In hinesight, it has certainly been a long eventful winter. My first Holiday season away from home, a trip to Asia with Will (ok we were only in Istanbul but it was still wild), becoming a published playwright (except for the published part), increasing my language literacy, writing my first project grant, luxuriously traveling (not so much) all over Bulgaria via the Bulgarian train system, and surviving a snow fall of over 2 feet in an apartment alone. I'm not gonna lie, my life has been pretty awesome at times yet rather somber at others this winter. With that said...I'm so excited for the spring!
In Bulgaria, on the first of March people hand out 'Martinitsi.' They are symbolic yarn crafts that bring luck and health in the coming seasons to those who receive them from friends. I am certainly going to receive all that I get with a yearning for health and luck, but just as importantly, a yearning for some freakin' sun and heat!
Dark, cold, dreary weather is definitely something that I can't deal with. O wait, I've been dealing with it for the better part of 3 months! I've wholly internalized how it can weigh on the psyche...
So what do I have to look forward to?...well first of all, my teaching schedule was increased from 18 hours last semester to 23 hours this semester. After school I'm helping the Drama Club with our production of 'Charley's Aunt.' <
I'm definitely gonna be exhausted come fridays!
Also, I have been getting the ball rolling on a FLAG FOOTBALL CAMP for High Schoolers in Ruse during the summer. Hopefully I can get some help from my other PCV friends as well as other friends from Ruse. Also, Skyler, Ryan, and Blake might be over here to help out. If this camp all comes together and all of these people get involved, I will be so unbelievably pumped!
But before this, Joanna is coming to stay with me after she finishes her study program in London. After experiencing the life here in Ruse for a week or so, we're gonna meet Mom, Dad, and Mark in Croatia for a week. Joanna and I will travel from Ruse through Montenegro and along the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. yea i said it...jealous??
To those that have made it this far along in the blog...although I may not talk to some of you all that often, you are constantly (generally-speaking) randomly (specifically-speaking) in my thoughts and prayers! I love and miss you all!
cha cha cha bo-ieee,
ejay crowderrrrrr
