letter13

Dear Family and Friends,

I was prodded, I was probed, I was stripped of ALL of my decency . . . okay,
okay, maybe I'm exagerating just a bit! I have a "wonderful", grade A,
all-Bulgarian cold, which stinks considering we are right in the middle of
Model School, an experience that can either make me or break me as a Peace
Corps English teacher. :-) A little bit of background info. on sickness in
Bulgaria, Bulgarians FEAR germs. Windows and doors are seldom opened for
fear that the draft will cause sickness and people often drive in un-air
conditioned cars and buses without ever opening a window, while shopkeepers
hang beads and streamers in the doorways of their stores to "keep out the
draft." But, nevertheless, I caught a cold, which can be a cause of worry
for most Bulgarians. Could it be because I walked in the rain two days ago
when I forgot my umbrella?! So, as soon as Model School got out, I informed
my Pre-service Training coordinator that I was going home early.

When I got home, Iva was the only one there because her parents were tending
to the fish shop they own. So, I knew my plans for total privacy and rest
were pretty much shot. Welcome to Bulgaria! Iva was instantly worried
about my sickness, like any good Bulgarian, and she actively tried to reach
her parents, while asking me which Peace Corps number she should call. I
calmed the frazzled child down and went to bed, managing to get some sleep
before I heard a little knock at my bedroom door. So, I ushered Iva in and
she immediately became my own personal doctor, or alien, take your pick.
She tried to give me medicine (I hadn't a clue which type of medicine) and
she demanded that I take the small pill, so I quickly had to hide it under
the sheets when she wasn't looking; she shoved a thermometer under my arm,
insisting that I had a temperature; she brought in juicy sliced peaches that
I had to eat as she hovered over me like a mother hen; and she relentlessly
attempted to get me to go into the kitchen to eat something, something that
she would prepare of course. She is worse than her mother sometimes! So,
as usual, I obliged to nearly every demand.

A while later, after tossing a giggling Iva onto my bed, I layed down
feeling horrible, ready for a good time of relaxation and sleep to bypass my
stuffy nose and scratchy throat. That was when Iva decided that I needed to
look "Hubavo", or "Beautiful", and the "alien abduction" began all over
again . . . I guess I looked pretty bad! As I was laying in my bed, she
braided part of my tangled hair and stuck several barrettes in it at every
imaginable angle. Then, she discovered my makeup bag and, with a devilish
grin, spread body glitter all over my face with a delicate touch of powder,
blush, and lipstick. I told her, "I feel like I have been abducted by
aliens!" and she just giggled as though she understood completely. I have
to admit, I did feel a little bit better by the time she was finished! And,
that wasn't the end of her coming in and out throughout the night to check
on me! Yes, Iva, is my little alien and I don't think I would want it any
other way!

Today, I am feeling a little bit better. I went to Model School, was told
to go home if I needed to, but I'm a trouper. Especially when it means
canceling one of my classes so that I can leave early, I would rather be
there sick than to prevent my students from having a good language learning
experience. And, it proved to be one of my best days of Model School. When
I get back to the U.S., I think this experience will make me a better
teacher. I am and will be working with such LIMITED resources (a hard thing
for a right-brainer like me!) and I am and will be working in a completely
different culture, much of what I learned in College just doesn't make sense
or work here. I am realizing that I need to meet Bulgarian students where
they are at, view much of the behavior and personalities in the classroom as
a PART OF THE CULTURE that I can never change, and I need to be so flexible
and patient, leaving all of my expectations behind. I am not "in Kansas"
anymore, I am living and working in a very different culture that I must
learn to adapt to; a culture in which I must help to improve, but not
change. In America, the second and third grades are my favorite grades to
work with, in Bulgaria, they prove to be the biggest challenge as I strive
to overcome the communication barriers and cultural differences; in America,
I would probably never SET FOOT in a Junior High classroom, in Bulgaria, it
is these children that are already proving to be the most rewarding. I
think I would truly be content wherever I am placed in Bulgaria, teaching
whichever grade.

All week, my third graders have been a huge headache and I, for the first
time, thought to myself, "What in the world am I doing here teaching kids
who haven't a CLUE what I am saying?" There are several behavior problems
in this class and my classroom management strategies don't work too well
when the children don't listen to you because they don't understand a word
you're saying. My limited Bulgarian has worked some, but I was clueless as
of how to handle the common behavior problems of Bulgaria. After the few
doubting thoughts, I went in today and handled the larger problems while
ignoring the smaller ones, and I recieved a break through when I reviewed
the material from yesterday and my 3rd graders understood and remembered
everything. That is when I knew, I can do this and that I am making some
sort of difference in Bulgaria, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. And, never fear, pictures should
be added to my website very soon!

Love Always,
Chantel