България

Earlier in the month, HPR and I presented at Shmoo's pre-K class for Peace Corps week. Well, HPR did most of the presenting, since he is the one who owns a traditional Bulgarian costume and learned how to play the gaida. 

[Not pictured: All of Shmoo's classmates covering their ears. The school has a rule preventing publication of photos of the students.]

I got to hold an abbreviated-napped Roo as I tried to teach the steps to the Bulgarian hora and braid martenitsi with the kids. We love Shmooie's classmates and teachers. Shmoo beamed in pride that his parents were in his class. Once da Roo abandoned her clinginess, she had fun playing with the big kids (photo below doesn't show faces, so it goes in. Also, note the martenitsi on the wrists!). It was a great day.

[The kid in yellow later asked me whether Shmoo's beat-up water bottle is "what Bulgarians use to drink out of."]

Later in the week, we learned that Shmoo's classmates who go to Head Start were telling their bus driver all about Bulgaria. "Their flag has red, green, and white stripes!" "Look, I have a martenitsa - you wear it in spring until you see a stork! Then you tie it on a fruit tree!" "Yogurt is from Bulgaria!" 

Just after I heard this, the bus driver came into the classroom and introduced herself to me. She is from Bulgaria (the rose capital) and has lived in Frederick for ten years.

I can't help imagining it. Say you're a green-card immigrant from a country that most Americans know nothing about. You drive a bus full of rambunctious 4- and 5-year-olds. Then out of nowhere the kids start telling you details about your homeland's customs and heritage. Our years of service were worth it just to have the opportunity to give someone that kind of surprise.

Peace Corps turns 50 next year. We'll probably continue to do Bulgaria presentations until the kids beg us to stop. Which will probably be just a few short years from now. Embarrassing your kid: the easiest job you'll ever love.

Comments

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=548024858]

Great story, Julie, especially about the bus driver.

[Gretel Enck]

That was just the laugh I needed this morning. I need to hear these stories. Why am I doing this? It will all be revealed. Thank you.

[ratphooey]

1. LOVE the Bulgarian bus driver story. LOVE it.

2. HPR looks grand in his Bulgarian attire!

[Bearina]

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears - but definitely a small, small world. Wonderful story! I was thinking of Bulgaria recently on International Women's Day, when you greeted me at the Sofia airport with a bouquet of flowers. What a great moment!

Love the HPR photo, too. I wonder if we still have that somewhat-drunk-on-oh-so-delicious-Melnik-wine video bit where (egged on by our parents) we asked him when he was going to marry you. He was probably not prepared for the family humor at that stage in your relationship. Anyway, you two were excellent tour guides and I'd go again.

[S Gazzetti]

The coincidence with the bus driver is really touching. Among the kids I teach there is a definite sense of a sort of reverse-nationalism inferiority complex about Bulgaria's position in the world, and it's good to know you and HPR are out there spreading the word. Great story. I wish I could hear him on the гаида!

[Katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com]

I happened upon this while doing research for my own blog. Enjoyed this post very much, thanks so much for sharing. Especially liked the part where the kids cover their ears during the gaida playing....my daughter says that instrument gives her a headache (I happen to love it).

You are doing a great job educating these little ones! Bulgaria is a place that most people in the States know little about, and the Martenitsa tradition is one that I love. One little thing: Bulgarian dance is called "horo." (The term "hora" is used for a circle dance in Romania and Israel.

BTW My daughter is studying to be a preschool teacher, and I will be showing this to her :)

[Katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com]

Here is the link to my blog if you're interested:

http://katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com/