tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48081684749684656942024-02-06T22:19:50.901-08:00Bulgarian AdventureTylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-30747493010196172862011-07-17T08:12:00.001-07:002011-07-18T05:45:26.507-07:00Summer of Tyler<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">So I have declared this to be the summer of Tyler.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I spent a good deal of this winter in a general malaise.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I didn’t want to do anything above and beyond just getting through my lessons. This happens every year, but I feel like I didn’t fight it as much as could have.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, ever since Italy I have been in a frenzy of activity (just in time to hit the summer doldrums of Bulgaria, but hey, can’t have everything).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After this week I will be home in D-pol for less than 4 days at a shot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I will be bopping from one camp and project to the next for the rest of the summer till Justing comes and my camp starts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pretty excited, but I know by the end I will be ready to curl up at home in solitude and isolation, but we’ll cross that when we cross it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />However, I got a glimpse this past week of what my productivity wrought.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To start with, my PCPP is completed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hooray!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It isn’t perfect and not everything is as I would like it, but that is life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have to send out my Thank You notes this week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The next success is that both my CP, Jenya , and the school psychologist, Nelly, were selected to be part of the EU study exchange visits.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So this fall Jenya will be spending 2 weeks in England and Nelly will be spending 2 weeks in Sweden!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am so excited for them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sadly, I didn’t get into either of the programs I put myself in on, so not going to return to Italy or get to go to Malta.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Damn!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">So on the personal front I have decided my next step should be grad school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am still unsure the specific path I want to take, but I do at least have a general direction to head in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am looking at a few programs at Duke, Upenn and a few others to do work in International Policy or International Business.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If those do not pan out, I will be going for my MBA.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In this economy it doesn’t hurt to have an edge, right?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Otherwise I am going to try to better myself as a person.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I liked it when I was questioned for the “why” behind my actions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><br />Anyway, burning the candle at both ends just means there is more light, right?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here’s hoping for a fun and productive rest of the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cheers!</p>TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-62733415538903286792011-07-02T09:25:00.000-07:002011-07-09T08:17:33.295-07:00For my 25th birthday my parents gave me one of the most spectacular and life changing presents I could have ever wanted. I was able to share it with two great friends from UD, Kathy and Forrest, and my new friend in Peace Corps, Megan.<br />Here is the play by play of my trip through Italy (Stolen for the most part from Megan Buckley's fantastic summary that I was too lazy to record)<br />TALIA!!!<br />Day 1—ROMA<br />St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica 15,000 square meters, receives 20,000 visitors a day, can hold up to 60,000. The most impressive structure that I saw in Rome, with the Pantheon being a close second. I got chills as I walked through the doors. The first basilica was built here in the 4th century on the site of Nero’s stadium where St. Peter was buried. It fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in the mid-15th century. It took more than 150 years to complete the basilica—the second largest in the world. Michelangelo designed the dome. In the front, the altar is framed by a four pillared bronze baldachin. Created using bronze taken from the Pantheon’s bronze roof tiles the four-pillared baldachin frames the high alter. The altar is on top of the spot where St. Peter is buried and only the pope can say mass there. For an extra 7 Euros we hiked the stairs leading to the top of the cupola—a totally worthwhile fee. From the top we could see all of Rome. Michelangelo’s Pieta—he sculpted it when he was 25. Great, what have I done with my life?<br /><br />From the Basilica, we walked through the Borgo area towards the Tiber<br />River and the Castel Sant’Angelo. The girls got their first gelato of the trip. The Castel<br />Sant’Angelo was built as a mausoleum for emperor Hadrian. A secret<br />passageway from the 13th century beneath it leads to the Vatican,<br />providing an escape route for popes. The Ponte Sant’Angelo was built<br />by Hadrian in 134 and in the 17th century Bernini and his students<br />sculpted the angel sculptures now lining it.<br /><br />Saw the making of an AUDI wedding commercial and Native American pan flute player.<br />Shared a kebab. Piazza Navona for dinner. Piazza Navona was built by Domitian in AD 86, though the current paved version wasn’t laid until the 15th century. It served as the city’s main market for 300 years. Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi dominates the square. Symbolizes the four rivers: Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Plate. Our waiter played Ice Cube on his smartphone when Kathy asked for some ice to chill her wine. Wild bachelorette party through the square after dinner.<br /><br />Day 2—ROMA<br />Vatican Museums in the morning with the Shaws, a very nice couple that we met on the bus who are from the same town as Kathy and lots of mutual acquaintances. Small world. The Vatican Museum complex was overwhelming—comprised of 2 palaces, 3 courtyards, and covering an area of 5.5 hectares, it would be easy to spend days here. We saw as much as we could before lunch. . Exhibitions of ancient Egypt with sarcophagi and mummies from 1000 B.C., cuneiform tablets, religious art from the beginning, maps from the 16th century. Also here: Octagonal Court, giant basin from Nero’s court made of one piece of porphyry stone, bronze Hercules, countless sculptures from Renaissance, ancient, and modern artists. It was sensory overload.<br />Seen enough marble breasts and penises for a lifetime.<br /><br />Sistine Chapel was part of the Vatican Museum complex and was crowded<br />and dark. The ceiling was impressive, but outshined by St. Peter’s.<br />Michelangelo painted the scenes of creation over a 4 year period on<br />wet canvas while reclining is unbelievable. The figures seem to reach<br />out from the ceiling. We walked back across the river through the<br />Piazza Navona towards the Pantheon. Lunch at kebab place near Castel<br />Sant’Angelo. Megan and I are addicts of Turkish food.<br /><br />Pantheon— house of worship for over 2000 years. Originally built by<br />Hadrian in AD 120, it is exactly as tall as its diameter-43.3 meters,<br />with an 8.7-meter oculus to let in light at the top as a symbolic<br />connection to the gods. It was consecrated as a Christian church in<br />the 600s. Hidden holes on the floor drain away water. It is<br />considered ancient Rome’s greatest architectural achievement and is<br />still the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built.<br /><br />From the Pantheon, we headed towards the Colliseum, passing the Roman<br />Forums along the way. Dance party in the plebs galleries because, hey, why not? The Colliseum was built by emperor Vespasian 69-79 AD. To celebrate its opening, 100 days of games were held during which 5000 animals were slaughtered. It could hold 50,000 people. Arco di Costantino built to honor Constantine in AD 312. Fresh grapes on the street. Pink Cadillac. Obelisks EVERYWHERE. Wine in a square. Love the free water fountains everywhere. Dinner at anoutdoor café of gnocchi and pizza on a busy street.<br /><br />Day 3—ROMA<br />Due to a miss reading on my part... Surprise! Extra day in Roma. Shuttle to Rome, breakfast near Vatican. Go to see papal mass with Shaws in St. Peter’s Square. No luck because the Pope was out of town. Sit in shade.Wander the shops near the Vatican. Have a pizza lunch with the Shaws near the Vatican before they depart for home.<br /><br /><br />Walked to Trevi Fountain. Trevi Fountain was hot and super crowded.<br />From there we walked past Bernini’s Fontana del Tritone (1643). Not<br />very impressive. Near the Piazza di Barberini is the 17th century<br />Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione. Very impressive. Capuchin<br />monks decorated the downstairs with the bones of 4000 monks. Creating<br />flower arches, chandeliers, and other horrible macabre displays from<br />1528 to 1878. The cemetery is supposed to strike into visitors that<br />every one of these monks at one time was covered in flesh and skin, a<br />living person just like the current viewer and that the viewer too,<br />will one day be nothing more than an insignificant piles of bones. The<br />last crypt, which also has the skeletons of two 10 year old princesses<br />is inscribed with “What you are now we used to be; what we are now you<br />will be.”<br /><br />Then we headed towards the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps,<br />(1725) towards the Medici and Borghese Gardens. We rented a surrey and<br />rode around it for an hour then had a mini photo shoot in the modern<br />sculpture garden. Piazza del Popolo (1538, sculptures Porta del<br />Popolo-Bernini 1655, twin churches-17th century, obelisk in the middle<br />brought by Augustus from Heliopolis. Wine at bar near Piazza del<br />Popolo. Free and fantastic fruit plate, nuts (incl. cornnuts!), and<br />super thin pizza.<br /><br />Day 4—TRAVEL<br />Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to station. We had planned to leave our bags at a metro station since the guide book said all were equipted with locker rentals. FALSE. So we end up going to the train station proper only to have some trouble with buying the tickets. Megan ended up having to buy a ticket on the express train, while Forrest, Kathy and I rode on the slow one. Nearly missed our train departing from the station. I vowed that we would be early for everything from then on. Ended up spending most of the day in travel and crashed when we got to the hotel.<br /><br />Day 5—FIRENZE<br />Uffizi Museum right away. Waited in line for only 100 minutes. Saw<br />lots and lots of Renaissance art. Then more Renaissance art. There was<br />really only so much I could look at before I didn't see any difference.<br />Then lunch on a side street. The small lunch place gave Megan a<br />glass of free wine and made a traditional tripe sandwich for me.<br />I don't know how BG ruins it, but that was the best tripe I have eaten.<br />Forrest and Megan had Bollito, which was also good.<br /><br />We continued walking around, making our way to the Plaza del Duomo and<br />getting the best gelato. We sat on a curb near the Duomo to eat. Then<br />hiked to the top of the tower next to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del<br />Fiore. Totally worth it and we got to bypass the absurd lines and heat<br />of the line for the other tower. Walked to Mercado Centrale and<br />shopped at the outdoor bazaars picking up some small leather goods. We<br />met a couple from California who recommended a riverfront restaurant<br />for dinner and a great tip for a wine tasting in a little town in Chianti.<br /><br />Returning back towards Uffizi, we crossed the river and wandered to<br />Palazzo Pitti. It was too hot and we were too tired from standing in<br />lines and walking to do much. We crossed back over the river via the<br />gold bridge and stopped in at a small café to wait for the restaurants<br />to open up again. There we met an older Canadian man travelling alone.<br />He was already a few beers deep. He recommended another place for<br />dinner (Antico Fattore) and it was fantastic. Best day of food yet:<br />sandwiches and bollito at lunch, gelato, then Megan had a huge piece of<br />steak with porcine mushrooms, Kathy had gnocchi with pesto, Forrest a<br />mushroom pasta dish, and I had rice with zucchini flowers for dinner.<br />Dessert of pineapple, fried apples, and amazing tiramisu for dessert.<br />Plus wine of course. So amazing.<br /><br />Day 6—FIRENZE<br />Caught the SITA bus to Greve in Chianti for wine tasting. For 5, 10,<br />or 20 Euros you receive a debit card and can walk around a large<br />cellar and taste various wines for different prices. It was lovely. We<br />purchased food at a small store and ate in the shade. Super hot in<br />Greve.<br /><br />While taking turns in the shower (it had been a hot, hot day),<br />Forrest went to a store and picked up some limonchello, wine, and<br />mixers. It was lovely. We drank and got ready for the evening, playing<br />games and some GaGa. Did an excellent job removing red wine from<br />Kathy’s dress with soda and salt.<br /><br />On the advice of the front desk we made our way to the university<br />district and first drinks at an Irish pub. The Mojito was fantastic.<br />Then to another bar for shots. I miss shots. They called a cab to take<br />us to the disco. Perfect. To my dismay we ended up splitting up.<br />Boy:girl ratio was definitely not in our favor. About 10:1.<br /><br />We got a bit lost searching for our way back. Taxis had stopped<br />running and we were quite far from out hotel. We stumbled in around 5 am.<br /><br />Day 7—BOLOGNA<br />Piazza Maggione-Church of Saint Katrina. Forrest and Iwent in,<br />but Kathy and Megan nursed hangovers on the steps outside. Each chapel in the<br />interior of the church was designed by a different family in Bologna<br />with each trying to outdo the others in the grandioseness of their<br />space. Unique in the earth tones used in the interior and more brick<br />work than marble. The clock in the church had a small hole allowing a<br />point of light to move along the floor to show the months and days on a<br />calendar.<br /><br />Palazzo re Enzo was a fortress built during the war between the Papacy<br />and the Holy Roman Empire and houses historical siege weapons. Neptune<br />Fountain in front with water coming out of the women’s breasts. This<br />fountain, similar to the one in Rome represented the major rivers of<br />the four known continents at the time.<br /><br />We continued wandering through Bologna. Love the city. The sidewalks<br />are covered in archways that keep the pedestrians in the shade. So<br />nice to be out of the heat. Probably the hottest day yet. We’ve had<br />perfect weather, but the sun is intense for our full days of walking.<br />Stopped at an awesome grocery store for snacks to eat in the shade of<br />one of the pedestrian walkways.<br /><br />Then we went to the tower, Torri Degli Asinelli, from 11th century.<br />Forrest, Megan, and I climbed the 498 steps to the top. The towers in<br />Bologna, dating from the war between the papacy and the Holy Roman<br />Empire, are emblematic of the city, which was at one time home to over<br />150 towers. Each one belonged to a different competing family and were<br />built as residences and personal fortresses. We walked back to our<br />hotel, picked up our bags, and returned to the train station to catch<br />an early evening connection to Venice.<br /><br />Arrived Venice, walk around. Have a very underwhelming dinner for 12<br />Euros at a set menu place near the station. See a beautiful sunset.<br />Catch bus to Hilton.<br /><br />Day 8—VENEZIA<br />Slow start to day. Bus to Venice. Purchase Roma Card (best<br />thing→unlimited bus and water taxi rides, discounts, local guide for<br />72 hours, 18+4 Euros…one water taxi ride otherwise costs 6.5). Take<br />water taxi to San Marco’s Square. See scary woman on taxi. Reminds<br />me that I never, ever want to do meth. (Shudders) There are<br />soooo many people at San Marco. Wander to a slightly less full side<br />street for lunch and 8 Euro Bellinis.<br /><br />Not nearly as hot hear thanks to more or less constant shade and<br />breeze from the water. Return to St. Mark’s to go up the tower. This<br />one only had the option of an elevator—not nearly as rewarding of an<br />experience as walking up 400 stairs. Megan finds a family speaking<br />Bulgarian. They are rather less excited than she is.<br /><br />San Marco Church. It was okay, but after seeing St. Peter’s in Rome<br />and so many other churches, it was hard to get excited about it or to<br />pay extra to go upstairs or to different parts of it. Wandered through<br />the neighborhoods adjacent to San Marco. Found ourselves in the super<br />touristy, busy area of the Rialto Bridge. Did some preliminary<br />shopping recon. Found a place for happy hour spritzers.<br /><br />Bought wine and snacks and chatted in one of the alleys that opens up<br />to a canal. Had a mini-photo shoot in a reflective surface. Looked for<br />a place to eat dinner but decided on kebabs from a doner store.<br /><br />Took the bus back to the Hilton. While waiting, Kathy and I<br />unsuccessfully tried to find a bathroom, walked straight through a<br />hotel. Crazy man tried to kick Forrest and a north African nearly<br />fought him in protest. Both got on our bus. Sat near a fantastically<br />witty Australian couple on the bus. Decided to check out the pool upon<br />our return. It was freezing! Very short swim.<br /><br />Day 9—VENEZIA<br />Returned to Venice and took water taxi to the Accademia on the other<br />side of the Grand Canal between Rialto and San Marco. Such a different<br />feel than the crammed chaos of the other neighborhoods. This was<br />quieter, more upscale, and much much less crowded. There is a large<br />art exhibition going on in Venice with dozens of free venues<br />throughout the city. Stumbled on one showcasing Asian artists-a bit<br />too anime-ish with a really disturbing phallic Mickey Mouse. Also<br />viewed an exhibition of art from the Arab world. I really liked<br />several of the pieces and they made excellent use of the converted<br />shipping warehouse.<br /><br />Ate lunch at on the water facing the outlying islands. Decided to<br />split up and return for dinner. Wandered around and bought some<br />really nice hand made leather journals. Explored all the other neighborhoods<br />of venice and then took a trip over to Murrano. Ended up sitting across from<br />some funny college kids studying in Spain who came over for a long weekend.<br />They traveled about the same distance as I did from Bulgaria, but they can<br />hop over when they want. A little jelious. Forrest and I made our own Bellinis and drank them sitting on one of the canals. Headed back to meet the girls and hear them describe in loving detail their purses. They treated me for dinner which was super nice. Wandered through the city. Found a playground for another photo shoot. Took the bus back to the hotel to collect the luggage and while waiting for the bus to take us to the next hotel watched some "ladies of the night" working.<br /><br />Caught the flight home the next day. The flight was over an hour and a half late taking off due to ineptitude at the check in desk. I caught the night train back and got home at 5:30 and was at work by 8. It was rough going.<br /><br />I really enjoyed the trip and the company. Megan was going to be a philosophy major and our breakfast conversations were fantastic. She got me to think about my motivations and what I wanted to do with my life. I had been loafing and simply wasting time rather than spending this valuable interlude wisely. So this summer, between the camps, the tutoring, the PCPP, I think that I will start my applications to Grad School, and pursue either an MBA with a focus in Developmental Economics, or a Masters in International Developmental Policy with a focus in Applied Economics. I may still take the Foreign Service Exam as an extra precaution, but I think that I would be wise to invest in my future now.TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-6390806636643731682011-04-27T06:49:00.001-07:002011-04-27T08:14:16.755-07:00CheatingOh spring is in the air, which of course everyone associates with finals and papers, right? And as seniors graduate a full 2 months ahead of the rest of the school (as it was explained to me by a colleague, they are going to just skip so they should be allowed to graduate early, right?) this means I have to get grades in shortly. <br />The project in question for most of my senior classes is an essay I had them write. I noticed pretty much across the board that no one knew how to organize a paper or structure an argument. It was more like a word vomit on a page without rhyme or reason for some of these kids. BOOM! This looks like a job for your trusty Peace Corps Volunteer. If my degrees are good for anything at all, it is knowing how to totally BS a paper in no time. The very first research paper, with bibliography and cites was in Mrs. Homer's 6th grade English class. Senior year of college, no sweat. This is their senior year and they didn't know what a bibliography was, let alone how to use it. Hmm.... Ok. No problem. I can do this. So for the past 8 weeks I walked them through each and every step. Gathering research. Taking notes (seriously.... notes?!?!). Constructing a thesis. Making an outline. Writing a rough draft. Writing a bibliography. Editing a paper. Ok, after 8 weeks of trying to translate these concepts and ideas and explanations to my class of 19 year olds I think that perhaps, just maybe, they learned something about how to write. I am cautiously optimistic. The due date is a Thursday, and I gave the students to option to submit on-line until 10 pm that night if they didn't have a printer or want to waste paper. Only 6 out of 18 handed the papers in in class.<br />At 8:45, like the distant rumble of an apporching storm, I get a Facebook message:<br />"Mr. Tyler, What is my topic I will write about." WTF! REALLY?!?! 8 weeks of this? No, calm down. This is one of my better students. Perhaps he is just trying to punk me. Ok, ok. Sent the topic.<br />At 9:15 I get another message asking the same thing. Oh, god.<br />At 9:45 I get my first e-submission. It reads. Here is my paper- and a URL address starting with www.essayempire.com. So clicking on it brings up one the free essay sample which happens to be on their topic. Sigh. Ok. <br />Over the next few days I get 3 more bringing the total up to 10. 10 out of 18.<br />Upon receiving them at the door the next class period to inquire as to when, if ever, I could expect the missing essays I was greeted with blank stares. Essay? What Essay? We had homework?<br /><br />Some of the better highlights of the paper copy ones:<br />1. Printed out and has the time and web page stamp at the top along with the blue hyperlink<br />2. Handwritten, but included the subscript numbers to correspond with the cites on Wikipedia<br />3. An essay that cuts off mid sentence b/c they were tired of copying.<br /><br />The remainder were either exactly what you get when you plug in the BG wikipedia in to google translate, or other free samples from essay empire. When asked why they did this when we worked so long in class. Did they not understand the rubric I gave out. What about the worksheets and samples? The response was a resounding "It was too hard. We didn't feel like. You should just pass us anyways." <br />So as I write this I can't help but feel sad that this is the future. These kids will be sent off in to the world after high school with very few skills, no motivation, and no accountability for their actions. 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Today was nice.<span style=""> </span>Not just weather nice (which I have noticed is a reoccurring theme in my posts.<span style=""> </span>I’m working on finding a new fixation…<span style=""> </span>Stickers?<span style=""> </span>You guys like stickers?) but a good school day.<span style=""> </span>Today was the first day teaching in a few months that I felt positively elated by my students.<span style=""> </span>Why?<span style=""> </span>New batteries for that tazer I bought of course.<span style=""> </span>Just kidding… those are back ordered for, like, weeks!<span style=""> </span>No, the main reason was that today was the first day I subbed for the younger classes.<span style=""> </span>6a were absolute angels.<span style=""> </span>I loved all the kids at the Playground camp. <span style=""> </span>Despite their stalking of me with an unnerving intensity, I really grew to love my fan club for more than the ego boost it provided.<span style=""> </span>These kids were just as sweet.<span style=""> </span>They tried, took notes, sat in desks, rarely answered their phones and if doing so kept the conversations brief.<span style=""> </span>In short, almost everything I would expect of a normal classroom.<span style=""> </span>Not just that, but kept it up for a full forty minutes!!!!<span style=""> </span>At the end they thanked me and gave me a hug.<span style=""> </span>Shocked, stunned, and a little confused all rolled in to one was how I was feeling.<span style=""> </span>A quick survey revealed I was still in D-pol, Bulgaria.<span style=""> </span>So what the hell was that?<span style=""> </span>Such a complete change from the drudgery and dismal dealings with quite a few of my classes. (Not 11a, I still love them).<span style=""> </span>It really made me wonder what happens to these kids between 6<sup>th</sup> and 9<sup>th</sup> grade to turn them into such little jackals tearing away at my will to live.<span style=""> </span>Anyway, it was such nice reprieve and reminder that I am here to do good things and could actually make a difference.<span style=""> </span>To put a cherry on this day, I received a kick ass package from an amazing friend, Lisa!<span style=""> </span>I cannot wait for the next pirate party, b/c someone has a glow in the dark sword.<span style=""> </span>BOOYAH!<span style=""> </span>Also, I am sipping on a Hawaiian punch cocktail which is pretty fantastic.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another funny story from today.<span style=""> </span>10a is writing another paper for me after an incident, so after giving them the instructions I decided to play charades and hangman.<span style=""> </span>So after doing a few to warm them up I turned the board over to them.<span style=""> </span>The category was famous actors and actress.<span style=""> </span>One of the boys wanted<span style=""> </span>to check the spelling of an actress, so he bent over to whisper to me.<span style=""> </span>Jenna jameson…<span style=""> </span>Now, normally I pride myself on knowing who was in what movie, but I couldn’t place her off hand.<span style=""> Who was in that... </span>Jenna Jameson…<span style=""> </span>wait, you mean the porn star?<span style=""> </span>Oh tenth grade boys…..</p>TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-90647137869107538102011-02-22T05:11:00.000-08:002011-02-22T05:45:43.709-08:00Excitement abounds.... once this sh*tty weather is over.I know it is only February. I know that most likely I have almost another full month till shorts, sleeping with the windows open, and daylight past 6 pm. However, I just can't wait for spring. The tease of those few nice days was just too much. I'm already planning the summer. Where am I going, what am I doing and how soon can I leave. I fall asleep to thoughts of boarding a plane, of days at the beach, even of the possibility of scout camp! So as it stands now here is an goal sheet for the summer. I'm putting it down now so I can check to see how much I actually accomplish.<br />1.) Run a half marathon/ Run the Athens marathon. Ok, the first one is a summer plan, while the Athens's thing is in like November, but still. Also, many people say it is one of the hardest in the world with all the hills, so I might only do the 10k, but still. Summer plans include lots of running and getting in shape. This time I won't have Tessa kicking my but and making me run so it is going to be a lot of that self discipline I keep hearing people go on about. The half marathon might tie in with another one of the trips, it might just be run to Huelo's town one day. We'll see on that one<br />2.) Italy. I turn 25 this year. 25! A quarter of a century. Odds are, almost a third of my life. I mean, I have to do something amazing to mark this momentous of occasions. Justin and his friends rented out a bar. That would be doable, but saddly many of my friends wouldn't be able to make it (I'm looking your way Jake). So what to do? How about go somewhere? And not just some somewhere... Italy! Yay! I have been wanting to go forever. I love the food, the cars (Not Alphas, ask Charles about my stance on those) the language, the first 2 godfather movies, pretty much everything about Italy. I have been practicing my speaking and vocab at home so I will be ready. I want to see as much of the country as I can. This goes completely in the face of number one's goal of being healthy since I will be stuffing my face to uncomfortable levels at least 2 meals a day. Oh well, you're only young once and if my heart has survived the deep fried orgy that was PST, it can handle what ever Italy can throw at it. On the plus side, after all the weight I lost during PST, I've got room to expand in all my pants.<br />3.) Justin's visit. This one should be an event. We fought constantly as kids and only really started getting along once he left for college. This should be a great adventure. He is flying in to Sofia, I am going to take him across the south of BG and then go to Istanbul for a few days. It should be pretty amazing. Plus it will be nice to show him what my life is like and what the country of BG is really like. <br />So those are the BIG three. There are some other stuff, like building a playground, getting this gym up and running, trying to get the student council to do work, and maybe some summer english classes. That last one is a big maybe, but time will tell. Anyway, as I look out on the cold rain and flooded alley I can't help but picture blue skies, warm breezes and the fantastic season which is summer.TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-89299240766062975342011-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:002011-02-09T12:38:55.115-08:00Just a thought<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Though I doubt I will keep this rather impressive string of blog posts I figure I might as well throw a few out there before I get distracted by something shiny or bits of sting or whatever might<span style=""> </span>hold my attention for hours at a time.<span style=""> </span>This one happens to be on the weather.<span style=""> </span>I know, talking about the weather.<span style=""> </span>I used to find it one of the most mundane of topics.<span style=""> </span>A filler, if you will, for when you’re not sure what to say but feel that the conversation hasn’t reached the breaking off point.<span style=""> </span>However, having almost outgrown the childhood weather classification of two categories (A. It’s nice to play outside, and B. It isn’t,) now care to talk to people about the weather.<span style=""> </span>So is new found well of untapped maturity the reason for this random tangent, you ask?<span style=""> </span>Nope.<span style=""> </span>It is because of the huge difference right now between the weather in Bulgaria and America.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My parents sent me pictures from an ice storm that happened the same week that I wore shorts running and sat and read in the park.<span style=""> </span>It is just amazing the difference.<span style=""> </span>People were shoveling snow and I was working on my tan (slow and steady, you know. Best to start now.)<span style=""> </span>I was worried about winter here.<span style=""> </span>As you may have gathered, it is my least favorite season and the winter in Bulgaria had me pretty apprehensive.<span style=""> </span>Particularly the story from my friend Neil, a b24, about how despite having a heater going full blast around the clock he had ice almost an inch thick on the inside walls of his kitchen.<span style=""> </span>Umm… What?<span style=""> </span>Then getting to site I hear about the meter of snow on the side walk last year.<span style=""> </span>I am 1.75 meters.<span style=""> </span>Waist high you say?<span style=""> </span>Buses and Trains didn’t run for a week?<span style=""> </span>I’m going to have to pass.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And you know what?<span style=""> </span>It worked.<span style=""> </span>This winter has been pretty great.<span style=""> </span>A little cold early off and a few snow storms I could have done without, but honestly, pretty all right.<span style=""> </span>The culmination of this winter weather?<span style=""> </span>67 and sunny on February 8<sup>th</sup>.<span style=""> </span>I spent a good deal of the afternoon sitting in the sun doing lesson plans and a whole lot of nothing.<span style=""> </span>It was glorious.<span style=""> </span>The next 4 days the highs are all above 60.<span style=""> </span>For the beginning of February that is fantastic.<span style=""> </span>If you could show me conclusive proof that this is due to global warming I would be building a bonfire of tires and gas and using cfc aerosols to start it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So before the Frost giants descend upon this Valhalla of nice weather (I’m reading a book about mythology, sue me) I make this plea: Don’t let this be the precursor to that meter of snow!<span style=""> </span></p>TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-4201053704256463262011-02-04T01:37:00.000-08:002011-02-04T01:39:24.322-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR7BCggqiimzJfE1i7chLIeIaWffwBzrHoOmiURNat898ogsvGhTyJoa2Qo2GeL3UZpy0_R8yv20veUjr_fX8navisDLcuJTyNT_HdVt5zzyD_7QG3IXXDq8ydEqxxTrEhdkGUXYVhojV/s1600/japan_06.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR7BCggqiimzJfE1i7chLIeIaWffwBzrHoOmiURNat898ogsvGhTyJoa2Qo2GeL3UZpy0_R8yv20veUjr_fX8navisDLcuJTyNT_HdVt5zzyD_7QG3IXXDq8ydEqxxTrEhdkGUXYVhojV/s400/japan_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569766460195838866" border="0" /></a><br />For those of you that question the logic behind volcanos= 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Oh Flucation,<span style=""> </span>the sweetest of all the school holidays.<span style=""> </span>Growing up, I was regarded snow days as the highlight of winter.<span style=""> </span>Day off?<span style=""> </span>For sure! Who cares that you have to make it up in June.<span style=""> </span>2 hour delay?<span style=""> </span>Count me in.<span style=""> </span>My AP classes were always the ones I missed.<span style=""> </span>These are nothing compared with the glorious joys of FLUCATION!<span style=""> </span>Comparing a snow day to a day off on flucation is like comparing apples and a steak dinner at the Palm.<span style=""> </span>The reason?<span style=""> </span>The weather.<span style=""> </span>Snow days mean snow.<span style=""> </span>Cold, unpleasant snow.<span style=""> </span>I hate snow.<span style=""> </span>Yes, snow is very pretty.<span style=""> </span>I also think volcanoes erupting are pretty.<span style=""> </span>That doesn’t mean I want to be anywhere near either of them.<span style=""> </span>Flucation isn’t fettered by dismal weather.<span style=""> </span>It is a beautiful sunny day off today.<span style=""> </span>Not a cloud in the sky.<span style=""> </span>Thank you Flucation</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">So what caused this miraculous of events?<span style=""> </span>Cosmic rays?<span style=""> </span>A boon from the lords of Olympus?<span style=""> </span>Nope, just as you guessed, the common flu.<span style=""> </span>Apparently flu shots are not the de rigueur in Bulgaria so every year there is a massive outbreak.<span style=""> </span>Like, really massive.<span style=""> </span>Over 30% of my school was ill.<span style=""> </span>It shut down everything in town.<span style=""> </span>So that left me with loads of free time.<span style=""> </span>Wrote some grants, planned some awesome lessons, studied BG a bit, and most importantly, watched a lot of movies.<span style=""> </span>Umm…<span style=""> </span>so maybe not most importantly.<span style=""> </span>But regardless, it was an amazing vacation.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">The best part?<span style=""> </span>These days don’t have to be made up.<span style=""> </span>School is out, no matter what!</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">I can only wait till next year.<span style=""> </span>In the mean time, I’m taking the soap out of my classroom.<span style=""> </span>Might as well help the odds, right?</p>TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-68610904815378816442011-01-31T02:46:00.000-08:002011-01-31T02:53:08.581-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">I have been neglecting this thing for ages now.<span style=""> </span>With Flucation (Flu+ Vacation= FLUCATION!!) wrapping up I guess I can’t say I have a lot to do so might as well take a few minutes and give everyone one an update on life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where to begin?<span style=""> </span>To start back with Halloween?<span style=""> </span>The awesomeness of my Kiss costume and the promise to top it next year (I’m thinking Daft Punk).<span style=""> </span>It was held in Veliko Turnivo, which was really cool. <span style=""> </span>I hope to get back to the city and walk around without a splitting headache and hangover.<span style=""> </span>Spring is coming! But it was an amazing party. I easily give myself the award of best costume. I'll probably take second place too. I liked it that much. <br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After that, hmm…<span style=""> </span>ah, IST.<span style=""> </span>I have to say I love PC gatherings.<span style=""> </span>For some reason, the forced suffering though countless training sessions, flip chart upon flip chart and the pressure of having counterparts there did nothing to dampen the mood.<span style=""> </span>It was great.<span style=""> The gigantic rooms invitied the in room partying. We completely bought out the gas station next door of any and all cheep booze by the second night. I would say that it wasn't a total loss for PC. I actually learned a good deal. That combined with all the espresso you could drink between sessions lead to a hyper, rather keyed up volunteer.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next event was<span style=""> </span>Thanksgiving.<span style=""> </span>The little things I didn’t even realize I missed were amazing to have.<span style=""> </span>Particularly green bean casserole.<span style=""> </span>Seriously, that stuff is great.<span style=""> </span>It was hosted at Hannahs swanky new place in Varna.<span style=""> </span>It was so much nicer than my apartment it made my head spin.<span style=""> </span>I have grown to like my place.<span style=""> </span>At first I was honestly a little disappointed.<span style=""> </span>One room, a kitchen and a bathroom?<span style=""> </span>Maybe 120 sq feet in total?!?<span style=""> </span>Seriously?<span style=""> </span>But I have to say I have grown to love it.<span style=""> </span>It takes all of an hour to clean the entire place top to bottom, the space heater keeps the whole place (except the bathroom! UGH!) a balmy 65.<span style=""> </span>Not too shabby I have to say.<span style=""> </span>But back to thanksgiving.<span style=""> </span>With the part winding down Greg, another volunteer, was going to leave to go to another party and had to catch a train.<span style=""> </span>I had that metal flash.<span style=""> That flash that said something isn't quite right.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Situation:9+ people staying.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Only 4-5 were getting beds or a couch.<span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">That gives me about a 50% chance of spending the night on the floor<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I live an hour and 20 away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nope!<span style=""> </span>These odds aren’t going to work.<span style=""> </span>Peace.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So I literally dashed out the door and followed and slept in a comfy bed (Perhaps the greatest purchase I've made here)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Following that was a low point for me.<span style=""> </span>I had almost no motivation to do anything.<span style=""> </span>Spain was looming, the kids were dragging me down and above all it was getting to be winter.<span style=""> </span>I don’t do winter.<span style=""> </span>I don’t<span style=""> </span>like winter.<span style=""> </span>I would go so far as to say I hate winter.<span style=""> </span>If winter were a country I would declare all out war against it.<span style=""> </span>Yeah…<span style=""> </span>But on the plus side, it only had to last a month.<span style=""> </span>Then Spain!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Traveling in Bulgaria is always an adventure.<span style=""> </span>Am I going to make it ok?<span style=""> </span>Is it going to take less than a day to go 40 km?<span style=""> </span>After the bus incident from Razgrad (which btw Drew has yet to come to Varna.<span style=""> </span>Jerk) I don’t take public transportation for granted.<span style=""> </span>So rather than taking the night train and flying out that morning I decided to take the train the day before, stay over in Sofia and fly out in the morning.<span style=""> </span>Plenty of time, just to be safe.<span style=""> </span>So I catch the train and Dalgopol and looking for a compartment when a voice calls out to me and I see another volunteer, Kevin Burns.<span style=""> </span>It turns out he and his GF are going to Italy and staying the night in Sofia.<span style=""> </span>So much better to have traveling companions.<span style=""> </span>Plus I made amazing sandwiches (Really a luxury here due to the lack of deli meat, but that is a rant for another time) so it was a pretty fun, and more importantly, an uneventful trip.<span style=""> </span>So getting there I invited them to stay with me at the Hilton since my dad was nice enough to get me a room.<span style=""> </span>It was pretty great.<span style=""> </span>My Dad has status with Hilton.<span style=""> </span>Upgraded the room, amazing breakfast, and the best part a free ride to the airport.<span style=""> </span>Plus all the amenities for Kevin and Laura.<span style=""> </span>The funny thing was the room for the night was a little more than what Peace Corps pays us for the month.<span style=""> </span>Way better than a hostel for the night.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Spain was amazing.<span style=""> </span>A-MAZ-ING.<span style=""> </span>It was really great to spend the holidays with my family.<span style=""> </span>Skype is great.<span style=""> </span>Don’t get me wrong. <span style=""> </span>I thank the elves that make it work every day (I’m not 100% sure on this one.<span style=""> </span>I assume it is something like that).<span style=""> </span>But it isn’t the same.<span style=""> </span>That combined with being in a western European city was heaven.<span style=""> </span>I nearly had a breakdown in the grocery store by the hotel.<span style=""> </span>I seriously was having some problems.<span style=""> </span>I am a bit of a foodie, so BG has been limiting, but I think I am going to have to be stepped back in gradually.<span style=""> </span>Maybe just Aldi’s for the first few weeks before I can work up to a whole foods of wegmans.<span style=""> </span>Combine that with a gorgeous resort, warm sandy beaches, and people who all spoke great English and I was so happy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Getting to Spain was too easy.<span style=""> </span>Looking back I realize that now.<span style=""> </span>I should have realized everything went too smoothly.<span style=""> </span>Smooth train ride, taxi to the airport, only slightly delayed flight.<span style=""> </span>Yeah, the travel gods were going to have to balance the scales a bit.<span style=""> </span>Easy travel, huh?<span style=""> </span>Great trip, you say?<span style=""> </span>Well, guess what hotshot.. BAM.<span style=""> </span>Now you are landing 300 miles off course.<span style=""> </span>Suck on that one buck-o!<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have my headphones and slept on the flight.<span style=""> </span>As we are making are approach for landing the pilot comes on and says his little talk and we will be landing in Polvdiv in 5 min.<span style=""> </span>In my sleep addled brain I kind of shrugged it off.<span style=""> </span>Plovdiv?<span style=""> </span>No, silly, we are landing in Sofia.<span style=""> </span>I have a room in Sofia.<span style=""> </span>Taxiing to the terminal I see a sign. Пловдив.<span style=""> </span>Pl.<span style=""> </span>Ok..<span style=""> </span>Plov..<span style=""> </span>Shit!<span style=""> </span>Plovdiv?<span style=""> </span>WTF are we doing in Plovdiv?<span style=""> </span>I turn to the guy next to me.<span style=""> </span>Well, Sofia doesn’t have fog lights, so we landed here.<span style=""> </span>Haha, wait, what?<span style=""> </span>So I curse under my breath how the hell am I going to get to Varna.<span style=""> </span>Thankfully my explicatives were loud enough to carry across the aisle to a cute girl.<span style=""> </span>She said that she too had to get to Varna.<span style=""> </span>Take that travel gods!<span style=""> </span>She turned out to be one of the coolest of the random people I have met.<span style=""> </span>She was professional puppeteer. Let me say that again, a puppeteer.<span style=""> </span>How cool is that?!?!<span style=""> </span>She ended up getting a ride from a friend of her fathers, but sadly I couldn’t tag along.<span style=""> </span>Ah well, at least I made my first Bulgarian friend outside of PC, right?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So that brings me up to the present with the goal of updating a bit more frequently.<span style=""> </span>But, I said that last time too, so we shall see.<span style=""> </span></p>TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-2105634228687805472010-11-22T10:19:00.000-08:002010-11-22T10:56:55.892-08:00Homeward Bound<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hasn</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">been</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">updated</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">awhile</span></span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">will</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">try</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">fill</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">last</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">few</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">weeks</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">before</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">IST</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Sunday</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">So</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">let</span></span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">start</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">at</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">top</span></span>.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">This</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">past</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">weekend</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">went</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">visit</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">my</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">friend</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Drew</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Razgrad</span></span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">city</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">about</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">third</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">way</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">across</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">country</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">from</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">me</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Traveling</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Bulgaria</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">is</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">always</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">an</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">adventure</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">While</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">waiting</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">Razgrad</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">happened</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">hear</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">someone</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">swearing</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">fluently</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">English</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">then</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">Spanish</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">behind</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">me</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Kakvoooh</span></span>? I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">turn</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">around</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">one</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">most</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">unlikely</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">sites</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">all</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">Bulgaria</span></span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">Mexican</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">Mormon</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">Now</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">Mormons</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">are</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">uncommon</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">they</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">are</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">sprinkled</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">about</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">Bulgaria</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">mission</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">trips</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">However</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">knowing</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">had</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">two</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">hour</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">ride</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">ahead</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">me</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">and</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">frankly</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">just</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">plain</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">curiosity</span></span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">struck</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">up</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">conversion</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">him</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">He</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">had</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">met</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">his</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">wife</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">when</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">she</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">on</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">mission</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">trip</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">Mexico</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">ended</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">up</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">getting</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">married</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">moving</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">back</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">Utah</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">her</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">So</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">Mormon</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">church</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">you</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">can</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">go</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">another</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">mission</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">trip</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">once</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">you</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">are</span></span> 50. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">So</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">he</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">is</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">living</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">Turkey</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">now</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">took</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">vacation</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">Romania</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">staying</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">with</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">friend</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">Razgrad</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">night</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">Crazy</span></span>.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">The</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">day</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">past</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">usual</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">haze</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">of</span></span> a 20-<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">something</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">birthday</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">weekend</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">once</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">again</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">road</span></span>; <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">this</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">time</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">unhelpful</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">addition</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">of</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">horrible</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">hangover</span></span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">arrive</span></span> 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">min</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">early</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">Varna</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">only</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">find</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">out</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">it</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">is</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">sold</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">out</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">However</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">you</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">can</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">usually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">get</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">spot</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">standing</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">if</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">you</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">don</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">mind</span></span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">no</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">position</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">argue</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">idea</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">getting</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">home</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">in</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">speedy</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">manor</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">to</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">warm</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">comfy</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">bed</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">ride</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">out</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">remainder</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">this</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">chemically</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">induced</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">hell</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">However</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">having</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">most</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">likely</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">kneeled</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">at</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">wrong</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">statue</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">prayed</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">wrong</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">deity</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">would</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">be</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">riding</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">home</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">on</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">double</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">decker</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">bus</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">My</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">initial</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">excitement</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">at</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">this</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">fantastic</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">novelty</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">quickly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">waned</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">when</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">realized</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">ceiling</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">both</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">floors</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">only</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">shade</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">over</span></span> 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">ft</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">Now</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">am</span></span> 5'11", <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">so</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">that</span></span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">shade</span></span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">really</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">wasn</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">going</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">cut</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">it</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">And</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">being</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">packed</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">like</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">sardines</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">aisles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">meant</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">no</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">chance</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">sitting</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">down</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">Well</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">this</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">is</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">just</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">going</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">be</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">spec</span></span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">freakin</span></span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">tacular</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">Two</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">hours</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">standing</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">my</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">head</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">cocked</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">side</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">already</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">feeling</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">bright</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">chipper</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">Thankfully</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">broke</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">down</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">about</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">an</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">hour</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">in</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">Yes</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">after</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">an</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">hour</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">thankful</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">reprieve</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">And</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">even</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">better</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">we</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">broke</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">down</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">within</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">walking</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">distance</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">of</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">roadside</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">shop</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">where</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">bought</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">some</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">water</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">Returning</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">time</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">see</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">remnants</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">engine</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">fire</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">put</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">out</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">and</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">from</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">Shuman</span></span> (a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">city</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">half</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">way</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">between</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">razgrad</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">Varna</span></span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">called</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">hopped</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">proceeded</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">pass</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">some</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">time</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">at</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">Shuman</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">station</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">till</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">another</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">could</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">be</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">rounded</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">up</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">take</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">us</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">all</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">on</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">Thankfully</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">they</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">had</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">get</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">two</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">buses</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">which</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">almost</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">perfect</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">everyone</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">whole</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">get</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">seat</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">save</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">three</span></span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">being</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">stupid</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">stupid</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">gentleman</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">gave</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">up</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">my</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">seat</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">to</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">rather</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">attractive</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">woman</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">Anyone</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">who</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">says</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">chivalry</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">is</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">dead</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">can</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">go</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">kick</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">rocks</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">So</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">passed</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">remaining</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">hour</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">journey</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">sitting</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">step</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">next</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">bus</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">driver</span></span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">arrived</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">Varna</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">just</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">as</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">train</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">Dalgopol</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">leaving</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">Hooray</span></span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">Thankfully</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">next</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">one</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">at</span></span> 5:45. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">So</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">after</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">quick</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">bit</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">grocery</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">shopping</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">make</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">it</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">train</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">station</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">find</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">comfy</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">bench</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">relax</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">And</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">relax</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">bit</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">too</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">much</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">because</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">fall</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">asleep</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">Luckily</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">arrival</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">train</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">wakes</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">me</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">and</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">get</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">back</span></span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">finally</span></span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">Dalgopol</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">none</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">worse</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">wear</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">Ah</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">fun</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">adventures</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">of</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">Peace</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">Corps</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">Volunteer</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">never</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">stop</span></span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-71960731339757395202010-10-13T05:44:00.000-07:002010-10-13T06:02:19.489-07:00The Adventure of the Trying to Catch a Bus.There are somethings you take for granted. When you flick a light switch, the circuit is completed and by magic the lights turn on (Sorry Mr. Delaney, I wasn't paying that close of attention but I'm 75% sure that is what you said). When you flush the toilet, something happens. These and so many other little luxuries I took for granted in the US. Thankfully, these are only occasional set backs but tiny reminders that I am not in suburbia anymore. <br />Now, don't get me wrong, if I was a PCV anywhere else I doubt I would have so awesome perks as I do here. There is even a sweet, US style grocery store about 25 km away!<br />And that is the topic of the day, trying to get there. 25 km is only about 15 miles. I would be a totally easy bike ride. The town of Provadia would def make it worth it. There is the problem of the hill. I may have mentioned the hill before, but the hill is unstoppable. The hill is guardian of Provadia, only the worthy may pass. <br />So that leaves the bus. The Bus has no problem with the hill. However, the bus is just as difficult as the hill. It is an elusive minx. Impossible to catch. It is like a unicorn and a leprechaun had a baby. Not in looks, but in the ease of catching... you know what I mean.<br />It has been a week, and despite the constant reassurance that there is in fact a bus at that time I have yet to see it. People in fact have claimed to ridden it. So where is this bus?<br />So, as I type this.... Seriously, where is the bus?TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-84152254446247786612010-10-01T11:21:00.000-07:002010-10-01T12:06:10.796-07:00You take the good with the badSo I really need to work on updating this a bit more. <br />The school year has begun. It is unlike any high school I have ever been in. Marusia was way to great and made controlling the students look so easy. (Side note: I hope all the best for you! Glad you got out from under that horrible woman!) Needless to say, I lack her flair. There are only 2 classes that give me any real trouble. Yet for some reason those classes last FOR-EV-ER! I think my 12th grade class would give me trouble, but I haven't seen more than 3-5 of them on any given day. This might become an issue considering they are a class of 15+ students. Not quite like my brief stint at Linden Hall. Not even the ghetto school (sorry Forrest) in Wilmington. I'm adjusting and we'll leave it at that.<br />Other than the occasional homesick for America and claustrophobia of living in such a small town life is pretty good.<br />Last weekend was a perfect example of the good and bad of Bulgaria. I was going to go to Varna to see Neil one last time before he COS-es, takes one last tour of Europe and heads back to the good ol' USA. I was going to take the train up, catch a city bus to the bus station and then walk around the malls and get some thai food. (If you haven't picked up on it, I freaking love Inter-Thai.) The morning train ride started off shitty. There was a drunk guy on the train (at 9:30 am mind you) yelling and making an ass of himself. After I had enough of it I moved to another compartment and he followed me there. Finally the train cop wandered through and after a huge ordeal kicks the guy off at the next stop. Ugh! Then as we get in to Varna it starts to rain! Well, doesn't that just suck? No worries, I'll hop on the next bus and head to the mall and meet Neil. I miss the bus by seconds and have to wait for the next one... in 20 minutes... in the rain. Given my solid even keel and patience of a saint this is no problem. I'm kidding, I flagged down the next cab passing. I meet up with Neil, Ashley and another B24 Tobias who was great company. We have a blast. Great little coffee shop and some cool stores. Head to lunch and meet up with a bunch of other volunteers. (I'm telling you, this place is like catnip for Americans). We head out to another of Varna's malls (It has THREE!?!?!) to check out an amazing store Zara and go to the grocery store in the basement. Zara might become a problem. I've never walked in to a store and liked absolutely everything (with the exception of the skinny jeans. I mean honestly... stop that). Hit the grocery store and bought cheddar cheese. Super excited for Mac and cheese. Kashkaval, bulgarian cheese, just doesn't cut it. The way back to the train station we hit another brick wall of crappiness. Neil and Ashley's train leaves in 25 min. It is only about a 10 min cab ride, so no real worries. Until we manage to get in to one of these criminal cab drivers cabs. Most cities in the modern world have easily and quickly solved the problem of being ripped off by cabs by sitting down and setting a common, across the board rate. Bulgaria hasn't gotten around to this yet and so corruption still reigns. This jerk tries to charge 20 lv for a 4lv cab ride. After a good deal of ugliness we get to the train station and Neil and Ashley make their train. It really pissed me off that what should have been the end of a wonderful day was ruined by petty greed by some jerk.<br />So, I must say sorry if this comes across as bitchy and dismal, but that's life! Darkest before dawn, keep on trucking, Vote Nader in 04 and all that. Ok, maybe not the last one. But the others work, right?TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-65755695703910469332010-09-07T01:30:00.001-07:002010-09-07T02:09:49.341-07:00Something wicked this way comes...Today was my first day of school. Like all first days at a new school it was an awkward and psyche scarring event. It also showed me how bad my bulgarian is. I am pretty sure my colluges think I am borderline retarded. It also made me realize how difficult it must be when I speak english at a million miles an hour. It was a learning experience to say the least. Tomorrow I will have a bit of a reprieve since I have to go to Varna to pick up my new Bulgarian ID. Super excited to see how bad the picture turned out.<br />2 weeks ago I was at a confrence on the other side of the country with all the other TEFLs and the CODs for a few day. It took 26 hours to get there. To put it in perspective, I could drive from pennsylvannia to florida in 26 hours. On a plane I could fly from New York to Australia. The country, however, is about the size on Tennessee. You just have to laugh.<br />The conference was a blast. It was great to see everyone and I met a lot of really cool B25s. We taught a 10th grade class at a Language High School in B-grad. The kids were great and really patent with us since, for the most part, we didn't teach them anything new. B-grad was a pretty neat town. I saw two movies, Salt and Inception, with popcorn and drinks for less than the cost of a ticket in Lancaster. Got to love that exchange rate!<br />The most fun I think was the night we all hung out on the steps drinking. Myself and 2 other volunteers organized a beer run for the whole group. We bought close to 30 2 liters, 4 or 5 bottles of Black Ram Whiskey. It was hilarious to see the look on the cashier's face when we were checking out. After that one of the B25s, Nat, broke out his guitar and serenaded us. <br />Last week there wasn't a whole lot going on. I bought a bike so now I don't have to wait for the damn bus. The only problem is that Peace Corps requires me to wear a helmet when I ride. No complaints, it is stupid not to. The problem comes in trying to find a helmet that fits my enormous head. I bought one so that I could ride it back from Provadia without being keel hauled by the PC, but it is a bit snug and gives me a headache. That combined with the 20 km ride over a mountain makes it an unpleasant journey. Also it makes me realize that despite losing weight I am still not it great shape.TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-5199191815124282352010-08-17T22:40:00.000-07:002010-08-17T22:56:44.630-07:00Home Sweet Bulgaria<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTYLERW%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTYLERW%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTYLERW%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">The past few weeks have been a series of adventures.<span style=""> </span>I was sworn in as an official Peace Corp Volunteer and moved to my new home almost 3 weeks ago. My little town is about 30 km from the coast and 60 km from Varna (the biggest town in the region).<span style=""> </span>It takes about an hour to get there by train.<span style=""> </span>The funny thing is it costs about 4 leva to get to Varna, by bus or by train, or 3 leva to get to the next town over, a 5 min bus ride.<span style=""> </span>Not quite sure how that works, but it is what it is.<span style=""> </span>There are a ton of volunteers around the region and Varna is the main hang out hub.<span style=""> </span>Plus, there is a Thai Restaurant there.<span style=""> </span>And I LOVE thai.<span style=""> </span>Not Charles though.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">My apartment is not much to look at.<span style=""> </span>It is small.<span style=""> </span>I mean really small.<span style=""> </span>My entire apartment is slightly larger than my bedroom in college.<span style=""> </span>If anyone remembers my bathroom on Wilbur st, it would be described as ‘spacious’ compared to my current one.<span style=""> </span>On the plus side it will be really easy to heat in the winter.<span style=""> </span>Just baking heats the whole place up.<span style=""> </span>The place is right off the center of town so I don’t have a far walk to get anywhere.<span style=""> </span>In fact, there is a small bazaar right outside the entrance that sells fresh fruit and vegetables.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">Other than that I have been super busy with getting settled in and starting work.<span style=""> </span>I have been working with the student council trying to make a school webpage.<span style=""> </span>Trying to do something creative by committee is not easiest and I have my natural Wolfgang patience.<span style=""> </span>However, we are making some decent progress so I am trying not to be cynical.<span style=""> </span>Other than that I am teaching some English in the afternoons and I am starting to write some grants to try and build the school a decent gym/ workout room.<span style=""> </span>It is slightly self serving since I would love a place to workout, but students have all said that it is something that they really want.<span style=""> </span>The real fun is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.<span style=""> </span>I get to do my normal summer routine, aka, playing kickball.<span style=""> </span>I have taught about 15 kids the game.<span style=""> </span>I consider this one of my more impressive feats considering my poor language skills (though I did pass the minimum requirements for Peace Corps) and the fact that the kids have no knowledge of the rules of baseball, or for that matter, a game of baseball.<span style=""> </span>Explaining everything from what a base is on up has been a real challenge.<span style=""> </span>I get to use the computer in my counterparts office a few times a week, so I spend a fair portion of that on Google translate.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">I should have internet at home sometime soon (hopefully whenever I post this is an indication).<span style=""> </span>The internet company has been promising to turn it on for a few days now.<span style=""> </span>I would describe business moving on ‘island time’.<span style=""> </span>Nothing is really rushed.<span style=""> </span>Case and point is getting my Bulgarian ID card.<span style=""> </span>It is called the Linchna Carta.<span style=""> </span>The process to issue the card takes the better part of 6-8 weeks.<span style=""> </span>Everything goes through a tiny office in Varna so there is always a sizeable line.<span style=""> </span>Last Friday, after waiting 1 week for 2 signatures, I went to get my photo taken and fingerprinted.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately it was too hot that day so the boss wasn’t in.<span style=""> </span>So, I had to go back on Monday.<span style=""> </span>Monday, however, I was taking a group of students to the beach.<span style=""> </span>So after a day on the beach and no shower I went and got my photo taken for my official Bulgarian Identity card.<span style=""> </span>My brother, Justin, has a passport photo that makes him look like he just got off a 3 day bender.<span style=""> </span>This picture makes me look like I went on a Keith Richards style 3 day bender.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">I’m still losing weight like crazy, which I love.<span style=""> </span>I have scaled back the running.<span style=""> </span>It is way too hot and I don’t have Tessa here to make me go.<span style=""> </span>That and there is no good area to run.<span style=""> </span>The track in Knezha was really nice and the hill we would run up was a lot of fun.<span style=""> </span>Here the track is super over grown and I am not supposed to run outside of town due to wild dog attacks.<span style=""> </span>This leaves running through town and up and down the hill that the town is built on.<span style=""> </span>I have a good circuit to run, but the stares and pointing are a bit uncomfortable.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">This past sunday I went to a near by town for lunch and to hang out with the other volunteers around. There are 3 volunteers in the next town over, but no easy way to get there till I buy a bike. The town is only about 7-8 km away, but on the other side of a mountain, so to get there is about 20 km so I have to take a bus. Sadly, there are only 2 buses a day, a morning one and an afternoon one. There are no set times for the bus. The morning one comes between 7:30 and 8, so I try and get that one, but the afternoon comes pretty sporadically. After I get there we run up to see this ancient fort above the town, both grab showers and meet the other volunteers for coffee. Then grocery store!! I am really missing big grocery stores. Wegmans, Whole Foods, Stauffer's. I would even settle for a Weis. The one we went to was like an Aldi's but compaired to the stores in my town it was epic. I will def have to make a monthly trip there to stock up. So after a really excellent lunch we check the bus times. There is one at 6pm. Perfect! So around 5:45 I get to bus stop only to find the bus came and went about 20 min ago. The bus came a full half hour early! So I had to take a taxi (rather pricey) back home. All and all it was still a pretty great little adventure!
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style="font-family: arial;">That’s all for now!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-2586458475911876002010-07-02T22:00:00.000-07:002010-07-02T22:40:56.775-07:00So It has been awhileSorry to everyone! I haven't updated in a long time. It has been absolutely crazy. So, biggest news first. I got my site placement!<br />I will be spending the next 2 years of my life in a very small town about an hour away from Varna (Bulgaria's big beach resort). Peace Corps asks that we don't put our exact locations, but skype or e-mail me if you would like. My school is pretty cool. It has a ton of old USSR emblems and stuff around from when it was first built. The flag stand that has the EU flag has a little sycle and hammer on the top which I found really amusing. My apartment is small, about 15X20 but I have a balcony and a washing machine so I am pretty happy about that! Plus there are a lot of really cool people near by to visit. A lot of my really good friends are spread out around the country so I will be seeing a lot of the country over the next few years!<br />So other than eagerly awaiting swearing in on July 23 there has been a ton going on. The school year finished and our summer school program began. Tessa and I are teaching improv and acting. I am also helping with Drew's class on American Football. So we have Bulgarian Language lessons in the morning and then teach all afternoon. About 5 I start homework and study. Running with Tessa about 7. Dinner around 9pm and then bed around 10:30-11.<br />The PCV in town, Neil, left yesterday for the summer. He is teaching at an all English Summer camp for the next month and we will have left for site by the time he gets back. I am really going to miss having him around. He has been great to sit and have a beer with and hear what Peace Corps are really like. Neil has been so great for helping with any questions and just to hang out with.<br />We hung out with the British folks again to watch the England v Germany World Cup game. I have found myself already slipping into calling it football. It was a disappointing game, but I have Germany v Brazil for the final game so I was secretly happy! It really is amazing that I never really gave a damn about watching sports before, but now I jump at the chance to get together to watch them. Plus a bunch of PCVs rent out an English Pub in Varna and get together to watch the Super Bowl every year. <br />On the home front I think my family is coming over to my neck of the woods for Christmas. The tentative plan right now is to meet in Istanbul (which is only like a 3 hour train ride for me). Justin might come over early and maybe see a little of Greece if I can get the time off from school. Otherwise I think I will be traveling a bunch next summer. A flight from Varna to Rome is only $120 round trip and to Germany is about $150. In comparison, the train would only be about $75, but it would take close to 9 hours (The trains through eastern europe are not what one would call quick). So plenty of time to plan and think about it, but if you are in Europe next summer, drop me a line!TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-25180954373519958932010-06-13T10:21:00.001-07:002010-06-13T11:57:15.428-07:00One of those amazing storiesToday Tessa, Kerri and I met to do our lesson plans and study a bit at the cafe. After 2 hours or so we finish up and see our partner teacher, Marusia, come in with a few people. She points us out and one of the gentlemen walk over and tells us in perfect british english how lucky we Americans were in the world cup game. WHAT?!?! First of all, yeah, but second, you speak english?!?! We join them for a drink and this guy starts telling us that they just moved to Bulgaria to be near their daughter who moved here to start a horse farm. As we talk he tells us that he runs an internet radio station. So naturally we ask how he got into something kind of random like that. "oh" he says "I've been in radio since I was 17. It was me and a couple of friends that started pirate radio in Britian back in the day".<br />Umm... What?<br />Yeah, it was a blast. We used to sail up the coast and to take requests. We had people flash it out in Morris Code with their headlights. I was great till eventually they cut our anchor and towed us in to be tried.<br />Ok, my opinion of this guy just jumped tenfold!<br />So after that I started working at the BBC since they had no idea how run popular music. So I did that for the start of rock and roll. Yeah, I worked their for a bunch of years as a DJ and ran/ hosted their summer concert series at all the beaches in Britian.<br />AMAZING!!!!!!<br />So the highlights of his life after that:<br />1. He toured the world MC-ing and opening for a bunch of acts during the British Invasion<br />2. Moved to Australia and ran a radio station there<br />3. Moved to Spain and started a radio station there<br />4. Moved back to England in Canterbury and opened a hotel that was ranked #3 in all England<br />5. Moved back to Spain and started the internet radio station<br />So when his daughter decided to move to Bulgaria to train horses he decided to pack up and move there as well. He lives in a town about 20 kilometers from us. <br />He was absolutely an amazing guy and the stories that he and the rest of the group hinted at sound fascinating. I can't wait to hang out with them again.<br />Haha, so just one more thing to the list that Marusia has given us here!TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-64768963326315541672010-06-06T02:24:00.000-07:002010-06-06T03:33:21.249-07:00When in RomeSo the expression "When is Rome" is not a common expression. In fact, it is basiclly unheard of over here. So, if you have seen Anchorman, it was just like that sence. The cross-culture and language are creating some histeracal situations. Case and point, the other night I was being asked if I have ever heard of Sex in the City. Yes, I have heard of it. So topic moves on and I don't think anymore of it. Saturday rolls around and I get a phone call from my host brother that they got me a ticket for THE movie. Umm... what? That conversation had been about if I LIKED Sex in the City. I can honestly say I have never seen more than 10 min of it, but hey, this is supposed to be an adventure, right?<br />The last few weeks have been uber hectic, but over all I am having a blast. My Bulgarian is coming along slowly, but I am definitely understanding a lot more. I really don't think that there is a language that would be harder than English, but Bulgarian seems to be a close second. Every single grammar lesson is 5 min of going over the rule and then 2 hours of the exceptions to rule. F!<br /> We started teaching at the local school, first in pairs then going solo. My first lesson was on my hometown to the 5th grade classes. Since it is damn near impossible to explain the Amish over here I've just been saying I'm from Philly. A whole lot easier! Otherwise I have been teaching everything from vocab to grammar to leading discussions. Everyday is something different!<br /> I've started running with another volunteer, Tessa. It is great to have another person the run with so that I don't dog it and actually go the distance. There is also a gym in town that Neal, the PCV that is stationed here was able to get us into. It is great to be able to workout since I would be getting super fat off the food here.<br /> I don't think there is a Bulgarian translation for cooking light. All the food is full fat and full flavor. The other morning I had french toast the was fried in lard and covered in strawberry jelly. Talk about a sitting like a rock in my stomach! And every meal is bigger than my normal dinner in the US. Lunch is a full 3 course meal! But over all there are only a few things that I don't care for so no real problems. I do miss regular salads, but I bought lettuce seeds so once I get to my permanent site (so freaking excited/nervous to find out) I hope to grow a bit.<br /> Speaking of permanent sites we have the interviews this week for the PC to find out what are preferences are and what would be the best fit. I am really hoping for a medium size site like the size of the town I am in now, but honestly I am up for anything.TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-51515589238968030202010-05-24T06:50:00.000-07:002010-06-06T03:34:19.203-07:00Graduation and Prom... What was that?!?!?!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">So</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Friday</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Marusia</span></span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">aka</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">nicest</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">person</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ever</span></span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">english</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">teacher</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">invited</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">us</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">graduation</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Friday</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">It</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">supposed</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">start</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">at</span></span> 9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">or</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">so</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">but</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">didn</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">get</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">rolling</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">till</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">like</span></span> 10 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">normal</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Bulgarian</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">fashion</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">The</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">beginning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">the</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">lack</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">of</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">better</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">word</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">ceremony</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">outside</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">most</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">underclassmen</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">in</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">attendance</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">They</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">did</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">normal</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">awards</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">whatnot</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">Then</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">as</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">wrapping</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">up</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">the</span></span> 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">th</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">grade</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">went</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">downstairs</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">basement</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">prepare</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">rest</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">ceremony</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">Being</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">guests</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">honor</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">we</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">were</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">first</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">down</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">stairs</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">The</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">first</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">thing</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">hit</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">me</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">bumping</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">techno</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">blasting</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">up</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">stairs</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">We</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">head</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">downstairs</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">of</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">soviet</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">era</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">high</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">school</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">find</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">scene</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">would</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">not</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">be</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">out</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">place</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">in</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">Vegas</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">nightclub</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">The</span></span> 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">th</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">grade</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">girls</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">were</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">dancing</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">tables</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">along</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">wall</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">with</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">cheerleaders</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">both</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">sides</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">After</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">there</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">were</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">bunch</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">skits</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">highlights</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">being</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">video</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">kids</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">pretending</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">be</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">drunk</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">getting</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">prostitute</span></span>, 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">guys</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">doing</span></span> a "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">Full</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">Monty</span></span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">routine</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">and</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">lot</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">that</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">really</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">didn</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">understand</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">but</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">were</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">hilarious</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">anyways</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">Oh</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">like</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">at</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">all</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">good</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">graduations</span></span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">guy</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">getting</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">tag</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">team</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">lap</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">dance</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">Yeaaaah</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">it</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">wasn</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">Pomp</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">Circumstance</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">used</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">to</span></span>.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">That</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">night</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">went</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">to</span></span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">graduation</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">party</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">one</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">girls</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">Mila</span></span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">sat</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">at</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">kids</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">table</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">directly</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">across</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">next</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">to</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">students</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">will</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">be</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">teaching</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">on</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">Weds</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">Awkward</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">much</span></span>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">That</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">didn</span></span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">stop</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">them</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">from</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">slamming</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">some</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">beers</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">These</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">things</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">will</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">happen</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">That</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">whole</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">night</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">like</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">nothing</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">have</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">ever</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">expereienced</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">The</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">savior</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">night</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">an</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">adorible</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">little</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">girl</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">that</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">spoke</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">really</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">great</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">english</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">and</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">helped</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">translate</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">for</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">me</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">Towards</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">end</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">of</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">the</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">night</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">was</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">introduced</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">gold</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">medal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">winner</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">deadlift</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">the</span> 1980 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">games</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">just</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">massive</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">human</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">being</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">but</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">sweet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">guy</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">drank</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">of</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">beer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">holding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">headlock</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">Hilarious</span>.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">So</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">brings</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">Saturday</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">Prom</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">orginally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">supposed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">actually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">prom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">Mila</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">thankfully</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">changed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">around</span>. (A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">note</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">schools</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">start</span> 1<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">st</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">grade</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">at</span> 7-8 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">are</span> 19-20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">graduation</span>). I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">having</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">beer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">Neal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">high</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">school</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">theirs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">so</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">prepared</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">rest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">seeing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">white</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">pleather</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">irradenscent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">suits</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">group</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">outfits</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">guys</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">mixed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">guido</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">jersey</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">fashion</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">thought</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">awesome</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">the</span> 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">th</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">grade</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">amazing</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">girls</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">dressed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">clubbing</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">And</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">class</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">about</span> 40, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">girls</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">gorgous</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">mean</span>, 9s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">higher</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">kinda</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">understand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">whole</span> 1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">in</span> 10 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">PCV</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">come</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">married</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">that</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">So</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">the</span> prom only started at like 9 so we ordered our salads. That was the only thing we got to eat that night. The 4 hour dinners here are an understatement. We left at 1am and people still weren't done. I also found out I am not a fan of the bulgarian pop music. It doesn't have a normal beat so I always feel uncomfortable dancing. So after a few rounds of beer and dancing some of the PCVs were tired and I walked them home and then we went to the disco.<br />Niq, Drew's host sister, and her friends met Drew, Kerri and I there. Again, beautiful. So after another 2 hours of techno we called it a night. One of the most sureal weekends I have had.<br /><br />P.S. If there are spelling and or grammer mistakes please forgive me. I am typing all these on my host family's computer and bulgarian spell check really doesn't help all that much.TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-44376390373506910212010-05-22T01:03:00.000-07:002010-05-22T01:24:41.517-07:00Bulgaria So Far.Wow. This place can be so unreal some times. To start off with, we have peacocks in the backyard. Yeah, how sweet is that? It was windy and cold the first few days, so with that giant tail acting as a sail they were constantly getting tossed around the cage. They would have been fine if they put down the tail (then they could fit in the sweet peacock coup) but the females were around so they didn't. It was hilarious.<br />Despite trying very hard not to make assumtions about Bulgraia I made a few without realizing it. The first of many was about the high school. Now I know it wasn't going to be Manhiem Township's Taj Mahal of learning or Linden Hall's beautiful grounds so there wasn't much of a suprise there. It was pretty much what I expected of a soviet era school, complete with creepy murals everywhere. They will haunt my dreams, no joke. It was the lack of safety that completely blew me away. We were held in a classroom for the first periods before the english classes started and to meet some teachers. Well, once word got out where we were at the kids wanted to see us. After the first dozen pop-ins the door was locked. So that left the windows. On the third floor. So the closest windows they opened and looked around the corner. The further windows they were hanging completely out the windows with (I am assuming again) someone holding their feet. WTF!?!?! <br />The next time graduation, grad parties, and prom.TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-57660176746400927952010-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:002010-05-18T06:10:41.227-07:00Knezha!Hey!<br />So one week ago I was getting dropped off in Philly. What a difference a week makes. We got to the hotel in the mountains which was pretty sweet. The problem was it was above 6,000 ft so I was kinda having some trouble with the altitude. Other than that it was a blast, but really intense. I had language classes, culture classes, safety classes and every possible other class. After that we took a 4 hour bus site to meet my host family, Tsvetana, Lambrin and Plamen. Thank god Plamen's GF was there b/c she speaks perfect english. However, once she left the fun began. I don't know if I fully appreciated the difficulty of the language barrier until I tried to explain the Amish to them. I don't know, but I thought it was kinda funny. I am 90% sure they have no idea what I was trying to say, but we will get there. The next day we registered with the police (I have my passports btw) and bought our cell phones, met the local PCV and hung out. Tomorrow I visit my first Bulgarian classroom. Next post will be some of the hilarious stories so far. <br />Later!TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808168474968465694.post-56569095264574692502010-05-12T12:01:00.000-07:002010-05-12T12:48:12.665-07:00FIRST POST!!!Wow. So I made it. Bulgaria.<br />So many good things and, naturally, a few that really suck.<br />We all met on Monday in Philly (which was so nice since everyone in the US flew to my city). After 7 hours of meetings we went out in the city for mexican at el fez and then bars with Justin. The next morning I woke up at 5 am and was terrified of oversleeping, despite the wake up call and alarm, and way too excited to sleep. So, from there we had the disaster of loading everyone on to the buses to JFK. At JFK I was told that I would have to check my carry-on duffle and that it would be an extra 200. Well, crap. After argueing with the guy at the counter I got the fee waived. From JFK to Munich and then to Sofia I cannot say enough good things about Lufthansa. Good food, decent seats (I had the middle on the long leg), and absolutely gorgeous stewardesses. Seriously, they were all 9s or above.<br />Once in Sofia things hit their first snag. We overloaded the plane (see above) and about half of the bags did not arrive. So no big deal, they will be there tomorrow and someone from peace corps will collect it. So then we boarded another bus to take us to the mountain resort (I use that term loosely, but it is still decent). 2 hour drive south to we went from flat, to small hills, to some decent mtns, then to the huge monsters that we are on now. It was beautiful on the drive, but just off the road you could see the poverty of the region. <br />So the bad news, at some point after filing a claim on the missing luggage and the hotel my passport went missing. Super pissed to say the least. For now they are telling me to hang tight and wait while they check the bus and everywhere. :( I may get to have a fun trip to Sofia on Saturday. <br />Otherwise I am meeting a ton of really cool people and having a blast. Will update some more this week and keep everyone up to date. However, I am crashing after a day without sleep.<br />Leka nosht (Good Night)TylerWolganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10229326140146422757noreply@blogger.com0