The New Year

Happy New Year to everyone, or "Chestito v Nova Goudina!"

I chose to stay in Stara Zagora to celebrate the New Year with my fabulous site mates. To mark the occasion, I decided to cook Indian food for the entire group. It has become very important to me to share life with my friends here. Larry, Jessie, Matt, Jennifer and I met in the early evening at Larry's apartment near the city center. I had spent time preparing potatoes, dressings, and chopping vegetables at may apartment to bring to Larry's to cook (so that the food would be fresh and hot when served). I made a sweet/spicy tomato chili mustard sauce (which worked well), chicken spiced rice (which worked), breaded chicken curry (which was pretty good), mint/green pepper/coriander sauce (which was too tart, but good on the rice), potatoes and yoghurt, and a coconut laurel steak (which didn't work - I forgot the laurel leaves), and my plans for Naan bread didn't work - I ran out of time. Still, I'm proud of the dinner, and my friends seemed happy.

The celebrations at midnight lasted for over an hour and included local neighborhood fireworks displays, gunshots, a municipality show from the Obshtinata (City hall) and sparklers from Larry's balcony. It was a very pleasant evening. Most of the rest of the time, the five of us played card games and Yahtzee, talked, drank wine and a little rakiya and danced. I'm truly thankful to have such friends.

On that note, I want to thank friends and family for all of the messages, emails, gifts, and general love and support that has come my way from the States. I should never feel alone with such a community of good, caring folk. As I continue work over here, I want everyone to realize that you, my friends and family, are an important part of this experience. I share what I can with pictures, American foods like Beef or Turkey Jerkey (which they LOVE), wheat crackers and cheese spread, cookies, and more. They mostly want to hear about you, so I share the tapestry of experiences, jobs, problems, and life that I have known through you. Don't worry, I keep these mostly general, anonymous and anecdotal, and discreet. For many of the children I work with, it seems that hearing about how similar people and lives are across the world is empowering. It may help them understand that they are part a very human global community and feel closer to its resources.

Ciao, all. I hope that in 2006 you will continue to learn, find meaning and purpose, be healthy and cheerful, love and be loved, and live a good life.