When I Go The Distance I'll Be Right Where I Belong

All I wanted to do!

Never told you about the 20th Anniversary of Fulbright in Bulgaria!!: 

As I arrived in Sofia I was tremendously lucky about the time of my trip that I got sick. Bulgaria having been a previously communist nation that American’s were not allowed to visit, has now had Fulbright here for 20 years. Thus they were having a celebration for the 20^th Anniversary of Fulbright in Sofia. Which is why I was lucky enough that when I got sick I could stay there fore free, with friends who would watch out for me, and let me actually get to participate in a ceremony that previously I would not have been able to attend because I would be teaching those days instead.

I arrived at the hotel and saw some of my friends instantly, it was the prefect timing to arrive and I felt like I was home with them. They got me to my room since I couldn’t walk and as Sam said “You’re all sick and dying”, then they got me to McDonald’s, where I ate completely unhealthy food but hey food is food when you are so sick! It was really great to see them and joke with them.

Very true!

Stately is still trying to work on his project and his facial expressions when you ask him about it are priceless. He’s one of my favorite Fulbrighters’. He has this really fun sense of humor but he’s also down to earth, so perfect mixture of fun and intelligence that I enjoy being around him. I was telling him that I’m not doing so great with mine either when Sam said with sarcasm and humor: “of course you’re doing a research project.” Statements like that remind me that I am completely insane, and ok with it. Love my Fulbrighters!!

Coolest mug ever!

It was a good time, the next day Aviva refused to wake me for the panels so I could sleep and go to the Doctor. When I finally made it I had hiked it to a pharmacy and gotten a bandage from my foot though I still had to stop every 2 minutes because it hurt so much. (Of course I find out later my ankle wasn’t sprained, my foot was dislocated so, you know, makes sense.) I got to the event and there was bright, sunshine-ey Iliana just a breath of joy. She gave me a fun set of gifts for the 20^th including a bag, mug, and shirt. Now you are probably thinking “so it’s like what you get at a business convention, what’s so special?” but this mug is the mug I have worked years for. That bag will be with me until I die, and that shirt may only be worn with total pride and self-confidence because ladies and gentlemen I made it. I am a Fulbrighter. You have no idea what that means to me. After so many people I trusted betrayed me and made me question everything about myself, here I am on the other side realizing just how capable, intelligent, and successful I am and can be; and god am I happy! These small tokens are incredibly important to me. Being a part of the 20^th was so important to me. Honestly I think that God or fate wanted me to go to the celebration and gave me a little push (down the stairs.) Totally worth the dislocated ankle!!

Kicking it with the masks!

That night we had a private performance from the Bulgarian orchestra playing songs from a past American Fulbrighter who came to Bulgaria. It was amazing to the point I didn’t care that I had to keep leaving to vomit. It was so beautiful and the music reminded me of home to the point that I enjoyed being able to bring my two worlds together. There are moments in your life that you’ll never forget and getting a private performance to celebrate such a big thing was fantastic. In some ways I felt like that student that the school brings to the symphony in Boston so that they start to cultivate an appreciation for “adult things” and then I realized I am an adult, this isn’t a field trip, and I am a guest at a wonderful event. Really beautiful realization. It was completely worth "going the distance" not only from Romania back to Bulgaria but to Bulgaria in general.

I totally wish I'd had a fez at the event

Basically, my luck

Then Kaity got me into a taxi and back to the hotel where we went right around the corner to the grocery store to get me bland foods so I could go up and relax. I took a nice long hot bath, ice my ankle, got into bed after packing up and just took a moment to appreciate my life and all I’ve gotten to see lately. In the morning

Always sad later

we all met in the lobby for breakfast and final goodbyes before taking our buses to our homes.

It is always sad to leave each other. In many ways we are each others rocks. But it is our missions that we are returning to and so we depart and look forward to the next time we will meet.

Taking that bus ride back is very long and gives me time to contemplate life here, and where I am going. I figured out from the 20^th that it doesn’t much matter if I know exactly where I am headed right now because I am truly prepare for anything, so as the Beatle’s say: “Let It Be.”

Fulbright friends are now always worried for me!

I won’t be blogging for about a week as I am meeting my sister in London to get things settled for her wedding and attend the Dr. Who 50^th anniversary. But I will leave you with this song tonight: “Go the Distance” (sung by Lucas Grabeel) because everyone should get to find where they belong and I am so happy to have found where I belong!

Anna

Love him!