I am in the 2%.

As an American Peace Corps Volunteer my salary is around or less than $5,000 a year…of course, this is outside America where $5,000 a year is nothing. I am in the 2% because I chose to be.

I think I understand what the 99ers want and that they are seeking justice and fairness in the equity of money and to end greed and corruption. They feel that the government has left them stranded in this time of crisis and that only the super-rich have benefitted. But last time I checked the U.S. government was headquartered in D.C. Understandably, they are controlled by the money that comes from Wall Street, but if anything is going to change, it has to come from D.C., NOT Wall Street. The supposed "super rich" are not the ones granting you freedom of speech and probably are the least likely to care about our struggles. If you were obese would you cry to the fitness model and say, "Hey, give me some of your thinness and good looks! Stop your goodlookingness!" No absolutely not! You would want to go to the gym and petition for a free membership so you could become healthier and better looking.

Or if you were sick would cry out to healthiest people in the country, “You make us sick! Stop being so healthy! We want health…and healthcare. Stop taking it all!” No! You wouldn’t…would you!?! You would be pounding down the doors of the hospitals and doctor’s offices and asking for relief from your pains and illnesses. So then, why are we not petitioning on the Capitol steps in front of the people in the country who have made our super-rich even richer and allowed greed to run rampant? That is a more effective use of our voice.

I empathize with the 99ers, yet I will not take another hand-out or “The crisis could have much worse without one” bail-out failure from the government. I will also not ask banks to hear me. They won’t care. The ones who are obligated to hear us and do something need to listen. For over a month now they have been avoiding it because it is not in front of their faces and doorsteps. The steps of the Capitol should be full; full of men and women asking for change and asking for liberation from the tyranny of greed and corruption.

Can 99% change 1%? No, they can’t & shouldn’t try. There will ALWAYS be a 1% of super-rich! Can 99% change the face of how flawed American politics operates and controls our nation? YES! Although the 99ers may think they are barking up the right tree, there sits in D.C. an entire forest of greed and corruption that has a duty to listen.

I do not create my own wealth. My wealth is not cotton green paper. Oh how freeing it is to have little money and be content. I am in the 2%.

"ORGANIC" Human Humor

Yes, another post from "Grant The Volunteer". In 8 months or so I may not be "the volunteer"...but that is for another post. Today I wanted to add a bit of "organic" humor to everyones life who reads this. I appreciate those who do read it and I hope that all who do read it appreciate it.

After the English lesson that I taught tonight I was told to take some vegetables from the table of goodies that were left behind from the thanksgiving festival that was had last Sunday (Yes, in Bulgaria they celebrate Thanksgiving but a month earlier & not like Americans). There sitting on the table (among lesser beings)was somethingwhich I simply could not refuse to take with me.

I present to you "Starchy the Potato"

(see below)

Weighing in at .68 kilos or 1.5 pounds, I present to you the most unique, the most lifelike, the most intelligent-looking, and most friendly potato in the world. Yes, that is a full-size yogurt container next to him and that is a regular size toaster behind him. hopefully that puts into perspective the epic proportions that we are talking about. Not only is it one of the largest potatoes I have come across but definetly the cutest. Suuuuure he may have a bit of elephantitis on his right arm, which makes it bigger than his head...and no legs...but am I to expect perfection from an organic human such as himself?

Needless to say "Starchy" will remain uneaten for awhile. However forceful the temptation to eat him gets, I will refuse...at least for a week. You also may notice that he is sitting on a cutting board and a knife appears at the far bottom of the picture...his tomato, pepper, and onion cousins were less fortunate and not lifelike enough for me to care.

downs & UPs of Today (Just Today)

Kids are so predictable,

So much so that it is absolutely despicable.

Why we try to teach may be honorable,

but in the end they are unchangable.


This may be obvious to some but to me it was a clear reality that 3 unruly kids owned a class of 10 students and 2 teachers, myself included. Today I started aiding the students in the 3rd grade afterschool English class. I love them all and loathe only 2 or 3 from time to time. Today was the beginning of "time to time". My discussion with the teacher afterwards revealed similar thoughts. Why do these 3 girls come to class to learn nothing?

What can we do to change a mind?

Love and care from a different kind?

Ideas range from fun to none,

I am not satisfied until something is done.

On the way to the market after class my bike broke. How you ask? well...the bolt holding the axle to the frame decided to shear in two. How is that for broken... At least the weather is cold now and bike riding has become outdated.

I will miss the rush,

the flying down the mountains like a toilet flush.

Bump, Bump, crash

Summer memories in my mind flash.

As I pushed my bike home I was remind of what winter in Bansko is all about. In the last week the mountains received over 70cm of snow (2.2 feet for you non-Europeans). The slopes are white, the air is cold, my apartment is freezing, and yet I am excited more now than ever. Ski season is just around the corner and there is much fun in store this winter.

Winter knows where I am headed.

The mountains are waiting to be shredded.

With a carve and frozen kiss,

I hope this picture does some justice.

Clean

We define it like clay,
changing from day to day.
Never meaning what we want,
simply filling a need for the now.

Maybe it is after a spring shower,
or refusing to cower.
Standing firm above trouble,
holding on so we don't tumble.

Maybe it is a fresh aroma hanging in the breeze,
or the ability to live in ease.
Carefree life without a worry,
a fairytale-like story.

Maybe it is following all the laws,
or living without flaws.
If perfection would not be so difficult,
high on clouds do the angels float.

No! May it be washed white as snow,
Yes! or letting forgiveness grow.
Blemishes, blood, our wrongs covered,
flowing grace, which will always be offered.

Sigh No More

не казвам тоба поради оскъдност, защото се научих да съм доволен в каквото състояние и да се намеря.

I will sigh no more
Not get caught in this war
Surpassed by purity
I can't hear the lion's roar.

Was it a match?
The door, the key, the latch
Was it even fair?
Is there a bruise? a scratch?

I am on the other side
A battle won without pride,
We are all under attack
Bring it out, don't let it hide.

Every single word I say,
With everything I will pay.
Listen and hear while I speak
ЧАКАМ ТЕ.

It has blown like grenade
A clean mess it has made,
Nothing truly like it,
Content I sit next to the parade.

In chains they walk
As onlookers continue to gawk,
The attraction isn't there,
I've fled like south-facing flock.

At the grace I arrive
Only with faith could I survive.
What a flight is has been,
Out of pain, I am alive.

The taste is sweet
Better than a warm summer heat
Fresh cooked baklava,
The perfect long-awaited treat.

I will sigh no more
Here is the mercy to pour,
Surpassed by purity
I can't hear the lion's roar.

New Years 2011

What great friends I have.
What great memories we made.
A new year has come,
and the past will fade.

Food cooking and roasting
So many Persians in one room.
Jenga on the table,
waiting for the falling kaboom.

Mixed and mashed is the food.
Sitting at the table waiting to eat.
The fragrance is so good,
oh wait it is Persian cooked meat.

Sunny day not a cloud in the sky
Off to the market for some candy
Then a hike to the monastery,
followed by a dog we named "Sandy"

5 star class is what we like,
6 leva hot choclate is worth the price.
Free snacks are great
But they sure ain't Banitza with rice!
The bombs burst above us,
like flowers blooming and glowing.
The feet danced in a circle,
never stopping always flowing.
Typical New Years Day travel,
Unknown and foreign to us.
Should we take a taxi or train,
or maybe wait for the bus?
Attack, Attack, here come the bears,
not for blood but for money.
I am poor I need to run.
Get them away from me 'honey'!!

Front row seats to the show.
Not too close to be offended,
But it was the perfect spot,
for the pagan ritual we attended.

The night was one to remember,
skating, sliding, and staying warm.
We had the style we had the moves,
we had unforgettable form.



What a great new year we had.
Frozen fingers and smiling faces,
will remind us of friendship,
even though we aren't in the same places.

A Great Success

By request...A true story...

Tropical sun was beating down on my face as I ran across the black sand beach towards the Pacific ocean, crashing its waves like a rhythmic $10 "Sounds of the Ocean" CD. With my bodyboard in-hand, my new sleek rashguard shirt sticking to me like cellophane, I was ready for my first adventure in my new Hawaiian home.

My two buddies and I were straight off the plane from the "mainland", and about as awesome any three guys from Montana could be. ;) We had decided to move to Hawaii to attend school on an exchange program. Hilo, Hawaii, would be our home for the next three and a half months. We were intent on studying and getting the best education we could while we were in here...except not.

Within the first week we had ventured to the local Wal-mart and bought ourselves new, made-to-look-expensive bodyboards and headed out to the local beach called Honoli'i. (See top picture) Of course we rode in style in our cheaply bought and poorly insured gray Grand Caprice. Pulling up to the beach we could see that the "Waves Were Pumpin'!!!" Pure excitement and nerves arose in all of us as we looked at eachother and tried to act as macho and stoic as possible. Except, how do you look macho and stoic when you are standing next to a 1982 gray Grand Caprice?

As we approached the beach I could see some locals about 100 yards off the shore catching what looked to be 12 foot waves. Insane, right? I gauranteed myself that I would stick to the less-certain-death size waves a bit farther down the beach. We made our way past the showers and a few hotties sunbathing on the small patch of grass behind the thin strip of beach. Well, here we were three "haolis", that means "white people", standing seemingly ready for this new adventure. I took my t-shirt off. I could feel the stares piercing my skin. "I know I am white but geez, at least try to make your stares less obvious," I said to myself under my breath. Was I missing something? Did I have my boardshorts on? Were we really that obvious of newbies?

I turned at looked at my buddies Jim and Shane and said, "I ain't standin' around just to get stared at! I'm running in!"

In a Baywatch-esque scene the three of us pasty, inexperienced, adventurous, mainlanders ran barefoot across the beach, down into the water.

"SPLASH"

The water was at least warm, but the waves sure looked at lot bigger from my flat position on top of my bodyboard. I had watched some people out in the waves already swimming around just fine on their boards and navigating the waters like they had a motor attached to them. But I have to say, swimming with a bodyboard is like trying to swim with a coffee table between your legs...impossible.
The waves kept coming and we kept paddling, doggy-paddle style, to essentially no end. I looked behind me and realized we still only about 60 feet from shore. This was ridiculous. It was like trying to run up a descending escalator, but even worse, every step/paddle I took the escalator/ocean just kept getting infinitely the same size. 20 minutes of struggling later we made it out past the waves. You see the key to bodyboarding and surfing is being faster than the waves and therefore being able to catch them from behind. How were we going to be faster than the waves if it took us 20 minutes to paddle 50 yards? I was already huffin' and puffin' and in need of some Gogo-gadget webbed feet and hands.
Then I see my buddy Jim catch a wave, well more like a wave caught him, but either way he was speeding along a wave, looking like he was Kelly Slater on a bodyboard.
I had to match that so I gave it a try. I looked behind me and saw a good size wave coming. I paddle hands and feet as fast as I could. I thought I was going faster than the wave but apparently not. The wave crest caught me and tipped me face first into the water. It had to have been quite a scene with legs flailing in the air and a wave smashing towards shore. I don't know because I was trying to find which way was up after being rocked by an innocent "baby wave". Maybe this was a MISTAKE. I found my way to shore coughing up water and dragging my board behind me. I hear a "local" voice yell to me, "Hey haoli! Where yo fins bra?"

Confused by the question I thought to myself. My fins, huh? Does he think I am merman? Am I missing something? I yell back, "What?"

"Your fins bradda?" as he holds up a pair of special rubber fins that you wear to propel yourself easier through the water. "Wow! We are a bunch of idiots!" I scream silently.

I yell back nervously, "I forgot them at home....."

"That's stupid bra. Big MISTAKE, you coulda been killed"

Really? I realized that, after being tossed like a rag doll underwater for a good 30 seconds.

Needless to say I didn't end up going back into the water that day. I wouldn't go back in until I had my "fins". What strangers we were, thinking we could conquer the waves without proper, necessary equipment.
Yes, it was a big mistake on my part. I was almost killed. I overcame it though with the advice of a local, and now a friend. He kindly showed us where to get the best and cheapest fins and offered to show us the ropes of bodyboarding. I now can say that my big mistake has turned into a even bigger success. I have found another passion in my life and one that I may never be really good at but one where I know I can be mistake-free...kinda...because that wasn't the last wave that made me ponder life and death. My advice...first time bodyboarding, go with someone who knows what their doing. I have been bodyboarding since then and I can say for certain that if you don't wear fins you could end up like this guy (See Below).
The End.
Can you just imagine what happened to this guy? OhMyGUSH!!!