Playground Opening

Last week we officially opened the new playground in our village! Since March we’ve been working on this project. From writing it, to waiting for the money and to building it all summer, it’s been a long process. I learned a lot more about the Bulgarian work ethic-“hubavi neshta ne stava barzo”-meaning good things don’t happen fast. Right. I think at least a few good things from Americans might’ve happened fast. But this is Bulgaria, and in the end, after all the months, the playground turned out awesome! It is beautiful and the kids love it and the parents love it too! We had a little opening ceremony and about 50 mothers put money together and got me a 14k gold bracelet and a beautiful bouquet of flowers! I was so shocked when they gave me the present! I didn’t expect anything and it was wonderful to feel so appreciated by them.

In about a week I’ll have been at my site for a year. And I feel good about the past year. And I feel so much more knowledgeable, like I actually know what I’m doing a little bit. But most of that new knowledge is concerning the seasonal routine and way of life in the village. It truly takes a full year to understand all the work these people do. They have to plant their fields to have food for the winter. They have to dig up everything and store it to have food for the winter. They have to conserve hundreds of jars of vegetables, fruits and juices to have food for the winter. And they have to chop lots and lots of wood to have heating for the winter. A lot of things hinge on the winter!

And speaking of winter, it’s already started coming! They say it’s going to be longer and colder this year-yikes! But yesterday about 15 kids from the school came and helped me and my landlady chop and arrange all my wood for winter. Done. And I’m so happy! And I hope that none of you ever have to chop wood, it’s not fun.

Also, my best friend here left. She was a Peace Corps volunteer and came a year before me, so she left last week. She’s in America and she’s already told me how crazy it seems there now and how the people are so weird. I guess I’ll have that to look forward to! I’m coming home in December for a little visit, so I hope to see a lot of you then!