One year ago today, May 19th 2009, 61 scared Americans and I stepped off American soil and onto a plane headed across the ocean to enter the unknown. One day later, of the 62 that arrived, one stepped back on a plane and returned. Of the 62 that arrived one year ago, 56 will celebrate their one year anniversary in Bulgaria.
I guess it is time to reflect on the past 365 days. Let's just say that when I first got here, I was not thinking of the future. If I did, I would have driven myself insane. Those first days weeks and months are so difficult and long and scary and new that if you project out into the future and try to grasp the upcoming 27 months, you will lose your mind, begin crying, possibly start banging your head and utterly feel helpless. So it was best just to take it one day at a time and not really think of the future too much. With that said, even though I didn't look to the future and wonder what life for me would be like at the 1 year point, I don't think I could have imagined myself feeling this good, this happy and feeling more like myself.
My job and average day are not necessarily ideally what I would like to be doing but things are slowly but surely moving in the direction of the ideal. It also takes me a bit to see what my expectations are of me being here, and what my town's expectations are. When I combine the two, I see that I am actually doing a pretty good job in terms of work. Everyone is happy so what more can I ask for?
During our last trip around the sun, I have emotionally, spiritually and cognitively matured a lifetime. For this, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in Bulgaria.
I dare to say that my days spent in Koynare are comparable to my last 2 years in high school. I walk down the street confidently, greeting many people along the way, some of which require a shout across the town center. I have good conversations with my coworkers and friends, kids seek me out to talk to me or invite me places, and everyone is used to my language mishaps followed by a smile and laugh. The weekends are spent with Cveti or American friends and we always enjoy each others company. I feel as much at home in this town of 5,000 in northern Bulgaria as I have anywhere else. And all that after 1 year?
What will come of the next 15 months? I only foresee it getting better. The language will continue to improve, relations with townspeople will strengthen, trust will be reinforced and the gap between cultural expectations will continue to narrow. This is my current expectation and I hope it is accurate.
As for the new volunteers... there are 5 of them that arrived in Koynare last Sunday. They will all teach English. I'll give a quick description of each based on the limited knowledge I have so far. We have a married couple who are older. The husband recently retired as a NASA engineer and named Michael. His wife is Karen and I don't know anything else about them except that they have great personalities. There is a guy around 30 years old name Nick who speaks a bit of Russian and is getting along really well here. He was a teacher in Portland, OR. A girl named Deanna, or Diana (not sure), is around 24 years old and comes from Pennsylvania. The other girl is named Basima and she had a birthday yesterday bringing her to 23 years. She is from Ohio.
All of them will do great. They have good personalities and are ambitious to help. I am super excited to have the 5 of them here! I have already been out to dinner twice with Nick's family that he is staying with. I am helping the families and the volunteers communicate so it makes me feel good, and I get a free meal out of it. :)
So with 1 year behind me and at least another to go, I am doing better than good. Everyday I am thankful for the events that took place which put me here.
This weekend I am going to Moravitsa to meet the volunteers that are there now... I was assured by the staff at headquarters that they will live up to the town's expectations that my group set...
Take care!
Rory
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Learn something new today.
This blog is like dirty laundry. I know it's there, I know the longer I wait to do it the more stuff builds up, I know that I should just get it over with and dive in... but I'm just lazy. So I let it build up and I go weeks without doing either my laundry or writing in my blog. Speaking of laundry, my washing machine broke again, for the 3rd time. This is what happens when you purchase a German made washing machine from a second hand store... I now need to find someone to figure out why it isn't pulling water into it... especially since I waited until the last minute to do laundry only to find out the machine is broke.
Here is a link to my vbox profile - vbox is like youtube, but without all the copyright stuff... :) http://vbox7.com/user:panterarn?p=allvideos
These videos, if they load for you, are from the park day.
Tomorrow the new batch of volunteers arrive in Bulgaria. I bet they are scared out of their minds and anxious and all that good stuff. In fact, I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. Rory 1.0 boards the plane and hears the German flight attendants go through the security brief. I thought to myself, "well... good-bye native English speakers..." and so began my journey. Almost 1 year ago. It will actually be May 20th 2010 that will mark my 1 year anniversary. It's amazing I have been here that long. I feel like a COMPLETELY different person. I have gained 10 years of wisdom in 1 year of living. I think anyone that has a burning desire to learn something new should join the Peace Corps. I look back on the last year and all the stories I have and things I have done and seen... And then I compare that to the year before that... and I see nothing but a couple big deals both won and lost at work, talking on the phone for hours at a time, same routine during the week only broken up by joyous rides in my wonderful ex-girlfriend/jeep Rubi. There were things that happened that were out of the norm day to day, but nothing like this. I am not saying my time in the states was bad, it was just so ordinary. I pretty much knew what everyday would bring and where things would be. But here... something new each day. That is not a lie or exaggeration. I see, learn, hear, do, make, experience something new EVERY... SINGLE... DAY. Who else can say that? I challenge you, think of yesterday and tell me what you experienced that was new? For me, I became the professional photographer for the 12th grade graduation in my town. I went through every motion with them for their ceremony. I had never experienced how Koynare students graduate from high school.
Last weekend, we had a 4 day weekend. I took Wednesday off as well and went to Cveti's town. She had her graduation ceremony. It was great. We then went and hung out with all her friends from her class at a party that night. On Thursday, Ashley, Dan, Cveti and I went to Varna which is one of the big tourist destinations for Europeans when they want to go to the Black Sea. It was their off season, but it was still great. So we spent Thursday through Sunday there. The weather was ideal for me... 70-75 and sunny. We went to the beach, went swimming in the 60 degree water, went to the hot springs, sang karaoke, played pool, went shopping, Ashley ate sushi, drank a Guinness, etc... It was grand.
I will be trading Scooter for another dog that will fit my life a little better. I like Scooter, he just needs a different place to live. He is too energetic and too high maintenance for a single working person who lives in an apartment. But the dog that I will get is way more chill. She is house-broken, likes staying indoors, quiet, loving, etc... or so they have told me. We will see when the time comes. Keep your fingers crossed. I love dogs and would love to have the right one for me.
On a side note, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Especially mine. I appreciate the hard work and love you put into raising me.I am forever grateful, even if I don't always say it. And thanks especially this year for the love and support you gave me for my first year in Bulgaria. I know that wasn't easy but it meant the world to me. I couldn't be here if I didn't have your support. Thanks Mom - I love you.
Rory
Here is a link to my vbox profile - vbox is like youtube, but without all the copyright stuff... :) http://vbox7.com/user:panterarn?p=allvideos
These videos, if they load for you, are from the park day.
Tomorrow the new batch of volunteers arrive in Bulgaria. I bet they are scared out of their minds and anxious and all that good stuff. In fact, I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. Rory 1.0 boards the plane and hears the German flight attendants go through the security brief. I thought to myself, "well... good-bye native English speakers..." and so began my journey. Almost 1 year ago. It will actually be May 20th 2010 that will mark my 1 year anniversary. It's amazing I have been here that long. I feel like a COMPLETELY different person. I have gained 10 years of wisdom in 1 year of living. I think anyone that has a burning desire to learn something new should join the Peace Corps. I look back on the last year and all the stories I have and things I have done and seen... And then I compare that to the year before that... and I see nothing but a couple big deals both won and lost at work, talking on the phone for hours at a time, same routine during the week only broken up by joyous rides in my wonderful ex-girlfriend/jeep Rubi. There were things that happened that were out of the norm day to day, but nothing like this. I am not saying my time in the states was bad, it was just so ordinary. I pretty much knew what everyday would bring and where things would be. But here... something new each day. That is not a lie or exaggeration. I see, learn, hear, do, make, experience something new EVERY... SINGLE... DAY. Who else can say that? I challenge you, think of yesterday and tell me what you experienced that was new? For me, I became the professional photographer for the 12th grade graduation in my town. I went through every motion with them for their ceremony. I had never experienced how Koynare students graduate from high school.
Last weekend, we had a 4 day weekend. I took Wednesday off as well and went to Cveti's town. She had her graduation ceremony. It was great. We then went and hung out with all her friends from her class at a party that night. On Thursday, Ashley, Dan, Cveti and I went to Varna which is one of the big tourist destinations for Europeans when they want to go to the Black Sea. It was their off season, but it was still great. So we spent Thursday through Sunday there. The weather was ideal for me... 70-75 and sunny. We went to the beach, went swimming in the 60 degree water, went to the hot springs, sang karaoke, played pool, went shopping, Ashley ate sushi, drank a Guinness, etc... It was grand.
I will be trading Scooter for another dog that will fit my life a little better. I like Scooter, he just needs a different place to live. He is too energetic and too high maintenance for a single working person who lives in an apartment. But the dog that I will get is way more chill. She is house-broken, likes staying indoors, quiet, loving, etc... or so they have told me. We will see when the time comes. Keep your fingers crossed. I love dogs and would love to have the right one for me.
On a side note, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Especially mine. I appreciate the hard work and love you put into raising me.I am forever grateful, even if I don't always say it. And thanks especially this year for the love and support you gave me for my first year in Bulgaria. I know that wasn't easy but it meant the world to me. I couldn't be here if I didn't have your support. Thanks Mom - I love you.
Rory
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