Weeks of Work
My time has been full. I've been involved in various projects and a tapestry of activity. I have met with local community groups and leaders and have laid the foundation of what I hope will be a harmonious experience in Stara Zagora. The mayor remains rather aloof, but he dashes here and there to so many events and meetings, his time might just be too full to pay too much attention to the American. The waste management of the city could use some work, and I'm trying to use my resources to get modern programs started here.
Last week at the Russian Language School, I gave a lecture on the spread of HIV/AIDS and the importance of prevention to an assembly of about 75 teens. The lecture was given in English and broken Bulgarian. Luckily, my Translator showed up and and I could give a more comprehensive presentation. It went very well and I was asked to come back to lecture on prostitution and human trafficking. I'm preparing the lecture now and will prent it next week. The children were attentive and interested at the last lecture, and they ask relevant, important questions. I hope that will be the case next week as well. My English classes continue, and I am now including English Christmas songs in the curriculum. They say the music is a little bit strange, but when they translate the words, they enjoy the songs.
Last thursday I accompanied local officials and inspectors on a tour of orphanages in the Balkan Mountains. Some are well kept and well managed. The children are generally confident, lively and friendly at these places. The visit felt like coming to a home, and the children would welcome the visitors. Bear in mind the children are raised in these orphanages, often for many years; it should feel 'lived in' and comfortable.
We visited a home for metally disturbed children without families, however, and it was shockingly bad. It was raining and there was water on every floor, rivulets of water ran down the stairwell. It was cold inside, and the odor that lingered throughout the building was heavy with mold and mildew. I didn't go in the bathrooms because there was water on the floor 2 inches deep. When we went into the director's office and sat on his couch, one of the women I was with pulled out a 2 1/2 foot stick from beneath the cushions. I suspected (and was later told) that it was used to whip the problem boys.
One boy was ushered into the office and interviewed. He did not look anybody directly in the eye and he hung his head, choking back shivers throughout the interview. When asked, he said he liked it there and didn't need anything. He said he liked to play outside and throw rocks. The lawyer who was with us led the director out of the room after which we repeated the questions. The boy gave the same answers anyway. When the director came back in, we gave the boy a bag of presents to share with the rest of the children, but the director took the bag from the boy (who didn't resist at all) and said that the goodies would be shared at dinner. I have a picture of the boy's terrified face.
When we visited the dormitory room, there were no switches, the windows did not open, there were no light bulbs and the linoleum was so old that there were pieces of it broken off and friable mastic everywhere. We looked in the closets and the kids had nothing. An extra sweater or jacket, two extra pairs of socks and underwear and maybe an item or two, like a toy car or army man. That's it. When we left, the boy who had been interviewed said, "I want to come with you now." He was willing to come along, away with us (strangers) with nothing but the clothes on his back and no place to go. It was one of the most achingly pathetic things I have ever seen. I later found out that he had come from Stara Zagora.
Last week at the Russian Language School, I gave a lecture on the spread of HIV/AIDS and the importance of prevention to an assembly of about 75 teens. The lecture was given in English and broken Bulgarian. Luckily, my Translator showed up and and I could give a more comprehensive presentation. It went very well and I was asked to come back to lecture on prostitution and human trafficking. I'm preparing the lecture now and will prent it next week. The children were attentive and interested at the last lecture, and they ask relevant, important questions. I hope that will be the case next week as well. My English classes continue, and I am now including English Christmas songs in the curriculum. They say the music is a little bit strange, but when they translate the words, they enjoy the songs.
Last thursday I accompanied local officials and inspectors on a tour of orphanages in the Balkan Mountains. Some are well kept and well managed. The children are generally confident, lively and friendly at these places. The visit felt like coming to a home, and the children would welcome the visitors. Bear in mind the children are raised in these orphanages, often for many years; it should feel 'lived in' and comfortable.
We visited a home for metally disturbed children without families, however, and it was shockingly bad. It was raining and there was water on every floor, rivulets of water ran down the stairwell. It was cold inside, and the odor that lingered throughout the building was heavy with mold and mildew. I didn't go in the bathrooms because there was water on the floor 2 inches deep. When we went into the director's office and sat on his couch, one of the women I was with pulled out a 2 1/2 foot stick from beneath the cushions. I suspected (and was later told) that it was used to whip the problem boys.
One boy was ushered into the office and interviewed. He did not look anybody directly in the eye and he hung his head, choking back shivers throughout the interview. When asked, he said he liked it there and didn't need anything. He said he liked to play outside and throw rocks. The lawyer who was with us led the director out of the room after which we repeated the questions. The boy gave the same answers anyway. When the director came back in, we gave the boy a bag of presents to share with the rest of the children, but the director took the bag from the boy (who didn't resist at all) and said that the goodies would be shared at dinner. I have a picture of the boy's terrified face.
When we visited the dormitory room, there were no switches, the windows did not open, there were no light bulbs and the linoleum was so old that there were pieces of it broken off and friable mastic everywhere. We looked in the closets and the kids had nothing. An extra sweater or jacket, two extra pairs of socks and underwear and maybe an item or two, like a toy car or army man. That's it. When we left, the boy who had been interviewed said, "I want to come with you now." He was willing to come along, away with us (strangers) with nothing but the clothes on his back and no place to go. It was one of the most achingly pathetic things I have ever seen. I later found out that he had come from Stara Zagora.
posted by AlexinBulgaria at 1:22 AM
4 Comments:
I visited some of the orphanages while I was there...had simliar experiences.
Try not to bring home any orphans, Alex.
My beloved brother... I want to say something great, but all I can think is I don't know how you handle seeing something like that. I'm always proud of you, Alex, and so glad that someone like you is out there helping things get better.
Alex, what is your official title or job description now? People keep asking me.
Love your sister
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