Dream

Dear Tori,

I would first like to say how unbelievably exhausted I am from my travels this past week. Going to the other end of Bulgaria is a huge hurdle. But add the train strike, and a volunteer is left with very little travel options. It's good that I have had ample experience in getting over traveling hurdles, coming from Bregovo and all :) I made my way to Tim's camp to help him with his sports and health camp in Zavet. If you don't know where that is, picture Bregovo (northwest corner) and Zavet is near Ruse (northeast). His students were amazing, bright and clever. They listened and took instructions well. My HIV/AIDS part went smooth. At dinner, the boys were well behaved, and I finally had to sing. I did my thing, but what impressed me the most were some of the boys who performed as well. Despite what life has handed to them, they still DREAM! Everyone knows that I am a sucker for kids, but seeing that made my day. Working with kids I think is the hardest job in the world, and when I see the work that other Peace Corps volunteers do around Bulgaria, I feel a sense of pride that the things that we do here has the potential to make a child's day, even if it is just one. The day was tiresome, but I had a smile on my face because of the kids' enthusiasm.

I finally went to an X Factor concert show, after trying and failing time and time again to organize a day where I can attend. The concerts were usually on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and it is impossible for me to go to Sofia and back on a weekday. Anyways, it was the final results concert and it was on a Sunday, which worked out well for my schedule. I had friends with me there, new and old. It was a once in a lifetime "only in Bulgaria" experience. I met Rado and gave him the plates from America that I had promised him that last day of filming in Burgas. He was nice enough to save me 5 tickets to the concert. As I sat there watching these three amazing performers, I couldn't help but think in my head that I could have been there. This thought goes through my head every time I watch the show. But I have no regrets. Raffi, Bogi, and Sani were amazing. When Raffi won, I was very proud, shed a tear maybe. These kids are following and doing what they want to do, their passion in life. It takes me back to my childhood days when I would pretend to perform and dreaming that one day it would happen...and it kinda did for a second. I'm proud that this show has given someone an opportunity, something that this country, za sujalenie, does not have a lot of. I guess the theme of this blog is DREAM. Sounds corny, but it is what I have seen all this week. Kids dreaming big. Coming from a village that has a lot of apathy and/or pessimism, it is nice to see that dreaming isn't 'dead.' Seeing other volunteers' students has made me miss mine, and I can't wait to teach them and rehearse with them this week. Jesus, I need to stop. Peace Corps has turned me into a big old softy.