A year ago

One year ago today I left my home in New Mexico and started my Peace Corps service, this is what I wrote in my journal on March 27th, 2011

I am finally going back to Europe, but this time I am going back to live there! This is it, I have taken my first step towards a major life change. I am joining the Peace Corps and I will be heading to Bulgaria in a matter of hours (2 days really). I applied almost a year ago so I have had more than enough time to really mull over this but it wasn't until I left Albuquerque that I came to the realization that this is real. This morning I got on a plane and flew away from New Mexico not knowing when the next time I will see it again. I honestly always wondered how that would feel and I have to say it was more emotional than I ever thought it would be. The flight out was beautiful and added to the somber mood I was in. The sun was rising just as we took off, there were more clouds than normal and they reflected the light of the new day in a spectacular display that could only be produced in the New Mexican sky, and as we flew through the clouds Albuquerque disappeared through the blue and orange fog. It felt like the world was covering my home with a warm colored blanket protecting it and all that I love until I return.

Spring is here!

After enduring such a cold and snowy winter a warm spring day like today was more than welcome here in this part of Bulgaria. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get outdoors and take a long walk. I set my internal compass on a near by group of ponds that I have seen many times on the train coming and going from Parvomay but have never actually been to. It took about an hour to reach this place but the whole journey I was kept company by birds dancing overhead displaying their agility and a newly green landscape that was much more pleasant to look at then the bright white coating it displayed merely a month ago or the dull brown hew it was flaunting what seemed like only yesterday.  

Once I reached the bodies of water, I found a nice grassy spot near the water where I laid down and closed my eyes. I listened the birds sing their song to the frogs who responded with their own tune. Now, I don't really understand the language of birds nor frogs but I can safely say that they were both singing about the joys of the new season. During this delightful chorus I let the sun warm my skin while the wind danced through this whole scene, adding it's part to the song between animals in the form of moving leaves and taking turns with the sun cooling my skin where the bright rays had warmed it and would begin to warm again during a lull in it's cycle. 

I'm so happy Spring is finally here, thank you Bulgaria for helping me appreciate it

Seeing France from Bulgaria

My students walking through the Louver

When I was in the 5th grade I remember having a project where I had to pick a country and present it to my class. The country I selected was France, and from that day on I dreamed of traveling to the land of baguettes and the Eiffel Tower. Almost four years ago I was luck enough to go there and I enjoyed ever millisecond of it, it was such a profound trip and really shaped my outlook on the world. It really inspired me to travel more, to see more of the world, and you could even say that it was driving force in my joining the Peace Corps. So when I found out that my school here in Bulgaria was organizing a trip to France sponsored by a European Union exchange program I was really excited and made sure that I would be able to tag along. The trip, like all trips to France, was really magical for me but by far the most amazing thing for me was seeing how my Bulgarian students', and the four teachers that also came, reactions to this captivating country. To me, France was always alluring but it was never outside of my means, or most Americans. If I really wanted to go there I could just buckle down and save money to go there, but for many Bulgarians it well outside of their ability. So for them this trip to France was truly a once in a life-time trip for them. Knowing this and being able to see their reaction to this place was beyond great because I got to see humility and amazement in it's truest and purest form. I am so lucky to be able to see this because very often it is over looked and written of as something simple tourism but for my students and a few of my fellow teachers this was real magic from which I know will inspire them beyond measure.

My students meeting some French and Portuguese students in the park in Vitre, France

Bulgarians in France

Vitre's City Hall

Some students at the school in Vitre we visited

La Mont Saint Michel

The Group

Reason to celebrate

One of my favorite things about Bulgaria is how Bulgarians are always finding reasons to celebrate. On the first of March was a really nice Bulgarian holiday called Baba Marta. It is the offical end of winter and it is marked by Bulgarians exchanging red and white bracelets called "martenitsi." They are suppose to wear these bracelets until they see a stork, a sign that winter is over because they birds have returned from their winter migration. When they see one of these birds they remove a bracelet and tie it to a tree branch. This as easily become one of my favorite Bulgarian holidays not only because it means that winter is over but also because giving and getting these bracelets was very enjoyable. Teachers usually get one from their students and in turn usually have both wrists covered in red and white strings. Since I'm a teacher I was no exception. Walking down the halls at school some children who I don't even teach were tying these martenitsi to my wrist telling me to make a wish. When the day finally ended it took the better part of the afternoon tried to remove most of them. I'm already looking forward to this holiday next year and continuing this tradition in the states when I return home.

      Also, last week was International Women's Day, a day that I didn't even know existed until I came to Bulgaria. I know that this holiday isn't limited to Bulgarian because I saw some of my friends from different countries commenting on the day for women. At school some of the children were giving their female teachers flowers and on the streets most people would tell women who passed by "Happy Holiday." That night my crew and I went to a restaurant to celebrate and it was full of people also celebrating. Some more flowers were handed out, followed by a nice meal, and some dancing. After this rough winter I can see why there have been so many holidays both during winter as well as right after, it is so easy to staying in your warm home turning cold days but these days really get you out to be social and it really nice because it makes the days more enjoyable because you are spending some forced but very pleasant time with friends