BLAH.

Dear Tori,

School is in full session, and I have more hours of teaching this year. That's fine by me because I enjoy being busy. I have to say, I have seen a slight improvement in how my students behave and learn this year. I know it might be too early in the year to say this, but I've been teaching the same children for the 3rd year now, and I know their own individual characteristics and how they learn. My younger kids knew things I didn't now they knew. They remembered things and they are participating more. It helps me because I now don't go into class dreading it because they are always excited. As for the older kids, they actually go to class! For me as a teacher, if you try, that means a lot more to me than if you don't go to class but know your stuff. The kids who never went to my classes are now there! I was very impressed and they actually try to do their work, even though it might be all wrong. Teaching is stressful, exhausting, and burns you out. I thought that I would be burned out now that I'm in my 3rd year....but I am enjoying it as if it was still my "honeymoon" phase of my volunteering experience.

This Friday, I was in Sofia to get my flu shot. I have never signed so many autographs in my life. If it made their day, then I am happy. And I also got to get away from the non stop nagostis. I needed to take a malka pochivka s babite i diadovtsi.

There are moments when I am watching X Factor, and think "I could have been there." But getting calls from organizations wanting to help fund projects that I have for my school reassures me that I did make the right decision. Seeing my students try in the classroom because they don't want to disappoint me is the best thing. I chose them over X Factor, but I want them to know that they make me proud. It's amazing how sometimes, the teacher takes on the parent role. I feel like an older brother to my older kids, and an uncle to the younger ones....it'll be tough to leave them. I am already preparing myself emotionally.

With the advice from some fabulous Peace Corps staff, I think I know what I want to do in for my community as one last "thank you, I love you all" project. Stay tuned.

Lastly, it is cold. Already. It's october. Vremeto e gotovo za cute scarves, hats, and jakets....but zima has come early and I am scared of when it really does come. Smisel, BOZHE. One more thing....so I'm singing at a concert for the school tomorrow. My director gave me a song to memorize with my choir. So I learned the song on the guitar, memorized the words, and taught it to my choir. Then I found out from some Bulgarian friends that....it is a communist song. As long as the kids don't know this....Im