Laptop - yes, Internet - yes, refrigerator - NO

Well..the summer is quickly passing, which is good since I’m not a fan of hot weather (unless, of course I'm riding a motorcycle or scuba diving).

Yeah! I got my computer back, and internet..2 months later; and now my refrigerator broke down..sometimes, I have to admit, I get a little frustrated. Always something doesn’t work, fuses get blown, windows crack and break, there’s no water..there’s just always something that doesn’t work or needs fixed.

On the good side, I really enjoyed the Black Sea and the waves..not quite like the ocean back home, but I had fun. I’m finishing up a small project with a cultural center next week...and I really like the new organizations I’m working with.

I posted a few new pictures under the ‘Tricia’s new pics’ link at the bottom of this blog.

Also, if you currently have my address..please DO NOT USE THIS ADDRESS (that address is for the municipality). I will forward you my new address :)

Still no computer..

So..it's hard to post often, when I've been without a computer since the first of June..and it's amazing what can happen without one. Clean apartment, many fresh ideas for projects have been fleshed out more, I have a lot more contact with friends. I also got a chance to see some great dancers at the International Folk Dancing festival (I cheered loudest for Mexico!)..all the countries had amazing dancers. Portugal really surprised me..very happy music and light on their feet..I also replaced my volunteer work at the Municipality with some great new organizations..I finally made it to the Black Sea (which by the way was a blast..jumping in the waves and diving under them)..but getting a bad virus after wasn't so fun.

I'm excited for the upcoming year here in Bulgaria..many, many new ideas from residents here. It's odd to me, seeing myself progressing from a trainee who found it difficult to say 'Thank you' in the Bulgarian language, and feeling like a frightened schoolkid (never having left the USA before), to now, a comfortable mid-term Peace Corps Volunteer..and yes, I can hold up my end of a conversation in Bulgarian :)

Two more weeks..only two more weeks, and I should have my computer back and running, and I'll be heading back to the Black Sea with a school camp.

LESS THAN ONE YEAR TO GO!!!

So..in case you aren’t on my Skype list, you may not have heard that I lost my laptop in a storm..messed up the motherboard..now, I was originally okay with this, until the very next day, the municipality I work for decided to change their mind about allowing me to go on a hike. Yep, the day before I have to leave, they decide that my work is ‘unsatisfactory’ (apparently I don’t bring in enough $ for projects)..so now, I don’t have a laptop (my connection to the outside world) and I am not going on a hike I’ve had planned for some time. If it weren’t for our MidService Conference with all the other volunteers in my group, I might have lost my mind. But..don’t worry; as I always say, everything happens for a reason. I usually tend to focus more on my Bulgarian friends, but this time, I really needed the break to connect with other volunteers. It seemed to me like a lot of other volunteers also were having difficulties, but I also heard a lot of great ideas and completed projects. As for the laptop that got fried during a storm, well..maybe I had been spending a little too much time on it. I have had a growing list of subjects I want to study (fixing motorcycles and Dive master for scuba diving)..as well as things around the apartment that need cleaned, and organizing notes..by the time I finish with the ‘to do’ list, I should be getting the fixed laptop back. And for the cancelled hiking trip..my program director is coming for a visit to review what Peace Corps is all about with my new counterparts, and what my goals are as a volunteer. The municipality and I seem to be on two very different pages and we have difficulty connecting, even though the residents of the city are open to these ideas..since they don’t bring in money, but instead promote community development.

4TH of July and Mom’s visit

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first..I think my computer’s dead. I came home from my 4th of July party dead tired, and climbed into bed..to be awakened a couple of hours later by a huge thunder and lightning storm. People are always saying to unplug your computer during these storms ..so I got up and unplugged it. In the process of doing this I happened to see my clothes on the drying line outside flapping all around..and once again getting wet. So..I run out and grab then as quickly as I can..still getting completely soaked. This morning I woke up, plugged the computer in, tried to turn it on..and..nothing. This..really..sucks.
So..let me backup to some happier moments on the 4th of July. I had a 4th of July gathering in the city I teach English. We had paper airplane contests, tossed water balloons (my good friend who wasn’t so keen on playing got drenched)..sorry about that Hrisa, had a drawing contest, listened to good American music, ate and had a relaxing day. And to top it off, a good Bulgarian friend of mine, Daisy, that I haven’t seen since almost a year ago showed up! I’m glad that I celebrated the 4th of July here! Many of my neighbors remembered the holiday as well and offered me ‘chestit praznik’ (happy holiday) as I was leaving in the morning.
Okay..and my favorite, favorite visit was from my mom. Just like when I left for the Peace Corps, this was my moms first time leaving the USA. I tried to prepare her before she left, to give her some idea of what to expect. She met many of my good friends and ate lots of Bulgarian food. We talked, and walked and laughed..a lot. I think she saw some of the more trying issues I deal with here. I am very happy and proud of her for coming. The only thing is..I really miss her and America since she’s been gone.

I can’t believe it’s June already..

I don’t often post about the projects or work, besides teaching that I do here in Bulgaria; so I thought I’d give a synopsis of one of the projects I’d like to complete this year.

I cannot repeat enough times how great it is to have a helpful counter-part. We are working together on a playground for a village primarily comprised of the Roma population. They are heavily discriminated against, and the primary school in their village is being shut down this year. There is not a single playground in the entire village, even though many children live there.

I recently contacted a company in the USA that helps build ‘community built’ playgrounds. I was so excited after reviewing their site..and they want to talk over ideas. The idea of the project is to gather the volunteers and they work 5-7 days..it’s intense work, but the entire community really pitches in to create some pretty amazing designs. So..that has been what I have been working on this week, while Niki has been contacting organizations that specialize in Environmental talks for youth and locating a local firm that we might be able to obtain the wood to create the park..and every day we talk over our ideas.

Niki is a great counter-part on many levels. She wants to learn English, so every day we speak a little English. She is one of the few Bulgarians that I have met that really seems to get ‘brainstorming’ and working together as a team. She corrects my Bulgarian, so that is slowly improving. She likes hiking, and introduced me to the hiking group that I will be doing an 8-day hike in the mountains with.

I didn’t mention also..I went on vacation with another volunteer, Felicia. We visited Amsterdam and Belgium (Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp). Oh, it was great. We walked a lot..and saw thousands of bicyclists in Amsterdam, ate great food, drank great beer, toured museums, shopped. I have to say the Belgian waffles in Belgium taste nothing like ours..they were so very yummy. And..i seemed to bring all the bad weather with me. It was chilly, overcast or rainy most of the time we were on vacation. Everyone kept telling us the week before had been beautiful weather. Oh well..I’m used to it. This was my first trip outside Bulgaria, without other Bulgarians. I was concerned with directions, but had no need for concern. Felicia was an excellent tour guide. Just give her a map and she can find her way around pretty much any town. I told her we’d make a good team for Amazing Race..I posted some pictures on the links at the bottom.

I can hardly believe that this Saturday is my last scheduled class to teach English for this school year! Do you have any idea what this means?! This means I have my weekends free!!! I can actually go and visit other friends and volunteers in Bulgaria.

And the best news of all..my mom’s coming to visit. In less that 2 weeks, she will be here in Bulgaria!