I've saved the best until last -- the students of UNWE. They are the main reason we came to Bulgaria. And they did not disappoint. When we were asked what was the highlight of our trip, it was easy to answer: "The people of Bulgaria!" No one made us more welcome than the students and faculty. Between 13 and 25 attended our evening classes each night for two weeks. In our first class I said, "Bulgaria might as well be on the moon, for all I know about you and your country!" But we were eager learners. At the start of each class, we told what good things we had learned or done that day. Even more than gaining new knowledge about our subject, the students came to hear and speak English. And they surely came more for my wife Marilyn than for the instructor.
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ON OUR LAST DAY, the girls (who outnumbered the boys, 2 to 1) brought a colorful, handmade table cloth and napkins FOR Marilyn. Also, Bogdan Landjev (front row above, two over from his father Boris on the end, and our most active participant) gave us a cartoon. It showed an official telling both a donkey and an elephant -- while pointing to a cart filled with the many USA problems of debt, war, etc. -- "OK, the fun is over! Now how about pulling the cart?" On its back side was this priceless note from Jenie and other class members: "Life is an endless journey. On our way, we meet people who give us various and unique memories. We are glad and honored that you are some of those people. Thank you!" We are the ones with rich memories of the many great people we met in Bulgaria -- especially the students. We miss them already!
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ON OUR LAST DAY, the girls (who outnumbered the boys, 2 to 1) brought a colorful, handmade table cloth and napkins FOR Marilyn. Also, Bogdan Landjev (front row above, two over from his father Boris on the end, and our most active participant) gave us a cartoon. It showed an official telling both a donkey and an elephant -- while pointing to a cart filled with the many USA problems of debt, war, etc. -- "OK, the fun is over! Now how about pulling the cart?" On its back side was this priceless note from Jenie and other class members: "Life is an endless journey. On our way, we meet people who give us various and unique memories. We are glad and honored that you are some of those people. Thank you!" We are the ones with rich memories of the many great people we met in Bulgaria -- especially the students. We miss them already!
3 comments:
President and Sister Bentley,
I enjoyed the reports of your trip, and the pictures very much. You have given the students there some great instructions, which they will be using throughout their lives.
Few people, including myself, give a lot of thought to Bulgaria, but they clearly are beautiful and wonderful people, and in a historic place.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church was one of the earliest establishment of Christianity, and, during the rule of Constantinople over the Byzantine Empire, they showed great independence; so one Byzantine Emporer was known as "So and So, the Bulgar Slayer."
Unfortunately, the 500 year period of the Muslim Ottoman Empire was where the real terror and loss of civilizing influences, and a high percentage of the Christians were forced to convert to Islam under pain of death. Many Churches were destroyed or turned into mosques, and the Christian identity was only preserved in their monestaries.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church still has 7 million members in Bulgaria, and two or three million around the rest of the world, including about 20 parishes (local congregations) in the US and Canada. There are none in Orange County, but there is one in Los Angeles, so I hope it's all right if I pay a visit to them for one of their services; I have left a voice-mail there to find out scheduled meeting time.
Again, thanks for your great work in public affairs, and your remarkable trip to Bulgaria.
Love & Thanks,
Steve StClair
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. What a blessing you both were to the students there--- And how fortunate for you to travel to such a beautiful country.
What a great blog, and an incredible experience you have shared with us all. Thank you for taking the time to do that--I know how hard it is. Wish I knew how you get so many pictures on--I'm having trouble with that.
We look forward to seeing you both at Christmastime, and hearing more about your adventures. In the meantime, I have put Bulgaria on my list of places I would like to go! Love, Joyce Hanson
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