Bankia Seminar

Last week I attended a seminar hosted by Peace Corps in a little city close to Sofia called Bankia. So, if I was a little late responding to your emails now you know why. All the volunteers in Bulgaria from my group were there along with their counter-parts. About a little over half of the sessions were useful. We learned about how to work together more effectively, how to find funding, grant writing, and some administrative stuff. Aaaaaa! I get tired just reading it.

When we arrived, my counter-part said, "hey, this is a hospital." Actually it is a rahabilitation center. They had a little gym, with a suana and a mineral water pool. The showers in the bathroom were great. Some of the volunteers said it was the best shower they had taken in a while and one volunteer said he took a shower everyday that week because the shower was so nice.

The most useful stuff that came out of the seminar was in the form of advice from other volunteers. It's amazing what things some of the volunteers are attempting to accomplish. I caught up with one volunteer who has started a band , is teaching biology at the local high school, and is trying to find funding to open a disco. This was not the plan when he moved to his town. This is why I believe you have to keep an open mind when you get to your site and be willing to help all the people, organizations, and firms in town. What may start out as a secondary project can very easily turn into your primary project. I also met another volunteer who is so fed up with her organization that she has broken away and only works on "secondary projects." What you accomplish doesn’t necessarily depend on your experience or know-how, but more so on the situation you have been placed in at your site. I know a very experienced and talented volunteer who has not been able to accomplish anything at her site as of yet.

Every night the volunteers were able to reunite with each other. One night we went to a country bar and grill that not only played country music, but served American food as well. I was going to get the steak, but they ran out, so I got the pork chops. They weren't bad and neither was the BBQ sauce. Another night we celebrated two birthdays and Thursday night the guys went to Sofia to celebrate a bachelor party, while the girls stayed at the rehab center to celebrate the bachelorette party. I think it's funny. When she gets older she can say she had her bachelorette party in rehab.

Sofia was fun. I don't usually hang out in Sofia. It's a big town and a little too crazy for me, but when your with people who know where they're going, it isn't so bad. I had never been to a bachelor party before. We went to a strip club and did all the typical things you do at a bachelor party. It was a little crazy at times, but what happens at a bachelor party stays at the bachelor party, right? We have to protect the innocent...lol...and especially the groom.

I was hoping to get Pizza hut while I was in Sofia, but that didn't happen. The group I was with opted for Indian food instead. This is why I have no money. Peace Corps volunteers have expensive taste. The food was really good though. I hear they actually import the cooks from India. Next time I got to Sofia I am going to make a triple stop; first to Pizza Hut, then KFC, and finally Subway for the ride back.

When you visit my blog feel free to leave comments. It's nice to see who has stopped by. And if you have a blog yourself, it's a great way to advertise it.

Here is a letter from Peace Corps about Peace Corp.

I Need Your Help

Now listen. As soon as you read this I need you to do me a favor. First, don’t look behind you. No matter how much you feel the urge, DON’T LOOK BEHIND YOU. I don’t care if the dogs barking, the cat’s meowing, or who’s calling. There’s no time for that. I have a problem. I’m craving Cinnabon. Now that’s right, you’ve guessed it; they don’t have Cinnabon in Bulgaria. I need you to get in your car, right now, and buy a big Cinnabon and eat it for me. Now I don’t want any of those nuts and things on it. Just take some of that cream cheese frosting stuff and glob it all around. Don’t be afraid to add extra. Then get back in the car and…no, never mind that; I don’t think I can wait. Just eat it right there. Ok, on the count of five. 1..2..5! Go!!!


Aaaah! That feels better already. Are you still here? Go!



P.S. Thanks. I owe you one. Now get outta here!!!

Current Projects

Here is an Excel spread sheet listing the current projects I am working with the municipality to implement.

The main barrier to implementing most of these projects is lack of funding. This is why most days I usually search for funding organizations through the internet. When I find one, I tell my colleuges what needs to be submitted and when they get the information I translate it into English with the help of my tutor; Then I send the application off. This is as about as effective as making cold calls. In other words it's not all that effective, but you never know when you might hit that one. Once I've sent out one app, all I have to do find another organization to send it to with a few adjustments.

http://m.1asphost.com/matyoo/Projects%20Matyoo.xls

A Na Gosti & a Rojden den

Megan, a volunteer from kostenets, came over this weeked. She trained in Bratsigovo. On Friday we hosted a na gosti (guest party) together in my apartment and invited her host family. We served deviled eggs and stuffed mushrooms for appetizers. The main course was roasted chicken with carrots, potatoes, and onions. We also had potatoe salad as side dish and made carrot cake for dessert. They were blown away by the cake. They had never heard of cake being made out of carrots before, but they really liked it. And for alcohol we drank Jack Daniels. It turned out to be a pretty American na gosti as planned.

Saturday we went to a birthday party (rojden den) for a girl at work. I got her wine and a shot glass souvenier I bought at Peir 39 before I came to Bulgaria. They rented out a restaurant and we danced and ate all night. Did the hora of course and learned a new dance called the rechinitsa or something. I think it's there version of the macarena. That one lady that drags me all over the dance floor at occassions like this wasn't there this time; however, there was this other guy that always tries to get me into a dance competition with him, but I'm not interested. He starts dancing around poles and doing extra hip movement. It's kinda scary. I just look away. Sometimes he starts to strip and someone has to stop him. I don't know why he always wants a dancing competition with me, but me and Megan just laughed the whole time.

When they brought out the birthday cake with lit candles, guess what song we sang. "Happy Birthday to you" in english. I thought that was interesting. It's like the mechanical Santa Claus we had out in front of my office building that sang "Jingle Bells." We left the party at around five in the morning, while a few others stayed behind and talked, waiting for the sun to rise I presume. It seems like it's not considered a good party unless you stay out till to see the sun rise. I wasn't gonna make it that long, but I think I did pretty good.

Soundtrack of Bulgaria

Since I moved to Bulgaria, I have had the oppurtunity to listen to a lot of different music, not only Bulgarian, but music from all around Europe that we don't get in the states. From Ukraine, Romania, Greece, Turkey, and on. I am really open when it comes to music and like to listen to a lot of different styles. These songs will be the soundtrack of my experience in Bulgaria and years from now when I stumble upon one of these songs, it will take me back to my life in Bulgaria and bring back the memories and emotions; some of which I have not yet experienced or felt. I thought it would be great if you could listen to a sample of my soundtrack. Below is a site where you can download songs.

http://www.data.bg/index.html?setlang=en

It's in english, but it has many songs that aren't.

If you look to the right where it says "most requested music" that will give you a pretty good idea of what I listen to. Some songs are from America as well. Below are some of the songs I like. Just click the search tab at the top of the Data.bg website and copy and paste the song into the search. If you like it and want more by the artist, type his or her name in the search field and all the songs by him or her will come up. To the left of the song click "http" to listen to a live stream. To download the song directly to your computer, click "dir". If multiple files show up in the search, choose the file ranging from 3 to 8 megabytes. No the titles below are not typos. That's how you spell them in english.

Giorgos Mazonakis is a Greek musician. I am listening to the first song of his below right now. It feels so appropriate. I look out my window at the village and the mountains behind them with the sun setting. It makes me feel like I am in old town Italy. It doesnt matter that the song is Greek and I am in Bulgaria. I don't know what he is singing about, but the style feels so appropriate for living life simply.

Apopse Tha Soneireutw
To Gucci Forema
nikotina

A Bulgarian favorite is Anelia. A lot of Peace Corps volunteers will probably gag when they read this, but I like her.

Nez Naesh
Pogledni me v o4ite
Bavno Umirah
Samo Mene Nqma6

Irina Florin is another Bulgarian artist

Moga

Below is a Bulgarian rap song with Vanko and Irina Florin

Zapazi Ve4erta

Alina & Costi are from Romania

Necasuri Si Suparari(re)