tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41755597980663740552024-02-18T22:55:07.234-05:00"For the Word to Become Flesh...... we have to become the eyes, the ears, the hands of a just God." - BonoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-14436149384091610272011-09-26T23:54:00.000-04:002011-09-26T23:55:00.480-04:00When will I learn that the only thing - the only person - I can count on in this world is Jesus? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-87443650385141821872011-08-17T16:59:00.001-04:002011-08-17T16:59:48.030-04:00<span xmlns=''><p>America. Land of the free. Home of the brave. And lots of bacon. <br /></p><p>Maybe it was the 9 month "sabbatical" I took only 6 months into my service. Maybe it was the 18 countries I visited, or 33 beds I occupied within a 3 month period, but I felt pretty prepared to tackle this foreign land of "AMERICA."<br /></p><p>Culture shock? <br/><br/>BRING IT ON. <br /></p><p>Until mom sent me to the grocery store unaccompanied. <br /></p><p>Looking for "normal" bacon.<br /></p><p>Whatever that is.<br /></p><p>In fact, I'm still not sure.<br /></p><p>Cause you know what? <br /></p><p>America has A LOT of bacon.<br /></p><p>Hickory smoked<br /></p><p>Sugar cured<br /></p><p>Thick cut<br /></p><p>Turkey<br /></p><p>TWO CASES.<br /></p><p>Of bacon. <br /></p><p>Really????<br /></p><p>"Honey, do you need help?" Says the unsuspecting supermarket attendee.<br/><br/>YES. What am I doing here? I forgot what I was looking for. I'm blinded… by BACON. <br /></p><p>I lasted about a week before I was planning the next adventure. I promised myself I would take July "off." I'd seen the world. <br /></p><p>Fallen in love with a country (Bulgaria… lipsvate mi). <br /></p><p>Romanced my sojourner tendencies. And returned home. And found it horribly overwhelming. So I found a way to pack my bags again, and did just that.<br /></p><p>On Friday, I took another leap of faith. You say, "already?" I say, "it's been awhile." <br /></p><p>Too long, actually. <br /></p><p>So I moved to Baltimore. Sans job. "Baltimore? But WHY?" <br /></p><p>I'll tell you why. <br /></p><p>God is moving here.<br /></p><p>I don't know how or why or what I expect to do here, but I have faith that God will provide, and that He'll do big things through these two calloused hands of mine. And I can't wait to see how he does so. It's been my dream to live in the city and serve God here. To experience life and love on people and exist in "the gutter" in a way that's new and exciting and raw and deliberate.<br /></p><p>So here I am. Waiting to hear back on a full-time opportunity to serve God in this city. To love and be loved. To build community. To grow and mature. Radically. </p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-24512363589702919832011-06-16T18:30:00.000-04:002011-06-16T18:24:28.942-04:00<span style="font-family:Prelude, Verdana, san-serif;">HOME.... Two weeks from TOMORROW!!!<br><br>Leaving in the morning for a couple days in Romania (original PC travel goal of hitting all 5 bordering countries will be complete!!), then finally meeting up with mom and dad on the sea on Monday! Few days on the beach, few days in Instanbul, then.... SAMOKOV!!!<br><br>And final goodbyes. :(<br><br></span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-73152504583785943652011-04-25T10:15:00.000-04:002011-04-25T11:08:00.595-04:00<span style="font-family:Prelude, Verdana, san-serif;">Not enough consistent internet at this point in my travels to keep this updated... But track my whereabouts on Facebook if you are interested!! <br><br>Thus far: Sofia, Bulgaria -> Belgrade, Serbia -> Sarajevo, Bosnia -> Mostar, Bosnia -> Dubrovnik, Croatia<br><br>And I am writing this to you from Korcula, Croatia before I move on in the morning via Adriatic water taxi!<br><br>I am loving the freedom and independence I have to move at my own pace, plan my own interests, and combine wanderlust with forethought.<br><br>I may never be able to vacation ever again after this...<br><br>SO HAPPY AND CONTENT.<br><br>God is good and faithful.<br><br></span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-28992585394704353742011-04-13T07:28:00.000-04:002011-04-14T07:24:07.941-04:00<span style="font-family:Prelude, Verdana, san-serif;">And so it begins.<br><br>Next stop - Belgrade, Serbia.<br><br></span><span id="signature"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;color: #999999;">Katie<br><br>(Sent from my Palm Pre on AT&T)</div><br></span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-39193924746692237292011-04-10T09:12:00.001-04:002011-04-10T09:12:52.045-04:00And so begins...... my last week as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer. In just a few short days, I close my service and will board a bus to explore the rest of the Balkans before meeting up with my brother and sister in law in ITALY in less than a month. For those of you that keep in touch, I'll have access to my email whenever I can pick up wifi, so don't be strangers!! I'll probably not be posting lengthy updates on here or posting pictures for awhile since I won't be traveling with my laptop, but I intend to keep people apprised to where in the world I am - so stay tuned to my adventures! <br clear="all"> <br>Until then, more goodbyes and lots of emotions to deal with... Bulgaria? Ve4e mi lipsva6. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-48817112198347986922011-04-09T04:07:00.004-04:002011-04-09T04:39:42.244-04:00I HATE goodbyes...<div>And I've certainly never been very good at them, despite the fact that I think I've had more than my fair share of practice. But seriously, other than excitement revolving around the next step, who really <i>likes</i> to say goodbye to people they care about? Until my dad retired from the Navy, I moved every 2-3 years growing up, and I remember how awful it was each time we left "home" to move to another. I never quite caught on to the fact that "Home" was a feeling that developed very quickly for me. But still... this time things feel different. My investment and relationships here are deep and grounded, and I've been dreading these goodbyes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I had my last day teaching in the kindergarten last week, I went back yesterday for what I thought was a celebration of International Roma Culture Day. I knew it was also going to serve as a pointed platform for goodbyes, but I had no idea how amazing the morning was going to be! The teacher I've been working with opened with an address for me, then the kids sang songs and did a couple of poem repetitions before singing a few Roma songs. Then I was presented with a certificate and some gifts (2 Samokov folklore cds and some little keepsakes :)) and a whooolllleee lot of hugs. I nearly fell over a few times when my knees would get attacked by my fav kinders. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Singing during the program. :) So cute!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqC_kEtFp3luEAeiNBeDbQ4btuS_62nJ1Rmmg-Akr93C6E5HypjA8zC4f21rWvqxHiM-KiSdTyQJ_ZOpw881di3HIBGdqI0AP6TJWLlOofUg-r4LFnpQhJTKtvhmaPX5LlCREwEtAxzo/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqC_kEtFp3luEAeiNBeDbQ4btuS_62nJ1Rmmg-Akr93C6E5HypjA8zC4f21rWvqxHiM-KiSdTyQJ_ZOpw881di3HIBGdqI0AP6TJWLlOofUg-r4LFnpQhJTKtvhmaPX5LlCREwEtAxzo/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593493521069503858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I can't get over how adorably sweet these little ones are. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwYuRH6Y7MHqbe29Mu3-aJUfy_5k4yHKhLSBEx0fOCw30l03ZYAyTzrPKds355NmYMdnRoNKKq36A8FtWAW1hEh1yKE72KHGDMuhIMkPeX-b0fW2KE2UdOeLBV4BNyEb-9QS0v8ot0Qo/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwYuRH6Y7MHqbe29Mu3-aJUfy_5k4yHKhLSBEx0fOCw30l03ZYAyTzrPKds355NmYMdnRoNKKq36A8FtWAW1hEh1yKE72KHGDMuhIMkPeX-b0fW2KE2UdOeLBV4BNyEb-9QS0v8ot0Qo/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593493261111913986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Katie-Kinder pile! I'm down there somewhere... I LOVE this photo.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXRFaBWuDzPvRa7RsDfZCizACuSsG2JmwoIywUUiUEvUudx3mhheePv9ZKpr3NlQaSUYrjIHJLdhODnY9J69vFBLhwiiATGlMT7JFChHBKVuiFqOT4JzkbAnIPcMNl7Q7BmRB_lZH8dA/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXRFaBWuDzPvRa7RsDfZCizACuSsG2JmwoIywUUiUEvUudx3mhheePv9ZKpr3NlQaSUYrjIHJLdhODnY9J69vFBLhwiiATGlMT7JFChHBKVuiFqOT4JzkbAnIPcMNl7Q7BmRB_lZH8dA/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593493251571003666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Me, the chickens, Iskra (on the left - the teacher I work with most directly), and then the director of all of the kindergartens in Samokov of Lili, the other teacher for my class.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67ITJY6QoBtR-zkH7CFeb3qQNZXe6YxJnxiwRCa00dYdzADPRy9HZjFStmrH7QGh_ocwqJzMWTMZq_MWPGkWFOZhaChO4zlKD0ixdrEjptRCm_t2Bfp1gyFl9k44QoVOkHEKJVQqKots/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67ITJY6QoBtR-zkH7CFeb3qQNZXe6YxJnxiwRCa00dYdzADPRy9HZjFStmrH7QGh_ocwqJzMWTMZq_MWPGkWFOZhaChO4zlKD0ixdrEjptRCm_t2Bfp1gyFl9k44QoVOkHEKJVQqKots/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593493249650488178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This was probably taken about 30 seconds before I almost capsized.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JtJaAt2BYVR0m9ZbG_AqjfT06c-ZvH1aYS3kXV6H1J8U-3z-TcE2yaOaU7kdodmHx6oxWhOpQ2_ipqf3F8kS4IQRmcDWVjhP2aSAlzYpdvIY6zw8udyAyD1eBCztKpj84H_q4QMpaTw/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JtJaAt2BYVR0m9ZbG_AqjfT06c-ZvH1aYS3kXV6H1J8U-3z-TcE2yaOaU7kdodmHx6oxWhOpQ2_ipqf3F8kS4IQRmcDWVjhP2aSAlzYpdvIY6zw8udyAyD1eBCztKpj84H_q4QMpaTw/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593493243355968754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">**sigh**</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-51650444998709863962011-04-06T13:10:00.001-04:002011-04-06T13:10:41.853-04:00T Minus 7 daysIn exactly one week, I'll be on a bus to Belgrade, Serbia for the first stop on the whirlwind tour of Europe I've been saving for since the beginning of high school. It also means that I'll no longer be a Peace Corps Volunteer, and will be soon facing goodbyes to the people who have become my family and the place that has become my home.<div> <br>Never were there more mixed feelings... <br clear="all"><br> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-71341665528670989592011-04-01T11:22:00.003-04:002011-04-01T11:28:18.146-04:00Hey Look!!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; ">Actual photos with ME in them! I had an "order" from both my mom and Katya that I needed a photo in the new computer lab with the kids. There are VERY few photos of me during my time here... a few from various trips with friends, but I can almost count on two hands the number of photos I've had taken of me and my work here. Most of that is because I absolutely hate having my picture taken, and partially because after I broke my leg I splurged on a pity gift for myself - a Nikon D60 DSLR. And... very few people feel comfortable enough actually using it. </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; "><strong>"The woman behind the camera."</strong> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; ">I like it that way. And with almost 4,000 pictures representing almost three years of Peace Corps service, my time here is well documented. I just have very little proof that I was actually a part of any of it... So here you go. For all you "doubting Thomas's" out there who question my Bulgarian existence...</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; ">I can't believe that the tiny, shy, timid 6th graders I met 2 and a half years ago are the mature, confident, vibrant kids in this photo!</div></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RBFfVpEPEx4CPjoZ6ZJVb_tbjrr5ZzmqoU7qnTPDmLdFmyUddsG-nncCbSwcJk9QxU_bkQHwg0D_Ws53vulo3fivhj5hrEoYmPb-oKHRdFeladTNQVfjRgwtnbWTWuq-9CNLDetB5ZQ/s400/DSC_0065.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590636613633288482" /><div style="text-align: center;">My last day with the kinderbabies. I can't express how much I'll miss these little guys. And if I'm still single in 20 years, you better believe I'm returning for the little stud in the blue under my right cheek.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp34U8vFAQwrWhj14zxwITl9LmkOR53E3MBrhNPNJPlOL0aYgBQea0A-dVx_QF1V1Kh1krLvWwUGuKMsf-FeTpzPpG_AUA4epTxSHtrQ3Nrf1eOhDgyu2zqiy4trRk9CQYzIVpk3J_T64/s1600/P3300090.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp34U8vFAQwrWhj14zxwITl9LmkOR53E3MBrhNPNJPlOL0aYgBQea0A-dVx_QF1V1Kh1krLvWwUGuKMsf-FeTpzPpG_AUA4epTxSHtrQ3Nrf1eOhDgyu2zqiy4trRk9CQYzIVpk3J_T64/s1600/P3300090.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp34U8vFAQwrWhj14zxwITl9LmkOR53E3MBrhNPNJPlOL0aYgBQea0A-dVx_QF1V1Kh1krLvWwUGuKMsf-FeTpzPpG_AUA4epTxSHtrQ3Nrf1eOhDgyu2zqiy4trRk9CQYzIVpk3J_T64/s400/P3300090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590636624828652626" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-48501364264904587372011-03-29T09:36:00.005-04:002011-03-29T10:42:58.141-04:00Computer Lab!<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Many, MANY thanks to former US Ambassador to Bulgaria Mr. Sol Polansky, and the Bulgarian American Society!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As a result of their amazingly generous donation and continuous support, we were able to bring a brand new computer lab to Association Svetlina! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Equipped with 4 desktop computers, a new printer/scanner/copier, internet, and a selection of educational software, the Svetlina team and a newly contracted IT teacher will work with the kids to incorporate the computers as a learning tool for our after school program, as well as a mechanism for starting to build some professional skills that will hopefully give these kids an edge when they are ready for the work field. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">"This computer lab was generously donated by Sol Polansky and the Bulgarian American Society"</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDXnohP8XFL-Few0NFz9O0HkQPoKvfwu0LtV1PaoHkFV6Vi4FtINsnfedHL5z2ck32bjb0Sh_RHz6W2DP0uwtofc1EuM7Nh83nydJZqgTqoMXRaXxspUWsSvmbAH1sMzs4Px0CzVTpfM/s400/DSC_0012.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589497179177629714" /><div style="text-align: center;">The finished product!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FgVvb7fwZZBzaxa4dLYk8yigdi44awFMORA8eCxIYYjraGGAyLTfwA_sh90nWMCO6P8Pg9JiT05eE6ORzPZHXaEpVs1nRZXSAgOyisY8MtxLFuLdJ8kyJcerdQQHTpNhdi26uRrVcXU/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589497184172705298" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We were able to purchase the computer desks as well from the project budget.</span></div></div></div></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOEQAoenokYM49ucGN1ds_5v4TRClP1TLlykMFYf543_Lgc19dwR7Dt84qQYXm96oL3ZR-j8OQS_jmpUqaumtPSiwr-GJuuJqc3cPGI7IODbcelVuLkLQxW5qUZkuWiaKtInfAhl0NzM/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589497165936597906" /><div style="text-align: center;">I think Katya is most excited about this beauty!</div></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpzYGkO6rT1ahOetXZhiXAexCpGPl_obV_u1N2NRQ02H03Y93ZI1Qm-2fXONPLAodPn3QmDTmCofwPjBpILckB8kgqoZUtrs0EcGn1uVqLKRdpLmfPoO-h1c_q83q55UfqIRyQzjPCAw/s400/DSC_0011.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589497172783074818" /><div style="text-align: center;">Some of our 8th graders- our initial target group for the project (with a push for earning their diplomas next year) - checking out their new tools.</div></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_f86o7okCztn_DcmNKgRLf4GfHNtxxTpo-BbwE3AU44WncQDQoyCFB1KCS1SVU0pfcNyo-LJDmxngXmIeynor-TIxyLiR16X0HblNa4jmTbdvP2N6LlgB4F87_pvwZWLU2WsSNd6puE/s400/DSC_0025.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589511154019924834" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZjXC794mTnVv0BSdcyjFiyN3hH73qln3TDka8jhyphenhyphenWQvC364pZDD6U6C1nCeIvmHwGqobKgWlOzTKC4uE4VqFAlwOR-JjRv4oQ7EF8zKKiaqNa2lzXw96pCPrkvtXqHALF9uzw6IFsKA/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589497190317253074" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mli7zKXd4zejRxKwC4FTOqF9v_wgaP-eSQ_SsY1JGdd_cte_tGM-T0rbZWOuUQE2FfADwL4r1xFjfnuYsTrU9m80fUJ3YE8mWLXCEg6MaG6a-E_p9QCpqqE6iZZ78uDM0_9CtDdku5s/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589511147249292210" /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Скъпи хора от BAS - Много благодарим от децата и екипа на Сдружение Светлина в Самоков!</span></b></div></div><div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-80923429213982860432011-03-28T08:34:00.001-04:002011-03-28T08:34:21.524-04:00I walked into the kindergarten this morning (my second to last visit with them...), and was immediately greeted with a whole lot of yelling. As soon as I got them to speak one at a time, I realized that they were all shouting that their parents had given them permission to accompany me to America. <div><br></div><div>Adorable.</div><div><br></div><div>Not so adorable when they all started laughing at me later when my eyes got a little misty....</div><div><br></div><div>Gonna miss my chickens! </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-78030282541589771922011-03-24T12:24:00.001-04:002011-03-25T06:21:36.566-04:00Kid's got talent!!<div style="text-align: center;">One of my 5th graders showing off his beat box talent:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EAr_2uSMjwQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-43920380129759566652011-03-23T13:17:00.000-04:002011-03-23T13:18:22.817-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; ">When we quote Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"), why do we always stop there?</span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "> I find such great comfort in the part that follows (v12-13): </span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."</font></span></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-73107508942658344792011-03-15T14:14:00.001-04:002011-03-15T15:05:10.828-04:00Happy Birthday, Peace Corps!!!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, by executive order. All month, the PC worldwide is celebrating their 50th anniversary. It's a very exciting time to be a volunteer, especially when you consider the fact that during the last half a century, more than 200,000 Americans have served as volunteers to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Today, 8,655 volunteers are working with local communities in 77 host countries.<br /><br />Even more impressively, Peace Corps Bulgaria is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year! Nearly 1,250 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Bulgaria since the program was established in 1991. Currently, 166 volunteers are serving here. We work as English teachers and change agents in the realms of youth and community development.<br /><br />Last week, I went into Sofia for an afternoon celebrating the last two decades of development work here in Bulgaria, as well as the opening of an awesome photo exhibit in the park in front of the National Theater which showcases our presence in country as volunteers.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwB9pa2QFMKer6y386I07G4pRuIktkNYyKiHJ0QWKZiwEKxREwKC9lSPLgbLiyUAN_G58Rvkg6R0t40AZ-4xZnUzDLgmoEOXIpiAUhhIzAwn1kovRGTEGmYRnHlCi8X-WNWjVHuGnZSo/s1600/184805_541615965417_31601400_31809838_1156309_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwB9pa2QFMKer6y386I07G4pRuIktkNYyKiHJ0QWKZiwEKxREwKC9lSPLgbLiyUAN_G58Rvkg6R0t40AZ-4xZnUzDLgmoEOXIpiAUhhIzAwn1kovRGTEGmYRnHlCi8X-WNWjVHuGnZSo/s320/184805_541615965417_31601400_31809838_1156309_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The photos all turned out great. A member of my volunteer group took this one, and it was so great seeing my B24s represented!</div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dtH9PWwAkOlZgy5yStSS3CrLJAQ9mhE9ODFIdyxDwooUBwosFl-IOiY-Qtgkz66mulgpR_ogNbv3i4QNEbd7EvSrPGBfskSKzxt9jX7iWRyWdJ-7WHp-YA1S_KLoyNNiV4iQsy4U0b8/s1600/197603_10150122066669446_841769445_6322941_553085_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dtH9PWwAkOlZgy5yStSS3CrLJAQ9mhE9ODFIdyxDwooUBwosFl-IOiY-Qtgkz66mulgpR_ogNbv3i4QNEbd7EvSrPGBfskSKzxt9jX7iWRyWdJ-7WHp-YA1S_KLoyNNiV4iQsy4U0b8/s320/197603_10150122066669446_841769445_6322941_553085_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My sitemate Ursula and I got to hold the birthday banner during the ribbon cutting for the photo exhibit. :)</div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzvNZLQ1CZlzuyhgPEAoBT_SKrpfQGatzBUAHHfFOhg-vGYBLEzf080xpAFBdWCo9Q6LnvWW8OVVMNTIc0-cBQhq6JslukqXzsTJy6U7fAprrI4IxchxSKpE5RhOKJViqw8LHNlGvVpg/s1600/199767_10150122064844446_841769445_6322912_7990094_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzvNZLQ1CZlzuyhgPEAoBT_SKrpfQGatzBUAHHfFOhg-vGYBLEzf080xpAFBdWCo9Q6LnvWW8OVVMNTIc0-cBQhq6JslukqXzsTJy6U7fAprrI4IxchxSKpE5RhOKJViqw8LHNlGvVpg/s320/199767_10150122064844446_841769445_6322912_7990094_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-70641071628593951522011-03-12T11:28:00.002-05:002011-03-15T15:06:07.148-04:00Favorite word in BulgarianI've got a few favorite words in Bulgarian, but "глупости" (pronounced glue + po + stee) is one that I've always especially appreciated. I've often found it creeping up even into conversations I have in English. In general, I'd use it in circumstances/exclamations where "nonsense" or "ridiculousness" would come in handy. Since I love that this word seems to appropriate so frequently, I wanted to go ahead and post the laundry list of definitions that Google Translate provides, because it makes me giggle: <div><br /></div><div>глупости:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><ol style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> <li style="padding-right: 5em; font-weight: bold; float: left; ">noun</li><ol style="list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: inside; list-style-image: initial; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> <li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">nonsense </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >(the definition I give most often)</span></li> <li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">crap</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> shit</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; ">bullshit <span class="Apple-style-span" >(this is the definition </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); ">Bulgarians give most often)</span></li> <li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">rubbish</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> guff</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">baloney</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> rhubarb</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">drivel</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> junk</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">fudge </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >(hehe)</span></li> <li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">gup</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> blah</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">bull</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">applesauce </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >(ten bucks to a person who can actually make this one work!)</span></li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> monkey business</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">blether</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> humbug</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">fiddlesticks</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">jiggery-pokery </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >(love it....)</span></li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">fiddle-faddle </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >(mom, this one makes me think of you! Although its usually just "fiddle," right? :))</span></li> <li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">balderdash</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> boloney</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">flapdoodle</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> poppycock</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">tommy-rot</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> footle</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">tack</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> bleat</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">cod</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">eyewash </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >(hmmmmm)</span></li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> truck</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">buncombe</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> bosh</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">punk</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> rot</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">blague</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> hokum</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">piffle</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> kibosh</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">slush</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> trumpery</li></ol></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; white-space: normal; ">interjection<ol style="list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: inside; list-style-image: initial; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> <li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; ">nonsense</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> nuts</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; ">shucks</li><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> stuff and nonsense</li></ol></span></span></div><ol style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="padding-right: 5em; font-weight: bold; float: left; "> phrase<ol style="list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: inside; list-style-image: initial; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="padding-right: 0.2em; font-weight: normal; float: none; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; white-space: nowrap; "> all my eye (<span class="Apple-style-span" >what does this even mean????)</span></li></ol></li></ol></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-69107641868035531142011-03-09T12:05:00.000-05:002011-03-09T12:14:57.353-05:00My big brother and sister-in-law have their plane tickets and plans are set to see them in Rome on the 7th of May! We've got a lot of ground to cover via European railway until mid-June, at which point we'll meet up with my parents on the Black Sea in Bulgaria (verdict to come in regards to camp...)! A week on the beach, a few days in Istanbul, hiking the Rila 7 Lakes as a family (most beautiful place on earth), saying my final goodbyes... and then the grand finale: landing on American soil on July 2nd!! <div><br></div><div>Which just so happens to be my quarter of a century birthday. </div><div><br></div><div>All 5 of us will take our jet-lagged selves to Sweetwater Tavern for my first meal back - Ossie rolls, an ice cold microbrew, smoked salmon with garlic mashed potatoes, and a delicious flourless chocolate waffle for dessert. I don't care if I'm that predictable - my mouth is already watering! </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-21363032910153076132011-03-08T01:31:00.000-05:002011-03-08T01:32:00.890-05:00As gorgeous as I think my little country in the Balkans is, it doesn't seem to hold up very well aesthetically during the winter. The gray communist block buildings and even grayer sky often lends to being more than just mildly depressing. No wonder a good ratio of us PCVs seem to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.<div> <br></div><div>It's just depressing....</div><div><br></div><div>UNLESS, it is covered in the beautifully soft snow that just so happened to blanket my town in the mountains yesterday. It has been a pretty cold winter and I've been consistently bundled up for months, but I am confused as to how we severely lacked the pretty white stuff that finally arrived yesterday. A couple months too late.</div> <div><br></div><div>As much as I love snow, I am tired of the cold and the mad dash from the unheated bathroom on chilly mornings to my poorly heated bedroom.</div><div><br></div><div>BRRRRR.</div><div><br></div><div>You may be from Alaska and Canada or somewhere else with a constantly snowy tundra, but you'll never understand cold - true cold - until you understand Eastern Bloc cold. </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-35499674257751278452011-03-07T15:53:00.000-05:002011-03-07T15:54:13.975-05:00Habakkuk 1:5<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; ">"Look among the nations, and see;</span></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; "><div style="text-align: center;"> wonder and be astounded.</div><sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-22737I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; "><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; ">For I am doing a work in your days</span></div></sup><div style="text-align: center;"> that you would not believe if told."</div></span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-75896516849525842272011-03-07T15:48:00.000-05:002011-03-07T15:49:00.855-05:00<img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHTm8XKMEQPE1BM-emgdeZ-fkMTtJsKwChyphenhyphenrDu2tyhyCMyshh9z5b3Hh8p1FR91G4v9x89m_O160G0pEVlpMcyugUvrQ7p8JdmfJiQGB9v_v4aKKDC4ZtCELdClz31OEnnVOfTwEMQ5I/s320/DSC_0210.JPG" border="0" />I've been informed that perhaps I've been slacking a little bit on here. It is true that over the last few months, I <em>have </em>posted more pictures than actual narrative posts, but такъв е живот. :) Besides, how can you not fall absolutely head over heels in love with my kids after I've posted so many awesome photos of them? If I've said it once, I'll say it again: I want the world to see them the way I do.<br /><br />That being said, this particular update is long over due... the day after I said goodbye to all of my beloved B24s this past fall, the last two of us left in Sofia took a bus up to another town where a tattoo artist I'd read a lot about had a studio. I'd known for much of the last year that I was ready for my third (and most likely final) tattoo, and I had a design in mind that would capture the essence of my Peace Corps service and the person that I am, and highlight my love for the country that has come to mean so much to me.<br /><br />This isn't such a great picture (the ink is on my left inner wrist and its a little distorted from the angle my wrist was in when I took the photo), but it says "Faith : Hope" and "Love" (which is the biggest word: "the greatest of these is love") in Bulgarian across the top, with the celtic trinity knot that I've been fascinated with for as long as I can remember. My life verse (1 Thess 2:8 - we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well) is referenced on the bottom as well.<br /><br />I absolutely love it! It turned out great, and I love that it serves as a constant reminder about my priorites and why I am where I am - especially right now.<br /><br />I also wanted to share with you the story about the 4 Orthodox saints that gave my ink even more meaning: there were three sisters named Vyara, Nadezhda, and Lyubov (faith hope and love).Their mom Sophia and the three girls appeared as a group before the judgment of the pagan court, which offered to release the entire family providing that the mother would deny the Saviour and raise her children as pagans. All three daughters looked up to their mother to assure her that they would remain as steadfast Christians with her and that she should feel no guilt should they be put to death. The agonized Sophia was torn between the love for her children and the love for Jesus Christ. She turned to the court to plead that her children be released, and they could inflict their tortures upon her. The three sisters cried out to their mother that they would rather join her in death to be reunited in the Kingdom of God, than to remain behind without her. Sophia's glance at the magistrate told her the next move was his. Incredibly the magistrate was unmoved and ordered the first of the girls, Faith, to be put to torture before the eyes of her mother. When this failed to bring the mother to pleas for mercy but instead the praises of the Lord, Faith was put to the sword. Hope followed her sister in death, as did her sister Love, three innocents whose horrified mother was dragged to the side of their bodies, over which she continued to pray as she herself also died for the Lord.<br /><br />How cool is that???<div style='clear:both; text-align:RIGHT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-65022728813016975492011-03-03T14:20:00.001-05:002011-03-03T14:20:31.272-05:004estit Praznik na vsi4ki Bulgari!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="6">Честит Ден на Освобождението България!! </font></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="6"><br></font></span></div> <div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; font-size: xx-large; "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; font-size: xx-large; ">Happy Liberation Day Bulgaria!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" size="6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br></span></font></div><br><br> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-13131126440010434362011-03-03T07:52:00.001-05:002011-03-03T07:52:37.852-05:00It can't be news to anyone who has ever stumbled upon this blog even briefly that I absolutely love my job and the kids I get to work with and advocate for on a daily basis. Because of this, however, I don't often broach the "touchy" areas of Roma issues in this forum. I would rather post pictures and stories that show these kids in the light that I see them, so anyone out there in the internet world can appreciate these kids for who they really are - not who the world wants, expects, or tells them to be. <div><br></div><div>I'm going to break that rule today, because I think it IS important to shed some light to the real situation at hand, even though I know that whatever I say here will not do true justice to the reality faced on a day to day basis. </div> <div><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19px">Since the moment I opened the Peace Corps Welcome Book for Bulgaria back in the spring of 2008, I knew that God was bringing me to Bulgaria to work with the Roma/gypsy youth population. Despite Peace Corps best efforts to prepare me for my work here during Pre-Service Training, though, it wasn't until I actually moved to Samokov and started working that I truly started to see the disdain, disgust, and all-around racism towards Roma. To be honest, though, I have yet to truly understand where this resentment comes from, even though everyone you meet has their own theory. </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19px"><br></span></div><div><span style="line-height:19px"><span style="line-height:normal">A few weeks ago I mentioned that a friend of mine was reading <u style="font-size:small;font-family:arial">Black Like Me</u> by John Howard Griffin. <span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19px">Griffin was a white Texan, and the book describes his 6 week experience traveling the deep south on greyhound busses and hitchhiking in 1959, all while passing himself (undisputed) as a black man. I've often heard people comparing modern day Roma issues to the Civil Rights Era in the United States not so long ago, but it wasn't until I felt inclined to pick up my own copy and found myself unable to put down Griffin's story that I began to realize how true that comparison must be. I don't have page numbers because I read this on my Kindle, but one of the quotes that made me think of the life my children have been dealt here is this:</span><span style="line-height:19px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> "</font></span></span></span><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">When all the talk, all the propaganda has been cut away, the criterion is nothing but the color of skin. My experience proved that. They judged me by no quality. My skin was dark." I've seen Roma kids get chased away from vendor stands because they are all automatically labeled as thieves due to their darker hair, eyes, and skin. I've seen paying adults from the same community denied rides on public transportation even though there was plenty of room for them. I've seen Roma families approach a table with a 'reserved' sign in a restaurant, only to be turned away because the table is reserved only for suitable (read white/Bulgarian) patrons. </span></font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It breaks my heart to see such a beautiful, loving, generous, community-based demographic deemed void of all of these positive attributes, and be judged by their skin color or the sins of a minuscule minority. It also makes me proud to be serving in the role I do here - to be working alongside determined, passionate advocates for the Roma population in Samokov - but unlike the start of the Civil Rights movement in America, I wonder if there are enough enraged individuals out there willing to take a stand for population that has been denied their own voices. </span></font></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-3932378320959207962011-03-02T15:59:00.001-05:002011-03-02T15:59:42.954-05:00<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; ">Just bought my InterRail Global Pass!! And wow... also realized that my verbiage needs to be updated to correspond with reality: I will be leaving Bulgaria, entering the world of RPCVs, and embarking on the 17 country trip I've been saving for since high school... NEXT MONTH. I am officially a basket case of mixed emotions.</span></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-3417386674361654402011-02-21T15:27:00.001-05:002011-02-21T15:27:31.180-05:00"Less than 6 Months Left" SyndromeThere are, of course, lots of things that I have missed over the last couple of years during my time here in Bulgaria. For the most part, though, the absence of these luxuries and conveniences have all been a part of the adventure (except the intense food cravings... those I could have done without!!). I can honestly say I have enjoyed the simpler lifestyle that I take part in here, and a big part of me dreads going back to the "land of plenty."<div> <br></div><div>Lately, however, the list of things I am anticipating upon arrival on American soil is growing. At the top of the list... a washing machine!! And DRYER SHEETS (and obviously the correlating dryer - although line drying my clothes is NOT a part of the process that I have grown to resent)!! I would say that a great number of volunteers in country have access to washing machines, and to be honest, I technically have one (shhhh - don't tell). When I asked my landlord when the last time it worked was, she laughed at me, and I deemed the archaic thing worthy enough for counter space and nothing else. At this point, I suppose I could have found someone to try and fix it (Bulgarians are incredibly resourceful), but I... just... never got around to it. Washing clothes in an unheated bathroom in an Eastern European winter is nothing short of brutal, but truly - it never bothered me. Until lately. Its gotten so bad that my laundry pile is just growing and growing. So really, I'm just making my life MORE difficult by neglecting my household chores (you can only wash so much at a time when you do so in a small plastic bin), because at some point, I will need to catch up! And sheesh, I was helping a friend with a dryer (the only one I've seen here - but she has 6 kids!) the other day fold her laundry, and I think I sat there smelling a used dryer sheet for a good 5 minutes. Heavenly. </div> <div><br></div><div>A couch. Oh my goodness. I love my little peach, purple, and red one-room apartment.... it IS wonderful. But I'm a reader. I miss curling up in the corner of the couch with a giant mug of tea and being all cozy for a bit. There is a time and a place for reading in bed (usually before bed or early in the morning), but I can't wait to snuggle up on my parents couch with a good book and just be absorbed into a page turner. Or watching an edge of your seat film on said couch. Again, watching a movie in bed can be nice... but my tush is looking for a change in scenery. One of the hotels up in the ski resort has this nice big lobby with leather couches and cheap coffee.... I've been frequenting there just for some prime couch sitting and productivity (more sitting, less productivity). </div> <div><br></div><div>My car. Not for transportation purposes. I like being able to walk everywhere. And in recent years I've had a hard time justifying the insane gas money to just get behind the wheel and drive, but that is EXACTLY what I want to do right now. </div> <div><br></div><div>I'm sure there are more things I could add to this list, but these are the ones I've been thinking of lately. And I'm certainly not going to get into all of the food I'm craving, but I suppose I need to not throw away all of the pants that are too big for me now, because I am certain that after a few weeks of indulging my ICE CREAM, Mexican, Thai, cheeseburger, pizza, Chinese food cravings... I'll be needing them again. And ya know what? As much as I want to get back to my pre-accident active lifestyle, I'll sacrifice it a little while longer in order to indulge. ;)</div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-72310132352622147492011-02-17T10:26:00.000-05:002011-02-17T10:26:15.212-05:00Vday with the 8th grade and Katya's birthday<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Making Valentine's afterschool<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqJIp1ZtvOeuOxxOA2jj0WCSw6AyrDrqDFHVIe3MQ-ALEQYT2InTzW_arqhIH9LJvsmvkv7w3dv16wxBLKIW_TYoOSxvXy0SpyUSd-PdQm5xFkMlAK3hOY6Fty0L7Y-1X-8ClXdpDc8c/s1600/P2140029.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqJIp1ZtvOeuOxxOA2jj0WCSw6AyrDrqDFHVIe3MQ-ALEQYT2InTzW_arqhIH9LJvsmvkv7w3dv16wxBLKIW_TYoOSxvXy0SpyUSd-PdQm5xFkMlAK3hOY6Fty0L7Y-1X-8ClXdpDc8c/s400/P2140029.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoADudFYaxBS5n6D806pIoHSwG5nbHVmQOysuBpmzfQuiNBuz7DdmVZI4wwQIN8PZ4V8HKF57Zk4JK9sQaLxp-3kUVfhKdO-7bfxLw51ysMQQhWyktIEeKuUJqC6r3nT_gl08FZFaI-o/s1600/P2140030.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoADudFYaxBS5n6D806pIoHSwG5nbHVmQOysuBpmzfQuiNBuz7DdmVZI4wwQIN8PZ4V8HKF57Zk4JK9sQaLxp-3kUVfhKdO-7bfxLw51ysMQQhWyktIEeKuUJqC6r3nT_gl08FZFaI-o/s400/P2140030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Katya's birthday is on the 14th, so like last year, we were able to celebrate the two together with the kids after school in the program.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfG0i9PWBc3Ehs8opzp1dfNdBVMaTiTrbWqXd5LICf79UWEC4veXy7XRrjkXYfuhBiTKhOButeWDipjruUpUAbCLjYElxsweg7YbVsLWIZww_1tOLHqqbOmSW3RxpxVFgkGhyphenhyphenVmohiTqc/s1600/P2140032.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfG0i9PWBc3Ehs8opzp1dfNdBVMaTiTrbWqXd5LICf79UWEC4veXy7XRrjkXYfuhBiTKhOButeWDipjruUpUAbCLjYElxsweg7YbVsLWIZww_1tOLHqqbOmSW3RxpxVFgkGhyphenhyphenVmohiTqc/s400/P2140032.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175559798066374055.post-70626896645064381572011-02-17T10:24:00.000-05:002011-02-17T10:24:15.928-05:00Valentine's Day toothbrushes<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Last year, my dentist in the US donated a very generous amount of toothpaste samples and floss. Oral hygiene over here is widely overlooked among both Bulgarian and Roma communities, so we purchased some toothbrushes and taught the middle schoolers at camp this summer the importance of keeping your mouth happy.<br /><br />I had been wanting to do the same lesson with the kinders for awhile now, so when I was putting together their Valentine's goody bag, I dropped a toothbrush and toothpaste in each bag. After enjoying our cupcakes, we marched the little chickens to the bathroom to practice! NONE of the kids own a toothbrush, so they were excited about their gift. I'd never get away with throwing a holiday party in the US and seizing the cupcake opportunity to teach about brushing those germs away. It'd be like the grouchy old lady who gives out apples on Halloween. But they loved it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_H4lw-j4p5CtRuVWrggpvPZLrJy7SRNobgOOuacZZR0gRdSSyfZZESNrIWOlDqN16bjo_mK203BvxnTrwSGRqEI7IYiUBGmMRgutgMu2aKKW-VXQO4NzP39JWJrF3IwScMVA3I_u13Y/s1600/P2140019.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_H4lw-j4p5CtRuVWrggpvPZLrJy7SRNobgOOuacZZR0gRdSSyfZZESNrIWOlDqN16bjo_mK203BvxnTrwSGRqEI7IYiUBGmMRgutgMu2aKKW-VXQO4NzP39JWJrF3IwScMVA3I_u13Y/s400/P2140019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Svetlo back their cheesing over his new skill, and the others greatly concentrating.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4QLID0yUGA5XIVUvJGb4_4bCwHoR0FVkHFnRvYUXAgC0bN2hwwM0D38wB85oRr35HdRVxm2ShdyF1VE2wh_u_XhMTtevJSB9ANg5SPXbWMfIFcBvZEJvH8W4dWIks2_TGrZkcTrp4-8/s1600/P2140021.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4QLID0yUGA5XIVUvJGb4_4bCwHoR0FVkHFnRvYUXAgC0bN2hwwM0D38wB85oRr35HdRVxm2ShdyF1VE2wh_u_XhMTtevJSB9ANg5SPXbWMfIFcBvZEJvH8W4dWIks2_TGrZkcTrp4-8/s400/P2140021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Iskra giving the Do's and Don'ts of brushing your pearly whites.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBUbk9SrVzVEOB_xzl9J3Gw4boWp6b9WTBhmr_Vh6YbH2AwZwXL-dqV91LfzCq8Wb6VHiQpq-EM71XeYT2QvDx-pTu-9BuIcUZeNc40S3be3WipHJwAibhPSXkLuvR4CXWOyQOBHAZJA/s1600/P2140022.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBUbk9SrVzVEOB_xzl9J3Gw4boWp6b9WTBhmr_Vh6YbH2AwZwXL-dqV91LfzCq8Wb6VHiQpq-EM71XeYT2QvDx-pTu-9BuIcUZeNc40S3be3WipHJwAibhPSXkLuvR4CXWOyQOBHAZJA/s400/P2140022.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildAu_oqHDuIz8mPlHgfGPxesEsRi0fXLgqZ-A1sbriJhPDnAtQ8ZiaEfDXoTYxNnaGBubs7sGOQkwo1WkZWOzqatBbp2rk1hVuDJLIDG3VKFaJ0BMFOaEOlN06Z7VG9Z7PA3-MZYp4MM/s1600/P2140024.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildAu_oqHDuIz8mPlHgfGPxesEsRi0fXLgqZ-A1sbriJhPDnAtQ8ZiaEfDXoTYxNnaGBubs7sGOQkwo1WkZWOzqatBbp2rk1hVuDJLIDG3VKFaJ0BMFOaEOlN06Z7VG9Z7PA3-MZYp4MM/s400/P2140024.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0