pochievka for me

I will be taking a break from my blog for the next week.  Be safe and talk to you in about a week!  Love and hugs from here!

moving forward "malko po malko"#3

Where did I leave off Tuesday.  The weather here is like it is in Indiana; you never know what you're going to get!  I swear one day last week it snowed a little and today it is bright and sunny and 54*F, and it's 10 in the morning.  If I remember right last year the same thing happened, it's like we moved right from winter to summer!  But I'll take it after the hard winter we had!  I paid my tok (electricity) this morning, 151.30 leva.  Both the lady at the post office, where you pay tok, and my Director said that's a lot and I guess it is but we had a hard winter!  I have yet to see a stork, the signal to take your martinitzas off and spring is here.  I may have seen one but I'm not quite sure; I'll wait until I'm with someone and THEY see a stork and say "oh look Lisa!  A stork!"  This week has been very nice and I only need my light jacket and sometimes in the afternoon don't even need that.  I have a plastic, solar powered "plant" that dances in the sun's rays and it has been dancing up a storm this week!!  Again, fine by me!  When I wrote the first "moving forward malko po malko" I had just gotten to my home for 2 years.  Things were cluttered in the apartment and my mind as well.  Now I'm preparing to end my service.  Granted I don't leave until the end of July but I'm going to my COS (close of service) conference in a few days and now is the time to start winding down.  As much as I really don't want to think about it it's the truth and these last couple of months will fly by whether I like it or not.  I'm going back to Vershets, my pst home, in April to see my family there for what may be the last time.  I hate to think that way, and neither I nor my family has said it out loud, but it's the truth and in both of our minds'.  When I was finished with pst and was getting ready to move to my new home I was at the train station preparing to leave my pst site-mates.  I was surprised when I started crying when their train left.  My host mother, who was with me at the time, put her arm around me to comfort me.  It had only been 3 months.  But the way I saw it my pst was 1 life and it was ending.  We (my pst mates and I) had spent so much time together; we laughed, cried, got mad, learned, and faced so many emotions together and it was ending and a new life was starting.  So just as I was preparing my mind and apartment in that first "malko po malko" to start a new life I'm doing the same now.  Only this time it's to leave.  I didn't plan that but that's a pretty good stopping point for this blog.  Have a good weekend!!  Love and hugs from here and thoughts are with my family in the states.

moving forward "malko po malko"#2

So aparently "moving forward 'malko po malko'" is my most popular blog.  I have tried to figure out why to write a #2 but haven't figured anything out.  But here goes...First off "malko po malko" means "little by little" and that's a very common expression for me.  There's also "stupka po stupka" which means "step by step.”  Both are uttered by me on a daily basis pretty much.  The language and my tutoring have suffered I’m afraid to say.  I still have tutoring 2 hours a week but went without all summer until this past January I think without a "formal" lesson.  Of course sitting with my neighbors at the end of the day during the summer and, well, just living here are tutoring themselves!  I have to say I’m not doing a good enough job at being proactive in speaking or getting out and practicing my B.  Of course I’m not a hermit all the time either but I did a much better job my first year.  But I have come to the conclusion, actually I came to this conclusion awhile ago, that I work in and English school, speak E with the students, work with E teachers, and the people I meet that know E want to practice, so the fact that I'm not going to be fluent in B is something I've learned to accept.  As long as my community sees me trying that's enough for me!  When I go other places and people compliment my B it does bring a smile to my face and make me feel good.  Another factor in this is my counterpart, Nargis, who wants to practice her E.  SInce we both want to practice each other's languages we have made a deal to go week by week, 1 week E and the next week B, although sometimes I slip up;  talk about our work is usually done in E.  When I mentioned the "pochievka" time in the middle of the day and said things shut down...they don't.  In the middle of the day, 12:30-4, is usually when people stop and take a break, but everything stays open here.  When I first got here I learned about this time and not to disturb anyone during this time, basically no one goes gosti.  THen I was invited  gosti during that time period and got confused.  So now I've learned it's pretty much an individual thing, some people sleep during this time and just relax and some people don't.  I don't and Nargis doesn't, she gets bored, but my neighbors do.  Sometimes I will hear one of my babas out working in the hallway of our building, go out to help her, and she will invite me for coffee at 2:30-3, right in the middle of "pochievka time."  Or one time (this isn't about the pochievka time but it's a cute story about a pochievka- literally pochievka means "rest") I was coming home from somewhere and noticed baba N. in the hallway tearing cardboard for her stove.  I think I blogged about this...oh well.  I asked her if she wanted help and she said I could help if I wanted.  I closed my door and went to help her and she told me to get some cardboard from inside her apartment.  Right when I went to ask her if I had the right cardboard she said "you've been working hard, let's take a break."  In all reality I had not been working hard but I went with it.  We preceeded to watch a Turkish program, of which I understood nothing but I heard baba N. laugh at parts so it must have been pretty funny, and have coffee.  When I went to leave after about an hour she said "but this next program is the best one!  You aren't going to watch it with me?"  Anyway, where else can you take a break from working hard without having worked hard?   I just decided I'm going to break this up into 2 blogs, so more of the same coming on Thursday.  Sandy, keep your chin up and R, glad things are going well!  Love and hugs from here!  I neverpictured Peyton anything but a Colt!!  I guess things change!!

BNES

This is the 2nd year for the Bulgarian National English Spelling Bee.  In it's first year, last year, the spelling bee was extremely successful and this year there are more schools than last year.  I have been a very lax volunteer and did not help out last year and, since it's for 4th-7th grades and the school I work primarily with is 8-12th grades, wasn't planning on doing much this year.  However, there is a school about 15-20 minutes away that is taking part and they are without a PC volunteer, so I was asked to lend my native tongue (and knowledge of spelling bees...the very little that I have) to their school.  Then last night I was asked by one of our students' friends to come to their village and help.  I am glad to help (makes me feel useful) BUT have to find a way to get there!  So I'm taking a round-about way to get there tomorrow, going to a place I've only been for 5 minutes (and then didn't get out of the car I was riding in), and meeting people I've never met before.  (That sounds a little familiar to me: I just reread that!)  Again, I'm not quite sure what to attribute this to (age? the fact that I'm in Bulgaria? not sure) but I'm not worried.  I even reassured MY MOM...that's a first I think!   She asked me if someone was going to meet me at the bus stop and I said "mom, there's one school I'm sure and if I don't see it when I get off the bus I can ask anyone and they will tell me."  Besides, in all honesty someone will probably meet me, (B is much better than the states in my opinion at meeting and sending guests) even if they have to have another teacher cover their class to do it; that's the B culture and very respectful.  So I'm not exactly sure what I'm in for tomorrow but I will find out!  The last 2 days here have been boardering on Spring-like...and then today got cold again.  One of the students said he was going to make a snowman; I think it did snow for about 5 minutes today.  That's about it for today.  Love and hugs from here!!  Enjoy the weekend!!  And Aunt Jan, you generally want to stay away from fire ants!  Hope you get better soon!!  UPDATE:  it is now Friday and I did not go to the other village.  We misunderstood each other; she was asking for another Friday and not today.  

"chestito!"

When I first got to B I learned the word "posdravlenea" was the word to say when you want to congratulate someone.  Since I've been in my town I think I've said that once; people here say "chestito/a" depending on who you are saying it to.  Litterally "chestit" means "happy" more than congratulations, but I have learned they are basically the same.  When I first got here it took me awhile to get used to all the different "chestito!"s that were directed towards me.  Now I find myself saying it quite a bit!  Of course you have your traditional "chestit rosjden den" or "happy birthday."  Then I got my hair cut and everyone told me "chestita."  That was a new one for me and took me awhile to warm to the idea of someone congratulating me on my haircut.  Now of course I do it.  When someone gets a good grade, passes their drivers test, gets pregnant, married, or anything happy and special happens, so do the "chestito"s!  Talking about words it's interesting to think about (and something I've noticed before) how certain words are used certain places and different words, that mean the same thing, are used in other places.  I go visit my friend who lives South of me about 4 hours and her town uses words I don't know, but the same word here in my town isn't known.   Both words means the same thing but different parts of B use different words.  I really wish I could think of an example right now but none are coming to me.  The snow is melting, finally!, and the birds are chirping! That is a good sign.  The high today is supposed to be about 4*C; dare I say warmup??!!!  Of couse I did wake yesterday morning to a dusting of snow.   Just like Indiana; the weather changes in a heartbeat!  Love and hugs!!

my grandma#2

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY !!  Let all the women out there be celebrated!!  The idea for this blog, again-thanks mom, came from my mom.  Oh, before I start I have to thank and celebrate all the women in my life, past and present.  My mom who has been my supporter and advocate for 40+ years.  My sister who has developed over the years into more than a sister, my friend and confidant as well.  My step-mother who kept fighting against my sister and I, not outwardly of course, to be part of our family, even though we didn't make it easy at all.  “Dad, I’m not hungary for...” (whatever Ronni made for dinner that night which was I’m sure delicious)  “are you sure?  Just try a bite and then if you don’t like it you don’t have to finish but you have to eat something.”  “I don’t want to.”  “Fine, do you want me to make you a grilled cheese?”  “I guess...”  Or how about when your soon to be step-daughter “just happens (it had to be an accident, I don’t think I had the gaul to do this purposefully) to put several BAD AND VERY NOTICABLE runs in her pantyhose ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING!  I could go on and on with aunts, grandparents, teachers, and women friends who have made a difference in my life.  I also have to mention my best friend over here, Jezreel, who has helped me tremendously.  You have shown me a different side of friendship and I have much to learn!  Ok, today’s blog is about my maternal grandmother, Helen.  When my great-grandmother was pregnant with Helen she was in an accident and thrown from the buggy she was riding in.  Because of that my grandma never walked without a limp and was never able to bend the pointer finger of her left(?) hand.  But when you live on a farm, it doesn’t matter how fast you walk or how slow, how strong you are or how weak; the work has to get done!  Story time:  years after college I decided to go back to Goshen for the weekend for a visit.  I stayed with my grandparents and met up with some friends one night and we stayed out a little later than bedtime for my grandparents.  I called  and told them I would be late.  When I got in the main door to the house was locked (she must have locked it out of habit and forgot I needed to get in) so I curled up on an old sofa they had out in their entry room and tried to get some sleep.   The next morning I wake up to (somewhat) familiar sound.  There was my grandma walking on the treadmill!  I’m not sure if it was more for exercise or physical therapy.  I mentioned last year that my grandma did handpainted cards to help her finger agility.  Towards the end of her life, obviously as is the case in just about all deaths, there was a decline in some of her abilities; her abiliy to eat by herself, dress herself, and walk by herself.  BUT my grandma was still using a squishy ball to help with her finger agility/movement.  So when she passed away my mom was given her squishy balls and passed them on to my sister and I.  My sister took here into the delivery room with her when she gave birth to her kids.  I brought mine here to B with me.  It is a symbol of strength and that “never give up” attitude my family is famous for.  Just the other day I gave my ball away.  I gave it to a young person who is having a hard time here for many reasons.  I told this person to take care of it for me and think of my grandma whenever he/she looks at it.  Think about how she was struggling to eat, to walk, and had to depend on others to take her to the bathroom.  BUT YET she did her exercises, day after day, to keep her hand and finger strength up!  She didn’t give up, not even when it seemed like everything was against her.  Now I don’t know if this person understood the whole story or not; sometimes even when a person understands things in English the meaning isn’t quite the same.  Either way I feel good about giving it to another person and I know my grandma would too.  Now...the ONE THING I thought for certain would be the same (ok I hadn’t really thought about it but I think the fact that I didn’t think about it being any different means that I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be different) when I closed out my service here in B and returned to my life in the states was that PEYTON MANNING WOULD BE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS!  Yesterday was truely a sad day for the Colts organization and myself.  I read a comment someone posted saying that “if you don’t cry at this press conference you have no soul” and said to myself “that’s silly!  it’s just a press conference with a bunch of reporters and cameras and stuff!”    Ok, who reading this blog actually thought I would NOT cry??  I think it’s safe to say that tissues were moistened; yes, I cried.  Love and hugs from me!

favorite things #7

Before I start today's "favorite things" blog I need to do something.  In looking at the stats for my blogs I see "moving forward 'malko po malko'" is a favorite.  One of the things I wrote about in that blog was how a friend asked me to run a marathon with her this past November.  Believe it or not I was going to do it...really.  However the October, some time around then, 1 year before the marathon I had problems with my right knee.  I don't know why, I didn't aggrevate an  old injury that I know of.  Either way because of that I had to alter things a bit and work on strengthening my knee when the time came instead of running.  So I did NOT run the marathon in Greece but several PC volunteers did and had a great time.  In fact my friend Jez, who asked me to run the one in Greece, loved it so much she's running another one in a couple weeks with another volunteer friend.  Ok, on to some more favorites/reasons I love Bulgaria!  There are woods just before you get to my town.  You know how whan you were a little kid and you just instinctivly "know" when you're almost home?  Well, I "know" my woods and can recognize when I'm almost home...if coming from that direction.  I didn't set out to, it just kinda happened.  It's a landmark for me and that's a cool feeling.  I love that people know what I know and don't know.  I've been here for going on 2 years and when people see a confused look on my face (yes it still happens) they break things down for me.  They just know!  Along with that I love that people finish my sentences for me!  I have to say I haven't been the best with getting out and actually speaking (oopa!) so naturally things come slower then they used to.  People see that, know what I'm trying to say, and finish my sentences for me.  When I first got here I didn't appreciate that all that much; I was trying to learn and needed to make my way myself.  Now however I don't mind as much.  I love the fact that, when trying to explain the meaning of an English word to Nargis, it takes me a whole sentence for one word.  My sister always said I left "disertations" on answering machines instead of messages!!  I love the fact that people ask me "what are we going to do without you?"  It makes me feel special and loved!!  I always tell them "you will be just fine!"  My thoughts and prayers are with the people effected by the tornadoes in the Midwest and South.  Sandy, hang in there; "malko po malko i stupka po stupka"  (little by little and step by step)!  Love and hugs!

baba marta 2012

CHESTIT BABA MARTA!!!  Once again it's that time of year to make and wear martinitzas!  For all you new folks a martinitza is a red and white bracelet that you make, buy, or are given.  You wear then on your wrist or lapel or around your neck until you see a stork; a symbol of Spring.  On a side note, we had snow last night and I'm ready for the stork!!  When you see a stork (which doesn't look a thing like the storks that carry the babies) you take your martinitzas off and hang it on a fruit bearing tree.  I have to admit I cheated last year and saved all mine.  This year the trees will get them!!  Once again we had a party to make m's last night after school and it was a bunch of fun!  We have some really creative students!  Anyway, happy 1st of March!!!  I had a teacher ask me yesterday what the English transltion of martinitzas is and I told her "there is no translation because there are no martinitzas in the statess."  At least that I know of.  I'm doing something a little different today.  Last year Bulgaria had their first English spelling bee open to 4th -7th graders and it was a tremendous success!!  The volunteer who is spearheading this emailed me and said there's a school near me participating with no volunteer and asked me if I could lend my native tongue and knowledge of spelling bees to them.  I had to familiarize myself with spelling bees a little but this afternoon I'm headed to see how I can help their school.  We shall see!!  I have to hand it to my fellow volunteers who stepped it up and are helping with this and got the ball rolling last year!!  I think I read where a 4th grader won last year...impressive!  Better go get ready for my meeting!  Love and hugs from here!!