My life right now....

...is great!

As for teaching, I am half way through my second semester of teaching. Each day seems to be better than the last. I continue to learn new things about this difficult profession. I gain more confidence as I stand up there in front of my 250 students teaching them what I know. Right now I am working with different classes on Poetry, Folktales, and Advertising. It has become more of a creating writing class with me, but they seem to take well to it. It is such an amazing sight to see my "difficult" students (meaning those that never do anything in my class, other than play games on their phone) are actually taking part in my class. On those days, I walk home with a bit of satisfaction that I have done my job well.


As for other things, I am currently working on writing a grant for my school. It is a Small Project Assistant (SPA) grant through USAID. The project consists of updating the current English Library and Media Resource Room. The existing one is quite inadequate for todays standards for developing language skills. Our hope is to get the grant approved for newer books, a computer, printer, projector, etc... It is a strange thought to think that when I was a student, these type of things were already in every classroom without question. But unfortunately, this is not the case in Bulgaria....Hence my project. Grant writing is a difficult process, but one I am quite enjoying. I am learning so much from this experience. I will be able to take these skills back with me when I finish my service. Not to mention, my Bulgarian colleagues also know how to write a grant. They can now pursue other avenues in order to develop their school needs. We are not finished yet, but at least we have the ball rolling.



As for things I have to look forward, srping break is less than a week away for me. I head on a mini vacation (with Matt) to Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia. We will be taking many trains and buses, but will have a chance to see other countries in the Balkan region. The itinerary thus far is as follows. We will be taking a train from Sofia (Bulgaria) to Belgrade (Serbia). Straight away we will be heading to Sarajevo (Bosnia) for a couple days. I am most excited for this city as it has so much recent and unfortunate history. From Sarajevo, we will take a bus to Dubrovnik (Croatia) and spend 3 very relaxing days and nights. Dubrovnik is right on the Adriatic sea. Lets just hope the weather is good for our seaside stay. After lots of fun in the sun we will slowly head back to Bulgaria stopping in Sarajevo for another night and Belgrade for a couple days. The trip should be a lot of fun (and traveling)...and definitely worth it. I will be sure to take lots of pictures.


Upon my return back to Bulgaria, I will have another week of teaching before I head out to London. There I will be meeting up with my sister, Jenny and brother-in-law, Scott. Having been to London before, I am more excited to finally see family. People keep asking me what I am going to do and see there. I just say, "I am along for the ride. It is all up to Jenny and Scott." (So you better plan a rocking good trip..but I have no doubts that you will.)

After London, comes the one year mark of my service on April 22nd and the home stretch till summer in July. But for now, I will enjoy the spring weather and outdoor cafes of Stara Zagora. People watching can take up the good part of a beautiful day...and I look forward to it all. I may even catch a good chess game between the diados (grandpas) in the park. Keep living healthy!

(Note: Pictures are taken around Stara Zagora.)

Its been awhile....

I know, I know. It has been waaay too long.


I have kept you all out of the loop for the past two months. But have no fear. Spring is back...and so am I. I am alive and happy! Please read my latest updates, dated before this post. And I will try to make a better effort to keep my blog updated...

The Rumor is True....

All Bulgarian women are BEAUTIFUL!!!

(Article from Sofia News Agency)

Charming brunette Alice Panikian, who was born in Bulgaria, was crowned the new Miss Universe Canada in Montreal Quebec.

Alice who is 20 years old and stands 1.86 m in height, will go on to compete in the Miss Universe 2006 pageant.

Alice Panikian was born in Sofia, Bulgaria and came to Canada when she was five years old. She is in her second year at York University majoring in English and Communications. She loves to read and write and hopes to become a broadcast journalist.

The young lady earned the nod of the judges with her elegance, intelligence and overall package. She was anointed Miss Universe Canada 2006, defeating 48 other hopefuls Tuesday night.

"It's surreal. I think I'm dreaming," Panikian said, checking her pulse. "No, no, I'm not."

The judges rated the young women on poise, confidence, intelligence, physical fitness, and beauty as they modeled in swimsuits and evening gowns and made impromptu speeches.

Kukeri Fun!

A little bit of Halloween, a little bit of the Castro, and a little bit of Star Wars. This is the scene for most Kukeri festivals in the small rural villages of Bulgaria. This past weekend, I went to one of the biggest and most well-known Kukeri festivals in Shiroka Luka, high up in the Rhodopes. This is a "must do" in Bulgaria.


Now, let me begin to explain. The Kukeri is an important masked ritual of dance in the last days of the winter, just before nature comes back to life. The participants are male only, dressed in sheepskin garments and wearing scary masks and chanove (copper bells) on their belts. (Transdressers and Chewbacha look alikes are also present.) These men dance and sing songs and chants, with the intention to scare away the evil spirits or ghosts which people believed came back to the living ones in winter.


The ritual is a mixture between Christian and pagan traditions and symbols. There is a strong correlation between the event and the peasant life. It is a unique folklore, which can be seen only in Bulgaria. The traditional mask is multi-coloured, covered with beads, ribbons and woolen tassels. The dress too, is colorful and florid once again up to the individual imagination. The heavy swaying of the main mummer is meant to represent wheat heavy with grain, and the noisy clanging of the bells is intended to drive away the evil and sickness.


To experience an "authentic" Kukeri, it seems one must travel some respectable distances. I having had traveled on three different buses in a period of 6 hours, was ready for a good show. And that is exactly what I got.

Happy Grandma March!

So, today is March 1st. That meaning, it's Baba Marta (Баба Марта )! It is probably Bulgaria's most intrinsic holiday because it is purely unique to Bulgaria. The custom of wearing martenitsis (Мартеници) is only popular in Bulgaria. (I guess the backwards head nod is another one of those things that is popular ONLY in Bulgaria as well. At least we can say they have a uniquely different culture.)


Anyways...the holiday is celebrated by giving these red and white bracelets or pins, a.k.a. Martenitsis, to friends and loved ones. The streets are lined with vendors selling these things. They have all kinds of Martenitsi too, some have tassels, some have blue clasps, others have super heros, princesses, football teams and of course Alf (loved by all Bulgarians). The tradition is associated with optimism and anticipation of warmer weather, fertility and well-being. The white is supposed to symbolize a long life and red, health. According to tradition, when you see the first stork or swallow of the year, you are supposed to tie your martenitsa to a tree or bury it under a rock and you will have good health for the rest of the year.

Although there are many folk-legends based around this tradition, the following story is one of the most popular:

Many, many years ago, Khan Isperih left his home in the far away Tibetan mountains and went in search of fertile land for his people, the proto-Bulgarians. He crossed many mountains and rivers until finally he stopped in the land of the Slavs who met him cordially. Slav women, dressed in white, brought him cups of wine and the tables were piled with food, the fruits of this blessed land. But the khan was not happy for he was sick for his family – his mother and his sister Kalina. He sat on the bank of the big river and tears like pearls dropped down his masculine cheeks. His eyes looked in prayer towards the sun and the gods. And then the miracle happened.

A swift swallow alighted on his shoulder, and Isperih told her of his grief. The swallow flew away to the lands from which the Bulgarians came and told Kalina in a human voice that her brother has a new kingdom, that he grieves about her and sends her greetings. Kalina was very happy to hear that and decided to send a message to her brother. She made a nosegay of green plants, tied it with white woolen thread, made some knots on it meaning best regards and sent it back with the swallow.

The bird flew like thunder and very soon was on the shoulder of Isperih again. But after the long journey, its wing was wounded and its bright red blood had tinted the thread. The khan took the nosegay with joy, read in the knots his sister’s greetings, put the nosegay on his breast and the martenitza shone bright. Since that moment, Isperih ordered his people to make a bunch of twisted white and red thread and wear it on their breasts on this day – for health and blessing from heaven.


This happened on 1st of March and the tradition has remained until this day. It is a tradtion loved by all, too. It may seem a bit excessive, but I walked home from school today with about 75 martinisis covering both my wrists. I just kept getting them as gifts from teachers and students alike and I didn't want to offend anyone so I kept putting them on. Although the tradition says that I must keep them on until I see a swallow or stork, or the end of March, whichever comes first, I have decided to take the majority of them off. It is, really, a fascinating custom though. Now wherever you go you see people sporting these things. Little kids, police officers, bus drivers, even the stray cat has one as a collar...everyone!