How did I do that???!!!

This is going to be short and sweet and to the point!  I was working all day, missing my blog time, on a report for the corps and I finally got it opened!  Not sure what I did differently that it opened; whatever it was I was glad I did it!  I went to school this morning thinking I was going to write "welcome" in different colored cardstock and decorate one of the plain bulletin boards.  I asked some teachers if they wanted to help me and that led to a whole different idea from one of the teachers!  I was more than glad to push my idea aside, especially because it involved bubble letters which had seen better days!  I've never been good at bubble letters.  Then I found out that I'm going to be pretty darn busy this year!  The English class for the adults of my town is starting soon and will be a challenge!!  In addition I have 2 more hours at the Kindergarten than last year.  Sorry but that's what you get tonight!  Now that school has started I'm trying to stick to my new schedule which means I'm supposed to be in bed in 7 minutes.  Oops!  Love and hugs from here!!  Prayers and thoughts are with my language tutor's family!

first day1

Now that school has started my blogs should become more regular.  I'm starting to sound like a broken record but sorry about not having a blog yesterday.  Yesterday was more of a halfday really.  The teachers, students, staff, and some parents gathered outside to hear various addresses from the Director and our school's financer.  You know it just now occured to me that on the 3 occasions we have had reason to hear different speeches outside like today (graduation, the last day of school, and now the first day of school) it has been sunny.  Who knows what we would do with everyone if it ever rains?!  I'm assuming inside the school would be plan B.  The different grade levels stood together along with their form teacher which is a little like a homeroom teacher.  After everyone spoke the different classes met together with their form teachers for a little and then the day was done.  Nargis, her husband, and I headed to a town nearby for their festival.  We did some shopping and walked along and looked at all the venders selling their items; everything from plastic guns to bras!  I bought a sewing "goblin" with larger holes to stitch through and actually might be able to sew this one!!  It was a nice day and again on the drive home I was reminded how I really am living a dream.  I was the passanger in a car driven in another country coming from another town in that country with people who genuinely want to show me all about their culture!!  It was another "pinch me" moment!  Love and hugs from here!  Thoughts and prayers are with my tutor, her family, and especially her brother Ali.  Please pray for him if you wish!

frst day

Sorry about yesterday!  I went to the next town over and had lunch with the volunteer there.  I had lasagna that wasn't bad considering I as eating an Italian food in Bulgaria!  So tomorrow is the first day of school here.  Last year I was in Samokov for a youth development thing and missed the first day festivities so tomorrow will be new for me.  I think the non-my town students are moving into the hostel maybe even as I type this.  I think tomorrow is more of a formality thing than an actual school day.  We also have school this Saturday and then have a 3 day week next week because of Independence Day on the 22nd, the actual holiday, and the 23rd, the day everyone gets off because it's the Friday after a holiday day.  This is going to be a boring blog because I have to get ready to leave in a little.  This is going to be a better and more productive year for me as far as activities are concerned!  There are a couple things I want to try and start and several things that will continue from last year.  Things are fine and it has gotten hot once again.  Love and hugs from me!

worth it?

The idea for this blog came from a letter I got from my mom today.   She was telling me how everyone always asks her about me, am glad I joined the pc, and if I feel like what I'm doing is worthwhile.  First of all let me thank all of you who I know and don't know who are asking about me, thinking about me, and praying for me!!  I really believe I couldn't do this if it weren't for you all!  The support I get is just awesome!!  I know there are people who pray for me and support me that I don't even know and for that I say a big thanks!  You all have a big part in whether I feel what I am doing is worthwhile.  My blog is helping to meet the 3rd goal of the corps:  "Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans."  By all of you reading my blog you become more immersed in the B culture and learn more about B's.  Just because I am who I am I will probably always feel like I can do more.  A short story kinda to this point.  I was sitting down with my neighbors the other day, maybe 2 weeks ago, and they asked me if I would forget them when I leave.  I said "no" and then to further illustrate my point more I asked them if they would forget me.  Before I could even finish the sentence they all nodded and said "no!"  I said "see, you guys are my family over here; how can someone forget their family??"  I will admit that sometimes when I'm sitting in the teachers lounge at work and not doing much of anything I can't help but think "why am I at school when I'm not doing anything?"  But it's then when I have to stop myself from thinking that way and tell myself that I am doing something, even if I don't feel like I am.  I'm practicing my language and learning about B culture.  By me being there I'm helping meet the 2nd goal: "Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of Bulgarians."  Everytime I get a letter or new pictures or a package I either tell my collegues the latest story about my niece deciding she didn't want to go to school, share new pictures, or share treats from my packages.  I took the little wind-up bunny my aunts sent me to school and watched the teachers play with it.  The recordable card with my aunt's voice on it was a big hit!  There's also the English classes I go to and the students who know English better because they get to practice outside of class (the credit goes to them).   There will always be stuff I should do!  What I have to focus on is the more intangible stuff, the relationships that I build with people.  One of my favorie sayings that I'm not sure where came from is "build people, not monuments."  That's how I see my job!  As for am I glad I joined the corps?  YOU BET!!  From the first bus ride from Phili to New York to catch our plane here by way of Munich I was so impressed with the people I would spend the next 27 months of my life with (sorry English teachers).  It was so refreshing for me to see 80+ people so eager to lend a hand!  It kind of restores your faith in people, kind of like the line to give blood instead of the line to get gas did after 9/11.  I have met people who will be lifelong friends, both B's and Americans.  I wish that everyone had the chance to travel at least once in their life.  I think everyone should be exposed to another way of life, another culture.  We have so much to learn from each other no matter which country we're from!  I'm enjoying myself!  The ''American "in me will always think I could and should be doing more!  The truth is, just being over here is 3/4th the battle!  Love and hugs from me!  And GO FEVER!!

Ramadan

This is my long overdue blog about Ramadan.  Ramadan is broken into 2 different celebrations about a month apart.  The start of Ramadan is always different I learned b/c  the times are based on the Arabic calander which is lunar.  The first “part” ended about a week ago, maybe 2.  This is called Eid al-Fitr.  From sunup to sundown observing Muslims fast.  In addition to going without anything to drink or eat, there is no smoking, foul language, or sexual relations.  There are certain people who are exempt from abstaining from nutrients; women who are on their cycle, the sick and elderly, and pregnant or breast feeding women.  I also read something about if a person is traveling a certain distance during the day they are exempt.  THere are certain people who, if they can't participate, have to "make up days" while others have to exchange fasting for feeding the poor.  Come sundown, let the feasting begin!  The mosque by my apartment looks so pretty at sundown!  Illuminating from the top windows is a neon green light signaling it's the appropriate time to eat.  This meal is started by eating 3 dates.  The last 3 days of this Ramadan are feasting and family/friends days!  People make baklava and other sweet things.  As my counterpart says "this is the sweet Ramadan!"  Money is also given to children.  There is so much more for me to learn and I'm sure there are even things I've included here that are not the most accurate!  But it's all new and different to me and I'm enjoying learning and so appreciate the willingness of people here to allow me to participate!  That's it for my blog.  Let's not forget the events that took place over this weekend 10 years ago!!  The United States became more united for awhile, and then wasn't as united.  It's one of those things I'll never forget where I was and what I was doing.  When I was little and my mom would say something about how she remembers exactly where she was during such and such a time, when Kennedy was shot for example, I thought she was nuts!  How can someone remember such minute details years on down the road?  Now I know how.  I shall never forget.  Love and hugs from me!