Welcome Back! Blog.

Dear Tori,

I am back in Bulgaria. I've been back for less than a week, and it feels like it's been months. I mean this in the best way possible. First of all, words can't express how much I love my fellow b-25 extendees. I was basically the last one out of the airport last Tuesday night because of some lichna karta problems. I was so tired from the trip and I was dreading taking a cab ride to the center and finding a place to sleep. When I walk out of the check point thing, I see some the b-25s! I was so surprised! I honestly was! I did not expect it at all!!! They came and met me at the airport! I love these people and I always will for the rest of my life.

I get back to Bregovo and immediately go to nagosti with my counterpart. Oh the taste of rakia after 3 weeks bez neq. Heaven. Anyways, I told them all about my vacation in America and showed them pictures and whatnot. The next day, I went to school and kissed everyone and greeted everyone. I was scared to go back because I hate attention, but it was inevitable and I had to go. My first class that I taught was 4a, which is my absolute favorite class to teach. After that, I knew something was going on because my counterpart would not let me out of the teacher's lounge. I stay in there with her, and I hear no screaming in the hallway which was a HUGE signal that something WAS going on. She takes me to the sportnata zala....and EVEYRONE was in there!!! MUSIC, SCREAMING, KISSES, HUGS, EVERYTHING all at once and I was overwhelmed, but I kept it cool, meaning I didn't cry. LOL. Natasha goes to the mic and says something and I see a sign that said "To our teacher with love." Almost lost it, but didn't. And then I get up there and I say something in Bulgarian and English and everyone just laughs, and I just thank them from the bottom of my heart because I did not deserve any of this and I know how hard it is to plan things like this. And then I get flowers and this book from the students. And in this book is a letter from every class in the school thanking me and congratulating me. They didn't have to do that. After that, we played the horo, danced a little, and took pictures. I was so excited to go into my classes that day. All the kids wanted to know so many things, and of course I told them everything! No english was spoken in class that day. After school, it was the teachers' turn to celebrate with me. We celebrated, and I received a gramota from the mayor of Bregovo. Also, the teachers collectively wrote a letter to me....it was all very very nice.

I haven't stopped eating, drinking, and going to nagostis since I've arrived....just saying. I love my town and friends THIS MUCH!!! (AS I STICK OUT MY FULL BELLY).

When I made my decision to stay, I never expected to have this type of reaction from everyone. Yes, there are some people who tell me that I should have continued with X Factor. But seeing my kids, my friends, and my colleagues welcome me with such open arms and to see how much I was appreciated, it made me feel secure that I did make the right decision. I will never get used to people thanking me for what I've done to Bregovo. As I look into my last year as a volunteer, I get sad that soon, I am leaving them at the end of the school year. What I've learned from these people, I can never repay. They've taught me how to be a better person. They've taught me how to be vulnerable. And most importantly, I've found that love does exist in the most remote places. I don't want to think about the day when I leave Bregovo. And neither do my students and friends in town. This might sound odd and strange from a boy from California, but I hope that this winter goes by really slow....so that I can soak in all the future memories that I will have with the people of Bregovo.