Some things you may have noticed: Pretty much no updates since LAST YEAR. This is a function of several things: 1) I dropped off the face of the earth to start a new job in January and moved into a new apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn 2) This is pretty much a one-woman show 3) I need some major help from current BG PCVs (and RPCVs- I know you're out there) to send me news, photos, and anything else of interest to let the world know about what's going on in that part of the world. It's funny (and sad) how disconnected we RPCVs get after we return to the US. The last time I was in BG was the summer of 2010 but it seems much longer than that. It was depressing to not have any Martenitsi to pass out on March 1st and no flowers on International Woman's Day. I only realized it was that day because there was some sort of protest on women's rights in Africa happening in City Hall Park that day- which reminded me of the holiday in BG. Now that Easter is rolling around, I remember how I used to dye eggs with my Bulgarian and fellow PCV friends during my service and how the American egg dyes suck compared to the ones they have in BG (stock up while you can). 

I'm ever so slowly trying to emerge from my daily NYC routine to breathe some life into our "Friends" group, but I really really need your help out there. Send me a note, an email, a suggestion. Any and all are welcome. Also, if you happen to be in NYC at the end of May- let's go see Bulgare! Lyudmil and I will be there (Finkster, you're coming too)! 

Our very own Molly Freedman Latinova (B21) recently had an article published about her experience with the Peace Corps and Bulgaria in Youth FOCUS, a free e-magazine for youth policy issued by the National Youth Forum of Bulgaria. Here is the link to the magazine as well as the English translation.

I attended the Promise of the Peace Corps Gala on Saturday and a fellow Bulgaria RPCV texted me before I went to the party to have a nice time with all the "pensionari" or pensioners/retired folk. Surprisingly, it wasn't a bunch of pensionari sentimental for their years of service but people who truly believe in what the Peace Corps offers. It was a great feeling to be in a room full of RPCVs, we all share something that defines us for the rest of our lives and often changes its course dramatically. Over dinner, I met some fascinating people: two RPCVs who served in one of the first groups to re-enter Panama in the early 90s after conflict in the country as well as an RPCV who served in Mali and subsequently became a technical trainer with PC, first in Mali and then in Bulgaria for six months. I also met a gentleman that served in Tanzania's first PC group in 1961 and had returned to Tanzania several times since his service. It was quite a lovely night with a great group of people, and amazing food of course.

NPCA handed us a gift bag on our way out which had some samples of Madecasse chocolate, which was just melt-in-your-mouth amazing. It was started by two Peace Corps volunteers who served in Madagascar and decided to create a chocolate company that was better than fair-trade and truly served local cocoa communities. Check them out, I think they sell their bars in Whole Foods and many other retailers.

On the subject of food, I made quite a trek out to Parrot Coffee- not a cafe but an Eastern European grocery way out in Ridgewood, Queens, NY to find some Bulgarian stoki. It's my husband's birthday tomorrow (his first in the US) and while I am not opposed to cooking Bulgarian food, sometimes the ingredients are difficult to come by. You wouldn't think so in NYC, but let's just say not having a car really sucks sometimes and taking a bus or subway for an hour+ is the only option. I was pleasantly surprised with the store and packed a backpack full of goods including sirene from sheep's milk, lutenitsa, boza (for him of course, not me), jarred veggies (eggplant puree, roasted peppers, pickled cabbage leaves for surmi), testo for mekitsi, and of course some borvetz vafla for the long ride home. Tomorrow's menu: kufteta, lutika, kartofena salata, bob, and banitsa. Yum.

For those that need your Bulgarian food fix, I was able to get an e-copy of the 2009 Bulgarian Peace Corps cookbook, courtesy of Krista Greiner. It's linked here and on the "Links" page under "Bulgarian Food." Enjoy and remember, Don't Eat Brown Sugar. 

This weekend has a plethora of events around the country and particularly in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. There's really too many to keep track but definitely check the Peace Corps Association website for detailed event information. Yours truly randomly won a ticket to attend the Promise of the Peace Corps Gala this Saturday and shortly after considering sitting on a bus for 5 hours from New York, decided it could be a great opportunity to meet some RPCVs outside of my Bulgaria circle. Let me know if you'll be attending the Gala or any other events this weekend! In that vein, a Bulgaria RPCV group will be meeting for dinner on Saturday, September 24th at Slaviya Cafe, an Eastern European restaurant. Email [email protected] for more information. If you can't join in all the big events in DC, consider getting together with local RPCVs.

In other news, not sure if you received the email from the current BG Peace Corps Director, Mikel Herrington via Tedi Kamenova in the Sofia office, but I have pasted the letter below for your information. Surely, a bittersweet time for the office there. If you're still in contact with office staff, definitely show your support. And on that note, this is just one reason to support the Friends of Bulgaria website, to stay connected and make certain a legacy of Peace Corps Bulgaria stays alive even after the Peace Corps Office in Sofia closes. The email below:

Dear Peace Corps Bulgaria friends, former staff and RPCVs,
As you know, 2011 is a very special year for Peace Corps Bulgaria as we are celebrating two important anniversaries – The 50th anniversary of Peace Corps and the 20th anniversary of Peace Corps Bulgaria. This important year we also acknowledge and celebrate the last group of Peace Corps Volunteers to be assigned to Bulgaria. This legacy group arrived in March of this year and will complete their service in June 2013.

For the past two decades, we are proud to say that our collaboration has been extraordinarily successful with more than 1,300 Volunteers who have lived and worked in over 300 Bulgarian communities. Over these 20 years Bulgaria changed a lot and created solid foundations of the market economy and democratic society. We acknowledge the progress and success of Bulgaria and its ascension to the EU. Peace Corps is honored to have played a role in that success, working hand-in-hand with our Bulgarian partners.

After a careful analysis of this improvement and the relative position of Bulgaria to the rest of Peace Corps countries, a decision was made that in June 2013 Peace Corps will conclude its program in Bulgaria, grateful for the opportunity to have served Bulgaria for a total of 22 years.

We are announcing this decision with bitter-sweet feelings. On the one hand, it is an assessment of the positive impact of the hard work and enthusiasm of thousands of Volunteers and their local partners. On the other hand, we realize that it will leave some space in your hearts that will be difficult to fill.

We are committed to ensuring all of our programs will remain strong and will continue to serve the people and communities of Bulgaria through Peace Corps’ transition. It is important to fully utilize the remaining two years of our partnership – to work on the institutionalization of our successful projects, to focus on the skills transfer and experience sharing goals, and to celebrate our successes.

Closing the program is not the end of the Peace Corps connection, the strongest link being between Volunteers and their host families, colleagues and friends. These friendships will remain in the upcoming years and will be part of our legacy.

We will keep you informed and welcome any guidance to ensure a smooth transition and completion.

Last, but not least, please find enclosed the latest issue of the PCV Newsletter that will help you stay current with Peace Corps Bulgaria activities, events and issues.

Respectfully yours,
Mikel Herrington
Country Director
Peace Corps Bulgaria
[email protected]
+359-2-81-82-118
web page: http://bulgaria.peacecorps.gov

“ Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us.”- Sargent Shriver

Just a reminder of the PC Career Fair in New York City at 26 Federal Plaza. There will be several career workshops, events, and recruiters available. An invaluable networking opportunity as well. Here are more details of the fair.

So I heard through the grapevine that the latest group of PCVs are COSing (Close of Service, for those not familiar with all the acronyms) in a couple of weeks. I know the Peace Corps office in Sofia is surely inundating you with information on what to do when you get to the States, the reverse culture shock that will be inevitable when you walk into a Wal-Mart or Costco, and the Peace Corps resources that are available as far as NCE (Non-Competitive Eligibility for government jobs), the National Peace Corps Association and Hotline, Peace Corps Response, etc.

There are probably also a handful of you thinking of staying a third year in your service or leaving PC but not Bulgaria. There are definitely other options available there if you're creative enough and exercise those networking skills. Whether it's teaching English in a school in Sofia or interning with a non-profit organization, definitely make sure to ask around, especially to older RPCV groups and the Peace Corps office in Sofia for connections into life after Peace Corps. There are definitely a handful (or more) of RPCVs who are living and working in Bulgaria in various capacities.

After COSing in July 2009, I started a Public Administration Master's Program in New York but returned to Bulgaria last summer to intern with the Cedar Foundation, a great NGO started by expats to deinstitutionalize orphanages and homes for mentally and physically disabled youth and children. They've been doing some incredible work in Kazanluk and Kyustendil/Bobov Dol and have some PC connections as well. Two RPCVs settled at the organization for several years, which is how I found my connection to intern there.

B21 Krista Greiner also ended up staying in Bulgaria an extra year to teach English at the Zlatarksi International School in Sofia and had quite a sweet set-up, I must say, while Jeff Warner, also B21 who is in the middle of his Masters program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, interned this summer at the Center for the Study of Democracy. B21 Molly Freedman Latinova and B17 Nikola Otlans both worked as trainers for newly arrived PC trainees for the Peace Corps Bulgaria office last April.

Another opportunity, if you're planning on going to graduate school for international affairs or public policy is to apply for the US State Department's summer internship program. Another RPCV Bulgaria, Greg N. (can't remember his group number) interned at the embassy in Sofia during his summer between law school in 2008. I actually also applied for this internship last summer and was accepted, but my security clearance never came through, so just beware, it can be a lengthy process, so start early! It's a great IN if you're interested in the foreign service or State Department's Civil Service.

There's a slew of stuff out there. So network! With PCVs, RPCVs, the expat community, and your BG community. I know it can be a chore, but it's really worth it. I even ran into an RPCV last summer in Sofia who was a B10 or thereabouts that worked with a film studio looking for English native-speakers for acting and voice-over roles and he got me a tiny voice-over part on an Italian TV show! Random, I know. If you're also planning on more travel, this community is a great resource. I think about ten B21s and several B22s also ended up teaching English in South Korea after Peace Corps for more adventures. So there's lots of stuff out there. And hey, you never know!

As always всичко хубаво,
Sehee

Welcome everyone to the new Friends of Bulgaria website. I think there may have been several reincarnations of this type of group but it seems that a PCV-related friends website was never maintained. So yes, there is a National Peace Corps Association affiliated Friends of Bulgaria site as well as a Peace Corps Bulgaria Facebook page. How is this any different, you ask? This website aims to connect past and present Bulgaria PCVs and RPCVs (and friends), has resources for both, including where to get your Bulgarian rakia fix stateside, and connect you to Bulgarian communities and related activities in the US and in Bulgaria. This includes blogs, events, businesses, and news. This is a community initiated resource, meaning anyone at all interested in contributing to content is more than welcome to. Please contact [email protected] for details on how. Volunteer editors are welcome and will be added to the Weebly list.

Thanks and as always всичко хубаво,
Sehee