Attempting Professionalism

With the end of my Peace Corps service in sight I've started thinking about the best way to explain the last two years on my resume. Here's what I came up with so far...


U.S. Peace Corps 2010-2012                                                                  Varna, Bulgaria


Unlicensed Medical Practitioner:

• Successfully treated 2 cases of food poisoning,  1 sprained ankle, 1 sinus infection and numerous airborne viruses, equipped with nothing more than a briefcase full of expired medical supplies. 
• 0% mortality rate.

Freelance Translator:

• Fluent in Bulglish. A contemporary, hybrid language popular in the International Education System.
• Adept at improvising when the conversation gets complex.

Director: "What did she just say?"
Me: "Ummmm...she has a pet monkey...called Oscar...and she likes your shoes...yup, that's exactly it"


Survival Expert:

• Specialized in winter survival. 
• Endured extensive exposure to sub-zero temperatures with nothing more than a Baba blanket for warmth.
• Experienced wolf-slayer. 
• Competent in utilizing every aspect of an animal carcass for sustenance, including brain, liver, heart, intestine, tongue, testicles.   

          

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"

Today, Thursday March 1st, 2012 unofficially marks the beginning of spring in Bulgaria. This in itself is an exciting event celebrated with the exchange of red and white friendship bracelets (martinitsi), but what's more exciting is it means it's only a few more weeks until the Raffy Ice Cream man comes back! Hot diggity.

Until then I am left wearing all 23 ridiculously awesome bracelets that were ever so kindly given to me by various students, colleagues, old ladies on the street, you name it, all in an attempt to appease the finicky weather God, "Baba Marta". Turns out she's a temperamental old coot. I walked to work this morning in a snow storm, took a nap this afternoon in the sunshine and am now hunkering down before the rain comes this evening. She's not really helping the female image...

Sunday Thoughts

This morning, over a questionable breakfast of cake and ice cream, I got to pondering the benefits of living so far away from the parental units and came up with this:


10 Reasons EVERYONE should live far, FAR, away from their parents at least once
(No offense to my parents, I think you're pretty cool as far as parents go)


1. Care packages, duh. From what I've heard nobody living in their parent's basement gets boxes full of candy and toys in the mail.


2. Laundry time coincides with shower time. And.it.is.AWESOME. 


3. No matter what happens you will always be the "hero" when you go home. Case and point; Amanda Knox...too soon?


4. Every day you're gone Mama's cooking gets EVEN better. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim but trust me.


5. Clothing optional. I don't think this one needs explaining.


6. No curfew. Parents will never know how often you watch the sun rise as you walk home.


7. Culinary exploits. Ever wondered what milk tastes like straight from the carton? Always missed out on the chance to double-dip your spoon in the jar of peanut butter? Go forth my friends and wreak havoc.


8. Spontaneity can strike at any time. So turn the music up to 11 and get your dancing shoes on!


9. Balloons! That's right. You can finally answer the age old question of "how many balloons would it take to fill this room?" guilt free.


10. It's a good conversation piece. "It's so weird dad, your beard is almost identical to the lady's who lived down the hall from me"