I celebrated World AIDS Day for the first time this year, and I feel like a better person for it. I organized games and activities for the youth in Tryavna, and things went off without a hitch. Originally, I wasn't too excited with the turnout, but even with a smaller group the project went well. The activities I organized integrated socialization and decision-making skills, and HIV/AIDS information in a fun and interactive way. We started with a game called "Hotel Room Key" which required the youth to imagine being at a party, and exchanging "room keys" with people they enjoyed talking to. What most of them didn't know was that HIV was written on some of the room keys, so as they exchanged keys, they were also exchanging the virus. The purpose of the game was to show the youth that if the right precautions are not taken HIV can be spread just as easily.

The second game we played involved using decision-making skills. The youth were separated into two groups and given one senario. The senario involved an armagadeon-type catastrophy in which only six out of 10 selected people could be saved. The youth had to individually and collectively, as a group, decide who would stay and who would go. The characters in the senario ranged from an elderly priest to a middle-aged prostitute to a homosexual architect. The activity was great because everyone had differing opinions, but, ultimately, they had to come to one conclusion. Each group gave their choices for who would stay and defended their reasoning, and those who disagreed with one or two choices supported the final decision. It displayed the best teamwork I've seen with the youth.

The third game we played was called "Sex Bingo". Each person was given a bingo card with questions about sexual health, and they were required to walk around the room and find people who could answer the questions. The first person to finish won a prize, but since person who won is one of the students I trained in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention he didn't get the honors of being the winner. Ultimately, the youth gained valuable information regarding sex and sexual health, so they're able to make better decisions.

Next, the youth played a game called "Condom Volleyball" which has been quite a hit in the past. The game required the students to separate into two teams, and while seated, they had to hit an air inflated condom over a net. The catch was that inside the condom was a myth or fact about HIV/AIDS, so the winning team had to pop the condom and answer the statement correctly. An example of a statement is, "You can get HIV/AIDS if a person with HIV/AIDS coughs or sneezes near you." There were twenty-two different statements ranging from easy to difficult, so the game required a lot of thinking and debating amongst team members.

The final game we played was called "HIV/AIDS Jeopardy". Again, this game required the youth to use their knowledge about HIV/AIDS to answer the questions. This game provided more specific information about HIV/AIDS so the youth learned a lot of facts about the virus. Overall, the youth had fun and learned a lot, and they didn't have to do in a classroom, lecture style setting. The games and activities were interactive, in an open environment, which allowed everyone to freely discuss the topic without fear of people criticizing them.

I have to recognize the people who helped make the event a success. My colleagues from CSRI helped organize and prepare the materials needed for the activities, which in turn took a lot of stress off of me. They made red ribbons, inflated the condoms for volleyball, and helped get out the word about the event. I also have to give credit to the youth volunteers that helped and participated in the activities. Evfcho, Koko, Neda, and Petia always come through when I need help, and without them things definitely wouldn't have gone as smoothly as they did. Finally, big thanks to everyone who made the event a success by helping and participating in the event!

In other news from the BG. Thanksgiving was a time for good food and friends. I went down to Haskovo where my friend Marisa and others prepared an amazing feast. It was also a great cultural exchange because Marisa's counterpart and landlady came with their families, so they were able to experience a traditional America holiday with other Americans. Also, on Tuesday I gave a presentation on the topic Health and Hygiene at the B26 In-Service Training in Plovdiv. That was also a great experience for me because I was able to present some activities and ideas I have done in Tryavna, hopefully to inspire some other volunteers to do similar things at their site. I was able to visit some new volunteers I haven't had the chance to meet before so that was nice too.

Well, that's about it for now. The weather has been amazing for the couple of months, with no signs of winter, but as of today I think things are about to change. It was quite chilly today, so I wouldn't be surprised to see snow and ice within the next week. I'll keep my fingers crossed that we get spared at least until after the new year!

Quotes of the Day:"Look at what you've got and make the best of it. It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." - Proverb

"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible...To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:19, 22 (NIV)

Beats on Repeat:"Real As It Gets (feat. Young Jeezy)" - Jay-Z"Christmas Time Is Here" - Diana Krall

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

This year I celebrated Halloween in my new primary organization, Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration (CSRI), and things went much better than I could've expected. On Monday and Tuesday the children, staff, and I carved pumpkins which went great, and the end product looked nice too. For the majority of children and staff it was the first time they tried carving pumpkins, so everyone was excited to roll up their sleeves and get a little messy. On Wednesday, the children made a variety of different masks for the Halloween celebration, and they helped me create some Halloween-themed mosaic window treatments for the computer lab. For the finale on Thursday I organized a Halloween celebration for children in the community. There were games, food, and a film, and the local news media showed up to cover the event. Everything went off without a hitch and I have to accredit that to my colleagues and the volunteers that came to help, because they implemented the program, I only organized it. Overall, I think the Halloween activities for the week were fun and interactive and everyone enjoyed the experience.

I should also mention that on Thursday we had a little snow pass through Tryavna, which left me kind of disheartened. It is only the end of October so to see snow was not a welcomed sight for me, to say the least. After my experiences from last winter I'm not too enthused about snow this year, let alone in October. All is well though because this past weekend saw sunshine and warmer temperatures, so that helped brighten my emotional state.

So Halloween is finished. I guess now it's on to the next holiday celebration - Thanksgiving or Christmas? Since Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday I haven't decided if I'm going to push to have a Bulgarian celebration for it. I'll definitely talk about it with the children and staff, but celebrating might be a bit much. Personally, I will celebrate Thanksgiving with some other PCVs, so hopefully I'll get my hands on some turkey and dressing somewhere! I'll most likely start putting my efforts towards a Christmas celebration, because if there's one holiday that has to be celebrated it's Christmas. I'll keep everyone updated on how that goes...

Quotes of the Day:"Choose love and peace will follow. Choose peace and love will follow." - Mary Helen Doyle"To be rich in admiration and free from envy, to rejoice greatly in the good of others, to love with such generosity of heart that your love is still a dear possession in absence or unkindness - those are the gifts which money cannot buy." - Robert Louis Stevenson

Beat on Repeat:"Stir It Up" - Bob Marley

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Autumn has officially arrived in Bulgaria, and it has definitely made it's presence known. This morning, and also other mornings during the past month, I woke up to a nice chill in my apartment that made me want to throw the covers back over my head for another hour of sleep. Understand, during this time of year, the sun has stopped greeting me with it's warm, beautiful rays and in it's place is a delightful, brilliant streetlight. I'm not knocking the incandescent beams from the light bulb on the street, I'm just saying that it's not as welcoming as the sluntse (or sun in Bulgarian). I know dragging my comatose body out of bed at 6:30 a.m., without sunlight, to go run might not sound attractive, in actuality it is.

Autumn is my most favorite time of the year. I might sound like I'm complaining about getting out of bed early to run in frosty temperatures, but I look forward to it. I mean, it's not the kind of excitement you get as a child arising on Christmas morning, but it's above looking forward to taking the SAT or GRE that day. You see the pros drastically outweigh the cons to the point that there's no competition. Just the thought of running up the side of a mountain while basking in the hues of yellow and red from the trees is enough to make an insane man, well, sensible. Let's not mention that by the time I finally reach the summit of my run the sun usually decides to make an appearance, which results in amazing colors creating sensory overload for my lethargic brain. Usually at that moment I think to myself that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world. As I write and think about this it becomes abundantly clear that this feeling of ultimate pleasure outweigh the physiological benefits of running. Don't get me wrong, I am truly happy that my heart muscle is getting a great workout and my legs are regaining their strength, but most importantly my psychological state is at peace. I guess you can say that running takes over my body and mind like a drug, and everyday I overdose.

Besides noticing the effects of autumn as I run, I can smell it in the air. Most Bulgarians by now have ignited their pechka (stove) or fireplace, so the scent of Bulgarian pine tickles my olfactory nerves as I go through the ebb and flow of my day. Honestly, I think after I have departed this country the one thing that will always bring my mind back to this place will be the smell of burning wood on a cold autumn or winter's night. Before coming to Bulgaria I didn't recognize the effects of smoke stacks from chimneys, and it wasn't until a friend made note of it that I began to savor this scent, but now I welcome it each time I step out of the door (I must also add that the saw blade I've been hearing outside of my window for the past month marked the beginning of autumn too. It's just not as pleasurable to write about, even though I appreciate the work it's done in preparing the wood to burned.)

So, there you have it. The sights, sounds, and smells of Bulgaria in autumn. I'm trying my best to cherish them now while they last, because in no time the frigid temps of Old Man Winter will clot my pleasurable perception of all those things so lovely.

Quotes of the Day:"The most important office in a democracy is the office of citizen." - Louis Brandeis (Registered American voters, please go out and vote on November 2nd)

"When the end comes for you let it find you conquering a new mountain not sliding down an old one." - Les Brown

Beats on Repeat:John Legend's new album "Wake Up!""Jolene" - Ray LaMontagne

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Today, I've officially served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria for one-year. Looking back I can say that the challenges have been present, but so have the good times. It hasn't been painless, figuratively and literally, but the memories that have been made are priceless. I've battled the agony of rehabilitating a fractured kneecap and the frustrations of trying to learn and understand a culture that was as new to me as walking with two left shoes. But now, I'm here and the satisfaction of completing one year as a PCV brings with it a small dose of pride for which no amount of wealth or material gain can offer. I'm not dwelling on my successes or failures after one year, because I do realize that I have another one to complete, but sometimes in life it's a good thing to stop and smell the roses, as cliche as it might sound.

The longer I remain here the more I'm able to perceive the ordinary things in life that we, as human beings, often time overlook as being nugatory. For me it's the summertime scent of lavender and the sound of trees rustling in the wind as I run along the valley between my town and the next village. It's sitting on the edge of the lake and listening to the murmuring of frogs and crepitating grasshoppers while the sun is setting. It's also the friendly gesture of a wave from the waitress at the local restaurant as I enter the door, and the half-smile from the cashier at the grocery store as I hand her the correct change (FYI: she never smiles). I'm sure years after I've left this place, and I've forgotten the names of people I worked with, I will remember those aforementioned examples, and many more that have and will happen, of the time when simplicity took precedence over the chaos of life.

Quote of the Day:"I believe that to have interfered as I have done as I always freely admitted I have done in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit; so let it be done!" - Excerpt from speech given by John Brown after his conviction

Beat on Repeat:"Philadelphia" - Neil Young

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Sorry, I haven't been keeping everyone updated about the happenings here, so I apologize. Since the arrival of summer and vacation season, I've had my hands busy with various activities. I'm no longer working full-time in the SOS Children's Village, so my duties there have been cut in half. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I organize either sport or art activities in the morning, and in the afternoon I help with computer activities for the childern. I also teach English on the side to a couple of the younger children who are motivated enough to get a headstart for the upcoming school year. There are also the weekly letters to Justin Bieber from a few of the girls that I help translate, which keeps my Bulgarian skills up to par if nothing else!

The other part of my work now involves working in the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration (CSRI). I worked at CSRI last year for a short time, but now more of my time is being dedicated there, because in September it will be my full-time job. At the moment, my work involves searching for funding and writing grants to support a group of people with disabilities. The group performs theatre plays, and also does art projects in the center. Their goal is to be able to buy new costumes for their plays, so that they have to the potential to travel throughout Bulgaria, and possibly Europe, showcasing their work. If anyone is interested in helping this group achieve their goal of buying new costumes and traveling around Bulgaria showcasing their work, please let me know.

I'm also trying to intitate a HIV/AIDS program in CSRI to help educate the youth about the disease. Right now, I'm applying for a grant through Peace Corps to fund the project, so if all goes well I will have the resources I need to start. I need one Bulgarian youth to help me with the project, and it's quite difficult finding young people to help you for free during the summer. Most of the youth that I'm targeting are either working, studying for their university exams, or out of town, or all of the above! I'm not worried, because I'll start the project in one way or the other.

Last week, I spent the entire week at a Peace Corps conference in the really nice Bulgarian town of Vratsa. The conference involved discussing the successes and failures of the first year of service and ways to make the last year go smoothly. It was really good seeing the entire B25 group and being able to hangout. Actually, I don't know if hangout is the right word, because there was a party every single night, and there was no shortage of antics. I'm sure the club we frequented were happy to see the Americans leave at the end of the week, because most of us partied to exhaustion! After the conference I was able to visit my host family in Roman, which was really nice because they were extremely happy to see me. My host mom felt that I haven't been eating enough, so she sent me home with a sack full of food from cucumbers to baked chicken and banitsa. If you don't know what banitsa is, take this opportunity to Google it and learn a little about Bulgarian food!

Quotes of the Day:"There's always an end. But the end is always the beginning of something else. The periods we write into our lives are always provisional, in one way or another." - an excerpt from Henning Mankell's book The Man from Beijing

"People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them." - Epictetus

Beats on Repeat:"On to the Next One" - Jay-Z"Te Amo" - Rihanna

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

From June 3rd-6th Tryavna is celebrating their hometown hero Pencho Slavaikov. As part of the celebration SOS Children's Village-Tryavna held a youth bicycle tournament for the children of Tryavna and other towns in Bulgaria. There were a total of 10 teams, with each team consisting of four participants. Each participant completed four different bicycle courses and a written road safety test. In addition to the individual tasks, each team completed two timed tasks involving puzzles and a bicycle inspection. The tournament was composed of team and individual competitions, with the winners being decided by the lowest total scores.

All of the individual tasks required the rider to maneuver around obstacles. If the rider made contact with an obstacle or placed their foot on the ground they were penalized with a point. After each course the judge tallied the amount of points and marked it on the rider's score card.

All of the bicycles and helmets were given to SOS by sponsors, in addition to the different obstacles used in the tournament.

Each of the four courses were designed to require the rider to use maximum concentration and coordination to complete successfully. A representative from Bulgaria's largest automotive union officiated and sponsored the bicycle tournament.

The written test required each rider to identify road signs, hand signals, and the appropriate actions to take in situations involving other riders and automobiles. There were four different questions and each rider was given two minutes to complete the test.

The puzzle competition was one of two team activities in the tournament. There were four different puzzles for the teams to complete, and they were given two minutes to complete them.

The bicycle inspection was the second of the two team competitions, and also the last activity of the tournament. Each team was given drawings of certain parts of the bicycle and they had to perform an inspection to decide which parts were defective. Like most of the other activities they were given two minutes to complete the inspection.

As a finale, the top five teams and individual riders were given rewards based on the lowest scores. Above, the director of SOS Tryavna is congratulating one of the children from SOS.

Overall, the bicycle tournament was a big success. No one was injured, the weather held out, and the children enjoyed themselves.

Quotes of the Day (In Memory of John Wooden):"Talent is god given, be humble. Fame is man given, be grateful. Concede to self-given, be careful."

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."

"Happiness begins when selfishness ends."

"Your reputation is what you're perceive to be. Your character is what you actually are."

Beat on Repeat:Rocketship - Donnie

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

International Children's Day is celebrated on June 1st in most former Communist countries, and it involves childrens' programs being shown on TV and no school. In SOS, we celebrated by playing games ranging from Playstation 2 to foosball.

Foosball is by far the most competitive non-contact game we play in SOS. In actuality, it turns into a contact sport, because I constantly have to play referee and break up fights that inevitably occur. The kids have an insatiable competitiveness that results in a total dislike for losing. One minute they're best-friends and enjoying the taste of success, and the next they're complete enemies ready to rip each other to pieces because one person let the other team score the final goal.

Playstation 2 is the biggest hit for the children in SOS, because there's only one in the village. The children have computers in their homes so they're able to play PC games, but Playstation 2 games draw all of the attention. I have to set a time limit for the Playstation because otherwise there would be the same two children playing the entire time. No one wants to give up the seats in front of the TV for those games - it's like trying to get a front row seat to a Lil' Wayne concert!

The computer games are usually relegated to the children who don't have the audacity to fight and claw their way for a chance to play the Playstation 2 or foosball. It's a shame because I've spent hours trying to download fun games, only to realize that no one wants to play them. The children that do play computer games want to play internet games such as Sonic the Hedgehog, or spend their time talking on Skype. It's okay, though, because it just makes me realize how disconnected I am from the gaming world. When I was the kids' ages I was just as in-the-know about Playstation and computer games as they are now, so maybe it's a sign that I need to put down the books in my free time and check out the popular internet games. I never thought I would say that, but it's for the kids at the moment.

By the way, I just finished reading two new books in the past two weeks: Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel and The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell. If anyone's interested they are both excellence reads. Martel has to be one of the best writers out at the moment, and my new favorite author. I find it amazing how he is able to write so exquisitely about a topic such as the Holocaust, but disguises it in such as way that the reader isn't really focused on the horrors of that period, but more so, the meanings of life and death. I wouldn't rank it higher than his acclaimed book, Life of Pi, but it's worth reading if you enjoy good literary work. The Man from Beijing is crime novel that pulls the reader in from the start on a long twisty ride, and doesn't let go until the end. In the beginning, an entire village is gruesomely murdered in Sweden, except for three people, which leads investigators to speculate why. Mankell takes the reader from present day Sweden to 19th century China and America to Mozambique.

Well, that's all for now.

Quotes of the Day:"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aseop

"Faith is like being in the sun. When you're in the sun, can you avoid creating a shadow? Can you shake that area of darkness that clings to you, always shaped like you, as if constantly to remind you of yourself? You can't. This shadow is doubt. And it goes wherever you go as long as you stay in the sun. And who wouldn't want to be in the sun?" - excerpt from Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel

Beat on Repeat:Spanish Joint - D'Angelo

Peace, Love, Understanding...

Okay, I'm not really coming home. I hope I didn't make any hearts skip a beat with that statement. I have, however, just cracked open the Black Book, those of you close to me know what I'm talking about, and it has left me full of gratitude that I'm not sure I deserve. I have officially been away from home for more than a year, and it is only upon reading the generous messages and comments that I truly feel grateful for my family and friends. There is a quote of sums up the way I feel - "In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich."

The past year hasn't been easy, but nothing worth having is ever easy, so I'll continue the work that's before me with the same drive and motivation that got me here. It's important for everyone who has ever been a part of my life, whether big or small, to know that you are with me in all that I do and everywhere I go. I echo the words of my friend Eric Artemus when I say that you and I are all participants on this mission too. Whether it be only in spirit you are with me, and for that I am truly indebted.

What else can I say, other than this is La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, and it's truly an impressive work of art. There are so many intricate details inside and out that it's difficult to fathom that this building is actually going to be functional - one day. It's also hard to believe that construction of this church has been taking place since 1882, yes, you read it correctly, and it isn't expected to be finished until 2026 - that's if the money continues to roll in! Overall, Barcelona has to be one of my top five favorite cities. There is so much to see and do, and there's a nice blend of historical relevance and modernness to the city that makes it so attractive. The city is beautiful, the people are beautiful, so what more can you ask for?! :)

I made a short trip to Veliko Turnovo for a couple of days, which was nice because the weather is now warm. The trees and flowers are in full blossom, so the place is very lush at the moment.

Finally, I made a quick trip to Istanbul, Turkey for a few days, and it was amazing. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect in Istanbul, even though I had heard good things about the place, but it exceeded my expectations. Like Barcelona, there is so much to see and do that it's difficult to decide what to do from one thing to the next. The picture above is the Hagia Sophia (pronounced Ayia Sophia) and it was once a cathedral when Istanbul was known as Constantinople, and later converted into a mosque.

If anyone's interested in visiting Barcelona hit me up! Istanbul, I highly recommend, but I don't think either place will disappoint. Both cities offer different cultures and sights that make them attractive to anyone who's interested in traveling and brooding their perspective on the world. If you're interested in seeing more photos from Barcelona or Istanbul, or Bulgaria, check out my Picasa page - click on the link in the right hand pane.

Quotes of the Day:"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand part in awe is a good as dead; his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein

"Where there is darkness crimes will be committed. The guilty one is not merely he who commits the crime, but he who caused the darkness." - Victor Hugo

Beats on Repeat:I Miss You (like the deserts miss the rain) - Everything But The GirlRush Over - Marcus Miller & Meshell Ndegeocello

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

This week has been spring break for children in Bulgaria, so there has been ampul amount time to do special projects. Today I was finally able to tackle the art project that's been on hold for the past month. The project was part of a group of activities I'm implementing in commemoration of Earth Day. Me and some of the kids from SOS painted one of the trash containers in the village in an effort to beautify the area.

My colleagues didn't have enough faith that the kids could draw the pictures for the containers, so I was delegated to take on the task. As you can see I think my initial goal was accomplished, because the drawings came out looking like a child did them.

I tried to setup the activity so that each kid had something to do, instead of allowing there to be a free-for-all of painting. It was setup so that a couple of kids painted outlines of the drawings, while the other kids colored in the spaces. Everything was going like clockwork until one of my colleagues decided to schedule a mountain biking activity next to where we were painting. Most of the kids wanted to ride bikes instead of paint, so I had to recruit some younger kids to finish the job.

After about two and half hours of drawing and painting we called it a day. We didn't completely finish all of the painting so we left it for another day, but overall the trash container looked nice. I was afraid that the painting part would turn into a disaster because the kids can sometimes get rowdy, but thankfully everyone stayed calm for the most part.

Hopefully now the director will allow the kids to paint the other two trash containers in the village, because I think it will add a little character to the place. I shouldn't be complaining, but the village sometimes feels too sterile because it's so clean. Most Bulgarian towns have problems with trash laying around due to littering, including my own, but in SOS it's not a problem. The children pickup trash weekly, and as punishment, so the place looks well kept. Now, I hope my other Earth Day projects go as well as this one.

Quotes of the Day:"Some birds just aren't meant to be caged - their features are just too bright. When they fly away the part of you that knew it was a sin to lock them up rejoices, but still that place where they use to live is drab and dark." - Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption

"Excellence can be achieved if you...risk more than others think is safe, love more than others think is wise, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible." - Anonymous

Beat on Repeat:Why Can't There Be Love - Dee Edwards

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

I've been in-country for a little over 10 months, not that I'm counting, and finally something has happened which I've been waiting for. This morning the air was crisp with the mountain dew and the sun's rays were playing hide and seek above the Tryavna Balkan Mountain, and with that I knew today's run would be a good one. I ran past the usual farmyard with its sheep, horses, roosters, and manic dog, and I began to brace for that infamous smell of manure. On most days it's so strong that I've mastered the skill of holding my breath for about 50 meters without hyperventilating, but today was different. As I approached the concrete electrical tower marking the start of my newfound talent I lost my sense of consciousness to the odor, maybe due to the bloom of the morning. Before I could recognize where my footsteps were landing the scent of manure came to me as a welcoming gesture, like a fist-bump from my best friend or a wink from my next-door neighbor. I wondered before coming to Bulgaria if I would ever find a new norm of essence for the tang of animal feces and today I think I realized it. Now, I don't want this to sound like my most prestigious accomplishment since arriving here, but I must admit that I'm finally beginning to feel accustomed to my surroundings. The cool mornings and pleasant afternoons are massaging senses with bliss, which are making the thought of this past winter truly a thing of the past. Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and there will be peace and unending love in the world, but then again maybe that's asking too much!

Quotes of the Day:"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances and to choose one's own way." - Vicktor Frankl

"Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people, brings happiness." - Harold Kushner

Beat on Repeat:Window Seat - Erykah Badu

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

In commemoration of St. Patrick's Day I decided to do an activity with my English class to teach them about the day. Since Bulgaria does not celebrate the day no one knew what it was or why we, Americans, celebrate it. I showed pictures from the Internet of St. Patrick's Day celebrations around the States, and everyone was really fascinated that the city of Chicago dyes the Chicago River green for the day. I also tried to give them a brief history of why we celebrate, and the meaning behind certain aspects the day such as the shamrock, leprechaun, and the color green. Lastly, we made a poster with shamrocks and hand-colored leprechauns, which was fun because the children were able to use their imagination a little. Hopefully I did a good job at Peace Corps' Goal #2, and the children will remember something about St. Patrick's Day.

Quotes of Day:"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver

"Lack of patience in small matters can wreak havoc in great ones." - Chinese proverb

Music on Repeat:Fast car - Tracy Chapman

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

One of my students really concentrating on his drawing.

The whole group hard at work.

The final product!

Things are starting to look up just as winter, hopefully, is on it's way out. The SOS Tryavna children's parliament has finally gotten some feet and is starting after 2 months of planning and waiting. On Friday, we had a our first election for president and ambassadors of the children's parliament. The parliament is made up of one president and 11 ambassadors, or one child from each house in the village. The children were extremely excited to start the parliament, and they had a really good time electing their own peers to represent them. The most interesting part of the process was the vote for president. When it was time to give nominations for president there were many different names given, but when it came time to vote there was an overwhelming majority for one child. I was very surprised for many reasons, because for one the person elected was a girl, and two, she's very quiet and shy. Bulgaria is a very male-dominated country, and it's very evident by the behavior of the children in the village. The boys try to reign supreme over the girls by bullying them, and usually the girls give in without a fight. So when a girl was elected so lopsidedly, it confirmed a lot of things that I knew but I wasn't seeing. First, you don't have to push your weight around to be respected, and secondly, there is much more gender equality in the village than is given credit for. Going into the election I speculated that the vote would come down to two well-known boys in the village, but as it turned out only one was nominated and he received only 5-10 percent of the vote. I feel like President Obama when he wrote in his second book The Audacity of Hope, "I am robbed of the certainty of uncertainty - for sometimes absolute truths may well be absolute." Overall, I think the experience for the children was a success, and hopefully the parliament can be used to allow them the opportunity to make decisions in the SOS village.

In other news, today Peace Corps volunteers around the world received some really good news from our director, Aaron S. Williams. As of April 1, 2010 Peace Corps is raising the readjustment allowance volunteers accumulate during their service and receive after completion. As of now we accumulate $225 per month, but after April 1st we'll receive $275 each month. If you're inspired enough to extend your service past the normal 2-year assignment into a third year, you'll receive $375 a month towards your readjustment allowance. So for anyone out there thinking of joining Peace Corps you now have an extra incentive to make the jump.

"We can't change the world except insofar as we change we the way we look at the world - and, in fact, any one of us can make that change, in any direction, at any moment." - Pico Lyer

"The present moment is all you ever have." - Eckhart Tolle

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

The final tally for president of the parliament.

The elected ambassadors from each house in the village.

The final vote for president.

Children from one house deliberating over their decision for ambassador.

A group of kids waiting for the final vote for president.

Today is International Women's Day, so I thought I would do my part to recognize this important day. In Bulgaria, like the majority of other places in world, women are being recognized for the economic, political, and social accomplishments made through hard work and sacrifice. In SOS Tryavna, we held a celebration for all of the mothers and female staff members in the village, and we hosted a group of female guests from Gorna Oryahovitsa, a small town in northern Bulgaria. The director gave all of the women flowers and toasted them for all of their hard work. The women's group from Gorna Oryahovitsa also gave a toast, then recited poems celebrating women's achievements. Afterwards, there were refreshments ranging from banitsa to cookies and cake. One of the pedagogues made a Powerpoint presentations also paying tribute to the women of SOS, which was entertaining because most of the women had never seen the pictures.

Well, it's snowing again, so Baba Marta, like Groundhog's Day, didn't necessarily mark the end of winter again. I'm learning just to take each day as it comes and not get disappointed when I look out the window and see it snowing. Maybe one day soon it will stop!

"The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off? How can I?" – Bob Marley, in reference to the gunmen that shot him in his home before a peace rally."If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." - the Dalai LamaPeace, Love, and Understanding...

This is the group of women from SOS and Gorna Oryahovitsa.

The psychologist, is giving one of the mothers in SOS a flower for International Women's Day.

One of the SOS mothers is participating in a Bulgarian tradition by taking a piece of the bread and dipping it in honey.

The director, a lady from Gorna Oryshovitsa, and one of the pedagogues taking part in the Bulgarian tradition.

The traditional Bulgarian round bread and honey, which is given to welcome guests.

If you don't know, which I know everyone does, March 1st is a national holiday in Bulgaria called Баба Марта (Baba Marta)! :) In Bulgarian "baba" means "grandmother" and "Marta" is the word for the month of March. Baba Marta is a tradition welcoming spring, and it is characterized by the colors red and white, and when woven together symbolizes good health. To symbolize the holiday it is customary to give your family, friends, people you're close to, etc. a мартеница (martenitsa), or adornment, made of red and white yarn. The martenitsa is usually a bracelet or tassel, and it is to be worn from March 1st until around the end of the month, or until the first sighting of a stork or budding tree. Once a stork or blossoming tree is spotted most Bulgarians, depending on the region, tie the martenitsa to the branch of a tree, which supposedly gives it good health and good luck. There is an old folk tale about Baba Marta and why the martenitsa brings good luck, but I'll let you research it to find out more. Below are some photos of the different styles of martenitsi.

So with all of that said, I hope winter is truly on it's way out. If Baba Marta is anything like Groundhog's Day we might be in for another few weeks of cold weather. At this point I can deal with temperatures around 32F, but anything below freezing has worn out it's welcome. Gauging by the past week, I think we are in the clear of any more snow because the weather has been relatively nice. On average, the temperatures have been around 50F (10-11C) as a high, and we have gotten lucky on a couple of days with temperatures in the 60s. Although, I feel like I'm jinxing myself because as I type I'm looking at the forecast for the upcoming week, and it's not looking good.

"Focusing your life solely on making bucks shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential." - Barack Obama

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Here is my martenitsa given to me by a colleague.

So after a month of constant sub-freezing temperatures, the weather finally decided to show us a glimpse of what it might be like in spring. This past weekend it was a balmy 44F with sunshine, and the snow almost completely melted away, at least from the streets. I had almost forgotten what my street looks like without being covered by 6 inches of snow. I was able to go for a run for the first time without showing the neighbors my ice skating skills! All of that nice weather was short lived because I woke up to this morning to winter again, a.k.a 3 inches of snow. :(

This past weekend my English club had it's monthly activity, so we decided to go bowling and see a movie. Me and two guys from the club dusted off our bowling skills before the movie, which was really fun and comical. What was also funny is the fact that we went to see a romantic comedy on Valentine's Day weekend. I think we were the only people in the theater not posing as a couple, which resulted in a few stares in itself! We saw the movie Valentine's Day, which featured a star-studded cast, so it turned out to be a good film.

On February 14th, Bulgaria not only celebrates Valentine's Day but they also commemorate the beginning of vine growing season. The day is better known as Trifon Zarezon, and it is the day of vine-growers and wine-makers who are said to be protected by Saint Trifon. Traditionally on this day the men prune the vines while the women prepare a feast, usually of bread and roasted chicken. After everyone's finished pruning and cooking they gather to eat, drink, sing and dance. Many Bulgarians love to make their own wine, and much of the wine made and consumed here is red wine. There is a famous song in Bulgaria that asks the question, "white wine, why aren't you red?"

Well, that's about all since you've had your Bulgarian culture lesson.

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who only dream by night." - Edgar Allen Poe

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

These two guys love posing for the camera. If you're wondering, I do work with other children besides these two!

Koko is showing off his bowling skills, which surprised everyone because he's really good.

It was Evecho's first time bowling, but it didn't exempt him from getting laughed at by us!

If anyone is wondering what the inside of a typical Bulgarian train looks like here it is. It's not very posh, but at least it's warm.

Hi Everyone,

I thought I'd give a quick a update on what's been happening lately. Well, in short, the main event has been the weather. The past two weeks has been unbelievably cold, at least for me, with low temps hovering between -25 - -20C (-14 - -4F) and high temps ranging from -13 - -5C (9-23F). For everyone in South Carolina, and the south in general, you have no idea what those low temps feel like because it never even comes close to being that cold there. Now, I know you guys had a cold spell come through a couple of weeks ago, but that's a warm front compared to what's going on here. I will admit that even though it's really cold, it's also very beautiful here at the moment. The snow is resting on the trees undisturbed, and it hasn't become grimy as a byproduct of cars and pollution, unlike places such as Sofia.

Other than the cold weather everything is pretty much the same as before. Next week I'll start holding exercise classes for the mothers of the village, so I'm interested to see how that goes. Bulgarians do a lot of walking which has it's benefits, but they also have some bad habits such as smoking so I'm trying not to set my expectations too high. Also next week I'm going to start a youth parliament with the children of SOS to teach them the basic concepts of democracy. There are a few children that are very outspoken and enjoy taking lead roles in my English classes, so I'm expecting them to flourish in the youth parliament. Evidently the youth parliament has been tried in the past and it wasn't successful, but as I learned of the details it sounds like there was a lack of organization. I'm optimistic it will work and be successful, so I'm not worrying!

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

The kids love any excuse to take a break from English class. :-)

This a picture of the Old Town from a bridge in the center of Tryavna.

This is the same lake that's near SOS, but now it doesn't really look like a lake.

Here is the town center covered in snow. It's a stark difference between the summer picture (below).

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the extensive gap between this post and the last, but a lot hasn't changed since then. The weather has become very cold and gloomy, which has caused a deceleration in most of my work. The one part of my work that hasn't slowed is my English classes. I'm teaching 8 to 9 English classes per week to the children and staff in SOS, but it's not as time consuming as one might think. I am still trying to advise an English club once a week, but the meetings have become sporadic because of an outbreak of the H1N1 virus. Also, the weather is keeping many people inside and making it difficult to encourage the members to attend meetings. My youth basketball team is currently taking a respite from training because we can't find a proper place to practice indoors. It looks like it might be March or April before we can begin practicing again, which is a pity because the boys really want to practice and compete. It may turn out being a good thing because we still need to find more resources for the team such as basketballs, uniforms, and funding for transportation.

The holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, turned out to be better than I was expecting. I spent the Thanksgiving holiday with Peace Corps friends in northern Bulgaria where we prepared turkey and other typical servings like stuffing, casserole, pie, etc. For Christmas I visited my family in Germany, which was very relaxing. It always feels good to visit them because I'm able to decompress and totally clear my mind, although it always ends too soon. For New Year's Eve I flew back to Bulgaria, mainly because it was the cheapest way for me to fly, and I spent the entire day traveling to my town. I failed to think about the level of difficulty traveling on a holiday and I paid for it. By the time New Year's showed it's face I was hanging by a tread trying to keep my eyelids open. To make a long story short I said hello and good night to the new year!

Now that the new year is here I will try to continue some things that are in progress and start new things. I will continue to teach English, advise the English club, and coach basketball, but I will try to start a couple of new initiatives in my town. I will try to start a new physical activity program in SOS for the children, which will involve sports and healthy life style activities. I will also try to expand the recycling program in SOS to include more recyclable materials, and different ways to use those materials. At the local high school I will try to get more involved in their youth parliament with the idea of influencing more volunteerism in town. In addition to all of that I will begin the task of studying for the GRE. My hope is that I'll be ready to take that test between now and April or May, so that I can begin applying to graduate schools. It looks like I will have a full plate but that's what want, so that I don't have time to think about how much I miss people back across the Atlantic!

Well, that's all for now. Keep in touch with me through Facebook or e-mail because it's always good to hear from everyone back home.

Peace, Love, and Understand...

I am with my brother, sister, and nephews in Stuttgart, Germany during Christmas on the tallest TV tower in Europe, I think. ;-)

I am in Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria with it's picturesque setting.

I am playing with some of the younger kids in SOS before the weather got really cold.

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to give a quick update on what's happening with me here in Bulgaria. Last week, I spent 3 days at a project, design, and management conference in Veliko Turnovo. The conference went really well and now I feel more prepared to tackle larger projects in Tryavna. Veliko Turnovo is a super nice town nestled in the Balkan Mountains, so as you can imagine the scenery was very beautiful. I guess all didn't go well because I ended up bringing a stomach virus back with me, which kept me feeling miserable the entire weekend.

Starting this week my work should pick up because finally the summer holiday comes to a close, and school will begin. There are about 3 different projects that I'm trying to initiate with the help of colleagues, so I'm sure I will have my work cut out for me in the coming weeks and months. This week I begin teaching semi-formal lessons to the children in my organization, advising/coaching a youth basketball team, and organizing an English Club for youth and adults. Finally I'm beginning to feel like I'm doing something that is beneficial for people in my town. Hopefully this momentum will carry me into the winter months, which is exciting and dreadful all at the same time.

School starts today, so it's almost like an unofficial holiday here in Bulgaria. There was a huge ceremony before school welcoming the children back in which the mayor, school director, local soccer celebrity, and others spoke. All of the children gave their teachers a flower which is a great gift, but it's funny because I see people walking with these enormous boutiques of flowers and I know they must be a teacher. It was very easy to feel the excitement surrounding the arrival of another school year, one in which I haven't experienced in a few years!

That's all for now.

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

This is a random picture of the inside of a school in Tryavna.

The flowers on the table are an example of a boutique I was mentioning earlier.

This is the ceremony at the secondary school in Tryavna where the mayor and star soccer player spoke.

Hi Everyone,

I know it's been a while since my last posting, but I've been very busy with my initial work here in Tryavna. The sad part about it is that I'm currently only working in one of the two organizations that I'm assigned to. Since it's still summer and most people, including children, are on holiday I've been working in a social rehabilitation center, where there is seldom time for vacation. Everyday I, along with a therapist, go to the homes of disabled people to provide free rehabilitation. The work is very fun and interesting but also very tiring, because I am constantly going from one place to another. The people are always very nice and show their hospitality by offering cookies, cake, coffee, tea, or some form of refreshment, which I'm learning to accept even though I don't want.

I didn't make a post announcing that I have been allowed to walk without a brace and crutches, but I gave those things up about 2 weeks ago. I've been allowed to walk, but I still cannot run, ride a bike, or do anything too intense. Last Wednesday I visited a physical therapist in Sofia who gave me several different exercises do in order to strengthen my quads and hip flexors, which by the way are weaker than I thought. According to Peace Corps doctors in Washington, D.C. surgery has not been ruled out! In two weeks I will travel back to Sofia for another check-up and hopefully x-rays will show that the patella is healing normally. If not, I've been told that surgery might be required to fix the patella which means an early visit back to the States.

Below I have posted some pictures of Tryavna and the area near my home. At the moment the weather has been beautiful, with temperatures in the high 70s most days. I can tell the weather is starting to change, because I took a hike the other day and the leaves on the trees are starting to show changes. Everyone I've met tells me of the enormous snowfall during the winter, so I'm trying to mentally prepare what's to come!

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

This is a picture taken behind the town hall in the city center.

This is a meadow on the hike I made recently.

A fountain in the town square which is across from the park in the city center.

Straight ahead is the town hall and to the right is the Chitaliste, or cultural center.

This is a lake that is about 100 meters from my home, and that I often visit to relax.

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to let you all know that I am now officially a Peace Corps Volunteer. On Friday I sworn-in with 61 other people as a B25 volunteer. It was a hot and humid day with temperatures hovering around 100F. The ceremony lasted about 1 hour with speeches from the PC country director, the mayor of Vratsa, the US deputy ambassador to Bulgaria, and other people. Despite the weather is was a fun day. It was also kind of sad because I was leaving the Americans that I spent the past 10 weeks studying, training, and having fun with. I also had to say goodbye to my host family who were so patient and understanding of my language and cultural inabilities.

Also on Friday I traveled to Sofia to visit my doctor to have a checkup regarding my knee. Everything went well and I now have 2 more weeks to wear the cast. After that I can begin walking without the cast and the crutches, but I still will not be able to exercise. I have to wait another month or so before I begin some type of rehabilitation program. I'm lucky because my town has all of the amenities I need to begin therapy. I am approved to begin swimming after the cast comes off so at least I can begin some exercise.

Before I go I would like to thank my country director, Lesley, and her husband, Sam, for allowing me to crash at their house on Friday. The pancakes with maple syrup on Saturday morning were amazing!

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

My host mom, Natashka, and me before the ceremony.

Me and my group members from Roman.

My language trainer, Ani, and me before the ceremony.

Hi Everyone,

I know it's been a while since the last posting but things here have been extremely busy for me. The past few weeks I've been trying to prepare for the huge language proficiency test that I took on this past Tuesday. It looks like the coast is clear and on Friday I will swear-in as an official Peace Corps volunteer. I'm actually kind of sad, because now I have to leave my host site and start over again meeting new people and forming new relationships. At the same time it's very exciting because now I will start the work I came to Bulgaria to do, which is to help people.

The past few weeks, in addition to studying Bulgarian, I've been seeing new places, celebrating different occasions, and forming amazing relationships with the locals in my community. Last week, me and my group members implemented our day camp and it was unbelievably successful. There were about 30-40 children that participated and the community chipped in to help us with the project.

On Saturday I will travel to my permanent site, Tryavna, and begin the transition of working without the structured environment of the Pre-Service Training. I'm looking forward to having more time to do things that I want to do, but at the same time I think I'm going to be extremely busy with my work in Tryavna. At least I have a lot to look forward to, because on July 30th I will have my cast removed, and on August 8th I will also travel to the Black Sea for a much needed vacation.

Well, that's about all for now. Once I'm in Tryavna I should be able to update this blog more often, so look for more posts in the coming weeks. I have posted some pictures below of the day camp and a trip I took to a monastary near my town. Before I go I have to give a special thanks to Marina, Pesho, Nasabravka, and Jenni for being so patient the past few weeks while I tried to perfect my Bulgarian!

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Jenni, me and Marina at the monastery.

Pesho and Me

Hi Everyone,

I just returned from Tryavna, my permanent site, and Sofia for my knee re-evaluation. The good news is that I do not need surgery, and I don't have to wear a hard cast. The bad or not so good news is that I still have to wear a soft cast for the next 6-8 weeks. The fracture in my patella is not dislocated, so therefore surgery is not required. Although I can already tell it's going to be a long road back to normal walking once the soft cast is removed, because I tried flexing my knee to put my socks on this morning and it did not want to move. It looks like muscle atrophy has already started in my left leg and it's only been a week. Yikes!!!

On the other hand my visit to Tryavna went great! The organization I will be working for is called SOS Kinderdorf and it is based out of Austria. My future colleagues are very friendly and open to new ideas, so I think it's going to be a nice match. The town is also nicely preserved, and has a lot of historical artifacts and monuments. I actually asked if I could stay there and not go back to my host site, but Peace Corps wouldn't allow it!

That's all for now. Check out the websites for Tryavna and SOS Kinderdorf for more info.

Tryavna:

http://www.tryavna.bg/en/

SOS Kinderdorf:

http://sosbg.org/ENG/index.html

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to give a quick update on what's happening in Bulgaria. On Thursday, I found out that I'll be placed in Tryavna for the next 2 years. I'll be working mainly in an orphanage of approximately 70 children, where I'll be organizing after-school programs, sporting activities, teaching English, and other activities. I will also be working in the municipality and secondary school to organize activities for youth and adults living in the community. I'm pretty excited about Tryavna because it's a tourist town nestled below the mountains in south central Bulgaria. My counterpart is really nice, so I think there will be a lot of opportunities to do projects that I'm envisioning.

On the flip side of things I have bad news. On Wednesday I fractured my left patella playing basketball with children in my host site, so now I'm on crutches. Right now, I'm expected to be in a cast for the next 6 weeks, and hopefully surgery will not have to be performed. In 2 weeks I have to travel to Sofia for a re-evaluation to see if surgery is needed, and if not hopefully I will be put in a soft cast.

Other than that things are going well. Training is still intense, but that's expected. In a couple of weeks my group will be having our day camp for the community youth which should be really fun, at least for them. I am still a little interest to know what my modified role is going to be since I now am using an assistive device! Hopefully next time I'll have some good pictures to post from my permanent site and the day camp.

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

I have uploaded a few pics of Bulgaria and a short video of my living arrangement. I hope you enjoy!

This is a view from a trail that I ran which is also part of a ski slope.

This is a road I ran on in the mountains at the initial training site.

This is an English class in the secondary school that my group visited.

Hi Everyone,

If you don't know I have already made to Bulgaria and my host site. At the moment I am living with my host family in Roman, Bulgaria. Training has been extremely intense trying to balance learning the language and understanding how things operate in Bulgaria. My day is a constant struggle trying to understand my host mother starting in the morning at breakfast and ending at night for dinner. I am not complaining because now I'm actually starting to hear and understand the language to the point in which I can answer certain questions asked of me.

Last night was interesting because me and my host brother went to a local bar to hang-out with his friends, and they all were initially very stand-offish. Then they found out that I wasn't a spy or German here to sabotage their town. It's funny because walking through town is like walking down the red carpet with the exception of paparazzi! Everyone just stops what they're going to watch you pass like you've just arrived from Mars. Every now and then I'll hear the word American as I pass and I can only assume that I was the topic of their conversation. Other than that my time here has been pleasurable. Playing cards with my host sister and studying in the afternoons has been my choice of entertainment for the past few days. My host sister is only 13 and she's great, because she makes sure I am as comfortable as possible. If I need something in town she accompanies me to the store and tries to explain what everything is and how to use it.

So far everything is going well and Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. The infrastructure is crumbling and the economy is not the greatest but the people can't seem to tell because, with the exception of blank stares, they are very friendly and happy. Well that's about it for now on my end. Next time I will try to post some pictures and maybe a video of where I live to give everyone an idea of what life's like in Roman, Bulgaria.

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended my going away party on Friday evening. The support I received and the kind words really meant a lot. No matter where I go I will always carry with me the memories and experiences of everyone I have worked with.

Our dreams and aspirations may take us far home and the road and spaces between may be long, and difficult, but we will always find our path home.

Peace, Love, and Understanding...

Hello Everyone!

If you're reading this you probably know me, but if you don't, my name is Chris Voerg-Jones, and this is my Peace Corps blog. I am currently 23 years old and a graduate from University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Exercise Science. I'll be serving in Bulgaria as a youth development volunteer starting May 18, 2009. This webpage will be primarily used to keep family, friends, and anyone else interested informed about what and how I'm doing in Eastern Europe.

There is a chance that I'll be updating this webpage intermittently, so don't get alarmed if weeks or months past without any new postings. I'm probably still alive, I just haven't been in a position to transcribe my thoughts. So, whoever you are, wherever you may be, please stay tuned!

Peace, Love, and Understanding...