March was busy...sorry for the Delay!

So March was a busy month for me. Goodness! Following my last post I had gone to regional village for one of the biggest village kukeri festivals throughout all of Bulgaria. This kukeri festival is considered pagan and it's to bring the end of winter with spirits and what not. Men in costumes are elaborately dressed and dancing with cowbells. It was quite intriguing.

Here's some pictures from that event.




Then the following weekend we had a seminar with one of the EU funded projects in my municipality called the Leader Program. They held the seminar in my village. Which was great. It was like a epiphany for people in my town. For all those PCV's out there. It was like a PDM conference but only in the language of Bulgarian. The PDM conference is Project Design Management. It was interesting. But here's why it was especially good for the people of my village. About 80% of the ideas I had mentioned in my previous 8 months at site...about brochures, creating a logo/crest...website, homemade souvenirs....make your own yogurt...village and cultural tourism just to name a few, my town had laughed probably saying oh...cute ideas Jon but seriously....these are what you're suggesting? Well these highly regarded EU program facilitators came into the meeting and said just about every single one of my ideas. I kept my mouth shut. When one of the facilitators asked why I was so quite, a collegue interjected and said..'because you've stated his ideas already'. It was an eye opening experience for my village. The play makers in my village instantly took notice that I may actually know what I am talking about. And that's when I got busy. Taking note that I have mentioned and that I am on the same mindset as this EU funded program. I would say my schedule is looking mighty busy!

After that I had spent most of my time in the village cause I have English classes. Let me tell you. Things are starting to pick up. I have my one adult class on Thursdays but after a few classes in February, not only did I gain a student but they wanted to have it 2 times a week. PUMPED. That's great! So now it's a Tuesday and Thursday routine from 6-7...but it usually runs till about 7:30. Now I had been having my art classes on Wednesdays but I found out that the kids only have that one day as their free day. So I've made it optional. Instead I've been teaching English every week, 3 classes. First class, is from 2-3. Second and third class is from 3-4. and 4th and 5th class is from 4-5. With the art/environment club from 5-6. I'm really excited about the classes today as my partner school in Maryland has sent me letters for myself and the kids. I spent last week teaching the kids how to form their basic knowledge of questions to write letters. They seem discouraged but they will have my support. They know it. They have all the peices of the puzzle. They are excited about it. Hopefully it will help foster long lasting friendships with Americans with them.





I have also been working on creating a logo for my village. I am very excited about this as I have been working with a bunch of people to grab their input. In addition to this logo I have been asked to make business cards. Working on making a brochure (still in the process)...this is a slow process because trying to make it as cheap as possible and well as visibly enticing. I still need to work on some of the translation.

Here's the Logo. Unfortunately since my town is so small I had to blur the name out for you all.





Then after that...I had a tourism resource exchange in Sofia for a day with other PCV's throughout Bulgaria. This was something I had been helping plan and whatnot. Using each other for resources I find is very important. The ideas and exchanges we got was great. Especially in time for tourist season!

Then onto the next post. Macedonia!