The Stuttering Writer

Stuttering Writer

I-I-I-I am telling you some truth, about a pers-s-son with great uniqueness. Whenever there happens to b-b-b-be something important worth writing, literary awesomenessssssss occurs. Off his uncontrolable lips comes faaascinaaating sounds from this man empowered with quirky skills. When he t-taaaaa-talks attention attracts towards him. Wh-wha-why? Repetition does not take place, just express-sh-sh-sions created deep inside. Nothing odd, nooooor strange. The infamous stt-stut-stutter-stutteriiiiiing writer never said more than one word twice in life.

Halloween Hike Tradition

Halloween is a time for get-togethers, costumes, zombies, pumpkin carving, and other traditions. My new tradition is the Halloween Hike. I initiated it last year when I was in Washington D.C. On Halloween, instead of partying in D.C. I high-tailed it out to the Applachian trail at 6 in the morning. I had done my trail research and hiked 13 miles up through Shenandoah National Park and to Blue Ridge Highway. I only lost the trail, which was covered in leaves, once. I saw an Appalachian black bear, plenty of deer, and other wildlife. I excruciatingly hiked the 13 miles back to my car with a bruised foot (I stubbed it on a rock hidden under the fallen leaves), aching joints and a fatigue that had made me so tired that I teared up when I got back to my car. Haha

~26 miles and 9 hours later I had completed the first annual Halloween Hike. The Appalachian trail is one of the most beautiful areas to hike and I would recommend it to anyone. However, this year I didn't want to make it a solo trip, but needed to expand the great experience to my fellow volunteers and Bulgarian friends. No Bulgarians were too keen on joining in on planned 20+ mile hike but me and my fellow adventurous volunteers were more than up to the challenge. However mother nature didn't cooperate and made the mountains impassable with 2 feet of snow.

But you can't stop a tradition once you start it and so PLAN B was inacted. A less grueling and more "passable" hike from the town of Gotse Delchev to the village of Delchevo and then to the monastery on top of the mountain. The pictures that follow are enough to explain the experience:










In total there were 7 adventurers who tackled the winding and steep road/trail to Delchevo and then on to the top of the mountain.
The views = amazing
The people = troopers
The feet = sore from walking on a road in hiking boots.

Next year we are going to keep the tradition going. I am hoping to have more people involved. I want suggestions on an awesome place to hike, in or outside of Bulgaria. This doesn't mean we can only hike on Halloween, but it does mean that this tradition will live on wherever I am.

Mental Kung-FU

My left brain is punching my right brain.
Ideas bouncing into each other and not say "excuse me."
Boredom is conquering adventure.
Sunshine is burning the clouds.
My eyes are heavy from lack of interest.

Daily mental fights occur.
Good vs. Evil
Right vs. Wrong
Adventure vs. Boredom
Offense vs. Non-Taken

Really taxing, is the battle.
No blood, no bruises, no harm.
No brain cells left for thinking.

I was once told I had a very active mind.
This is exactly what some call ADD, a burden.
Others would say it is creativity, a blessing.
I Can't tell you exactly the diagnosis.
There is no defect.

I can't disengage sometimes from the overwhelming lack of peace inside my head.
It isn't a headache.
It isn't a dull discomfort.
It isn't even a twinge.

It is a constant train of thought.
An unstoppable visual arcade of memory, thoughts, hopes.
A one-way street of traffic for miles

Do you understand?
Can you relate?

1 minute before I started writing I seriously didn't know what I was gonna write about. I simply wrote.

The idea/thought/crazy train keeps on going.

What a reaction. I want more!

What a reaction to my assertion that Boza is the nectar of life. I think maybe I should write more about such controversial subjects such as this. Really it isn't my hearts desire to sway you into thinking that everyone should like Boza. It was more my desire to see who bothers me...haha not really. But seriously, what else could create such a hoopla like this? If I said that the pine tree is the most beautiful tree and all others should be cut down...would that create a stir?

I could sense a bit of sarcasm in some of the comments y'all made, but I am a bit reluctant to say that. Am I right in saying that if it wasn't such a silly topic...none of you would have said anything? The sillyness of it allowed you to say something without feeling like you would be crticized...I understand

What I am trying to say is this...Say what you want to say and I will listen!...even if it is a silly subject or a more serious one. If I write about something more controversial than Boza, I don't know if that is possible :), please write an opinion. I will listen, I promise.

I watched an animation about the educational system the other day about how as we grow older we lose some of our inherant creativity. How we are deadened to things in society that we once were so enthusiastic about when we were younger. I know my parents tease me that when I was I child I asked "why?" to everything. I always had to put my two cents into anything that was going on. I am proposing that we should get back to that investigative state of mind.

Through asking why, how, and tougher questions that dig at the truth and allow us to realize that much of what we think we know is not actually the truth. Let's encourage one another when needed, apologize when necessary, be creative and adventurous and not settle for a one-answer mentality.

Many of you who know me would say, "Now Grant, aren't you being kinda hypocritical by saying you don't want to settle for a one-answer mentality?"

To those people I say "NO, when it happens that there is only one answer then what can I say to change that one answer...nothing."

I want this society, the people, just to open their minds a bit and actually seek out more than one solution to a problem. Go beyond the convenient, search for creative alternatives for the usual ho-hum life. There is no harm in asking, listening, or encouraging. So that is my challenge.

Here is the animation of the educational system I was talking about.

10ish BOTHERSOME REALITIES

The 10ish items below are things that really bother me. They are not in any specific order, and for that matter you could say that they bother me the same amount. Yes that is right...loud eaters bother me just as much political parties. Funny how that all works out ;)

-People who smack their chewing gum: Something the about the noise makes me twinge. I jokingly will blame my mother for this bothering me. She is culprit #1.

-Spelling/grammar mistakes: Because if I "loose" my swimsuit it is actually around my ankles, and I am "exposed". But if I lose my shorts I just go put on my towel and/or find a different pair. GOT IT!

-Loud eaters: Heavy breathing, smacking your lips, saliva squishing around...disgusting!! I am very conscious on whether or not I do this and if others are. I hate it that much...

-Unknowing hypocrits: I suppose all hypocrits don't know they actually are hypocrits, but it is bothersome that some continue to be this way their entire lives.

-Jocks: Ya sure I played sports and wasn't half bad, but my life was never all about the court or the field. Maybe it is just arrogance I can't stand, or the combination of the two.

-Telemarketers: The fact that it is someone's job to have the phone slammed in their face all day bothers me, but it is even funnier when you actually talk to them and say you want to buy 1 million of what they are selling and then pretend that the connection is breaking up. haha I suppose that keeps them calling...but whatever. No telemarketers in Bulgaria.

-People who say "sorry" too much: What are you sorry for? Be sorry if you step on my toe or...punch me in the face. But if you hand me a piece of bread with a bit too much jelly on it...please don't be sorry. Be glad!!

-Lack of action on big problems: If I had a stontinki(a penny) for everytime everyone watched the news about Pakistan and Haiti or some natural disaster and did nothing, but just thought about "How awful" I would be a Bulgarian millionaire. I take this PC experience as training for bigger and more influential service in the future. I can honestly say that I do do something, not just Peace Corps. Will you?

-Customer service representatives: I am not racist but when I have a problem with my American-made products why do I have to talk to someone from India. I have also called once about my insurance policy and talked to 4 different people who all referred me to person before...vicious cycle of annoyance...I might have raised my voice... :0

-Political Parties: Almost more agrivating than the fact that they divide the country, it is that no one realizes that politics shouldn't be a "competition". If I wanted a competition I would join my fellow COD guys and play American football against TEFL volunteers. Oh wait...there is no competition there either. HEHEHE inside joke.

Last but not least...(if you haven't noticed this is #11)

-People who don't like Boza: I am going to take a bit longer to explain this one because my new love affair with "BOZA". For those of you who don't know or just fail to acknowledge its greatness, Boza is a delightful refreshment made corn(maize) puree that has a surprising applesauce taste

Now you may be thinking, "Wow, that sounds disgusting!" But ponder this...imagine you are walking through your town festival. What are the two things you want the most? Apple crisp and corn on the cob?...I think soooo! What could be better than a golden delicious apple and something else golden and delicious...(Corn). It is a natural fit, right.

You know what I love to do with those little apple sauce cups you can get in the states and that your mom packed in your lunchboxes? I like to eat them without a spoon and just slurp the applesauce, and I know you do too. Drinking Boza is basically the same fun. Not only is it fun to drink, it is nutritious. It contains 4 types of vitamin A and B, and vitamin E. And ladies...it supposedly has the ability to enlarge breasts...Don't quote me on the Wikipedia quote!

Another thing to point out is that as a baby, we were all fed some version of corn or apples. Whether it be applesauce, or regular sliced apples, cream corn, or steamed corn, or corn from the baby food jar, we have it in or nature to love this combination. Sure, Boza actually looks a lot like baby food but, did you know it actually has a 1% alcohol content...drink away! Sooo, it may not look great but neither does black death Coke and electric green Mountain Dew, and those both tast great.

Sooo it really bothers me when someone doesn't like Boza. I understand their illogical reasoning, but when a tasty beverage costs 35 stotinki($0.22) you can hardly argue the cost/benefit of buying and enjoying a bottle of the delighful refreshment.

DINNER PLANS

Last night I spent a great time at Mehana with some Belgians and my counterpart and other people. We danced some HORO!! I learned a new dance and was pretty good by the end of the night. Last night left me very unproductive today and also without much of an appetite for much food until after work.

I was on my usual 15 minute walk uphill through town to my house and contimplating what I was gonna do for dinner. I have 2 eggs in my fridge, that'd make a decent omelette. Nah! too much work and I am tired. Maybe just some oreos or an apple.

I came through my door and saw my landlady going into her house. She said to me, "How are you?" I tell her that I am tired and then we go a little farther on our respective ways and then she said to me, "Do you love fish?"

"Uggghhh, of course" I respond.

"Okay, I'll bring you some," she replies.

Well how about that!!! Dinner plans solved!! I still wonder why I never found this in America. It is so common place here that I don't even think twice. I usually treat them back with a treat or something, but still, the initiative on their part is truly loving.

I still had some oreos though.

THE BUS RIDE

Ugh...I'm awake. It's dark. I don't need to check the time, I know it is early. I checked it 10 minutes ago when I woke up, then naturally fell back asleep. It's 4:06...a.m., and I have a road trip ahead of me. I stumble to the shower and wash the germs, grease, and sleep from my body. A short breakfast and a bit of "Word" reading and I am out the door.

The air is crisp, yet I am wearing shorts. My fur keeps me warm. There literally is no one in the streets, so different from my usual 9 o'clock departure for work. My walk to the bus station is brisk because the last thing I want to do is miss a bus this early in the morning. That would be regretable. I walk in the middle of the street, confident that no car will chance appear. As I make my way downhill, subconciously turn my head juuuust to make sure a driver doesn't score 100 points by picking me off. As if I couldn't hear it coming in the silence of the pre-dawn. I pass the strip club and I am at the bus station. A little waiting won't hurt. Two people are already waiting. Their down jackets against my shorts. I truly am a Montanan.

The only two headlights in town roll up and off I go. From my second row seat I can see the road but safe from flying through the windshield if we get into a crash. Everyone is sleeping except me, and thankfully the driver too. My mind is awake, racing, and full of thoughts.

In my thoughts...is baptism necessary for salvation?...How is water a saving factor? Too early and ignorant for me to think about this. Next thought. This thought is fun to think about. Maybe because I love to drive. I am determined to drive from Bulgaria to either Portugal, Ireland, or China. What about logistics? We'll (Because there must be more than one) have to buy a pimpin car. A 70's era Lada perhaps will do the trick. $1500 leva maybe..Not much, seeing as how we are on a PCV budget. To China would be amazing. Through Russia, Kahzakstan, Mongolia. Would a car make it that far? The southern route is out of the question. I don;t feel like spending time in a prison mistaken for a spy. The Urals...maybe do some bear watching. See the Great China Wall. Eat some real orange chicken. Oh that is too far in the future. I will ponder that later.

My thoughts are interrupted by the winding road and how the driver insists on trying out for Formula 1 racing in a bus. I trust him, I just don't know for how much longer. We wizz down the mountain road passing a few trucks going the opposite direction. Trucks move, however gaurd rails don't! The driver is ridiculously close to these gaurd rails. Whew! made it passed that one. I see another coming up..."Son a B#$@*" I scream in my head. I don't actually think it but instead scream Son of B, pound sign, money symbol, AT sign, Asterisk. I laugh a bit. It's not like ther are any cars coming. It is as though the line is lava and the driver is a kid in a playground making sure not to touch the ground. It is getting a bit ridiculous.

I am reminded of family trips when my mom and dad are driving, driver and co-pilot. "Neil get off the center line" my mom would scream. "Oh gees!!" "Use your signal!" "Are you looking at the road?" "Do you want me to drive?" All famous quotes from my mother to my father while driving. I think of them in this situation because I feel like my mother right now, but somehow I don't think the driver will respond to, "Would you get off the edge of the road, you're gonna get us killed!" I don't know how to say that in Bulgarian either. I let it go, and trust that Mario Andretti will get me to where I'm going.

The moon is out. Bright and not a cloud in the sky. Bright enough to attempt driving without headlights. Wait, wait, wait!! Not with this tunnel-visioned escort. But we would save energy!...Ya! two headlights at a time! It was worth a shot. If I was driving I totally would have.

My mind wanders with fleeting thoughts. We are coming up to a tunnel. Believe it or not, but tunnels are the brighter at night. I'll let you ponder that one.

We fly around a curve and a metal object clangs the bus floor. Obviously falling off of the seat. C'mon man you're gonna wake everyone up. Just a bit of a distraction from my trance of thought. I try to guess what it was. I don't want to make a scene by turning and staring. A lawn chair, Baba baggage cart, a flip chart stand, I don't know. Whatever! I am really not interested.

I'm beginning to feel tiredness come upon me. I yawn to try to stay awake. As the sun begins to rise my eyelids begin to fall.

We make it to our destination. The racecar is intact, everyone alive. Turns out that the metal object that crashed to the floor was a barbeque...mmm steak. :)

This car lives in Bansko. It could've been my bus but wasn't.