Going to my village!!!

I received my satellite placement this morning. I will be spending the next 11 weeks in a small community (population 1,036) near from Vratsa. I am soooo excited and nervous to meet my host family! The awkwardness of the first dinner will, I’m sure, be great. They do not speak English and my Bulgarian is VERY limited. I’m nervous about giving them my gifts, cross cultural faux-pas, and figuring out basic things like shower times and laundry. I brought pralines from Louisiana, a picture book of America, and a magnet with the Washington Monument on it that also functions as a F/C thermometer. Four other community and organizational development volunteers will be with other families in the same community. My fellow group members are great and I'm so excited to get started!

Bulgarian Mountains

The mountain resort town where we’ve been having our pre-pre service training, is fantastic. This morning, I woke up early for the second time to run to an old ski trail and climb to the top of the mountain with another volunteer. It started raining during our ascent, but the view was still spectacular. Our descent was a bit tricky, but we made it back in time for another delicious breakfast and the first training session. Our days have been full of meetings, interviews, shots, and Bulgarian language lessons. Tonight is our last night before we are transferred to our host families in the satellite communities. There will be a large dinner and a local group will perform traditional Bulgarian dances. Yesterday, we were taught a few basic dances in the front of the hotel. They are performed in a circle with lots of kicks and jumps. I have a feeling that the performance tonight will look a bit more impressive…

Our traveling was largely uneventful. No delays. No bad weather. BUT our arrival was a big deal. I was one of the first to walk through customs control, where I was met by what seemed to be the entire Bulgarian press corps--cameras, microphones, the WHOLE deal. It was super intense. Being interviewed on camera is a surreal experience...especially after 24 hours of traveling....

I have arrived in Bulgaria!! B-26 (I am part of the 26th group of Peace Corps volunteers in Bulgaria) pre-pre service training has begun. We are staying at a mountain retreat outside of Sofia. It is beautiful. There is a waterfall outside my window and snow on the mountains.

Less than a week

Sorry for the long delay between posts. I've been busy tying up my volunteer job in DC, saying goodbyes to friends and family, and making my way back to Louisiana. The past two months have been so great. But, now that I've said most of my goodbyes, bought everything on my packing list, visited the dentist, and even ordered Mother and Father's Day gifts for my parents, I'm starting to get anxious.

It's an odd feeling--I have 6 days to spend doing whatever else I need to do before I leave the country for 27 months and I'm a bit at a loss. I'll read a few chapters of Bulgarian history, then decide to put all my clothes in separate ziploc bags, stop part way through and make language flashcards, then give up and sit by the pool. I keep imagining what it will be like, but I have no idea. I know I'll be spending the first few months living with a Bulgarian family in a town near Vratsa (in the northwest of the country) for technical and language training, but I won't find out until late June/early July what I'll really be doing or where I'll be living for the next two years.

Packing two 50 lb suitcases for two years without really knowing what to expect is a challenge. Do I need a suit or hiking boots? Are waterproof pants really necessary or would another pair of flats for work be more appropriate? I have yet to get down to the acceptable weight for either bag on my trial packs, but I'm not too concerned...I have time to sort out a few pairs of shoes and remove some books.

Motivation Statement

I thought it might be interesting to share the motivation statement I wrote for my Peace Corps application...

My unique childhood, educational background, and passion for public service all contribute to my desire to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. I moved 12 times before I was 16 years old. I spent summers traveling Eastern Europe, living in Romania, Slovakia, and Georgia. In college, I studied international relations and interned during the summers at aid organizations in Tbilisi. This exposure gave me a glimpse of the vast inequities granted through birth, of the fascinating differences among cultures, and of the striking similarities within humanity. In the Peace Corps, I will get to live it: experiencing a new place, observing and participating in a different culture, interacting with people of different backgrounds and worldviews, and, most importantly, serving the crushing needs of people most deserving of help. I know there are many ways to see the world and help people in need; but, I believe the Peace Corps will challenge me intellectually, emotionally, and physically like no other experience, save war, possibly could. The interaction I have with young soldiers en route to war in Iraq and Afghanistan at my current job was the final impetus that motivated me to apply. I hold their commitment to service, mental discipline, and dedication to mission in great esteem. War, however, brings with it great hardship and pain. In becoming a Peace Corps volunteer I am seeking, in the words of William James, the “Moral Equivalent of War,” (1906). My educational background in international relations provides a strong knowledge base for grasping the situation of people living in developing countries. In college, I was taught about countries in terms of production possibilities, military alliances, and political atmospheres. Now, I seek a deeper understanding of the world through experience and observation. During my internships and travels abroad, I have felt myself repeatedly drawn to the struggles of everyday people. While working with USAID and ABA/CEELI in Georgia I saw the difference foreign aid can make in the lives of others. Although I believe that the role of development assistance organizations provide is important, I want to participate in helping others at a hands-on, local level. Through daily interactions and service I hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives, create lasting friendships, and learn valuable lessons for my return. Upon return, I intend to further my academic study of international relations with a focus on either conflict resolution or law. My future life plan is a career in academics or the public sector that will reflect what I learned during my Peace Corps experience and serve to make the world a more tolerant, understanding, and peaceful place.

Peace Corps Adventure Begins! (almost)

Finally! After more than a year of waiting (and the accompanying angst!) I received my invite to become a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria. I will begin pre-service training in Bulgaria May 12, 2010. Dates of service 24 July 2010-24 July 2012.

My job title is: Community Development Worker-Business Advising. I can't wait.