"Back to School, Back to School , To Prove to Dad I'm Not a Fool"

First of all, that is a quote from the movie "Billy Madison" with Adam Sandler, for those of you who aren't hip to pop culture references. My dad doesn't actually think I'm a fool. I just wanted to clear that up first.

Now that we have that sorted out, it's that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the nights are chilly and the smell of burning plastic is everywhere. That's right, it's back-to-school time. When I was growing up, this was a time of year that I dreaded. The only part I liked about going back to school was the shopping that I got to do beforehand. Now that I'm on the other side of the classroom, it's a completely different story. I welcomed school with open arms after a summer of not having a schedule or a direction.

Like in America, the teachers have to be at school before the students do. I used this time to go through my school books and come up with ideas that will actually keep my students' attention. It's harder than you think. I also talked to some of my colleagues that I hadn't seen all summer. It was nice actually talking to them, for a change. Last year they kind of avoided me because they weren't sure of my Bulgarian skills. This year, however, they're sure that since I've been here a year I MUST be fluent (I'm not) and they talk to me much more. The change is welcome, don't get me wrong, but there are definitely still times when I have to ask them to slow down...and then they just say it louder. Oh well.

I also feel like this year will be a more positive year for me. Not that last year was terrible, I just didn't know what to expect. This year, I know all of my students and I know what I have to do to keep their attention and to get them to work (beatings and bribes...why didn't I think of that last year?). I'm teaching grades 10-12 this year, so I shouldn't have to deal with the crazy shenanigans of the younger students, which I'm very grateful for.

The first day of school came and we had our traditional celebration. The Director spoke, as well as some of the upperclassmen and the Mayor of Koynare. There was also some entertainment: the fourth grade class sang a few songs that were awesomely off-key, but still very cute. Then, the twelfth graders walked with the new first graders through an arch to symbolize...something and we all went to look at the new basketball court that had been built over the summer. It was a nice ceremony and it was good to see my students again. I could tell they were excited to see me (mostly because they all ran over to me when I walked in and gave me hugs) and it kept my attitude positive for the year's events. After the ceremony the teachers had a banquet and a social hour. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better first day.

The first REAL day of school, however, was a bit of a different story. I only had one class and it was tenth grade. I was told that I had them fifth period, so I got there early to go over what I was going to say. When fifth period rolled around, I walked to their classroom and it was completely empty. Not even a single bag hanging off of a chair. So, I asked where they were and I was told that they were in their Physics class and that they didn't have English until sixth period. Awesome. My schedule is wrong for today and who knows about the other days? Oh well, I go back into the Teachers' Room and hang out until sixth period. Sixth period arrives and I go to the classroom and it's barren...again. I go back to the Teachers' Room (again) and tell them what happened and they all tell me to "relax" (I want to take this moment to vent: Please do not ever tell me to "relax" or "calm down", especially when I'm in no way upset. It makes me agitated and it also makes me want to punch you in the face. Thank you.) and that I should just look at this as a break. A break...from all of the work I've done today? I took it anyway and headed to the cafe with some other teachers.

This past week has been much better. My students have shown up for every class and things seem to be going well. I'm pretty excited for some of the stuff I have planned and I hope it will make things more interesting (because, let's face it, grammar sucks no matter what). It's been easy to keep my positive attitude up with things going well and the weather being nice.

Then, today we had our school's holiday and classes were shortened. No one told me and I missed my classes...just like last year. Oh well, I guess some things will never change.

I Get Around

I knew from the beginning that when I got to Bulgaria, I would take full advantage and try to see as much of the country as I could. I feel that halfway through my service I've managed to see more than the average volunteer. There are still some corners of the country that I haven't made it to yet, but I think that, overall, I've done pretty well getting around this country. Traveling around this country is a great many things that make it so special. It's exciting, exhausting, stifling hot, freezing cold, frustrating, and convenient all at the same time. But, above all other things, it's always an adventure.

There are two main methods of transportation for volunteers in Bulgaria: bus and train. The trains are cheaper, more reliable, and (I believe) generally more enjoyable but take longer. The buses are faster, will either give you a heart attack or make you sick (if it's your first time), and are more expensive. So, always take a train. It seems simple enough, right? Wrong. Not every town or village is accessible by train, so there are many cases in which buses are a must. I'm pretty lucky because my village is a short bus ride to a train station, so it's relatively easy for me to get around. Now I will dispense some delightful traveling anecdotes for you.

I remember my very first bus experience during our training. Now, we had been carted around the country by bus before we got to our training sites. But those buses were nice tour buses that had heating and air-conditioning and were just for us, so we all fit comfortably in them. We were spoiled. We had to go from our town of Byala Slatina to a nearby town of Knezha (pronounced just how it's spelled) for a teachers training. Our language trainer, Tanya, had warned us that it would most likely be full and that we needed to get there early to guarantee seats. We had managed to do just that. However, Kevin and I had to take seats all the way in the back of a bus that was only meant for 15, but was somehow holding 25. I was squished up against a window, with my book bag in my lap, and Kevin on the other side of me about to puke at any moment (he had been sick the day before because he had eaten some bad chicken paste). As the bus pulled out of the station and onto the street, it became obvious that paved roads were a thing of the New World and barely existed here. We bumped around for about 20 minutes that felt more like an hour. It was only an added bonus that all of the seats surrounding Kevin and myself were filled with teenage lovers who were eating each other's faces the entire ride. When we finally did arrive in Knezha, it was all I could do to not kiss the ground.

Another bus experience I had was rather recently. I had to go to Pleven to get my ID card and I was returning back to my village by bus. I wanted to stop at a large grocery store before I left so that I could get some different kinds of fruit that aren't available to me everyday. I thought I had timed it all perfectly, but as I was checking out at the grocery store, I realized that there was a good chance that I would miss my bus and be forced to take a train and then a taxi to my village. This would be a blow to my wallet that I didn't want to make. So, once I shoved all of my groceries into my bag, I speed walked then jogged then sprinted to the bus station and was relieved to see an older woman still getting on the bus. I boarded after she did and payed the driver for my ticked. It was instantly that I realized that this bus was not air-conditioned, which was something that I was used to. Then it really hit me. None of the windows could be opened except for the one by the bus driver and I didn't think he would appreciate me sitting on his lap. This realization was terrible for me. There was no ventilation in this bus. The sun was beating in on me and my black tank top (because everyone knows that black is more flattering) and I was dripping with sweat and felt like a turkey being prepared for Thanksgiving dinner. I was, actually, mainly concerned for my groceries. Some of my items were meant to be refrigerated. Luckily, the sun moved to the other side of the bus and didn't bother me anymore and I eventually cooled down. I made it back to my village in one (only slightly) overheated piece and my groceries made it as well. A happy ending for all.

It becomes a real experience when forces of nature have to be taken into account when making travel plans. I know the perfect place to sit on the bus when it's like an oven outside to maximize a cooler air flow. You should only sit in a train compartment with a working window and with younger people during the summer. Older Bulgarians think that the cool air that flows into the compartment will cause you to get sick and die. During the winter, there's no real hope for keeping warm unless you get lucky and your train or (big) bus is heated. The smaller buses never are, so you have to take that into account while you're getting dressed for the day. Wear lots of layers and thick socks. I hope these stories have entertained you and my advice will benefit you if you ever find yourself traveling in Bulgaria.