I'm not sure exactly what I thought about that at that time.  Whatever I thought couldn't have compared to what I know now!  Everywhere I go people are very eager to help me or to talk to me.  A lot or times this involves using their English, letting me know that "I know English!"  Sometimes this is not the case.  But I have to say for the most part everyone I have had contact with here has been friendly.  People like Leo who saved my Xmas trip to Italy.  He had no idea who I was and had no reason to help me.  But he did out of the kindness of his heart.  Or like the lady sitting in front of me on the bus back here.  She heard me talking, in English on the phone to Nargis, and figured out that I wasn't sure about where the bus was or when I would be home.  She leaned back and told me where we were.  She had no reason to help a complete stranger and yet she did.  People here are always looking to help me out and have been nothing but helpful!  They have no reason to help me and yet they do!  Maybe I notice this because I need to start doing a better job in the states at looking to help people from other countries, however I kind of think that this would not happen in the states.  Now of course it depends on where a person is in the states, small town or big city, and this might also be true here in B, but I have to say on the whole I don't think people in the states go out of their way to help people from other countries.  This includes me.  Of course there are exceptions and I may be totally off base in this thinking!  I will ssay that my experience here would be different had it not been for some strangers helping a foreigner!  And yes, I kind of scream "I'm not from here" so it's fairly easy to tell I'm a foreigner!  Love and hugs!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

my native tongue

I learned some things about the English (E) language while traveling to Italy and now have a new appreciation for my native tongue. Yesterday and today I spent some time in the E classes talking about my trip and (trying to) share some thoughts. I guess I have to say that I have taken for granted the fact I can speak E. I never really thought about it before but now realize what an incredible skill it is!! I am pretty certain I would not have made it to Italy, at least wouldn't have caught my flight on the 23rd, if it had not been for Leo...who I just happened to bump into in the kubrat bus station. Yes I can "get by" with the Bulgarian I know but in emergency situations I want to revert to E. I had about 20 minutes between the time my bus got canceled until the time my bus left for Pyce that I HAD to be on! If I had to struggle with my B, I would have missed my bus and missed Italy. Because I met someone who knew E I was able to communicate in a way I was more familiar and things got done faster. In addition to Leo helping me by speaking E I also realizedmore and more E really is becoming a universal language. Regardless of how I feel about this I can't argue with the fact that my native tongue is a usefull skill. In Rome Jez and I thought we missed our connecting flight because we were delayed getting in and when we went to ask everyone was speaking Italian. Why shouldn't they, it was Italy! Between Jez and I we know about 2 other languages, other than B which we quickly realized it didn't work in Italy:) and E, and they were not getting us anywhere. What finally got us the answer that "we didn't miss our flight the flight before hadn't come in yet" was E! I think for me going to a different country from a different country helped me to see how helpful my native tongue really is and to appreciate the fact that I grew up speaking it!! As funny as it sounds it really did take us both, Jez and I, awhile before reverting from B to E! Even then we kept on saying little things in B even though we knew no one could understand us! It's time for dinner and so I'm going to stop. Love and hugs!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Italy #2

at pompei

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our Christmas tree!!

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me and Jez's sister, Tyra

hahahaha!!!

me and Jez at Pompei

I thought the tree was neat in th
background but Jez and her
sister are neat too!!

again I just thought the arches were

neat


she pretty much towers over me!

Jez and her sis

Monday, January 3, 2011

Christmas 2010

Well, back to "work!"  First of all I'm going to explain about my Christmas trip to Italy and then will get back to my regular blogging about new things and all some pictures.  Needless to say my trip was pretty eventful and may not have happened had I not run into someone who spoke English.  The bus I was supposed to take to Sofia to get on the airplane to Naples was broken and I had to go 1 hr kinda out of my way to get a bus to Sofia.  That bus didn't leave from Pyce, where I had to travel to get the bus, until 12:45 pm.  Keep in mind I have a ticket, or my friend I went with had my ticket, for a 6:45 flight out of Sofia and it's a good 51/2 hr. trip.   At this point I'm pretty sure I'm not going to Italy for Christmas.   I even inquired how much it would be to take a taxi from Pyce to Sofia would be.  Quickly that became a non-option.  Meanwhile my friend was already in Sofia waiting for me and running some errands.  I, along with my new best friend Leo, asked the bus driver if I could get off the bus early in Sofia instead of traveling to the other side of town and could they call me a a taxi because I had to be to the airport by 6.  As I'm typing this it all sounds just like clockwork but let me tell you when it was happening, it CERTAINLY wasn't.  I ended up being able to get off the bus early and had a taxi which took me to the airport in no time at all.  My friend, who was to arrive at the airport at 4,  still wasn't there at 5.  Fog plagued the city and everything was in gridlock!  While I was having trouble getting to Sofia she was having trouble getting across Sofia.  I got to the airport about 6 for a 6:45 pm flight that I was assured but someone at the airport, I called from the bus,  was on time.  My friend arrived about 15 minutes ahead of me and had everyone in the check-in line ahead of her wondering if I was ever going to show up!  They let out a big cheer when she said I was there.   She had a bag to check, and had my ticket, so kinda needed to wait on me.  Come to find out our flight was delayed until 7:30 so we actually had time to sit and relax and digest what had happened.  We were safely on the airplane and taxiing when the pilot came on the intercom and said they had just closed the Sofia airport but we could take off since we were on the runway; just wait a minute until things clear up.  I told my friend I was soooo glad we made it on the plane but the fact that we had to wait for conditions to clear up didn't give me the most confidence about our flight!  We got to Rome late and were sure we missed our connecting flight into Naples.  What we didn't remember was we had gained an hour.  We also didn't know our airplane to Naples had not come in yet because it had been delayed.  We didn't miss it!  We ended up getting to Naples at 2 am Christams eve instead of 10 pm the 23rd.  Overlooking the little "glitch" we had getting to Naples I had a wonderful time and even was visited by Santa!  I gorged myself on cheese, had some ice cream, and Dt. Dr. Pepper.  For those who know me better those are my loves!  We went to Pompeii, had full body massages complete with a Turkish bath (I still think it's ironic I had to go to Italy to have a Turkish bath when I'm all around things Turkish!), watched movies and tv shows, drank some Italian wine, had Christmas complete with fireworks and a tree, and had A TON OF FUN!!!  I have to say that was exactly what I needed when I needed it!  THe whole trip was an adventure but I have to say getting there was the biggest hurdle.  At the moment it was happening I was stressed and tense and looking at spending Christmas by myself, which would've been ok too, and certainly nothing to laugh at!  Looking back on it though I have such good memories that I will never forget and would not have happened if I would have been elsewhere!  Ok maybe they could have happened but chances are slim.  It's amazing how something so bad can turn out to make a great memory!  Like Christmas in the train station I will never forget this Christmas!  And the bad things that happened to me only add to the story and make the memories more special!  Pictures will come later, promise!  Love and hugs and I hope everyone has an awesom 2011 wherever you are!