March: Things Are Heating Up (Literally and Figuratively)

Champions for the 2nd time! 

March was a really busy and, frankly, crazy month for me, especially the last week, which I guess was technically half April, but I don't really care :)

Pernik Tournament 

The tournament in Pernik (March 5-6) feels like a lifetime ago, although it was only a month ago. It was much easier to get to the tournament because we traveled by train, although my stress level peaked when 5 minutes before the train was due to depart, some of the students were still not there. Luckily, everyone made it in time. Because we were late to the fall tournament, I was determined to not be late to this tournament, In fact, we got to the school before BEST was even there...Sorry kids for that 6 am train ride.

But we got there with enough time to relax before the first round, which was definitely a plus. As always, the students did amazingly and took first place. They also had a surprise celebration for my birthday which included cake, a pie in the face (thanks Stefie), and a ton of amazing gifts. The best gift, though, was seeing them all perform and win again.

I will remember this when doing your semester grades. And I see all of you in the background who are laughing!

US Embassy Visit

This one was a surprise. I got a call (which is unusual here) from an unknown number (even more unusual). I answered it and was frightened to here, "Hello, I am calling from the United States Embassy in Sofia." What have I done? I thought to myself. It was a frightening 0.3 seconds before she explained that some Embassy staff members would be in Blagoevgrad the following Tuesday. She asked if I would set up a sort-of school visit for the staff. Athena (my predecessor) had done this before, she said. Knowing Athena's planning skills, that was little comfort.

What we ended up doing worked out quite well, although it involved running around the school on Thursday and Friday getting different students to agree to be in different rooms at different times.

First, let me say that the US Embassy is super-intense about their security. When the French ambassador came, it was like "Oh hey." But the US Embassy needed a full list of all students who would be in attendance, and the security detail came an hour before the staff. And the ambassador wasn't even coming himself!

In order to make the security measures easier (they had to check all the rooms we would meet in), we only meet in 2 rooms instead of the staff going around to different classrooms. The staff was met by two 11th grade students dressed in traditional Bulgarian outfits with the traditional food greeting.

From there, the staff and I met with the school director and my mentor teacher in the director's office. After that, I went and got several of the speech and debate students who came into the director's office and spoke about BEST and how our school has done with the tournaments this year. 

After that, the staff and I moved to the teachers room, where 50 selected students were waiting (very patiently). Strangely, the BEST students who had been in the director's office were not allowed into the teacher's room. Security, again, was intense. 

This was my favorite part because students got to ask a ton of questions of the staff. They asked about NATO, refugees, American stereotypes, and the challenges of working as a diplomat in Bulgaria (and elsewhere). The staff answered all of their questions truthfully and, well, diplomatically. 

US Qualifying Tournament 

This tournament was, thank God, in Blagoevgrad. It's a lot easier to wake up in your own bed and walk over to a tournament. And to not have to deal with school/travel paperwork. 

The US Qualifying tournament allows Bulgarian students to compete in the NSDA (US) Championships which are held every June, this year in Salt Lake City. The only events that can qualify are original oratory (a basic speech) and duo. Each team is allowed 4 entries for each event. 

While all of our students did well (we had 2 finalist duos and 1 finalist oratory), Kari and Nansi (12th graders) took first place in the duo with an amazing performance of a piece about human and sex trafficking. Every time I saw it, I got goosebumps. Mario Mateev and Marieta Milusheva (11th graders) took 2nd place in duo. Again, goosebumps. Judges later told me the difference between 1st and 2nd was a tough choice. But both teams gave each other huge hugs and were happy for each other. 

It was tough to see some hard-working students not qualify, but the level of competition was fierce. Dealing with losses is a challenge that I have had to deal with, but never as a coach. So that was a real learning experience for me. 

Duo finalists: Marieta and Mario on the left, and Kari and Nansi to the right of them

The Rest of March 

And at the end of all of this, I got some sort of horrible cold or flu or allergies. Whatever it was, it had me coughing so hard that Smokey was concerned. And it's not as easy as walking to Walgreens to get some medicine here. All medicine is at an apteka, or pharmacy. After a failed attempt at getting what I needed at the apteka, Lollie and Yoana went with me to one and got me what I needed: cough syrup. It has helped tremendously. 

It has also helped that last Friday started spring break, so I have gotten to do a lot of lying around trying to get healthy. I am headed off to Thessaloniki, Greece (Greece's 2nd largest city) tomorrow so that I have some semblance of a spring break. But couch + Netflix + Smokey wasn't a bad first half. 

I also decided that I will be going to Cornell Law next year instead of staying in Bulgaria a second year (ETAs here are allowed to apply for a second year). It will be hard to leave (reverse culture shock is apparently a thing), but I am excited for the next chapter. I've begun speaking with my replacement ETA and telling her all about life here. It's so hard to believe that there are only a few months left. It feels like I'm just learning how to get things done. Kind of. It also feels like only a few months ago that we all landed in Sofia with no idea what we were in for.

But of course, there is still a lot of work here to be done. 

Speaking of which, registration for Speech & Debate Nationals are due tomorrow...

Your duo champions!