A human rights organization is a group of people who make sure that all people have the same access to education, work and freedom. I have really enjoyed writing articles and conducting research for DROM. The more involved I am with different activities, the more it makes me feel like a contributor to the community in Vidin.
I am learning Bulgarian on my own through books, but it has not been as easy as I imagined. I learn the most Bulgarian from my students. They love teaching me new words and phrases. When I pronounce something correctly, they cheer and clap for me. The most recent phrase they taught me was, “какво става брат” (pronounced kaki strava brat). In Bulgarian, this phrase is the same as saying, “what’s up, bro?” This is slang (or an informal phrase), so I rarely use it unless I am talking to my students.
My students have become some of my best friends here. They are great and they show me all the cool places around town. I have learned most of what I know about Bulgarian culture by hanging out with them. When we walk by landmarks in town, they will often tell me the Bulgarian word for it and the history behind it. It is great because I get to have fun with friends and learn about Bulgaria!
Although I have challenges with the Bulgarian language, many of my students face the same problem with English. It is nice to know that we all experience the same struggle and still make an effort. Simply trying to speak has allowed me to learn more words and meet new people. While my community experience in Vidin is not like my involvement in my community back in Seneca, I do feel like I belong in both. As I make more friends and learn more Bulgarian, Vidin is beginning to feel more like home to me.
