As I mentioned in my last post, this weekend I was to host a little Thanksgiving gathering with some other volunteers and some people from my village. It was a stressful week but everything came together thanks to my wonderful community and the support of my fellow PCVs. I especially want to thank Emmy and Jesse for everything they did. Emmy = Culinary Rockstar and Jesse = all around bad-ass.
Now about the actual event. Let me first say that this was my very first time ever having hosted this particular holiday and I don't think it could have gone better. My only regret is that I misplaced my camera, so I am relying on facebook to document this day. The guest list was originally supposed to be about 6 or so volunteers and we would eat at my house, all sitting around the table Norman Rockwell style. I then had the thought to invite a few Bulgarians as well such as my CP and my director. Imagine my surprise when I checked the facebook event list to see that 18 volunteers were wanting to come to my place for Thanksgiving. Ok, we will just have to sleep really close and I would just buy some extra plates and silverware, No problem... until in our staff meeting the director decided to invite the entire faculty. UMMM... yeah. I was now looking at having to serve around 30 people all in my rustic country cottage. There was just no way. So, with my counterpart, we went to a local cafe and asked if we could use here facility for a few hours and that everyone would buy drinks from her. Thankfully she agreed and seemed happy to do so. It really worked out because its always been a secret dream of mine to have Thanksgiving with a disco ball. With a larger venue I decided to invite a few more people including the Mayor, the Diretor of the Chitaliste, the Director of the Kindergarten and a neighbor or two. Everyone said they would bring food and/or wine and it turned out great. There ended up being 16 Americans (one was Emmy's friend traveling Europe) and 15 Bulgarians. And what happens when BGs and Americans get together... HORO! It was fun and the food was WONDERFUL. Everyone had a great time and I would love to host again next year.
What was even better was the football game before hand with a hord of children from the school. I felt like we were in a PC magazine. I cannot wait to see the pictures and video. The after party was also fun. There was much home made wine and someone from the village gave me a bottle of champegne. Also, TWISTER! AND a Christmas surprise. Why just celebrate one holiday? Thanks again to Emmy for working so hard on making those stockings and for finding the santa suit. Also to Jesse for wandering my village with an axe looking for Christmas tree to chop down. Luckily the magazine had one for 4 leva. No trees were harmed in the making of this party. It was just a great time. THANKS again to everyone who came and made this possible. I will get picture up soon and hopefully the story from the local newpaper. Being interviewed in BG is difficult as is giving a Thanksgiving speech.. oojas! Anyway, I hope your Turkey Day was just as amazing and that everyone has a great day!
CEO
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Eventful
There is no better way to explain the past two weeks of my life then to simply explain them as they happened and let you be the judge.
Two weeks ago I received a phone call from one Ms. Ingrid Robledo who, at the time, was living only six km away from my village. Her unnaturally deep voice sounded distressed and finally told me she had made up her mind to return to Miami. This was quite a devastating blow not only to me personally, but to the morale of the B25's in general. Not to sound overly dramatic, but for me this was especially hard. She was basically my site mate and more than that, my friend. And she still is my friend, but I just cannot jog to her village and see her anymore. SO, Elizabeth and I decide to help her out and get her, along with her 2 giant (and I am sure, overweight) bags to Sofia. This turns out to be a little harder than we imagined.
To begin, I had to find some one to watch Bernard and get out of an all day teacher's meeting. Easier said than done, as are most activities here in BG. Eventually it happened and all was seemingly good... well until I wake up Tuesday morning to meet Ingrid and Elizabeth on the train. Its a little known fact that when I leave, even for just one night, I have to thoroughly clean my house and since my new vacuum cleaner is broken, I decided to sweep my carpets with a hand broom. JOY and ELATION. This, in turn gave me the sinus infection from hell. So now, I am on a train at 7:00AM half deaf and immobilized by pain; both physical and emotional. Halfway to Sofia, our train breaks down and it starts raining. Pretty much par for the course at this point. We eventually make it and all is relatively well. I go to the PCMO and after a random EKG (I still don't know why) I get some medicine which makes life all the better. We say our good byes over "Mexican " food and enjoy a night.
I get home and have 2 days before I have to travel back to Sofia for Jill's birthday. Jesse brings his dog, Ambrose, to stay with Bernard at my place while we are away at IST (which began after Jill's). Back in Sofia, we have the BEST Indian food ever and decide we wanna go out. WHATTA BUST! I will say that I had more fun finding these alleged "clubs" than I had while inside of them. It also served as a reminder that no matter how much weight loose, I will never be accepted in my community... boo. Now, lets move on to IST...
IST is the 1st time we have seen each other as a group since swearing in and of course we celebrate accordingly. Some of us more so than others. I only wish I had eaten more than a Caesar Salad before the celebration had begun. It also didn't help that I have more or less stopped drinking and trying to drink like I used to was not the best of ideas. I am not 20 anymore apparently. Thank God for good friends and my innate ability to stay Professionally Appropriate. Not everyone has that ability though as proven by the fire extinguisher some one sprayed in my room. I am just glad he owned up to it and did not let me and my room mate take the blame. I just love the irony of me and my baggage being flame retardant. There was also bowling, go-go dancing and other events that would take entirely too long to explain. IST ended with an 8 1/2 hour train ride back to my site in which I was wearing my winter jacket, a sweater, running shorts and tennis shoes, as well as Kay's rainbow sunglasses. My companion on the train was Jesse with his miniature guitar with the inscription "This Machine Kills Fascists". I feel that we looked like the saddest travelling musicians in all of Europe. The plot thickens (believe it or not) when we got stuck in a village near mine and had to ask the local police for a ride back to my house. They took one look at us and decided they had to call some one from my village to prove that I am who I claimed to be.
At the end of the day(s) I feel that "eventful" barely scratches the surface of the past two weeks. Who knows what will happen this weekend when 10 - 15 volunteers descend upon my village to attend what promises to be the most non-traditional, traditional Thanksgiving meal of our lives. The potential for disaster is high and who knows what non-sense the fates have in store. Tune in next week for the continuation of this never-ending saga.
Love, Laughter and Music (and certainly not brevity)
Cory
PS - SVINSKI GRIP!!!!
Two weeks ago I received a phone call from one Ms. Ingrid Robledo who, at the time, was living only six km away from my village. Her unnaturally deep voice sounded distressed and finally told me she had made up her mind to return to Miami. This was quite a devastating blow not only to me personally, but to the morale of the B25's in general. Not to sound overly dramatic, but for me this was especially hard. She was basically my site mate and more than that, my friend. And she still is my friend, but I just cannot jog to her village and see her anymore. SO, Elizabeth and I decide to help her out and get her, along with her 2 giant (and I am sure, overweight) bags to Sofia. This turns out to be a little harder than we imagined.
To begin, I had to find some one to watch Bernard and get out of an all day teacher's meeting. Easier said than done, as are most activities here in BG. Eventually it happened and all was seemingly good... well until I wake up Tuesday morning to meet Ingrid and Elizabeth on the train. Its a little known fact that when I leave, even for just one night, I have to thoroughly clean my house and since my new vacuum cleaner is broken, I decided to sweep my carpets with a hand broom. JOY and ELATION. This, in turn gave me the sinus infection from hell. So now, I am on a train at 7:00AM half deaf and immobilized by pain; both physical and emotional. Halfway to Sofia, our train breaks down and it starts raining. Pretty much par for the course at this point. We eventually make it and all is relatively well. I go to the PCMO and after a random EKG (I still don't know why) I get some medicine which makes life all the better. We say our good byes over "Mexican " food and enjoy a night.
I get home and have 2 days before I have to travel back to Sofia for Jill's birthday. Jesse brings his dog, Ambrose, to stay with Bernard at my place while we are away at IST (which began after Jill's). Back in Sofia, we have the BEST Indian food ever and decide we wanna go out. WHATTA BUST! I will say that I had more fun finding these alleged "clubs" than I had while inside of them. It also served as a reminder that no matter how much weight loose, I will never be accepted in my community... boo. Now, lets move on to IST...
IST is the 1st time we have seen each other as a group since swearing in and of course we celebrate accordingly. Some of us more so than others. I only wish I had eaten more than a Caesar Salad before the celebration had begun. It also didn't help that I have more or less stopped drinking and trying to drink like I used to was not the best of ideas. I am not 20 anymore apparently. Thank God for good friends and my innate ability to stay Professionally Appropriate. Not everyone has that ability though as proven by the fire extinguisher some one sprayed in my room. I am just glad he owned up to it and did not let me and my room mate take the blame. I just love the irony of me and my baggage being flame retardant. There was also bowling, go-go dancing and other events that would take entirely too long to explain. IST ended with an 8 1/2 hour train ride back to my site in which I was wearing my winter jacket, a sweater, running shorts and tennis shoes, as well as Kay's rainbow sunglasses. My companion on the train was Jesse with his miniature guitar with the inscription "This Machine Kills Fascists". I feel that we looked like the saddest travelling musicians in all of Europe. The plot thickens (believe it or not) when we got stuck in a village near mine and had to ask the local police for a ride back to my house. They took one look at us and decided they had to call some one from my village to prove that I am who I claimed to be.
At the end of the day(s) I feel that "eventful" barely scratches the surface of the past two weeks. Who knows what will happen this weekend when 10 - 15 volunteers descend upon my village to attend what promises to be the most non-traditional, traditional Thanksgiving meal of our lives. The potential for disaster is high and who knows what non-sense the fates have in store. Tune in next week for the continuation of this never-ending saga.
Love, Laughter and Music (and certainly not brevity)
Cory
PS - SVINSKI GRIP!!!!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
this will be short....
I miss my friends so much. I want to celebrate their victories with them and help them through their sorrows. I want to be in their comfort of their familiarity and know what they are thinking before they say a single word. I am so far away and I just want to be with them.
The victory in is realizing this but the defeat is in not being able to change the fact that they are so far away. I am desperately longing.
Cory
I miss my friends so much. I want to celebrate their victories with them and help them through their sorrows. I want to be in their comfort of their familiarity and know what they are thinking before they say a single word. I am so far away and I just want to be with them.
The victory in is realizing this but the defeat is in not being able to change the fact that they are so far away. I am desperately longing.
Cory
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sixth Month Reflection
I have now been here in BG for 5 1/2 months. That seems NUTS to me. It also seems crazy that a larger part of that time has been spent at site than in training. I know there is so much more time ahead, but several events today have made me want to pause and look back at the past 5 1/2 months.
I guess what got me feeling reflective was receiving a phone call from my host family. They wanted to make sure I was warm and had been wondering why I had not been on skype lately. I thought this was just about the sweetest damned thing anyone has done for me in a while. Although yesterday, the woman offering to help me chop my wood was a nice gesture. It was, however, negated by her 2 hour Bulgarian rant about a "Clean" Bulgaria. Anyway, after talking to my host family, I decided to read over some old journal entries from PST. I had already forgotten a lot of funny things that happened in the Dobro! It was also fun to see what my life is like compared to what I thought my life would be like. I will share a few excerpts from my journal later in this entry.
Finally tonight, I watched this week's worship from the Cathedral of Hope. And unsurprisingly, it matched perfectly with my feelings of nostalgia and reflection. This past Sunday was All Saints Day; a day to remember all those saints who have come and gone before us. This year I have been extremely fortunate not to have lost many people close to me, but still, every All Saints Day I remember my Granny and acknowledge my mother. These two women, prospectively, were the most positive and the most negative influences in my life and in many ways, still are today. I guess this is bordering closer to somber than to nostalgic. This year was also different b/c I "attended" the All Saints service from thousands of miles away and at a new church. This year's "In Memoriam" was a little harder to watch because unlike the previous years, most of the deceased were much younger. Instead of being in their 70's, 80's or beyond, many of these men and women were only in their 30's, 40's or 50's. It is a reminder that HIV/AIDS is still an unsolved problem and one, I think, that can be solved. Its also a reminder to be safe and smart. This is an unfortunate lesson taught by those Saints who have gone before us.
As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to post somethings from my PST Journal. Both some serious and frivolous thoughts that made me think or smile tonight:
From May 18th:
However, the creeping thought keeps crossing my mind that at least they can talk about their feelings with Bulgarian communities. [Some] hardships are not seen externally and are not accepted.... I have grown so relaxed with being who I am that I have honestly taken for granted that men and women are persecuted just for [being themselves]...I guess I did not fully prepare myself for this reality...
From May 27th:
When was the last time you played with a foreigner? Maybe that will be the title of my book...
From May 28th:
I HATE ROOSTERS! They are loud, they cannot tell time and you don't even eat them!
From June 28th:
If you wear a bow tie [to my funeral] you will receive a hand written note, from me, asking you to "please leave".
From July 6th:
We taught a blind and deaf boy how to swim (YAY SUSTAINABILITY!)
From July 10th:
I do not believe one can give too much of oneself. I do believe, however, that it is easy to over-extend yourself and venture into a area which is detrimental to your well-being. This is a selfless job in which sometimes you have to be selfish.
I also closed each of those journals with a written prayer and I would like to do so again now:
Heavenly Father, source of everything and in whose image I am created, I would like to thank you for this day. Thank you for everyone in my life, both those close and those who are far away. Thank you for all the love you have shown me and for all the blessings you continue to pour upon my life. I pray tonight for the discerning wisdom and the patience to make my earthly life all I know you want it to be. I would also like to pray for all of the saints who have come before me and surround me now. With the knowledge of their, and Your almighty presence, I pray that I may do good by them and You. May everyone experience Your unlimited love as I have, and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.
The Increasingly More Verbose,
CE the O
I guess what got me feeling reflective was receiving a phone call from my host family. They wanted to make sure I was warm and had been wondering why I had not been on skype lately. I thought this was just about the sweetest damned thing anyone has done for me in a while. Although yesterday, the woman offering to help me chop my wood was a nice gesture. It was, however, negated by her 2 hour Bulgarian rant about a "Clean" Bulgaria. Anyway, after talking to my host family, I decided to read over some old journal entries from PST. I had already forgotten a lot of funny things that happened in the Dobro! It was also fun to see what my life is like compared to what I thought my life would be like. I will share a few excerpts from my journal later in this entry.
Finally tonight, I watched this week's worship from the Cathedral of Hope. And unsurprisingly, it matched perfectly with my feelings of nostalgia and reflection. This past Sunday was All Saints Day; a day to remember all those saints who have come and gone before us. This year I have been extremely fortunate not to have lost many people close to me, but still, every All Saints Day I remember my Granny and acknowledge my mother. These two women, prospectively, were the most positive and the most negative influences in my life and in many ways, still are today. I guess this is bordering closer to somber than to nostalgic. This year was also different b/c I "attended" the All Saints service from thousands of miles away and at a new church. This year's "In Memoriam" was a little harder to watch because unlike the previous years, most of the deceased were much younger. Instead of being in their 70's, 80's or beyond, many of these men and women were only in their 30's, 40's or 50's. It is a reminder that HIV/AIDS is still an unsolved problem and one, I think, that can be solved. Its also a reminder to be safe and smart. This is an unfortunate lesson taught by those Saints who have gone before us.
As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to post somethings from my PST Journal. Both some serious and frivolous thoughts that made me think or smile tonight:
From May 18th:
However, the creeping thought keeps crossing my mind that at least they can talk about their feelings with Bulgarian communities. [Some] hardships are not seen externally and are not accepted.... I have grown so relaxed with being who I am that I have honestly taken for granted that men and women are persecuted just for [being themselves]...I guess I did not fully prepare myself for this reality...
From May 27th:
When was the last time you played with a foreigner? Maybe that will be the title of my book...
From May 28th:
I HATE ROOSTERS! They are loud, they cannot tell time and you don't even eat them!
From June 28th:
If you wear a bow tie [to my funeral] you will receive a hand written note, from me, asking you to "please leave".
From July 6th:
We taught a blind and deaf boy how to swim (YAY SUSTAINABILITY!)
From July 10th:
I do not believe one can give too much of oneself. I do believe, however, that it is easy to over-extend yourself and venture into a area which is detrimental to your well-being. This is a selfless job in which sometimes you have to be selfish.
I also closed each of those journals with a written prayer and I would like to do so again now:
Heavenly Father, source of everything and in whose image I am created, I would like to thank you for this day. Thank you for everyone in my life, both those close and those who are far away. Thank you for all the love you have shown me and for all the blessings you continue to pour upon my life. I pray tonight for the discerning wisdom and the patience to make my earthly life all I know you want it to be. I would also like to pray for all of the saints who have come before me and surround me now. With the knowledge of their, and Your almighty presence, I pray that I may do good by them and You. May everyone experience Your unlimited love as I have, and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.
The Increasingly More Verbose,
CE the O
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Never Ending Undulation of Emotions
With October now finally over, I find myself staring bleakly into November and the impending winter. When the past month began, I remember some how feeling rejuvenated about why I am here. I was so excited and things were seeming to go my way. I began this blog in the mindset that my positive outlook would continue unfaltering, and while I know that this was a unrealistic notion, I still had hope. I think what takes me further away from my optimistic center is the fact that my life here is drastically affected by seemingly small obstacles and/or triumphs. And I am speaking literally when I say that my mood can easily flip-flop in the matter of seconds. Little things such as a Halloween card from my third graders has the ability to gleefully carry me through the day while seeing my eighth grade girls turn in a blank test utterly shatters me. I think that if there was even some hint of mild, emotional consistency in my life, I would be less concerned. If it were all going to be miserable, I could prepare. If it were all going to be jubilant elation, I would accept it openly. But my emotions lately have been as unpredictable and as dramatic as the Bulgarian weather. I just want some freakin' consistency (in my emotional state and the weather). Hell, I would settle for some middle ground. I just cannot handle the intensity of how high the highs are and how low the lows can be. This week I will specifically set aside time to determine how balance can be achieved. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to let me know.
In keeping with the becomingly more apparent manic theme of this blog, I would like to share that last week was overall the best week I have had since I have been here. In fact, I was so busy enjoying it, I never found time to blog about it. There is absolutely nothing better than Halloween Week for an elementary school teacher. If only I could afford to incorporate candy into every lesson. If you are curious to see what Halloween looked like in the PK, please refer to Facebook. Its just too late for me to try and add pictures to this blog right now.
And, if you are still reading this, I would like to say how great it was to see everyone at Halloween in VT. I had a wonderful time and it was fantastic to meet so many new people. I was a little disappointed in the homo-no show, but only b/c I never get to see those guys/gals. I also really appreciated everyone who lent me parts of their costume so that I could truly enjoy the holiday. I don't know how it happened, but this was yet another Halloween that involved me, a wig and too much eye make-up. Although, for some one who showed up without a costume, I think I totally rocked my interpretation of "East German Cougar". I can't wait for those pictures to be published on FB. There is so much more I want to write, but for now I am going to go to bed. Maybe tomorrow's lesson plans will come to me in my sleep.
Love, Laughter and Music,
The Always "Professionally Appropriate" Cory, Son of Ol
In keeping with the becomingly more apparent manic theme of this blog, I would like to share that last week was overall the best week I have had since I have been here. In fact, I was so busy enjoying it, I never found time to blog about it. There is absolutely nothing better than Halloween Week for an elementary school teacher. If only I could afford to incorporate candy into every lesson. If you are curious to see what Halloween looked like in the PK, please refer to Facebook. Its just too late for me to try and add pictures to this blog right now.
And, if you are still reading this, I would like to say how great it was to see everyone at Halloween in VT. I had a wonderful time and it was fantastic to meet so many new people. I was a little disappointed in the homo-no show, but only b/c I never get to see those guys/gals. I also really appreciated everyone who lent me parts of their costume so that I could truly enjoy the holiday. I don't know how it happened, but this was yet another Halloween that involved me, a wig and too much eye make-up. Although, for some one who showed up without a costume, I think I totally rocked my interpretation of "East German Cougar". I can't wait for those pictures to be published on FB. There is so much more I want to write, but for now I am going to go to bed. Maybe tomorrow's lesson plans will come to me in my sleep.
Love, Laughter and Music,
The Always "Professionally Appropriate" Cory, Son of Ol
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