CAS meeting

On 24^th February we had a CAS meeting where we organized the activities for 1^st March. We recounted the martenitsi we had made and separated them for the students of the college and for the people from the local resident home. We also discussed the program we are going to perform there.

Actually the most interesting thing of that meeting was on other topic. We talked about the Street Parade in our city which takes place on 22^nd March. Actually we are going to be part of it this year. As I understood we will give everybody we meet (because there are thousands of people on the parade) small piece of papers with written thoughts onto them. I love this day, it is the time when people group and celebrate. Every year I have a lot of fun and good memories. The ironic thing about that day is that it always rains on it.

There are other things connected with 22^nd but I won’t talk about them now. It will be a surprise. =)

Here is a link with pictures from the last year parade:
http://www.disco.bg/NewSite/index.php/parties/details/2780
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any English website

Yoga class 

On 23^rd February I had yoga class. It was only my teacher and I that day so I was nervous because I thought it would be awkward. Fortunately, it wasn’t. Actually it was the best yoga class I’ve ever had. We talked about the everyday life, the pressure I had and the ways to prevent it. We made my favourite exercises like Cobra pose which is part of the Sun Salutation:

http://yoga.about.com/od/yogaposes/a/cobra.htm

http://yoga.about.com/od/yogasequences/a/sunsalutations.htm

This time I was prepared for taking some pictures but there was nobody to take them. Isn’t it ironic? This is not that important. The best thing is that I had a great time of relaxation and I felt much better after the class.

Making martenitsi

On 21st February I had a task to do. I had to make martenitsi for 1st March. As I mentioned before it is a Bulgarian holiday. I don't want to repeat my words but I'm attaching a link to wikipedia where you can find more about the holiday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martenitsa

Making martenitsi is quite boring and I'm not really into it but I love the holiday because it symbolizes the coming spring and I know that soon I will go on walks in the parks and watch the blossoming of the trees.

Our work will be given away on 1st March to everybody in our school and of course for the people from the local resident home.

Creativity class

On 17^th February we had the funniest creativity class. We made a model that looked as a tree for the 1^st March which is a Bulgarian holiday for the coming soon spring. On this day the old ladies put on the children's wrist a bracelet called martenitsa for health and luck through the year. Our model is for the old people from the local resident home. This year we will be their guests on the holiday too. We had a great time making it. We were a little irritable and joked with the others' work which made us laugh all the time. Probably it was the nice weather that made us so cheerful and enthusiastic but the result was simply perfect!

A link from our site:
http://www.ac-arcus.com/?lng=EN&mod=events&show=257

Saint Valentine’s Day

The big day! We all expected it with a lot of enthusiasm. The day of love! In the morning we put pink wings and went everywhere in the school to give free love! The atmosphere was so pleasant and filled with positive energy. Every day should be St. Valentine’s! We gave the ordered cards in every classroom and it was so funny and sweet at the same time. Everybody was so happy and excited!

After classes we went in the municipality where we gave cards to everyone, because these people are the one, who help us through the year and make our city beautiful. This year and the previous one also Veliko Tarnovo was reported to be the most romantic city in the country.

After this we went to the office of one of the local newspapers we work with.

Everywhere everyone was happy to see us and to have such a nice surprise.  

As a whole the day couldn’t be better!

Training

On 10^th February there was the second meeting of the “European Volunteer Corps”. I expected it to be organizational, but it was quite an interesting one. There was a psychologist and a journalist on the meeting. It was divided into three parts. The first one was with the psychologist, one very friendly and nice woman. She had prepared some games for us, the main aim of which was to get known with each other and to understand why actually we are there. I really think it was useful and I had a great fun at the same time. I met new people, put the beginning of new friendships, I find people like me, people who want to help. The second part was with the journalist. As I am interested in journalism and writing it was the best part for me. She talked about the media as a whole and the journalists in particular. I want to meet her soon and to talk with her about her job. The third part was the organizational part. There was nothing interesting, the formal stuff. And this was the four our training, all in all, I had a great time!

Selling Valentine’s cards

From 7^th to 11^th February we were selling the Valentine’s cards we made the week before. Everybody who has a partner or just liked them could buy one. The best thing was that there is not only one type, but four with different messages in everyone. The initial idea was that everybody could send a card through us and on 14^th the loved one to get it. It was not that successful as I expected probably because they were all shy. Only around ten students sent a card to someone, the other part preferred to just to buy some.

The most romantic person turned out to be our math teacher. He had his own message and asked us if we can do one special for his wife and of course we agreed! It was the sweetest thing of the week. Good job, mister! Wish you all the love in the world!

Local project

On 7^th February the new edition of our newspaper came out. It was all about St. Valentine’s Day and one Bulgarian holiday that is also celebrated on 14^th February – Trifon Zarezan. It is the day of wine. So in this month everybody is drunk either from love or wine. The atmosphere is everywhere. Spring is being felt. We were all excited about love of course. I was so inspired and I wrote a story about the average day of the one that has fallen in love.  I’m all in love!

And in the spirit of the holiday I will cite:

 “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” - Mother Teresa

If not for you, I’d be adrift;

I don’t know what I’d do;

I’d be searching for my other half;

Incomplete, if not for you.

By Joanna Fuchs

CAS meeting

On 3^rd February we had our first CAS meeting for the second term. We corrected our planning pages, discussed some formal stuff. It was kind of boring. I hate talking about something and doing nothing about it at the time. After this part we actually did something! We created love messages and for St. Valentine’s Day. It turned out that they became very sweet and I hope everybody will like them.