Recap and the greatest question of all time... read below to find out more!

Winter's coming and I am getting busier. After surviving last winter, I now respect the cold like I have never before. This year I have SEALED my apartment. The draft last year was so bad that it was impossible to get my apartment above 45 degrees. This year all windows and doors are sealed shut with insulation. My new worry is suffocation but we will find out if that's possible or not soon. :)  I have a new fireplace in my apartment too which is 3 times the size of the one last year. It will really warm the place up. My mother sent me a cover for my down comforter that is so freaking warm that I don't know if I'll ever get out of bed in the mornings. Seriously, I know I am getting old when I get super excited about getting a cover for my down comforter for my birthday. But it's the best gift ever.

So this year I say to winter, BRING IT ON! The cold slap of winter caught me off guard last year. This year, I will show winter who is boss and why MAN is on top of the food chain!

As for work, things have been uber busy. We are starting a scouts group here in Koynare which is a lot more complicated than it should be. We are doing it though and it's looking like it will be successful. Due to our imminent success, I am becoming a Peace Corps expert on Scouts and have been asked to help with getting more support for the organization. I will be presenting to the new group of volunteers here next week on how and why scouts are important to youth development and why Bulgaria needs a stronger organization. On top of that, I will start working with the national organization on strategies for success.

Another thing, which may be too early to start celebrating since I haven't yet received confirmation from Peace Corps, is that my track team project here looks as though it is FULLY FUNDED!!! This news is amazing. Seriously amazing. 5,000 dollars. This is all it takes to transform a failing sports team into something successful. This track team has been working for the last 10 years on getting some sort of financial support. They just do not have the experience or the know-how to do it alone. They needed a little help from their local PCV from Chicago and the support of his friends and family. I really think this project will be a huge success and will be something that benefits Koynare and the kids for years and years.

On Dec 1, International HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I am hosting an awareness camp here for the day wit

Oh, and Halloween... yea, we had like 150 kids participate. It was about 100 more than I was expecting so needless to say, we were a bit unprepared. We did not get to do everything I wanted to during the party, but we did have a successful costume competition. The kids also went trick or treating in the center of town which is the first time anything like that had ever happened. At the end of the day, I was exhausted and feeling like it was too hectic to have been a success. But after talking to some people around town, teachers, and most importantly the kids, I realized that just because I had other visions of how the day was supposed to go that I did not see how much FUN everyone was having! People are still talking about it. They are dying for next year so they can do it again. I saw kids with bags full of candy wearing Halloween costumes walking around town laughing. After a bit of reflection on the day, there were things I could have done better, things that should be done next year and other small issues, but most importantly, everyone had a great time and great memories that they will never forget.

My boss from Peace Corps came here yesterday and he made me realize that my time is coming to an end. I am on my second year and only have so many months left. He then told me that if I want to stay for another year, that I have to decide soon. Kinda scary. So let me ask you this, my readers, what do you think of me staying another year here in Bulgaria? Is there work back in the states for me? Will I be as happy there as I am here?

I look forward to your answers! Oh, I'm going back to the states to Chicago from Dec 22nd til Jan 4th. I'd love to catch up with you face to face if it's possible.

Take care,
Rory