All Work No Play

Things are getting pretty crazy here in Bulgaria. It has been quite a challenge to stay focused and to manage such a stressful schedule. Every week there has been a project due, or a handful of out of town Peace Corps functions that I must attend. That mixed with 8 hours of language class can be a bit overwhelming at times. But I must say that the good overcomes the bad and I am truly having a great experience. In less than three weeks I will be moving to my permanent site, which will be a difficult adjustment to say the least. However I do look forward to working and living in my new community. I am very excited to meet the members of my new community which hopefully will become my friends.
Well the weather is certainly making a turn for the worse. It’s raining a lot more and is starting to get quite cold. I am definitely not looking forward to this Bulgarian winter which I will soon experience. I do however have a few friends that are placed in the mountains near ski resorts. So maybe I will be able to scrape some cash together and hit the slopes.
I Went to a large dam last week with my host family and took some great pictures. It is the biggest dam in the Balkan Peninsula. I plan on making a CD with photos, and sending them home around Christmas time. I have taken a lot of great photos since I have been here, so that will be my way of showing you all some of the high points of my experience so far.
Yesterday I took a three hour bus ride to Sofia to play in an annual charity rugby tournament. All the participants were split up in random teams of seven. My team got 3rd place and a bronze medal. I was the leading try scorer on my team so I think I represented America quite well. The proceeds of the tournament went to the Red-Cross. And that money will be used to help the flood victims in Bulgaria. It was a great turnout with many rugby players from all over Bulgaria. Also the French and Swedish ambassadors, as well as the local press attended the tournament. My rugby team will be traveling to Istanbul in two weeks, I however will not be able to attend, but there is always next year.
I hope all is well back in America; I am definitely not in tune with what is going on there. I have not been able to follow up on any breaking news in the USA so hopefully the country is not in complete chaos, and things are improving in New Orleans. I am becoming quite fond of my training site and will definitely miss the people in it when I move away. I can finally communicate with these people and have been going to several dinner parties per week. It is very common to be invited to a nagosti which is a small get together which usually consists of a good meal great conversation and plenty of rakia.(rakia is basically Bulgarian moonshine). I have been studying hard lately, my big language test is less than 2 weeks away. It is mandatory that you pass the test otherwise you will not be up to par with the standards that are set for Peace Corps Volunteers.(no pressure). If anyone has any questions or comments, or just want to say hi, feel free to email me. I get pretty excited when I get emails from home. I really am starting to miss American food. You all don’t know how great you have it. Well before I ramble too much I better get going. Take care everyone
TPEBOP