Celebrating America and 1 Year in Bulgaria

The beginning of July was very busy. The 4th was on a Monday and then on the 5th we had to report for a conference in Tryavna, a village in the northern part of the Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), held in honor of completing our first year of service. 


The 4th of July

For the 4th of July some of us volunteers got together in a village in the northeast region of Bulgaria for some celebratory camping and fire cooking. We decided it would be cool to hike to the Thracian Rock/Tree Circle outside of town and camp inside it. I'm not entirely sure of its original purpose, but it looks cool.

Edge of the rock/tree circle, with uprooted rocks

a view from the top of the circle

a break in the circle that I cam only assume used to be a road/entrance

We bought food to bbq and some drinks on our way out of town and lugged it all the way up there. It was a pretty walk but it took about an hour, and as it was July it was quite warm, so we stopped to sit in a small cave for a bit to rest; where we found a seashell fossil. We were told the day before that there was a waterfall nearby, so the local volunteer took us to see it.

Cave with friends inside

the waterfall

Now, up to this point this was a gathering of Americans for the largest and most important American holiday. However, it is our job to share American culture with others we welcomed some Bulgarians to join us. We taught them some card games and told them that we were gonna bbq to celebrate America finally being free from England, kinda like Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. Also, I had brought s'more ingredients and I shared with them how awesome s'mores are. So it was kind of liking a working day.

Camp Fire Grilling

 Mid Service Conference (MSC)


MSC was comprised of 2 fully packed days of sessions. Ranging from topics like PC updates, JFK's legacy, volunteer experience exchanges, and specific project overviews. It was actually mildly useful, which was nice. We got to hang out in Tryavna for a few days which is know for its preservation of National Revival architecture (aka Bulagrian culture reviving under Ottoman rule). That coupled with the facts that 1) its in the mountains and 2) we are all together again for the first time in months, made it a very pleasurable weekend.

Town Square and Curch

The other thing that made MSC so memorable was that some of the more assertive volunteers planned a talent show on our last night after dinner. My friend and fellow Michigander was one of these people so I decided to participate. Joe and I had a Harry Potter Wizarding Duel. It was awesome, and I won. I also helped with the act that closed the show, a rendition of Friday by Rebecca Black remixed with Baby by Justin Beiber, they have the same chords. Some of the acts were comical like my skit, while others were actually talented people. Both things were enjoyable though, as was the PC staff, Bulgarians and Americans, who did a rapping act. It was hilarious. They were in costume. Then after the show was over we had karaoke.

Tom introducing the show, Audry and him sang afterwards

Pavs and Tom singing Journey "Dont Stop Believin"