In college, I joined lots of fun activities, like dance shows, volleyball teams and clubs for astronomy and hip hop. I even had a midnight radio show! I also got to travel to incredible places like Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. One of my favorite experiences was living in Granada, Spain for a semester. I stayed with a host family, practiced Spanish and made friends from all over the world.
When I was not traveling, I worked with amazing groups in Arizona, helping refugees, students and people without homes. Through these experiences, I learned that my favorite thing was empowering others and helping them realize that no matter what challenges they face, a positive future is always possible.
This is why I wanted to work in Bulgaria, a country on the other side of the world. Although things like language, culture and history might seem very different, I hoped to learn how to inspire confidence in students no matter where they come from. Here in Gabrovo, Bulgaria I teach in a high school through the U.S. Fulbright Student Program.
(Fun fact: Bulgaria uses a special alphabet called the Cyrillic alphabet!)
At first, I felt a little nervous about being in a new country. Things like buying groceries or taking the bus seemed scary because I did not know the language or how things worked. However, I learned quickly and found ways to do the things I love! I joined a Bulgarian folk dancing group where we do a dance called Horo, and I made friends to play games and drink tea with. I have learned that no matter where you go, kindness, laughter and friendship are always the same.
I cannot wait to share more about my experiences with you!
