Bush was in Bulgaria! I met his father a couple year ago so I was really excited to meet him as a Peace Corps Volunteer regardless of my political views. My one wish is that I would have had a camera when Bush shook my hand and told me I was doing a great job serving my country as a PCV. Urggh... Life is good and sucks at the same time. I am currently, trying to locate people that took the picture.
Wish me luck,
Crystal
This past weekend and week up until this very moment has been great. I spent the entire weekend in Sofia for the Camp GLOW fundraiser. I didn’t intend to spend the weekend in Sofia but I kind of got stranded with my site mate and a friend. The entire situation was really hilarious so I will try to create the scene for ya.
Last weekend I was in an Irish Pub to raise money for Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) The night was not a huge success because we expected more PCVs but we had a good time and raised enough money to pay for all the GLOW t-shirts for our future campers. Anyhow, around 12 midnight I suggested we make our way to the bus station to catch the 12:30am bus. Two American military guys and a British guy that were with my friends suggested we stay a little longer. They both had donated a lot of money to GLOW and this was their last night in Bulgaria before they went back to location so we all agreed to stay.
We finally decided that 2am was a good time to go because there was a 2:30 bus to Turnovo. We called a taxi to take us to the bus station and of course the taxi service said that they were too busy to come pick us up so we had no way to get to the bus station. One of the military guys had hired a cab for the weekend and offered to ride with us to the bus station and he would go back to his hotel. Thinking this was a really nice gesture we all got into the taxi preparing ourselves for a three hour bus ride home. Meanwhile I was on my cell phone calling the bus station to make sure there was a bus at 2:30 because I had a suspicion that one did not exist. I used my broken Bulgarian skills to communicate my concerns to the receptionist at the bus station and they assured me that there was a bus around 2:30am. My fears were calmed until my site mate received a call from our friend (long story but the friend that was with us in the Pub went to collect his stuff from the hostel and was going to meet us at the bus station). Apparently all the lights were off and the doors were locked to the central bus station! We refused to believe him when we heard the news and proceeded to the bus station anyway. Meanwhile the military guy was like “If you all don’t have places to stay don’t worry about it. You are Peace Corps Volunteers. I will help you”. I was thinking “Great I know military people are a little controlling but gez I have been in Bulgaria for almost a year and he has been here for two days. What can he possibly take care of? Seriously?”
Sure enough when we arrived to the bus station all the lights are out and our friend was talking to the security guard about the absence of our bus. I called the bus station in Turnovo again to make sure I heard currently. The worker repeated that there was bus at 2:30am and hung up the phone on me. Me being me with a high tolerance for ignorance I called him back and had the security guard talk to him in unaccented Bulgarian. The security guard explained that the bus actually arrived in Turnovo around 2:30am and that there was no bus for us.
Surprise, Surprise we were stranded in Sofia and the hostels were full with other PCVs in town for the weekend and we certainly did not have enough money to stay in a hotel. Our options were as follows:
A. Sleep in the Central Train Station that is really close to the train station
B. Walk around all night with our crap until 6am when the next bus came
C. Go with the military guy to safety
Obviously we choose to go with the military guy because we figured he was the safest option. Also, I was with two strong athletic people (a girl and a guy) so if anything got out of control they would be the muscle and I would be the brain. So the military guy was like "you all can come back to my hotel,spend the night and go home the next day. There is a disco inside the hotel and we can hangout there and afterwards go to sleep". We were all like sounds like a plan. He gave us his room key, the name of the hotel, and said he would meet us at his hotel later after he collected his two buddies from the pub we were at before.
My friends and I went to his hotel dropped our stuff off at the room and went to the discoteka in side of the hotel. Him and his buddies showed up about thirty minutes later. The night was a blast and thats all I am saying... I love running in to Americans abroad. They sure know how to take care of their own. Well most of the time anyway. Contrary to what most people say I think Americans are very nice when I see them abroad. Anyhow, thats another story.
tired,
Crystal
I taught my first English lesson today to students between the age of 5-7. Children in Bulgaria start school at the age of 7! This is a really strange practice to me because children usually start school at the age of 5 or sometimes 4 in the U.S. Anyhow I realized the difference when I was asking a child something and another child stepped in and said "she doesn’t know because she has not started school yet. She is only 6 1/2". It was at that exact moment that I remembered the conversation I had with a friend a couple weeks ago. Working with the children was strange because I expect them to know certain things and they don’t know yet because they have never been to school. In America they would be in second grade at the age of seven! Wow!
Anyhow the lessons went pretty well but I did not know what to teach them because I did not know what level they were in English. Furthermore, I did not know I would start teaching them today. I thought I would teach them on Friday. The lesson went well and I had fun with them but I will def be more prepared on Friday.
Also I started to meet with this group of teenagers that just want to talk to me in English for practice. I met with them about a month ago. This Friday will be our second meeting. We usually meet in a cafe for coffee and talk about life and whatever comes to mind.
Ok I have to update you on the fun I had in Sofia this ast weekend but I am too tired. I will write it later....
Thinking about this upcoming weekend... thats all I am saying,
Crystal
Every time I leave Bulgaria and come back I have to adjust to the culture all over again. This time however, it was a lot easier for me to adjust although I did experience some culture shock in the Frankfurt airport. When I first landed I was completely surprised by the level of diversity. People of different shapes, colors, religions, and economical status where all around me. I felt alive and like I belonged in this world of color! People accepted me as a normal part of society and they were not staring at me. In fact, I found myself staring at people and their differences.
Wow Estonia was absolutely amazing! I was there for a training on being creative while working with youth. The training when extremely well and I hope I can implement alot of the things we learned there with my organization. The landscape is completely flat, which is one of the reasons why people bike, run, and walk so much. Being physically active is a part of the culture so I felt right at home running to prepare for the Greece marathon.
Estonia is somewhat like Bulgaria but not really. It is a formerly Communist country but they are a lot more advanced than Bulgaria in a lot of ways. For instance, one can find wireless Internet throughout the entire country with little problems. Services at the bus station, airport, and grocery stores are more up to speed like in other western countries. The country is also very clean and orderly. Even the small village (population of about 1000) that I stayed in for a couple days was extremely clean and orderly. Village life is also different in Estonia. People use green houses to grow food and some people might have animals but this is not the norm. Estonia also has the very famous block apartment but they are kept up a lot better.
The people in Estonia are of all sizes but the people seemed to be a little taller than what is considered normal for other societies. Also people are very white with blond hair and blue eyes. Even the “dark-haired” people do not really have dark hair but hair the color of a potato. I also was able to find an African Restaurant, a Tai Restaurant, a Mexican Restaurant, and of course McDonalds. Unfortunately, I did not get to try any of these restaurants because I really wanted to try traditional Estonian food. The food is completely bland (Sorry Estonians but it is true). Almost every meal was with some form of potatoes and salad. Also they don’t use much favoring in their food. I found myself wanting Bulgarian food, which is a lot more flavorful, compared to Estonia cuisine. The salads are also much fresher in Bulgaria.
Overall the trip when extremely well. I enjoyed every aspects of the culture and people. Don’t get it twisted… just because I visited the country for about 10 days doesn’t mean I understand the culture 100%. I have been in Bulgaria for 10 months and I still don’t completely understand the culture.
Its lunchtime right now so I am thinking about eating,
Updated pictures are at the link....
Crystal
I am going to Estonia this week, which is exciting and nerve wreaking. Its exciting because I have never been to Estonia. Its nerve wreaking because I have a ton of things I have to do for Peace Corps and my official assignment before I leave. So much work and so little time. This trip is supposed to teach me how to work creatively with youth.
Saturday I went to the area in Veliko Turnovo where the Roma/Gypsy people live. I visited with a girl that is about 13. My purpose in going to this area was to see how I can help the Roma people in my town. Its funny how human suffering is the same where ever you go in the world. The Roma girl's apartment reminded me of the project homes that are in the ghettos of Chicago. Literally I swear that the coach from the 1970s that was in this girl's apartment was the same couch I saw in my friend's apartment in the projects. There is something about human suffering that gives me a purpose in this world.
Speaking of purpose I watched "The Pursuit of Happiness" today and cried throughout the entire movie. I can't stand to see people suffer and struggle the way Will Smith struggled. I know it was just a movie but I know real situations where people struggle and they die in their struggle. Not everyone has the same oppurtunities as Will Smith had to "pull himself up by his boots straps". It is funny how we, Americans, take for granted all the oppurtunities that are available at our fingertips...
I feel like my head is going to explode. Too many things going on in my world! Ahhh.
Things are really picking up at the office. We hired like 17 new people to work in our new youth crisis center! The best part is that alot of the the people they hired are around my age. My Bulgaria is getting better because I am forced to talk to this people all the time. It is freaking hilarious hanging out with them. Last week I got a couple people to go running with me. They were pretty sore the next day so I dont think the will run with me again. Hhahahahahah
Crying about the injustices of the world,
Crystal
Ooo yeah one more thing. I decided to change my hair again. I will post pictures when I actually do it.
Today maybe about 5 hours ago the weirdest thing happened to me. I was changing clothes to go run at the stadium when I heard my doorbell ring. My doorbell never rings and I wasn’t aware that it worked until that very moment. I ignored it and figured the bell was not for me. It rang a second time but again I ignored it because I figured the person did not realize their mistake. I quickly got dress walked out my door and ran back in to drink a coupld gulps of water before my run. As I walked down my stairs I had a weird feeling in my stomach. For some reason I knew someone would be downstairs waiting for me that I would not know. I cautiously opened my door and guess who was standing there? The weirdo guy that I thought was homeless about a month ago. He started saying things in Bulgarian really fast and I could not understand him. He actually looked nervous which in turn made me a little nervous until I saw the Baba (old lady/grandmother) get up from her usual seat in front of my house and walk towards us. She caught my attention because she called my name “Crystal, Crystal that is your name right?” I said “Yes”. I was actually pretty impressed that she remembered my name. Then she said “This guy was looking for you and I told him your name and the bell to press”. At that point I am thinking urggh why did she tell him my name and exactly where I live. She than went into her apartment and left me with the weirdo! I think she thought he was my friend because I have had at least 20 PCVs visit in the past 7 months and she thought she was being helpful. The random guy starts going on and on about a CD with music on it. He than asked me if I want to purchase one of the CDs. At that point I am thinking “listen I am on my way to run, can I talk you to about this later?” Instead I asked him the cost and told him I was going for a run. He realized that I was busy and told me he would see me later and walked away.
Ok maybe he is a nice person trying to make a buck, but he does not need to knock on my door. I do not know him and it makes me feel uncomfortable that he knows where I live. I am going to talk to Baba tomorrow when I see her. I am going to ask her about who he is and to keep a look out for my apartment. The Babas here know EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY.
Trying to safe in a dangerous world (dramatic, yea I know)
Crystal
This past weekend was a holiday something like Labor Day in the United States only better because we have a four day weekend. I slept and mingled with people in my town all break. Saturday I had an engagement (hahaha haven’t used that word in a while) with this American guy and Bulgarian America guy. Hangin with them made me feel like royalty. Let me explain. Peace Corps volunteers really, how do I say this, become a part of the society in which they live. Well we are supposed to be living at the standard of our colleagues, which is difficult when you come from a consumer society. Actually I am always broke by the middle of the month! Living in a medium size city on a small budget is difficult. People (foreigners from 1st world countries) that choose to live in underdeveloped country (from my personal experience) never experience the struggle of trying to scrap pennies together for their next meal. They don’t even really mingle with the locals unless they have to do business with them. In my town foreigners stick with foreigners and wealthy Bulgarians. The entire time I was with them I felt like I was a part of this secret society of the upper class/ rich people. Everyone had a named car, western clothing, and spoke English fluently. When I told them I was a volunteer in Bulgaria, they laughed at me and I was the butt of jokes all night. I will admit that I was a little envious of their carefree way of life and their ability to pay for things without worrying but I enjoy being a Peace Corps Volunteer. I am learning so much from just talking to the people here and getting to know their way of life.
Ok what else has my life been like? Monday I braided that kid’s hair again that I am always talking about and I had six PCVs at my place. The PCVs needed somewhere to crash because they were stranded in my town so I housed them. First of all I don’t have space for six people but we were able to work everything out. Four people slept in the two beds that we put together and two people slept on the floor. Fun time, fun times. PCVs are vagabonds!
This was a busy holiday but I enjoyed myself. I realized that I am my happiest when I have a very busy social life and I am free to make random plans at the drop of a dime.
Ohh one more thing. I saw a black (well mixed Bulgarian and African) girl in Sofia this weekend. She was absolutely gorgeous! I did not notice her at first but she waved at me so I waved back and we smiled at each other. Its funny how I speak to every black person I see in this country but when I am in America I barely recognize the blacks around me. I just thought of this right now but maybe I should start talking to the blacks in this country about groups or organizations that they have for Africans in Bulgaria. Do you think they exist? If not, maybe my next side project will be unite Africans in Bulgaria.
Ideas are flowing,
Crystal
