A Chronicle of my Changing Times.

Thankfulness

Holidays are the toughest part of being abroad for me.  Earlier this summer my family called me from a cookout to celebrate my sister’s birthday.  As the phone was passed around to each member of the family I grew more and more homesick.  Normally I don’t get this way – which is not to say I don’t miss my family.  It’s just I try to keep myself busy as possible and focused on my life here rather than dwell on what I’m missing.  This however becomes difficult when you run smack into a holiday which is centered around spending time with one’s family.  I knew this would be hard and thus requested the day off to travel and spend with other Americans, which is what I’ll do here in a bit.  I’ve already spoken with some of them and I know they’re having as hard of a time today as I am.

 

But, not only is today a day of family – it’s a day to take stock of ones life and realize what one has to be thankful for; and I do have quite a bit of good in my life.  Of course, the fact that my family, friends and I are all healthy is wonderful and oft overlooked.  But I’ve learned not to take this for granted.  Nor can it be discounted that this year finds most of them in good spirits and enjoying life.  I actually consider that quite a feat.

 

Personally, my life has changed radically over the past year – and almost entirely for the better.  I’m living the long held dream of residing abroad (specifically in Europe).  Not only that, but I’m doing it in a wonderful place full of opportunities.  I’ve met and become friends with so many people who challenge me in ways they cannot even begin to comprehend.  One of those is with a woman I’ve begun to date.  I’m doing a job that, whilst I probably do not want to do it forever, makes me happy.  And I see the difference I make on a daily basis.

 

My life in Haskovo is fulfilling with dance lessons that I’ve always wanted to take, a wonderful choir, and friends/acquaintances everywhere.  This past evening I attended a play in the gorgeous theater and afterwards headed up to KDK to hear a friend’s band play (before they head to Korea later this month).  I was shocked to hear how wonderful they were and spent the evening singing along with music I love.  One other friend, Tomas, happens to be a sushi chef and had made some for the band.  He made sure I had some as well, thus my first meal on Thanksgiving was Sushi.  Those who know me will find this surprising, but I really enjoyed it.  It’s not exactly ever been my cup of tea and it certainly isn’t most Bulgarians either.  The only ones who had any were those who’ve traveled abroad before. 

 

As I sat listening to great music last night, eating something new and sitting amongst friends I didn’t mind that I was the only American there or that I wasn’t going to have the traditional turkey and such this year (although I would KILL for some).  God has blessed me this past year, I’m very well aware of this.  And today, even though far away from the states and many who I love, I thank Him.

Posted by: mjmarble at November 24, 2005 14:17 | link | comments

A Small Measure of Success

It’s been a while since I’ve posted.  I have definitely heard that fact from a surprisingly wide range of people.  There are excuses which could be made for the lack of posts; from overextending myself with too many activities (it’s an art form few master as well as I), to having a bit of writers block on a post I know I want to make, to peaks and valley’s with relationships with women (although I have to admit I like the view from my current position).  But in actuality – none of that really matters since I haven’t posted and there’s been nothing new to read for a month now.

 

My sitemate Jen gave me some advice earlier this evening that I should post something not having to do with who did what or where.  In general, I agree entries of this type tend to be more than a bit tedious.  Instead, I want to share a bit of the joy and success of my day today.  What’s funny is that it came rather unexpectedly.

 

The day started off on an odd note with one of the women who work in my building banging on my door.  The power to my apartment had been cut off last night twice by fuses blowing.  Given the fact that the box was installed back in the early glory days of the Cold War, the fact that this happens with some regularity is of no surprise.  I’ve learned not to run too many things in my apartment at once.  The problem was last night I wasn’t running very many things when the fuses blew and thus went complaining about it.  The kicker to all of this is that I can’t fix the problem myself since and must call out the school’s electrician every time I need a fuse unscrewed and changed.  The current hope is that the electrician is going to find some long term solution to my problem, ie. rewiring my apartment in some way.   The woman was there to tell me the electrician was on his way over from the school.

 

I was expecting my assistant program director, Chavdar – so seeing her was a bit of a surprise.  He eventually showed up, along with the electrician to work on my problem.  I had a site visit from Chavdar to make sure life is going ok here and to observe me teaching.  After seeing the lap of luxury in which I live, we headed over for one of my literature classes.  I have to admit that I was a bit leery of this class being the one observed since it is my worst lit class (worst being a relative term there that I’m sure many other PCV teachers would gladly switch with me).

 

The class, on one of the scenes from Macbeth, went well enough outside of the fact that most of the students have an older edition of the book I use to teach and thus had a extra passage that is not in my book and thus wasn’t in my lesson plans.  Heck, the infamous Student No. 20 even participated in most of the class instead of causing the usual havoc he does with other classes.  Apparently he likes me and my class.  Ok, I would’ve preferred the two students sitting next to Chavdar hadn’t spent most of the class looking through a muscle car magazine – but I figured that if he pretended not to see them, so would I. 

 

The feedback on my teaching was wonderful.  Chavdar liked the way I engaged the students, their willingness to respond and comprehension of the subject, and my classroom management.  He also told me that my director had glowing remarks for me during an earlier meeting with him this morning.  All in all, it’s wonderful to hear I’m doing a good job here – even if I already knew it.  But this wasn’t the success I hope to remember from today.  Nor was it from the progress in speaking I noted in the 8^th class kids during the game of Charades we played later that afternoon.

 

My greatest joy today came from the last class I taught – my Essay Writing SIP.  I’ve been working with them on the good ol’ 5 paragraph theme, doing my best to drill it into their heads.  It’s difficult enough to learn in American High Schools, let alone here in .  Not only are they thinking and writing in their second language; but they’re learning a completely foreign concept.  Bulgarian Essay writing apparently involves the writer to argue both sides of an issue whilst doing their darndest not to take any position what so ever.  Another Language School teacher who attempted to teach this told me they write in a circular pattern eventually never getting to a point, just ending the essay.

 

Now, I haven’t had as many problems as he has – but I’ve also spent the last 3 weeks working solely on the opening paragraph (State the question, state your thesis in one coherent sentence, state your three supports).  We’ve had great fun with such topics as Euthanasia, Pornography, and Animal Rights.  Today the final topic we discussed was the question of whether or not morals are based upon religion.  After giving them the topic, I gave them 5 minutes to work in groups to discuss and come up with their supporting arguments before the began to write the introduction.

 

What amazed me was that they began to debate the issue in this time.  I’m not talking about an argument but an honest to goodness discussion on the merits of each side without my prompting or guiding the conversation.  One of the keys to being able to write an essay is the ability to think critically for oneself.  This is another thing I’ve been attempting to foster.  But my wonder went beyond the success of this.  You see, the Bulgarian educational system typically encourage doesn’t free or critical thinking.  So what I’m trying to work on goes against just about all their experiences to date.  And to see that happen was a sight to behold and something that makes my being here worthwhile.  It was my personal reward for the day.

Posted by: mjmarble at November 23, 2005 02:06 | link | comments