So much, So little

Camera? Check. USB cord? Check. Pictures? You know it!

Have I mentioned how pretty it is here?

This is the petting zoo that walks down my street daily.

This is a Ready Mix plant I stumble upon while hiking with my family. Not going to lie, it almost made me cry!

So much is going on, and yet so little to report. I don't know if I have talked about the turkish toilets yet. They are the equivalent to a portable toilet in smell and yet they are far superior because you cant see into the depths of the toilet, and you don't have to sit on anything. However it is likely that you will pee on your shoe at least a little before you figure out control and placement of your feet. Trust the footing. If you have never used one, roll up your pants and trust the footing.

Thursday is when we find out our permanent site placement followed by a counterpart conference where we meet out counterparts. Sunday we travel with our counterparts somewhere in Bulgaria that we will live for the next two years. On Wednesday we will travel back to where we are training alone! It is very exciting and we are all very anxiously awaiting. I think everyone I have been emailing with is pretty annoyed I keep talking about this. I know I would be if they kept talking about this big thing that is going to happen someday...But it is almost here and then you won't have to hear about it again until we get close to our Swearing in Ceremony.

Have you had chicken skin soup lately?

I have, it was not awesome.

Let me say I am sorry for no photos. I brought my camera and cord yesterday but only had time to skype. Then I took out my camera USB cord at home and there it sits.....

• We have been very busy with language training and keeping up with our other tasks but I think that is the whole point.
• Last night I saw an American movie on TV that had Richard Gere and Bruce Willis in it. It also featured a very young Jack Black. It was BAD!!!! I was embarrassed that this movie was so bad that I had never heard of it and yet it made prime time television internationally.
• No part of an animal goes to waste here! I do wish it would stop showing up on my plate. Luckily my family doesn't expect me to eat it all. If they did their expectation would not be met.
• I think I will switch to a mostly vegetarian diet when I get to my site...
• I met the most awesome man the other night. He is a Bulgarian grandfather and spoke great English. I have connected with a fair amount of people in my village but I hope I run in to him again.
• I have been able to skype a couple times with family. Ivy got to see me for the first time on Skype the other day. She didn't really get it, but she loved when I played peek-a-boo with her. She will get it soon enough but then get scared by the auntie that comes out of the computer in two years! ha! It could scar her for life....
• We are a week and a half away from the reality setting in all over again! Permanent site announcement is rapidly approaching and so are the anxiety, excitement and nerves that come with that.
• I have the most amazing host family! They are so sincere and generous. My host mother is absolutely wonderful. They are both such hard workers. I feel very lucky to have them and look forward to continuing to bond with them and visit them over the years.
• I finished the Alchemist. I had it for a couple years and knew I wanted to bring it, but my cousin Sam told me I had to read it before I left. I wasn't able to do that, but felt so inspired after every chance I got to read it. I have loaned it out to another trainee and feel it may make its rounds.

I will try and get the photos up on my blog next time. I do have some from my host family and other volunteers up on facebook!!!

Chickens..

I got stopped by a gang of chickens today in the street. I didn't really know what to do. It was one hen and three roosters. I was wearing sandals so I was a little worried about getting pecked. I decided to go around them, so I guess you could say I am a big wimp because I crossed the street to get around a gang of chickens!

Things are going well. Our language trainer is having good patience with us, and we are slowly but surely developing our language skills. We are only a few short weeks away from finding out our permanent sites and where we will spend the next two years of our lives!!

I am including some pictures of my village. I also added some new photos on facebook. Actually other volunteers did, and my host family did as well. But if you go there you can see them.

Hope you are all well!!

Training

I am here! I am healthy! Things are going great! Bulgaria is so pretty, and although I have only just met my host family they are so friendly and patient with me! I am missing everyone and just wanted to give a quick update. Hopefully soon more will follow!

Much Love!!

Not enough.

Words are not enough. My friends and family have really stepped up and come through for me the past couple weeks. They have dealt with my meltdowns, messes, and even bought me dinner a few times. They traveled thousands of miles to just to say hello and good bye. I appreciate you all coming to my party. I know some of you made big sacrifices to be there. I also want to say thank you to everyone for their generosity. Your love and support will not be forgot. Please all of you keep in touch and write me often! I am so sorry that my thank you cards did not get finished. You will all get a big hug when I get home.

I better go before this turns into an Oscar acceptance speech!

My outline for the next week:

Sunday (mothers day) leave for Philly

Monday meet my group! Yay

Tuesday leave for Bulgaria

Sunday meet and move in with my host family!

Technology

On a good day and when I roll with an older crowd, I am tech savvy. If I am around a younger group or left on my own with my own technological devices, I am slow at best. I really hope there are some good techies to help me in Bulgaria when I get in over my head. I haven't had a day where there has not been a technology hiccup. Thank goodness my sister in law is pretty bad ass and helps me. Of course if you saw me crying on your couch having a meltdown you might help me too. I am hoping that will change when I don't have any other option but to figure it out.

Now they are gone.

The Davis's brought this great sweat shirt and got almost everyone to sign it!

Here is Theresa and her hot dog cart! Thanks T

The Bean and her new favorite "toy"

My wonderful friend Rowena with her daughter and sisters

These two came from Ohio and Florida to wish me well!!

Well the guests came and went, and soon I will too. I cannot say enough great things about my party. My great friends and family really came through and made it a special day. It was everything I wanted, hot dog cart and all.

Thank you all!!