This past weekend I went down to Luther for the big 150th birthday! It was my first time back for homecoming as an Alumni which is much different then a student.

It was nice to chat with professors and see some I have not since I graduated. Along with people as well, there wasn't that many my age but some. I went down with Sarah as little sis is a senior so we got to stay in baker and enjoy the college life for a bit.

The football team won and we watched some Rugby (Which I'm still trying to understand)/ Took in the wonderful wonderful view of the new windmill. Along with the money trees aka just the trees but in fall they sure bring in the money all the different colors along the bluff.

Sisters!Sometimes I really do miss Luther! We talked a lot about community and how Luther has it, along with how its made, why we wear Luther rings, why people go back all the time, why people give money, why we love it so much. It has been interesting to be way from it and people when I talk about Luther think I'm crazy. They really don't understand that I had professors that I still talk to and e-mail. Or I would go back to Homecoming when its not my year, you miss it. Along with Decorah and you need a T-bocks cheeseburger and a Whippy Dip tornado. Its all part of the wonderful Luther package.

It was a lot a fun and some great time with the crazy crazy Carnes sister.

The new windmill!

Main with the big tree

Koren my place!

This week has been big. I mean HUGE. With it has been busy mostly just making sure I have all my papers done and that I can spell effect and affect right and in the right order. Work has been going good even though principals have throw some curve balls this week, they are now under control. (We will see how long). But I have my first paper of grad school due at night. I'm super worried about it because well its the first and have no idea what to think about it. Along with that we had a group project, reading- like 100 pages of ethics, and this leadership workbook.

To top it all off I have my Peace Corps fellow portfolio due as well. I think its done. But again we are the first and I just hope its at grad school level. I wrote a 10 page paper on my leadership and reflection along with the impact of it in the future in the MAOL program. Its so personal and everyone has such a different experience that its hard to be at all alike. I found out I could write a 50 page paper on my Peace Corps experience. Its also still hard for me to pick out and really see the big picture of how big Peace Corps affected me. I know huge and almost every-way and everything; but to put it into words is still very hard. But it has been really good to reflect, re look over blogs, newspaper articles I wrote, newsletter I made, pictures, and awards I received to remember. Reading over my DOS- document that the Peace Corps keep (only thing) about what we did. I forgot about some of the little things so it was really good to re read it all.

But really the wonderful things is I have not only a paper, but documentation of my Peace Corps experience.

Welcome to Grad school I guess and I will find out soon how it is going so far.....

Three years ago today I was in the TV building in Sofia, raising my hand and taking the oath to become an official Peace Corps Volunteer. It was also this day where I got droppped off on the side of the road with my bags and waited while one of the drivers came to get me, I got to my room and just sat there. I didn't know anyone, had no food, have no internet, just my cell phone which couldn't call beacuse everyone was the same postion. Today 3 years ago I got to my site of Dren, Bulgaria which changed my life forever. So much has changed, happened, and I have learned in these 3 years.

Post about the day

Grandpa opening presents In September my grandfather passed away so I had to go home for round one of 3 out of 4 weekends this past month. I had not been home for a while, June. So it was good to be home, not the reason. After finishing my first grad school classes, I took off in the night (9pm) to meet up with my brother to drive the rest of the way. Let just say 8 hours later I have never loved home so much. We got back to home around 5am, had to be at the church at 9am, so with about 2 hours of sleep we went into the day.

It was great to see family as it had been a while (Christmas) but I also got talking with other family and friends where I was told to get back to blogging (so Jim this is for you :) and well mom)

Here are some pictures of what we did. Funerals are never fun and so it helps when you have 5 little kids wanting to do something, anything, but be inside.

Grandpa you will be dearly missed!

Wm. Randall Kruse, 84 of Albion died Sunday morning, September 4, 2011 at the Golden Living Center in Fullerton, Nebraska. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church with Revs. David Frerichs and Michael Kern officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by American Legion Post #162 and V.F.W. Post #736. Visitation will be from 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion. Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church, St. Frances Hospice, and the Boone County Foundation.

William Randall Kruse, the son of William E. and Ruth Edna (Sherburne) Kruse was born on December 19, 1926 on a farm in the Akron Community west of Albion. He was baptized and confirmed at the Akron Presbyterian Church, and received his elementary education at Boone County school District #60. Randall continued his education at Albion High School, graduating with the class of 1944.

On Christmas Day, 1944 Randall entered the U.S. Navy, and served until his honorable discharge on July 4, 1946. On November 26, 1950 he was united in marriage to Donna Lou Hovelsrud at Zion Lutheran Church North Branch, rural Petersburg, Nebraska. They lived, farmed and raised livestock in the Akron area until 1963 when they moved 7 miles west of Albion. There they continued to farm and raise their family until moving into Albion in 1978.

Randall was a member of the Akron Presbyterian Church until joining Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council and the Building Committee of the Education Unit. He also served on the Board of Harmony Homes and PCA, and was a member of the Sons of Norway.

Surviving Randall is his wife Donna of Albion; 3 sons: Bill (Debby) of Irving, TX; Kurt (Jerene) of Albion, NE; Scott (Kim) of Dalhart, TX; Grandchildren: Jodi Owens (Christian) of Austin, TX; Stacey Hartung (Will) of Carrollton, TX; Tyler Kruse (Adrianne) of Grapevine, TX; Andrea of St. Paul, MN; Kyle of Ames, IA; Katie of Ft. Worth, TX; Alison & Matthew of Lubbock, TX and Molly of Lincoln, NE; 6 great-grandchildren: Cade & Layton Owens, Stone, Grant, Sullivan, & Meyer Kruse, along with many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Burton and Loran; three sisters: Mildred Sanders, Phyllis Nelson and Rhoda Schroeder.

Some of last years group of Peace Corps Volunteers after they COS(ended), they stayed behind and are making a TV show in Bulgaria. Its called Lost in Bulgaria. Even though its in Bulgarian people can get a sense of daily life, music, trains, the beautiful landscape .

For me to watch its fun, beacuse even though my Bulgarian is bad and going fast I understand it for the most part and its nice to hear the music and see Bulgaria again. The group does a nice job of showing local daily activities that we saw on a daily basis in Bulgaria and then others we didn't do/see.

So enjoy- This one they ride the train, milk a cow, kill a sheep, cut down a tree, ride a wooden wheel, talk about President Obama, and you get to see them in Obama T-shirts singing, then a natural rock bridge. Next week they go to a Roma village.

As I should be writing a Ethics case and re writing a paper I will take a break to blog. Since I need something to block out all the homework, yes I'm back to blogging and this time around in a library. I forgot how much I missed school until I came back. I have always said I could be a career student and its so true, the library, reading, homework, testing my brain. So nice to be back and working the old head.

So back this winter there was a new offer of a Peace Corps fellowship program and well I applied and decided I wanted to do it. So I'm a new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. I will be working on my Masters in Organizational Leadership. I found out in June that I got into the school but the Peace Corps fellow in August and I'm super excited to start the program and all it has to offer. My first class is Ethics and Leadership which has been really interesting to start with so many new jobs have start (I know I know I will update this as well) and just got done with that I stopped beacuse of ethic issues or beacuse I was done. So its been fun to read about all these super start leaders and they are just normal people that really work at it. I have gained so many ideas and hope to start working on them now.

Well that is it as of now. I'm a grad student!!! Go Wildcats. I'm not a huge fan of the purple but my 8 yr old self loves all this purple!

The Minnesota State Fair is well like a state wide national holiday to them. I have heard about this event since college when the Iowa people would get in a fight with the Minnesotans who had the best fair. I'm not kidding we had whole meals in the caf over this topic. So when the time came, a couple months before the food blogs where out, my roommate couldn't wait, and the whole town was getting ready.

I just sat back and waited and listen, and watched as my street- well down the way up north really- was closed, opened, re painted, then full of buses. These people do really love their fair, they come in the bus loads. The little area had over 200,000 people a day coming in. 200,000 a day!!!! So after a week of listen all about this food and did you try this one. I went. Sarah and I went out on a Sunday night.

I must say, it was an experience. The amount of people- overwhelming. The food- bring the bank beacuse its $$ but wonderful. The people watching- an anthropologist dream (maybe a grad school paper if and ONLY if I go back for anthropology) the things to see and do! They even have a giant slide while I couldn't wait to go down, I made Sarah go with me- come on you use old burlap sacks!

So here are some pictures to show of this grand old event! Oh and the cheese curds--I think I died and went to heaven! They are really the best so far- and yes I can say that now that I'm a Minnesotan well that and I have had my fair share already

OH and I forgot they make heads of BUTTER out of the Dairy Princess

Sarah and her Milk!

My 1st thing on a stick!!

Sarah with her sweet corn ICECREAM- along with maple Bacon syrup to top it off

Its official Ms. Carnes belongs at the Fair

The slide

YUMMMMMMMMM

!

So after a long non blogging I'm back. I need to beacuse I miss it but also as a new grad student and my new job it will be good to look back. As I'm finding out it could come in handy with things like grad school. Yeah Grad school. So much to get back into the groove to writing again and well tell you.

So updates will be coming and not in very good order for a while.

I was told I needed to do while back home this month, so here it goes. Andrea back at the blogger.

Welcome to Where O Where is AEK state side.

Oh Minnesota! ! How You love love love to snow and when it comes it comes in feet and double. What normal states would have to close everything you stay open and we drive home and to work like normal.

Thanks to miss Sarah I was able to sleep and get home after work last night and then this morning was able yo get out onto the highway. I took all major highways and interstate to get here at 430. It was better then most the wind was what was making it ugly.

Got to work and opened.

I have not been good about updated blogs I will get better and well I Have been busy. I have 3 jobs and just found out I got my first place coming in March. Pictures to come.

Nothing else still getting use to American life again and loving all the friends here and things to do.

So I moved. I packed my car with some clothes and came up. I had to. After a month of waiting to hear back from jobs I knew I needed to come and live to do interviews and be able to travel and find out about the Twin cities. It was scary as ever. But I knew if I wanted to get a job and change I had to up and move.

So after New Years I started applying and just waited. As we talked everyone every 5 years should do this, so they remember what a hell of a time it is. I applied for over 30 jobs but some where at the same places just different locations.

I was lucky and on Wednesday after applying for 2 jobs online I heard back, had interviews and got them both. Wednesday was a great day for me I also meet with the Luther Alumni officer for the area and was great to get back into all Luther things. I also got a hair cut after cutting it myself in Bulgaria. It was a great day!

Thursday I started Training and today I have my first club. Its for an after school program.

So far its been great. After a couple weeks of going day to day, I'm still going day to day but its a little less stressful. Its been crazy getting back into America, I'm still not there and a couple times a day I'm like...what just happened or hun? but its getting better.

So 2 jobs and new home and just going day by day...... welcome to Minn and cold and snow snow snow :)

So I'm a little late to update sorry about that but I need to back track to get to today.

Nebraska. After traveling up to Minn. and around Nebraska. I had a wonderful time at all.

Lucky for me in mid December I wreaked my car. I hit black ice and rolled the car I was taken to the hospital where I spent the night. I cracked a rib, which made the home process harder.

Christmas was a lot of fun while as much as possible. It was great to be able to see all my family from Texas so it was a joy to spend some time with them. It was great to see my new little cousins and play with them. As in all Kruse get together we did some pitch games, which I really did miss while I was gone.

We did family photos for my grandparents 60s wedding anniversary.

So if you are not on facebook or the rest of the world. I'm HOME! Now as of today 2 weeks. After a change of heart, things not working out in the coming up cities I deiced to use some miles and come home. So after 844 some days I finally was home or at least in American.

I had the flight to Chiacgo, where I then found my way to the Hoilday Inn. Which I found yep, want every American would do find Peanut Better M &M and Reeese. YUMMM. Then for someone who just lived where you walk, I went to Target which was close by with a 10 min walk to it, I found yep America.

Not only got some wonderful Dr. Pepper, salsa and chips to watch the Husker game along with popcorn. To bad the jet lag got me, I fell asleep with the remote in one hand and the game on TV. But then woke up at 3am, 4am, and finally at 5am I gave up and headed to the airport.

Nebraska

848 days

After getting on the plane with 7 other souls, I got home home. After a great meal at a breakfast place in Omaha. Wheatfields. After some wonderful french toast and free water with lemon i was ready to go back to target and real do more ten the food area. Next we walked around the outdoor mall and then head home. I got home and was sick and soo out of it.

After surprising my Grandpa and Grandma the next day and see some friends. I have saw most of my Nebraska friends now. As I'm writing this I'm watching the Huskers in the Big 12 Championship game, which as of now its tied.

Some things I forgot about. I'm still working on the whole being home. Its not hard but hard to come home. Not much has changed here so in a way its been nice to get over jet lag, and just go back to high school mood after college mood.

Things I love:

Free water. Its amazing. Not only is the water tap and sooo good. Ice and Lemon. AHHFree refills. The one bad thing over the water is little pop and no extra here its almost too much.Football on TV. After trying to watch it on internet and over the radio so much better on TV and not in the middle of the nightFamily and Friends...of coursedriving. After a couple days not doing it. It came right back. well maybe not the parking....but we will work on thatSwimming. I miss it so much. Water Water WaterTarget. No need for commentonline shopping. so nice to do more then just lookfood. food. yumm how i missed you tacos, beef, fish, cookies, and double stuff oreosCell phone. not really the plans or price but so nice to pick up a phone and call people or text them in the same time zone and no bad skype connetion.Things I don't like

All the bags...people its call totes, bags you re use. I went to target and almost stopped them so I didn't have to pay for them all but then I remembered they where free.train. I know and I have not drove that much but gas money not looking forward to that again.Answering the "now what question"....i just got done with Bulgaria give me one minute to eat this taco please or at least drink some water that is not out of a bottle or full of gas...jet lag. now I'm over it but first week at 4am it was not nicecommercials. not going to lie love my downloaded tv shows so much faster Highlighs so far:

Thanksgiving with family

Husker game time

going to the local bar and drinking with friends

calling and texting people

making an apple pie in the right pan

making lefsa with grandma and old ladies

TV in English and well Everyone I can understand

Next day we went to the next country Luxembourg, but we got to the train station found our way to the hotel. Which by the way so so nice. The bus driver not only asked if he could help, he took our bags on to the bus and then stopped the bus in traffic to stop to tell us to get off and help get the bags off. Umm, missed this the past 2 years. Let alone anywhere how nice was that?!?!!

Well not much happened but sleep, re packing. A nice meal in the hotel since we where outside of town. Next morning Emily went to the airport and I headed to the train station.

I took the train to Brussels. I knew where to good. So I went to my hostel which was not in a good spot. So went to the waffle place, it must of been a special day because the little boy was dressed up and people where walking around with beer mugs. Then went to the stores I remember from the last time, went to the store to get food, went shopping for all the clothes i had been wanting along the way.

Next day hoped on a plane HOME!

So after another train ride we made it to Munich. I had been here earlier with my parents back in June, but loved it. We meet my friend Lukas and meet him where we went to a Beer house to meet his friends. We had some great beer and german food.

Next morning we went to the Dutsch musuem which is like their science museum, which was just okay. The cool parts where the airplanes and ships part. Then we went to the BMW show room, which has some games some cool cars and in the afternoon we watched a guy ride his motorcycle go up and down the stairs in the place. Then we went and walked around the old Olympic area.

That night we went back and got to meet his family where his mom had some wonderful food, then we watch Lukas and his brother play handball, which is a very interesting sport which before I had only seen once on TV in Europe and still don't understand it all but it looks like a very fun game to watch and I'm sure play.

Then we went out to the clubs, which was funny since we will only the ones but we had fun.

Next morning we went to Kolbenz, where Florian lives now and we hung out and went to his favorite bar to meet his friends.

A lot happened during this night, one Shannon last her grandpa and started a whole change of things. As you will later. So she got up and took the train, which is soooo nice to have, oh just hope on the train to the airport. So wonderful we miss this soooooo much!!

So the Next day we went to Trier. Its where Emily went for study aboard. So it was a little bit of home for her and it was super nice to go somewhere new but not for everyone. We found our hostel and then went walking around. It was the start of Christmas markets so they where making and a couple of flower shops where open. Its a super cute and had a lot to offer town. The churches are great along with Roman ruins that are a city gate and more. We did a some more wurst eatting and walked around and people watched.

Germany was over. I love this country. I know I will come back because well it really is nice and fun place to go. I really enjoy not only all the people, but the food and beer is not bad either.

So we went to Luther’s University town of Wittenberg. We deiced to take the train from Berlin in the morning and then come back that day as of that morning, since it was the easiest. We walked by the Luther tree, then onto Luthers house, where it had a really cool museum. It not only had the pulpit that he gave sermons to but also many of his documents, all in German. It was neat to see so many, all the covers where so different with designs and some with people and others words with designs around the text in the middle. Along with a couple that where color. It also had many paintings of him and Katie that I have seen in books and such, so it was cool to see the real ones.

Next we went walking down the town to the Castle church where Luther really changed the world as we know it today with his 95 thesis. The door was burnt in a fire but now they have a door with the thesis on the door that is made of metal. WE also went side the church where Luther is buried. After that we went back to Berlin since it was super rainy and we where wet and cold after walking around. For me it was really cool to see all the Luther things since I took Luther and Lutheranism at Luther, and grew up Lutheran. A lot of Luther has filled my life so it was finally seen part of his. His birth and death house are in other town, which I will have to see on my next trip to Germany. Wittenberg is a really nice town, and I’m sure is a lot of fun in the summer, we just got a horrible day. The museum was really good, in his old house with so much stuff to see and along with great text of it. It would have been nice to know aka remember some German since some of it is only in German and to read some of Luther things but overall it was a great Luther day!

Germany

Next day was our train to Berlin. Emily went to her boyfriends in west Germany and Shannon and I headed to Berlin. After a couple mistakes and the bus going the wrong way, thanks to a very nice and hot I might add man, we found our way to Emily’s friends place for the night.

First we started our wurst count at one and had the all famous Berlin Curry wurst aka sausage for you none wurst.

Then headed to the main area, we saw the Jewish Holocaust memorial and museum. Which is slates of huge concrete blocks different sizes and the area dips so you do not know that the middle is huge ones. Then we went downstairs to the museum which was really nice, had the history of the war. Along with stories of families and people that where killed or survived. This was a great and very new museum. It is a must stop. Some of it was too much for reading and no benches which makes me glad I'm young but really good.

We also saw the Parliament building and the US Embassy. Then went back dinner which we had with Berlin beer, that is favored like apple and raspberry. Which was good.

Next day we saw the Radio tower, Checkpoint Charley. We went to the museum, which was really interesting to see, they had cars and items that people where able to escape to the west in. Its really small, so its hard to read all the information with so many people but then gets better. Then we saw the Berlin wall and went to the new Museum on the SS, Gestop, and secret police.

Praha is one of those cities that I will for sure come back to. It is just pretty with all the old buildings, churches, river, and castle on the bank. The first night we got there, we just found a Bagel place. Now I know for most people this would be sad but for us who have not had a good bagel now in over a year it was wonderful. Then we walked around all the small streets and walked across the bridge it was just so pretty even with the rain. The next day we first hit up the clock and watched the sad little people move around and then the trumpet played by a person on the top of the tower. Then we went to the food area in the square and had sausages. Next we walked to the bridge and went to the castle, we walked around the church and saw the guards. Then we wandered and walked the streets again. Praha is really colorful and with neat medieval houses and buildings. Along the river just adds a charm to it all.

Emily and I walked to a local bar to have some Czech beer which is really good by the way. Next day we went shopping around the streets and then went to see the Lennon wall, where people have put graffiti on the wall in honor of John Lennon.

We then took the train to Krakow. Krakow was a fun city. The first day we went to Auschwitz which you can read about in an earlier post. The next day Emily’s friends from time before in Germany meet up with us. They took us around the old town, and castle which from Warsaw is really old. Pope John Paul was from there so we saw statues of him next to the church in the castle. Then we went to the Jewish section of town for some hot coco and tea. Then we had this local sandwich. Later we went shopping in the market area and was fun to see all the Polish goods. Then later we found a E. Wedel place where we had Hot chocolate which really is like melted chocolate to drink. Shannon was in love with the white with strawberries so we had another. Next day was another train day to Praha or Prague for us Americans.

Next morning we went horse back riding with another couchsurfer host, who we ask before but couldn’t host but asked if we wanted to go riding. So we got up super early and then we went outside of the town. We rode English style, which from what I remember is much harder and painfully then western. It was fun to learn how to do the basics, and also get back on a horse. Since its been a while. It was a really funny experience for all three of us, and was cool to meet some more Polish people. The guy that was my teacher was very funny and keep telling me I was doing a” delicious job”, because it polish you can say that.

Poland.

First stop after Lithuanian was Warsaw. We stayed with couchsurfers again, so after fining there place the first night we hit the bed.

The next day we went to the Warsaw Uprising museum which took up 3 hours to go through. It had a really interesting setup, with an plane, a place you could go through the sewers to see how people escaped. A Bunch of pictures and boards to read, so we were busy. Outside they also have the memorial wall to all the victims. Then we walked around and found a cute little Indian food place for dinner. Then went back to our host. Where we where up to the early hours learning about Poland and drink vodka. I must say Polish vodka is way better then Bulgarian or Russian.

The next morning another of the surfers took us around Warsaw, we want to go to a museum but it was sold out, so since it was super rainy we just walked around the old town and then had dumpling for dinner, which were amazing. YUMMM. One of the things about Warsaw is that the “old town” and much of the city was destroyed during the War as in 98%. So its really not that old and was just built recent on old pictures. So later as in Krakow it was interesting to see the real deal.

We went super fast in Lithuania we went to Vilinus which had a cool KBG museum where you could see the prison and had information on what happened during the Russian years. We then walked around the town which seemed nice. Next day we got on the bus to Kanuas, which was a small town. We came for a museum but it was closed so we just hung out, made dinner, rested, and in a way took a day off. It was nice and really much needed. They also have a country in the town, which is what the second picture is from. We went there for some super yummy pizza.Next morning we woke up and head to Poland via train.

Today we went to Auschwitz. It was a hard day. Its hard to to put into words after all my years of school of studying about Nazi concentration camps and WWII want we saw today. You never get the true idea just how massive the camp of Auschwitz II-Birkenau is until you see it in person. Its huge and it doesn't even have all the barracks, it just seems like it goes on forever.

First we went to Auschwitz main camp, where its small compare to Birkenau. Its all brick since it was first for the Polish army until the Nazis took it over and was used for Prisoners of war, Soviet, Polish people, then later on Jewish people from all over Europe.

You see all the shoes, suitcases with names, birthdays, and where they where from, kitchen pots, and then all the hair the SS kept to make later into fabric. That for me was where it hit you just how many people went threw the camp and never came back. It makes it more real. With all the items, you get a sense of not just the number but the people, what they wore, brought, what they thought was special, fashion sense. Since they also burned or shipped the rest to Germany its hard to think about just how many people where sent to Auschwitz and they had no idea what they were getting into and most of the time never out of.

Later we then went to Birkenau where it was the larger camp, where it is believed to house over 90,000 people at a time. With 300 barracks. There was the woman's side which was made of brick and the inside we saw was just like a hen house but bigger, with straw and rows of beds. We went into the wooden or men's side which where made in Germany for a stable for 52 horse but where made into a house for 400 people, with bunk beds 3 high and on both sides.

Then we went to look at the ruins of the gas chamber. When the Nazis knew the Red Army was coming they started to destroy the evidence along with the chambers, paper work, photos, bodies, person items. You can still get an idea of how the chamber worked.

As a kid I remember hearing stories, learning about it, watching tv shows, movies about WWII. But finally today I got a sense but just a small idea of what it was like. Its hard for my generation to image 1.1 million people being killed in one place. Its also hard to think that it happened in our grandparents time. It was only 60 years ago, which in human history is a second.

After today I think every President no matter from what country should have to come to a place like this to remember what can happen. Along not just to remember all the lives that where lost but also to make sure it ever happens again or even close to it.

As I was walking back to the gate I was thinking about all the veterans I remember back home and talking about the war. Also just all the small number of people that made it and how the rest of their life must of been.

Today was a day I will never forget, the images will be in my mind for a long time. With them all the people who you just see a small number of their photos, shoes, pots and pans.

sign "work makes you free" Arbeit macht frei

wire around camp

Gate into camp

the bunks in the wooden part, was built for 52 horse but was use for 400 people

end of train track, when right to gas chamber

You can see just how huge the camp was.

Russia was my 30th country. As I'm writing this I'm now in Lithuanian, on the bus. After our 3rd trip with EuroLines we are great supporersts and with all the bonus it has been nice aka a working bathroom is ALWAYS a plus. With the Baltic states there are no borders once you get in, so no new stamps.

After this country as of planed I have 6 more new countries so after this is all done the count will be at 39. With 2 I have been on the train for many hours but never off.

Even since my first trip way back in high school I have been in love with travel.

Places still to go as of now:

Poland

Czech Republic

Germany

Luxembourg

Paris

Amsterdam

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

Iceland

Home- December 10th well to MSP

List of Countries

It all started with:

SpainFranceMonacoItalyVatican CityJamaicaTanzaniaVenezuelaBrazilBoliviaDenmarkNorwayIrelandEnglandBulgariaTurkeyGreeceBelgiumMacedoniaAlbaniaMontenegro CrotiaBosnia HungrySwizerlandAustriaGermanyRomaniaUkraineRussiaEstoniaLativaLithuaniaOn the train for hours

Serbia and Moldova

Riga was our next stop. Riga is another great Baltic state. We went around the old town and saw all the beautiful parks with all the fall leaves. They were so pretty. We went up the one Lutheran church to look over the city, along with looking at all the buildings.

They had these really cool bridges where in the park the lovers/couples put locks on the bridge and then throw away the key. Its super cute and they write their names and dates on them. It is a really cool custom.

Freedom staute park with locks

Little bridge with love locks

Riga was super nice. Our hosts where also, they had a cute little dog who loved us for throwing the ball around. We also played card games and watched a crazy french film. Emily got sick so we didn't do much again the second day but it was still nice to walk around.

We got to Tallinn by the most amazing bus ever. Not only did it have a working bathroom - a first- but a coffee machine and WiFi only we got to Estonia. (Later we took at least one more on EuroLines)

We found our way to our host. Who had made us an amazing stew. Then we went to the old town where we walked around. It was super medieval. Also right way the city has a Scandinavia feel to it. Which makes seen since Finland is only 70km over the water.

We just walked around since everything was closed. Then we went back where our host who was a chief made another soup with salmon, which for me was heaven.

Then the next day we went to the Museum of Occupation, which was about when Germany, and the CCCP/ Soviets where in control over Estonia. It was a super cool building along with had history videos that Shannon and I watched. It was super interesting to hear their side of the war. I learned a lot and hope to find some more books on the topic. After this we went walking around again in Old Town. More churches, which we are now have to be up to at least 30 in looking at.

Estonia was a super surprise for us all. We didn't expect it to be so nice, so Euro, so old, or Medieval. Its a beautiful town to walk around and everything is clean. It would be fun to go back in the summer and enjoy the beach and all the parks.

Emily, Shannon, and I at the look out point in Tallinn

Lutheran Church- oldest in Estonia

The Next couple of days we spent it in St. Petersburg. We went to the Peter and Paul fortress, where is the church of all the old royal families members. We walked around and looked at some of the gardens. Went to more churches. One you are able to climb up to the top, all 260 steps to see the city, which was a nice but cold view of the city. It wasn't the best weather but it was also nice where we could walk around the downtown area. So we did. The last day we wanted to go to some of the Museums but they where closed so we just walked around, when over the bridges and it was a nice day.

St. Petersburg is a much nicer city to handle then Moscow. Its way smaller, has a great metro. Can walk to most places. Has a more Europe feel, more people speak English, a lot more tourists or they stick out more here. I really enjoyed the city. It would be a great place to come back when its summer and you are able to enjoy all the parks and gardens.

Peter the Great. Yeah that is his head?!?

Our new Hats. Everyone has amazing hats in Russia

Peter and Paul Church

Winter Palace

The next day we got up and headed to our first museum. It was no small one since it was the world's largest art museum the Hermitage. We spent the whole afternoon there, after waiting in line for a while. We only saw maybe 50% of all the stuff and they only display 5% of it! It was cool as always to see the artwork my mom is always teaching.

You could spend days here just looking at what they have out. And since we are students we got in for free which was a extra special nice to the whole day.

We got up and went to Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat or St. Basil's to look at it and go inside. Its really 9 churches all under one roof with a bigger one in the middle. Next we went to the Kremlin where I went to see the museum there to see the Faberge eggs. Which I remember watching videos about in senior English back in High School. It was amazing to see all the whole royal Russia stuff they have, from huge I mean HUGE silver and gold bowels, plates, cups. With jewels, the old crowns. Where else in the world would the royal crown have not only jewels but fur on it. Along with swords and wedding dress. It was impressive!!

Inside the Kremlin walls where also churches, the bell, offices. That where neat to see as well.

For a later lunch we meet at the G.U.M.; where we went before to look around.

State History Museum, Red Square

Many take pictures in red square

Did you know its 9 churches all in one?

Guard for the unknown tomb

Inside the Gum, mall in Red SquareSaturday

We woke up and went to good old Lenin. It took some time since we had to wait in line, and then go through security. It was a very interesting experience there are so many guards at every corner. You can't talk, put your hand in your pocket, or stop or you will get snapped, pulled, or yelled at. But you go down into the place and walk down stairs to an very dark, all black room to look at his waxed body. Then walk back up and watch past other leaders. Stain and such.

We took the afternoon fast train to St. Petersburg. It was super nice and well short so it was nice, we read watched Anastasia. To get in the mood of the old royal town. Then meet our host and made our way to his place.

Moscow is huge. I meet huge. So its take a while to get around, find things, and just enjoy it all. It is by far the biggest city I have ever been in. It was really interesting. Some things you would see are really Russia. The old ladies in hats and fur coats, the young girls in high heels, all the police and military in fur hats.

Yesterday we made it to Moscow, after not much sleep and an early morning taxi ride to the airport. We took the train into the center of Moscow and started out way to our hostel by the metro.

Its a super good thing we can read Russian, its close to Bulgarian and alphabet is almost the same we get along fine, or it would take much longer. All signs are in Cyrillic.

After a nice hot shower and getting ready for the rain and cold, we headed out to the red square. We hit up the National state museum which wasn't to bad but again everything in Russian. They had some good stone tools and clothes from the 1800's which were neat to look at. Next we walked out to the cold so we headed to the GUM store which use to be the old communistst state store but how has all the high end stores, so we walked around and looked.

Came back and washed clothes and made supper. I forgot how nice it is to have clean, dry (they had a dryer aka only the 2nd time in 2 years) clothes.

Today we headed out to another church, it was cold and rainy so it made today long with the fact that we walked around for over 6 hours. We went way outside the city on the metro. The metros are super nice, they have pictures and marble. Then we went to a convent so more church type things. Last after a quick dinner, we went to the market where yes I bought a fur hat and little Russian doll, everyone was closing so it was hard to find and really buy stuff. Then we went to the Vodka museum where they talked about how it was made, and the history of it with pictures, and a bunch of bottles. Some was in English so that was nice for a change. At the end we had a shot of vodka, mine was honey with pepper it was good.

So far Russia is everything then I ever thought it would be, fur hats, vodka, little dolls, police and Russian military in all major places in even the hats, cold, foggy, onion shaped churches, gold, so we will have to see if it keep it up.

After 27 hours on a train where we got stuck in Moldova for about 10 hours, we finally got to Kiev. After finding our way around the metro, we found our way to the cave monastery where monks are buried underground, out side they have so many buildings we got lost a couple times, they had gold onion shape tops, along with a giant egg made out of Easter eggs.

Then we went to the Chernobyl museum, which was cool. It was all in Russia but it was nice and interesting to see what they did with it. We googled it all after to learn more about it. It such a big deal and interesting to remember about it.

Next we found a cafeteria type place for dinner which was very good, we also found a super fancy coffee place for WiFi and tea for an afternoon break.

That night we went up the hill to look at the churches and walk around. Which we got a little lost but found a main shopping street and eat at Pravts restuant where we had some Ukriane soup and food. All good.

Ladies in the park

Kiev, Center

Next day we went up the hill to the churches to see them in the light, they are bright colors. Purple and blue with bright gold paint as well. The church was the like Bulgaria inside, dark and painted all over in icons.

After walking down a little cobble stone road for lunch again we at the same place because it was soo good and cheap.

Then later that night we had a soup party with our host. He's grandma made us Borscht soup and then ended with Kiev cakes. We also played Nertz which made me think of my Luther girls back home since we loved and played it a lot during spring Senior year. So it was funny to be playing it in English with Ukrainian people with Russian cards.

Emily, Shannon, Anton, and I

Kiev cake

Bucharest, Romania

We made it out of Bulgaria. Not to much hassle with the train. Next day we walked around the village museum, park, old town, and saw the 2nd largest Building in the world, Parliament Palace.

Then today we woke up to rain, so we went to the Peasant Museum and the National Art Museum, walked around an outside market.

We have been staying with a Couchsurfing, who last night taught us some very funny phases that in English are amazing, From What a Chicken, your mothers onions, Go walk a bear.

So far we have been impressed with not only the town, food, metro, and people.

Today is the last day! As of now sitting in my hostel I have 6.5 hours left as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria.

I don't know how or what I'm really feeling still. I left Dren in the fog- well more ways then one. The past 3 days have been super fast paced and full of PCVs time, paperwork, mailing, repacking, more repacking, and sorting. So time has been super busy and full and no time to really process which has been nice. That can be for all the train hours we have ahead.

Which brings me to the morning. We are getting a train to Romania where we will start our Europe trip for the next 3 days. I will update as much as I can with some pictures.

As of now I need to go hang out the last hours before we all head all over the world....more later when it hits me all.

Its also perfect timing since in the morning the 14th, my last day is the same day 50 years ago JFK started this all.....

Fifty Years ago, on October 14, 1960, then-Sen. John F. Kennedy spoke to a gathering of students at the University of Michigan who were waiting for hours to hear the presidential candidate speak in Ann Arbor. On the steps of the University of Michigan Student Union, President Kennedy challenged students to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries, an idea that inspired the creation of the Peace Corps. Please take a moment to hear audio from that historic day and watch a very powerful slideshow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydTaoZ9JSGk about this first year milestone.

Today was my last day in Dren. It was a normal Sunday day. But not really. My house is super clean, I would like to say cleaner then when I moved in. Bags are packed, I might not be able to move with my backpack on (enjoy of travel in winter and no Target near by), things are sorted boxs and bags for the orphanage and other PCVs. Along with a Skype call to home.

It really hasn't hit me or I should say really smack me in the head hit me that I'm leaving for good not just some 10 days trip. I don't know what I feel. Its mostly confusion, its hard to wrap my head around it beacuse for so long I have told friends and family see you soon meaning year not 60 some days. Its also a chapter in my life that is about done and I have no clue where the next one is. The Peace Corps will always be a part of me, along with the all the people from Bulgaria, and a huge part my new family of PCVs.

So as I go to bed tonight- I hopes I can sleep- its my last time in this home and my bed, which is well...amazing, confusing, and sad all at the same time.

In the morning (I hope) I will be off to Sofia where I will meet up with my group that are left to hang out and mostly de process and have some time to still be in Bulgaria but not at site. It will be nice to have time to make last Bulgaria jokes and talk over the past 2 years. Along with plan the next chapters in all our lives, the post Peace Corps.

My last day was full of hugs and dancing crazy to old 80s rock music with a bunch of 4 year old girls. They also sang for me and we colored bears. They don't really understand why I'm there, That I'm American and its different then Bulgaria, that I'm leaving for good, but all in all its my favorite part of the day and I'm going to miss the play-dough, crayons, laughs, smiles, crying, hugs, sneezing on me, blowing their nose on my shirt, hitting me, and the telling me they hate me but one minute later say they love me. I'm going to miss being able to act like a Kindergarten and their love to learn!

As you can tell they LOVE the camera!

Thanks to these amazing kids I have made it the 2 years!!

Today as I was walking home with my camera, my neighbor who just the past 6 months ask me my name, where I was from, what I do, ect (big deal) then asked me to take pictures of him. So I said yes, since I was about to ask him If I could of him as you will see he a super cute old man. His wife and him have a cow that they take out by my house everyday and then come get to milk so I have seen them almost everyday for 2 years. So for me this was HUGE.

So here are some of the pictures I took today and I hope once the weather is sunny to go back and take more. They didn't mind which was amazing in it self.

Today marks the last week in site for me. Along with 10 days of being a Peace Corps Volunteer.

10 days.... I don't even know what to think. It has not hit me at all. I'm sitting here typing this trying to get everything thing done but yet I can't do it. I have been like oh...I can do that next week beacuse well I always have a lot more next week. But now I don't have a next week. I have a until Monday.

Its hard for me to wrap my head around that I'm leaving. I don't know what to say to the kids, I don't know what to say to people who ask me what I'm doing next and truly I don't know what to think in my head. For so long it has been for my friends back home I will see you not in day, months but in years. And for some really good friends and family it has now been years since I have seen them. But now its down to months.

Since I'm traveling it has also not made me think that I'm done, just another trip around Europe but this time I will not be coming back to Bulgaria let alone Dren.

So for now I'm just trying to get my paperwork done, cleaning my place, sorting out all the stuff I have gained over the past 2 years, packing, sending packages home, and soon and need to apply for some jobs back home.

But for the most part I'm going to try to say good-bye this week to many people that have been friends, family, co-workers, and amazing kids to me for the past 2 years. This is going to be hard....Harder then I think...children crying.

So for now I don't really know what I'm feeling, Just trying to get everything done and not stress out to much. We will see how this last week in site goes. But for the most part I'm going to try to enjoy it as much as I can....so for now Enjoying is the goal of the week.

Back to School has started so I'm back in the Kindergarten for a bit longer. So we made more bracelets. Here are some photos of the time and of course some of the kids loved the camera time as well.

This past week I went to our Dentist here in Sofia. Its always a fun time, as he is very funny and loves to always teach me something. This time I learned all about how to find and make sure what a cavity is. Along with how much our jaw force is. He fixed old filling, which was great beacuse it saved me future money and also turned out to be wonderful, since when he was fixing the one the next one broke off after he saw a crack.

Thanks to stress the last couple month I have been clinching my jaw so much that it broke a filling, needless to say I have been working on de-stressing...

It turned out to be an okay day as I was able to find some more baba socks and icons to send home. Along with a little wonderful Subway! Not a bad day.

For now over a month there has been a huge amount of coverage in Bulgaria but now its going worldwide, thanks to what is happening in France with the Romanian and Bulgarian Roma who are forced to leave.

For once American has it right. Here is an article that shows the over side of the ocean view. It also helps that for us we are all mutts, so for the most part it doesn't matter. But over here people are still more worried about true nationalism, even if the Roma people have lived in the countries for hundreds of years.

Latest article in Sofia Echo. Voice of the people

In E.U. Roma Policy Clash, Many Get a Bruising-- NYTRoma Face the Same Prejudices across Eastern Europe--BG In Bulgaria Roma are hated by those who don't really know. In Sofia I always here horrible comments about them, even if they are not around. But then in other places they are just "normal" Bulgarians, blend right in and don't even know they are Roma. I don't really have the chance to work with them, besides children who are now all in the mainstream at my site. But some of the PCVs do, which is one of the main reasons we are here. Some times I feel like its still the 60s in America. They have separate schools, live in separate areas in towns, and most of the time have the worst jobs- cleaning the streets. This will and should be a big issue not only Bulgaria but all of Europe of what they can do for all their citizens.

Article I wrote for the Albion Newspaper last week---

This summer has been full of tomatoes, travel, camps and good-byes.

I will start off with the first one; tomatoes are the heat of summer for me in Bulgaria. I have been waiting all winter for something besides potatoes. To be honest nothing is better than Bulgarian tomatoes, they fight over who has the best, the brightest color, and shape. I have come to find that the crazy no circle shaped ones are the best; that my American view of the perfect tomatoes is well sad, good ones are not perfect red or round for that matter. The best are almost pumpkin shaped and dark pink and they also are grown from the middle of Bulgaria. You might think that I’m crazy but I have seen Bulgarians not buy them if they find out where they are from aka Greece. September is also the best month for tomatoes, they are so juicy and cheap; about 1 leva for a kilogram. (And yes I can also give you amounts for all other food in my local store) My conversations have not changed if you notice from home- Nebraska. This time corn is not the topic but gardens, from cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, the rain, no rain, heat are all daily words I now use.

This July I had a wonderful opportunity to work outside of my site. I worked at the American University here in Bulgaria. I taught creative writing and English for three weeks each morning. With afternoon and evening activities ranging from teaching students how to make an apple pie, which in turn was the largest I have ever made, to arts and sports such as flag football. What made this so amazing was that we had 120 high school age students from 14 countries ranging from Bulgaria, Kosovo, Spain, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Most days I also heard five different languages in my classroom, with some students speaking 4 different ones at a time just to talk in each other’s native language. We were there to teach them but they showed us so much about their countries, their past, their histories, and how bright the future looks for each of them.

Good-byes have started. I’m now down to the last 5 weeks here as a Peace Corps volunteer. In August we had our last conference where my group, B24 met for our last time. It was time to meet, talk over the last two years, think about the future, and say good-bye to each other. It is hard because even if we are separated by over an 8-hour train trip one way from each other we are close and have lived through something that will bond us forever. I also had the chance to go back to my host family site, where I lived the first 3 months, to say good-bye to all the old ladies who cooked and taught us for that time.

During our conference we talked about what we miss about the states so I will share mine:

Family and FriendsFood-- mostly Mexican and steakThe ability to get anything and everything I want in one store or even find it at allDriving a car. Getting in a car, stopping when you want, and just going somewhere. Nebraska football and all other sportsSitting at a baseball game while eating nachos and sunflower seedsUnderstanding what is happening around meSpeaking English and not having to ask if people understand what I just saidPet dogs inside a fence or chained upRiding my bike, swimming poolsRoads that are clean, plowed during the winter, that don’t flood during rain stormsPublic bathrooms, or at least a gas station bathroom

This week marked my first visit to Dren to meet everyone and see where I would be living for the next two years. It’s hard for me to think about it all because time here is going so fast but also it’s been so long since then. So much has changed during my past 26 months here in Bulgaria.

This past weekend I finally had the chance to go hiking in one of Bulgarian's most beautiful places. Rila 7 lakes. We started it off by meeting up in Dupnitsa taking taxis and then walking to our hijia (where we stayed for the night). Then the next morning we got up and started the 6 1/2 hour hiking back and down. It was super foggy so we were worried but then it cleared up on top. We made it just in time before the rain stared to hit, and went back into the fog on the way down. It was super cool to see all 7 lakes, and just the mountains. On the way down we found rasberries and blueberrys to pick.

Overall it was an amazing time with friends and a trip I will not forgot. Along with a good hike for a bit!

On our way backSignsHalf way up and out of the Fogon the very top, can see 2 lakes from this viewrock pile and one of the lakes

This past weekend I was able to take a much needed time for a break to think about the future and after PC. It was short but much needed. Here are some pictures from it all:

The other side, Land, with old oil tank and wind turbines.

Sea Cat

I'm going to miss this while looking out my window...

My sheep and goats with of course the men that look after them

(ok not mine, but they walk by my house twice a day so that makes them mine)

So this past weekend I went back to my host site/families. It was the town sabor which is when everyone is home, singers, pazar, food, and fun at the city center. We went to say our last good-byes to the people that helped us the first three months. So we started at 4pm with our first na gosti (dinner/gathering) by 9pm we where going to our forth, I couldn't eat or drink anything else. The food was so good at all of them that at the end it was too much. Krupnik (host site) is very friendly and the people are warm and inviting. It was hard to think that on the bus the next morning was the last time to see some of these people and town forever or for many years to come.

The good-byes have started, which makes October seem not so far away. Yet this really odd feeling since we have been here for 2 full years and have started almost finished our 3rd August here in Bulgaria. Time has gone by super fast but yet super slow. It was great to see all the babas and see other people that I will remember for years to come. The town is changing as well with new Kindergarten, stores, but most of it has not changed since we lived there.

Host mothers and me

Ivan talkingNadia getting food ready (these tomatoes are amazing)

Peace Corps on meet the press- old school

This is a clip from Meet the Press in the 60s with Director Sargent Shriver

This is why we are HERE!

(these are greg's kids and they LOVE the camera)

something did big happen this week:

my oven now works again- first since may

my light in my kitchen now works again also- first since may or april- so long I don't remember now

the repair man finally came...I can now cook with light and well more then I have been- apple pies to come! Big week here!!

So in normal Bulgaria fashion, Archaeology camp did not work this year. Long story short, the need or better planners and talking between my workers should of happened but didn't.

So Greg had a short camp with his kids and we did some fun activities and went on a field trip.Greg got like 300 Easter eggs so we hide them and some had prizes. It was fun and the kids seemed to enjoy it. So here are some pictures of that. We did some art projects and games outside as well.

Greg and Kasey cleaning up after Greg dropped the whole box

So everyone I would like you to meet Magie. My neighborhood pet aka the donkey.

Yesterday I had the wonderful honor to watch a little bit of harvest happen. Just like home:

These are the joys of living in a small village and being able to watch outside my window or deck.

COS or Close of Service Conference was this past week. It was the official last thing we do as a group. Along with the last time we would be together as a group. This is the group (B-24s) where we have been together from the start. We went to staging in DC and got to meet each other, fly over the ocean, get off a plane into the unknown new country we would start to call home, living and study during PST together, and then support each other for the next 2 years. We keep using the word family, but its true. We are this crazy little family but we had to be, we had Holidays together, lived, cried, laughed, and loved each other. The past 2 years we all bonded. Its an experience that these people understand and most of the world doesn't.Over the 2 years we have gone from 30 to 21 as of now. We are small but that is what I love about us. Each of them have helped me the past 2 years. Which makes it hard to say goodbye.

Jenna and I before our dinner

YD group

John and I (Krupnik group)

We had meeting during the day, were I learned a bunch about after Peace Corps; which will be more and more paper work. Then dinners and we stayed up and talked and had a fun time. It was nice to be able to hang out with the group, we are a small group; which really helps.

I'm really going to miss my group.Emily and I before Dinner