Friends of the U.S.A. Society

In 1994, I received a letter from the United States Peace Corps informing me that I had just been selected to be a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria. “Bulgaria?” I thought. “Where is Bulgaria?” I had hoped for an assignment in West Africa - a region I had studied at university - but I knew very little about what Eastern Europe had to offer. With some anxiety, I accepted the assignment and in June 1994, I left Chicago for what turned out to be two of the most amazing years in my life!

I have many wonderful memories of my time in Bulgaria (my six journals, seven scrapbooks and thousands of photographs are proof!) I spent two years in Momchilgrad, teaching English to high school and elementary students. But in an attempt to learn more about Bulgarian culture. I participated in the local Bulgarian folk dancing group. They even let me perform in their concerts, much to the delight of my students and many in the community! I had a wonderful, intelligent, ambitious group of students to whom I taught English (and from whom I learned a lot about Bulgarian language and culture). I have never met such an ambitious group of young people and many of them have gone on to university and no doubt will continue to contribute great things to their country. I made a trip back to Bulgaria in 1998 to attend their graduation party and I still keep in touch with many of them. My Bulgarian students hold a very special place in my heart.

Momchilgrad was the perfect location for a Peace Corps volunteer. It is a lovely little city in the foothills of the Rodopi Mountains. It is located near Kardjali, so I had ample opportunity to explore Kardjali as well. I loved the little minibuses that traveled to and from Kardjali from Momchilgrad. There was always lively and loud music being played and if a particular song struck me (as it so often did) I would inquire to the bus driver the name of the cassette and find it in the local market. As a result, I purchased several Bulgarian and Turkish pop music tapes and brought them home to the US with me. To this day, I listen to them and recall with fond memories all my travels on those little buses.

One of my most fond memories of Kardjali was the cafes. I often met my Peace Corps friend, Richard Freed, at the café next to Bulgarian-American business center. Richard would treat me to cups of coffee and we would laugh together over the adventures of our day. There was also a great restaurant in Kardjali but unfortunately I have forgotten the name. At this restaurant, I found my favorite Bulgarian food - sirene po shopski! OH … my mouth still waters when I think of that delicious dish!

The most exciting memory of Kardjali (indeed my entire Peace Corps experience) was working with Georgi and Nadya Kochevi, Nejda Arif and Roumyana Damyanova to create “My Bulgaria” the first national art contest for Bulgarian children. Valentina Ivanova, who introduced me to Georgi and Nadya was also instrumental in the development of this project.

In May 1996, we held the first “My Bulgaria” children’s art contest. Entries from children (ages 14 and under) poured in from all around Bulgaria. In fact, we received over 800 drawings! A distinguished panel of judges - including Kardjali artists, Georgi and Nadya Kochevi and Aleattin Nalbant, principal of entries and selected the top nine winning entries. Desislava Katsarova, a 13-year-old girl from Kardjali, was named among the winners. Each of the young artists received new art supplies for their good work. With assistance from the Open Society Foundation, these nine images were printed as postcards which were then sold throughout Bulgaria and America. Proceeds were donated to a local orphanage in Kardjali.

Along with those top nine entries, the judges selected a total of 50 drawings and paintings that made up an art exhibition that debuted on International Children’s Day June 2, 1996. Many people attended the grand opening of the exhibition and high praise was given to the young artists whose work adorned the walls of Momchilgrad’s cultural center. The exhibition was such a huge success, that we knew it could not end there. The art exhibition traveled to Gorna Oriahovitsa and Russe before coming to the United States. In United States, I exhibited the work at the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C. in 1998. Since then, the artwork has appeared in 12 museums and art centers across the United States. Currently the “My Bulgaria” exhibition resides in the World Awareness Children’s Museum, in Glen Falls, New York.

Overell, my wonderful experience living and working in Bulgaria affected me in many ways - personally and professionally. The experience opened my eyes to a beautiful gem of a country in Eastern Europe and made me understand the importance of traveling and living in other cultures abroad. Professionally, my time in Bulgaria with the “My Bulgaria” art contest influenced me to become a museum educator and art teacher. Currently, I live in Indonesia where I hope to develop yet another children’s art exhibition with the theme, “Islam in Indinesia”.

My experience in Bulgaria was something I will never forget. Thank you Bulgaria for all that you have given me!

I had the great fortune to be assigned to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kardjali, Bulgaria. My work as a specialist for community economic development began in September 2001 and was completed in August 2003.

My first impression of Kardjali was positive. I came for a two-day visit in July before my assignment formally began. I was met at the bus station by two carloads of people with whom I would work. What a wonderful surprise that was. The warmth and friendliness was unbelievable. I was taken to the reservoir for lunch and some sightseeing of the area’s beautiful nature. We also walked around the town, had some informational meetings and enjoyed some good meals and rakiya in air conditioned restaurants! By the end of my visit, I had made some good friends and looked forward to my permanent move and beginning my work.

When I returned in September, I settled into my apartment in Rila complex. I had fun doing a little decorating and making it “home”. My work began with the NGO Center-Kardjali, a regional NGO with a mission to stimulate the development of NGOs in the region and to serve civil society. My first few months were spent meeting people, taking lessons in Bulgarian, studying the background of the NGO Center and building relationships with work colleagues. Some of my first efforts included researching funding sources and working with a youth NGO, a doctor’s group and the regional orphanage.

By Christmas I felt like a member of the community! I had made many friends, including people from the artist community and member of the Friends of the U.S.A. Society. My work now included two days at the Municipality and this led to many other interesting projects including a computer center at the library, a leadership development project for youth and working with educators and union leaders to pilot school-to-work activities in Kardjali.

Why do I like Kardjali? Perhaps it is because the town is surrounded by the beautiful Rhodope Mountains. Or maybe it is because of its size - just large enough to “hide” if you want to, but small enough to know your neighbors. It could be because the sun shines more in Kardjali than in any other city in Bulgaria. This is really true! Then again it could be the interesting culture and history that is a part of the region, or the diverse ethnic groups that comprise its population. It could be the fact that Kardjali likes Americans and knows how to make us feel right at home! I really think that it is a combination of all of these things.

Peace Corps, Bulgaria and Kardjali have a ten-year history of working together. Kardjali also has a strong relationship with the U.S. through its sister city, Elkhart, Indiana. As a result, I am one of the beneficiaries of this enduring friendship. Thank you, Kardjali, for being my home and my family for the past two years. I will never forget you!

I was a member of the first group of Peace Corps Volunteers to be sent to Bulgaria in 1991. After only a few weeks of in-country training (and very little study in the Bulgarian language), I and the others in my group were sent off to our future respective sites for a weekend visit. So, at the beginning of July 1991, I found myself riding in a car near the end of a long train. It was a very hot day. I nervously watched for the name of each town on my way to Kardjali. Just one problem I was able to see the sign at each of the train’s stops only as the train was pulling out. I’m sure I must have had a map with me but obviously it didn’t help. The trip was longer than expected because there were mechanical problems at one point and the train a replacement engine was on its way from Stara Zagora. I finally arrived at my destination. Despite their long wait on this very warm day, I was greeted by my future collegues and the headmistress of Hristo Botev School where I would be teaching. Each of my greeters was wearing a big smile and carrying beautiful flower bouquets. (And what beautiful English they spoke!).

The very gracious and friendly hospitality I received on this day continued throughout my two years in Kardjali and was extended by all those with whom I came into contact. All of my physical needs were taken care of Katya, Roumy, Valya, and Steffka were among many who made sure that I had enough to eat. They took me around the town and showed me where and what I was able to buy. (There wasn’t much.) I learned to scour every shop on my way home from work, picking up one item here and another one there.

That first weekend occurred over the Fourth of July holiday. The Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali under the direction of Valentina Ivanova, had wonderful reception. I was able to meet many of the citizens of the town at these gathering. During my stay in Kardjali, these friends made sure that I would never miss my family too much of be lonely. In fact, there was such a busy social calendar in Kardjali that occasionally I had to plead preparation work for my job.

I taught five English-language classes each day. The classes were large and materials scanty. All that was provided were outdated textbooks, a pitted blackboard, rags and a bucket of water to wash the chalk off, and desks. However, the students made outstanding advances in their acquisition of the English language. I was extremely impressed by their seriousness. Besides long days at school they put in long hours of homework each evening. Their rapid development of proficiency in the use of English was amazing. I was also impressed by the respect these students showed their teachers and, indeed, all adults.

In addition to my regular teaching, I was involved in many and various activities. I conducted a weekly adult English class, conversation meetings with students, and individual tutoring sessions, all in my apartment. I met with teaching colleagues at my school and others for discussions of educational theories and pedagogy. I helped the local zinc factory in interviewing prospective employees for jobs that required English. As part of U.S.-Bulgarian cross-cultural activities I worked with Valentina in celebrating American holidays, including Halloween and Thanksgiving. I presented a week-long series of lectures on life in the U.S.: political system, educational system, the media, religion, and more. On the other hand, I was introduced to the many celebrations enjoyed by Bulgarians: Christmas, Baba Marta, observance of the dead, May Day. On Maundy Thursday I joined Steffka and her family and colored Easter eggs.

I have mentioned only a few of the activities I was involved in and only a few of the many friendships I developed during the two years I was in Kardjali. A typical work day began with a stop at Katya’s for coffee and a cigarette. Katya’s husband never ceased to come up with new questions about the U.S. All were good questions, few of them could I answer. For instance, I still do not know the price of a tractor!

I miss seeing all my wonderful Bulgarian friends in person, but the use of the Internet enables me to easily continue these friendships. However, I have not found a substitute for rakia and cigarettes.

I am now the Executive Vice President of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. I have very fond memories of Bulgaria and have spent many hours telling friends and family about our time in Bulgaria.

In fact, my daughter Amira spoke Bulgarian as her very first language and when we moved to Morocco after Bulgaria she started crying in school one day and when the teacher asked her why she told her that she was so sad that she was losing her language. When the teacher asked her what language she was talking about Amira told her that she was Bulgarian and that she could’t remember her Bulgarian language!

I also remember by first trip to Kardjali most of all because everyone was so friendly. I was trying to learn Bulgarian but as my son told one day when he came home from school and I asked him “Kak ste?”, he told me, “don’t try to speak Bulgarian to me!” My point is that I always felt that I could have done a better job learning the language so that I could have communicated better with the kind people who greeted my in Kardjali. I have traveled all around the world and I must say that Bulgarians are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I have ever met.

I wish Friends all the best and I hope to visit again someday.

For more than twelve years I have had the honor of counting the Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali as official and personal friends. This long term friendship has benefited their club, the city of Kardjali, the United States of America, and, I say with appreciation, my wife and me personally.

Soon after my arrival in Sofia on September 10, 1990 to begin my assignment as American ambassador, I received a letter from Valentina Ivanova, the President of the Friends of the U.S.A. Society, having been formed in early 1990 only a few months after Todor Zhivkov was deposed. The letter started that the club’s membership included Bulgarians from all ethnic groups without discrimination. I was warmly invited to visit. Two colleagues at the embassy who had contact with the club, Roderick Moore and Douglas Smith, urged me to accept the invitation.

I realized that the Friends of the U.S.A. Club in Kardjali represente the kind of Bulgaria that the United States Government and I personally wanted to see develop, and that I wanted to encourage. They were a representative group of Bulgarians who espoused freedom, democracy and tolerance. I felt that they deserved recognition and support from the American embassy and from me personally. Therefore, I decided that my first official travel outside Sofia would include a visit to the Friends in Kardjali.

However, before I could act officially as ambassador in Bulgaria, including travel and official visits to oblasts and cities, I had to present my letter of credentials signed by the American president, George H.W. Bush, to the president of Bulgaria, Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev. This was done on September 24, 1990. But before I could plan travel outside Sofia, I had the honor of accompanying President Zhelev on his visit to Washington and his meeting with President Bush. This was and historic first! His was the first visit to the United States ever made by a Bulgarian head of state! It was only after my return to Sofia that I could begin to organize travel to Kardjali and other cities in southeastern Bulgaria.

On the evening of October 17, 1990, my wife, Yvonne, and I met with the Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali at the former Central Committee guest house on the hill above the city. In my poor Bulgarian I briefly discussed America’s interests in Bulgaria, and more specifically in Kardjali. Those interests centered on American support for the development of a free, democratic society and a market economy. I assured the Kardjali Friends that America was a friend of Bulgaria and that my country would be help Bulgaria as it faced the political and economic transitions ahead. I then answered questions from the members, after which we conversed informally over refreshment. We were over whelmed by warmth of our reception and the hospitality extended to us.

The next day I delivered several carton of books to Kardjali’s city library, announcing that the books should be designate “the collection of the Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali”. In my meeting with the mayor, I also noted that my visit was in response to the club’s invitation.

For my wife and me, that visit to Kardjali was another historic first, a look into the fresh face of what the new Bulgaria could become: democratic, open and inclusive, a friend of the United States and other western countries, a future partner and member of the European and Atlantic communities.

During my three year mandate in Bulgaria, the American embassy remained actively in contact with the Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali. Working with Valentina Ivanova and the club, we established an American Business Center in Kardjali. The center was established to offer advice and information to local Bulgarians interested in establishing and operating businesses. Beside a computer and a small collection of books on business and finance, the center also maintained a small collection of American literature. Two members of the American Peace Corps with business experience lived in the city and worked at the center, and club member helped staff the center and supervise the lending of the library book.

The embassy was delighted that the Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali frequently organize events honoring the United States, such as annual Fourth of July parties. I urged diplomats in the embassy and visitors from American to visit Kardjali and meet with the club, and I visited the city and club whenever possible.

At the end of my assignment in September 1993, Yvonne and I invited the Kardjali Friends’ president, Valentina Ivanova, to our farewell reception in Sofia. We could not imagine saying goodbye to our many Bulgarian friends without a chance to say goodbye to her, and through her, to our Friends in Kardjali.

We have remained in contact with her and the club during the intervening years.

In 1997 she visited us in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA, and I assisted her in delivering a gift from Kardjali to US President Bill Clinton. His letter of appreciation for the gift later made headlines in Kardjali and other Bulgarian newspapers.

In 1996 and 1997, the Bulgaria-American Society in Washington, of which I was president, wanted to organize a shipment of medicine to alleviate shortages of medical supplies then plaguing Bulgaria. In order to arrange a shipment throught the American foreign assistance agency “Hope” we had to complete a specific list of medicines but we had difficulty getting a timely and coordinate response from the various organizations we contacted in Bulgaria. So I presented our need to Valentina Ivanova. She very quickly contacted hospitals in Kardjali and surrounding communities and complie a list of needed medicines and sent the list to me. It enabled the Bulgarian-American Society to organize a shipment of those medicines with a value of $ 1 million. The medicines were soon delivered to Bulgaria and a share of them went to Kardjali, of course. Some weeks later Valentina sent us a copy of Kardjali newspaper Nov Zhivot dated 26 September 1997, with a headline stating that “7 Kardjali citizens saved by donated US medicines”. I treasure that newspaper along with many other warm memories of Bulgaria and Kardjali.

As noted above, my wife and I remain in contact with Valentina Ivanova and the Kardjali Friends. In October 2002 I informed her of an exhibit of Bulgarian art we were helping to organize at the Bulgarian-Macedonian Cultural Center in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Valentina immediately replied that she would like to submit art by artists from Kardjali to the exhibit. I put her in contact with the president of the Pittsburgh center and we were delighted to see the art from Kardjali among the many Bulgarian paintings when we attended the opening of the exhibit on November 22, 2002.

I am grateful for the friendship of that the Friends of the U.S.A. Society in Kardjali have shown to me and my country. That relationship occupies a special place in my warm memories of my time in Bulgaria.