Hero?

 He was born on Christmas Eve, and he joked that it makes him a gift to humanity. I told him the work he had done makes that not so far from the truth. He waved it off. He’d been paid for it, he said, so it didn’t count.

That conversation was months ago, and it has stayed with me since. This quiet assumption that reverence disappears the moment a paycheck hits the bank account.

We call paid firefighters, nurses, and members of our military heroes without a second thought. Nobody asks them to save a life for free first, just to prove they mean it. So the rule that money disqualifies you was never really a rule. It gets applied selectively, and almost always to the least funded, least visible work.

Think about how many people are doing that work right now. The local shelter. The transition home. The organizations that quietly feed, house, and defend the neediest people on earth. We take nearly all of it for granted. What these people do is a covenant. They show up, every single day, for years, and they do it expertly.

Here is why I can’t stop thinking about that comment. So many people like my friend feel the same way. A calling with a salary is still a calling. You can be paid and called at the same time. The paycheck describes how someone survives. It says nothing about why they do the work.

And the why is the whole point. These are people with skills they could sell anywhere, to anyone, often for more. They chose this instead. The belief that good work should be its own reward is exactly the logic that keeps caregivers, teachers, and rescuers underpaid, and it is the same logic that let my friend talk himself out of a compliment.

So no, I don’t think “hero” quite covers it. I think it undersells them. The purest love isn’t the unpaid kind. It is the kind that shows up every single day and can afford to keep showing up.

The money was never the measure.

What comes from effort and strain

I am number 2 in a line of 5. The oldest girl. My role as the oldest girl was developed innately. I am a caretaker, a fixer, and a teacher. There are responsibilities I inherently want to take on because of how I grew up. Doing things for others, always having a purpose, keeps me engaged. I don’t resent it; it gave me direction and purpose early in life because, for the most part, I enjoyed being the person everyone could count on. I liked taking care of my siblings. It was definitely not without arguments, even at times coming to physical blows or defending each other from outsiders. When my sister was in second grade and I, her older sister, was in 5th grade, she came home crying. I asked her why, and she said a boy pushed her off her bike. So I told her to tell me where he is. I went up to the boy and told him “don’t ever touch my sister ever again”, in front of all the other kids, and punched him in his face. Similarly, while in middle school and my older brother in high school, I told him a boy at one of the bus stops was being mean to me. He did what I have done and asked who he was. So he drove me in a car to the bus stop the boy was at and drove towards the boy, stopping dead in front of him. He said, " Don’t fuck with my sister ever again.” And that boy never did. 
We fight, but no matter what, we always make amends and defend each other. This aspect of our upbringing says more about our culture than about our family. Filipinos are known for bringing in people regardless of relationship. They love passionately and seek joy in everything. Family is always first, no matter how distant the relationship. Everyone is a tita, tito, kuya, or ate, lola, or lolo. This way of addressing the people in your life creates connection, support, and a community that will support you fiercely while also talking shit about you to the titas (also a thing that Filipinos love to do).
Growing up, there was no shortage of people coming in and out of our house and sometimes staying with us because of personal issues. It was the place to be. My mother didn’t care, so people gravitated towards hanging out at the Reyes residence. I had so many friends, or so I thought, but there were a core few who were the hangout crew. After high school, one of my “best friends” slept with my ex. That broke our friendship. The other, we just grew apart. And then, out of trauma, one of the friends I had lingering in the background became the one that I couldn’t imagine life without. These experiences influenced how I would approach relationships in the future. I realized I put a lot of effort into relationships that don’t always have a mutual alignment with the word friend. It became apparent that the effort I would give didn’t hold much value to the individuals I was giving it to. So I became protective of those I already knew were aligned with me, and that group consisted of my siblings at first.
The next forever friend to join this circle was Natara. She was the one lingering in the background. We knew each other in school. She and my younger sister were closer at first, and she was our dance captain. But when she left for college, I wanted to make sure I stayed in touch. I would see her when she went to undergrad or when we were both home for breaks. Her mom and my ex’s mom also worked together for a very long time. Mama W and Natara would tell me they didn’t think he was a good fit for me. You couldn’t tell me anything in those days. I had to learn the lessons myself. 
What I realized is that I had to choose friends better. Hanging out didn’t define friendship. I started to define it the way I had defined my family. But how do you know those qualities exist in someone else? You don’t. So I looked for other things, characteristics I admired, people who were not self-serving, and looked for the joys of life. The reason this had to change is because I realized that there is no amount of effort I would put into making sure my family was taken care of. And if my forever friends are going to be an extension of family, I had to be really sure that the effort I put in my relationships is meaningful because it can be heart-breaking and exhausting when the effort is taken for granted.
I saw some of these qualities I admired in Natara. There was drive, passion for a cause, a need to never settle for less; she also loved her family fiercely, and her relationship with her brother was something that people would admire. Natara and Carlton used The Huxtables as inspiration - Doctor and Lawyer with Natara the lawyer. Sitting here thinking of those days, listening to Natara talk about her brother and seeing their bond, actually brings me to tears. Carlton lost his life after a battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This is the trauma that changed our relationship. I immediately came back home when Natara called me to tell me about his passing. There was no hesitation that I needed to be there for her and her family. So I drove the 3 hours to be with them.
The thing about Natara is that she has a switch. When she switches to taking care of business, she can do it with ease. When she switches to taking care of her family, it is equally easy. That weekend was filled with an overload of both, and trying to coordinate the funeral and the people at the same time. Carlton was loved by so many. People from high school, his friends, basketball players, coaches, and those he worked with came to pay their respect. So I stepped in whenever I saw Natara needed help. I didn’t define my role, but if Natara said she had to do something, and I knew I could do it, I would do it. Consoling her mother was the hardest job for everyone. I took on some of this responsibility to help Natara since she had moved out of town. I came home to help Mama and Papa W around the house. Setting up the internet, going through old items that needed to be donated, or just taking them shopping to get out of the house. 
Later, this family would come to my rescue. During the recession, I had lost my job and our youngest was born a month later. We became a one income household with a baby who was allergic to the world. Literally. If it had not been for the help that this family gave us during those two years, it would have been a much harder time. But Mama W and Natara wasn’t haven’t any of it. And Papa W loved having the babies over. He had a cookie jar of a dog and every time you opened his mouth it would play the song “who let the dogs out”. The kids loved it and he loved playing with the kids and hearing them laugh.
You know that lump in your throat that you get when you try to hold in emotions, because if you allow the emotion to hit your eyes, you’ll fall apart. That’s what I feel now, writing about this family. How much they mean to me and how much loss they’ve endured. Later, when her father passes away, it was equally devastating to us all. The unfortunate part is that we had all done this before. There was a familiarity to the rhythm we didn’t want to acknowledge, and the realization that only the women of the family were left to share the rest of this life together. And I will be here for them until it is our time. 
Our childhood influences us as adults. How we choose to use our experience will define whether it is a life full of meaning and purpose, or one that we resent holding us hostage. There were plenty of experiences and memories that I had that are hurtful to remember. There are choices I made that I look back on and wonder why I made them. However, the things and people I choose to put effort into are the ones that have to have a lasting impact. We don’t have to benefit from the effort all the time, but we have to learn from it. The experience teaches us to form new ways of seeing the bigger picture, bringing meaning into focus. The strain we feel in the worst of times can enable you to find strength when others need it most. And the hope is that we can use what we’ve learned to support others. 

Global Practicum Bulgaria - Day 5

 The last day of the trip was meant to focus on Contemporary Bulgaria. First stop was Kambanite, the Bells Park. It was a cloudy cold day with the smell of rain on the horizons. This unique park was created by the daughter of the former communist head of state, who used this monument to commemorate the UN's 1979 declaration the year of the child. Many countries are represented in the circle of bells, where messages from children representing their nations are recorded on their bells. A sign near the monument's entrance reflects that only children can ring the bells. Before leaving, we took a picture of our group as we all knew this was our last day together.

Next stop, the Museum of Socialist Art. This museum represents sculptures, art, and media from 1944-1989. What is most noteworthy are the sculptures in the garden of the red army soldiers, industrial workers and communist leaders like Lenin and Stalin. The rain started to come down as we navigated the paths of the sculpture garden so I made my way into the art gallery. 

I was still running low on energy. The hope was that the art would help rejuvenate me - I love looking at the brush strokes in the art, feeling the movement of the paint on the canvas, thinking about whether the subject was live  in front of the artist or from memory as the artist painted. But the spark never came. With each new painting, I stood there as I would normally, scrutinizing the colors, brush strokes and and how the colors merge together to create the picture. The joy never came. The energy was still stagnant. I was wilting and apparently it was noticeable. 

Leo checked in on me. I tried to reassure him I was okay. Then Ismael asked

how I was doing. Again, I said I was okay, but Ismael wasn't buying it and he pressed again asking, if am I okay. So I told him I'm not okay. My battery was low and I have no way to recharge it. He sympathized with me and suggested I try to hotel spa and get a massage. Leo also perked up and thought it was a good idea. 

So when we got back to the hotel, and after our Lunch and Learn with Dessy

and Veneta,  Leo and I stopped in at the spa and booked appointments for an afternoon massage. This was a good decision. It was still raining outside and I didn't have it in me to do the graffiti tour. The massage helped me relax enough to be present and give me enough energy to get through dinner without anyone else knowing I was compromised. 

Our last supper together was at a beautiful restaurant called Shtastlivetsa Restaurant - Vitoshka. It served Bulgarian food and Dr. Bieri pre-ordered the traditional pitka, an enormous bread "cake" to share for the table. We also got to see her husband again before we left, which was really nice. He was so gracious to give us his time and knowledge providing the initial tour when we arrived that I was happy to be able to see him and say good-bye as well. Ismael had an idea to provide a gift to Dr. Bieri and all of us agreed, so we presented a spa gift card for Dr. Bieri and her husband during dinner. Along with the gift card, each of us wrote a personalized note that was presented with the gift card. We also created a photobook of the pictures we collected during this practicum that we'll be presenting to her during Immersion weekend. Something she won't be expecting but will be a nice surprise. At least half of our group will be in attendance so it will be nice to see her again with the group to share our appreciation for hosting us with the photobook memoir. 

After eating, a small group of us headed back to the hotel again. Leo, Liv, and I. and Chiso and Ismael followed shortly thereafter. My wick was at its end and I retired for the night. I felt bad for not saying a proper goodbye to Chiso and Ismael since they were following behind us in a separate cab I didn’t say good bye to them in the restaurant. I was so focused on getting to my room and packing that it didn't occur to me how rude I was. Don't fret, I was reminded of my rudeness by Ismael and opted to say good-bye at the airport since we were both leaving early in the morning. The next morning, Brooklyn and I caught a cab together. Rather, Brooklyn let me ride with her in the cab she already smartly reserved for herself. Thank Goodness for smart people who think ahead!  We got to see Leo at the airport while in the security line. Then they both went to their gates and luckily my gate was on the first level where all the food and shopping was so I stationed myself in the middle, bought a coffee and something to eat and waited. While eating and people watching, Ismael arrived and sat with me while I waited for boarding to begin. Then we got to see Josh! He joined in and we shared our last moments at the airport before heading home to the U.S.. 

I was eager to get home. Eager to see Jimmy and my son. Eager to see my puppies. I was able to get a window seat on the way home which allowed me some time to nap. And when I landed at the D.C. airport, customs was a breeze with global entry and I finally felt my muscles relax some. Not completely, I still felt the weight of the week's activities both the physical and social aspects, heavy on my body, but there was a light that told me "just a few more hours". When I finally got to Orlando, it was all I needed to see Jimmy waiting there for me at the end of arrivals, that I could finally melt into him, breathing him in, feeling his warmth, and sighing to myself the relief my body needed. His physical touch is what recharges me and I could feel myself reacting to his presence. I know he knew I needed this too so he didn't hurry me from holding him. Once he could feel the tension leave my body, he took my backpack off my back and my purse from my hands, and walked me down to baggage claim to wait for my luggage. I never have to ask Jimmy to do anything. He always knows what I need by reading my face, my body language, or the tone of my voice when I call his name. He's my recharger. And I am home. 

The reflection of this practicum comes a week later when the stress caused by anxiety had time to leave me and I could revisit the experience with clarity. What I will say is, I would do it again. Even though I have a social anxiety and it completely drains me. The experience being in another country, meeting new people, and learning outweighs anything that I may have described as negatively impacting me. I know the feelings and emotions are temporary. I know I will eventually self regulate. But nothing can surpass the enormity of experiential learning and relationships built from a global practicum. 

 To be continued. 

Global Practicum Bulgaria - Day 4

After a beautiful time in Melnik - an evening of drinks, billiards, and sharing space with new friends - our group headed to Rila Monastery, the country’s largest functioning monastery, the next morning. Despite the anticipation such a destination should bring, I felt drained and couldn't summon much excitement. Seeking comfort, I used the bus ride to center myself, putting on my noise-canceling headphones and opening my book. Thank goodness for the book, We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark, a romantacy that blends fantasy and romance. Immersed in the storyline, characters, and build-up, I felt a glimmer of energy return. Knowing there will be another book to look forward to gave me something to anticipate.

When we got to Rila, I can see the shift in energy from the group. Less engaged. Some were maintaining but there were a handful of people that matched my energy where gravity naturally pulled us together. I was less attentive, staying on the outskirts, observing the architecture, visitors and coincidentally Iliana Lotova was there, the President of Bulgaria. Unlike U.S. Presidents, her security detail was modest but protective of their person.

It was a much chillier day, so I opted to stay in the sun within the courtyard grounds of the monastery as much as possible, present but not attentive to the lectures our guide was providing. Inside the church, which was at the center of the courtyard, the exterior walls were adorned with frescoes telling the stories of Bulgarian history. Inside, a very similar feel, with a much larger space than Rozhen Monastery. I opted not to visit the museum because of the chill and my short attention span, so a small group of us went to the bakery just outside the monastery.

 We spotted a donut spot that made the most amazing donuts I’ve ever had! As we were chowing down on donuts and sipping our coffees, the president and her detail walked past us and entered the restaurant next to us. This could never happen in the U.S. That's what I kept telling myself. What a privilege it was to have this experience and to have someone like the president in our vicinity. So unreal.

After some time soaking up the sun's warmth, we headed to the entrance to meet our group and await our bus. There was comfort on the trek back because we were heading back to the Hilton Sofia. A place that was familiar and comforting to all of us. We would have a little time to rest before our meet-up for dinner. I opted to walk through Sofia on my own. The solitude was therapeutic in a way, but also a confirmation of how much I needed familiarity to sustain me. I spoke with my sisters on the way to the restaurant. Stopping in a Bulgarian souvenir shop to pick up rose-scented candles, lotions, and oils for my family. What was really wonderful to learn is that Rose scents originate mostly from Bulgaria. They are one of the largest distributors of Rose oils, which are used to make many of the perfumes and cosmetics around the world. The one I've been using for the last 15 years is Rose31 by Le Labo. It's been my favorite scent since my visit to the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. The hotel used this scent in their soaps and shampoos, and that is when I knew I needed to have it all the time. 

Back to Bulgaria. 

Dinner was at a unique spot with a very diverse menu called Burrata. It had a variety of Asian and Italian dishes. The ambiance was beautiful and very floral. Leo and I decided to share most of our meals so we can try more things. What I noticed with Leo, is that he likes his desserts. Which is great! I normally love to partake in desserts too but I'm learning the skill of restraint in my old age 😂.  After our meal, a few of us decided to cab it a little early back to the hotel. Our usual three - Courtney, Leo and I. and Liv and Kat also came back early. Our last day together was fast approaching but sleep was calling for us to enter its chamber. 

Global Practicum Melnik - Day 3

 March 25, 2026

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Leaving Kavala was bittersweet. Many of us felt it was too short a stay, yet we also wanted to see what was next in store for us as we ventured towards Melnik. The day was gorgeous. We could finally see the landscapes of Bulgaria - the rolling hills and far off mountains. Throughout the trip, you can also see the variety of homes both built and lived in and abandoned throughout the country side. The sites were beautiful and also devastating at times. 

As we approached Melnik, the roads grew a little more narrow until we approached a narrow road, meant for on only a vehicle, that weaved through a small establishment where people lived and worked. Our tour bus, driven by the most talented driver I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, was able to squeeze through this narrow passage way carefully but expertly. Once past this narrow passage, we ventured up through the mountain towards the Melnik pyramids and Rozhen Monastery. This humble monastery had deep brown woods with white painted bricks that protected a courtyard of green grass embedded with stones throughout its walkways with the quaint church at its center. 

The grounds had various plants, flowers, and trees throughout the interior and had two lovely cats that welcomed us to its grounds. 

Inside the church, you walk into a chamber where the temperature is noticeable lower than the outside. Here you can light a candle for your loved ones, similar to the cathedral in Sofia, and donate money to the monastery. Once inside the church, Bulgarian culture, history and religious worship adorns every aspect from the frescoes on the walls, the traditional chandelier, the seating and prayer chambers. 

I stole a few pictures of the interior to remember how elaborately detailed these historically significant sites can be. After taking in the Monastery I strolled out to take in the beautiful landscapes of Melnik, the pyramids, as the Melnik call it, and the vast openness of the lands before me. Just down the street, within walking distance of the

Monastery stood a small church, the Church of the Holy virgin said to have frescoes from the 16th-18th century.  We departed towards the village of Melnik, with inhabitants less than 400 people total. As we approached the small town, the roads became dirt and our hotel was at the mouth of the village on a path leading up. Hotel Melnik is a beautiful structure boasting similar architecture of the deep brown woods and white painted walls. Contemporary things like elevators won’t be found in this small village so be prepared to walk, climb stairs, and have uneven pathways. Besides the physicality required to navigate through this town, it is quite the site to see. Breathtaking hills, beautiful architecture, delicious foods, and a history that is rich with wine merchants and various cultures that came through this small town. 

After we grabbed our room keys and dropped off our luggage, we were set to meet at the Bistro Melnik. It was a gorgeous day, with blue skies (clouds were rolling in but the sun was still shining), and the temperature was perfect. A group of us wanted to sit outside while half the group opted sit indoors. I partook in the fresh air and the company. Leo and I decided to share a meal because the server mentioned it was good enough for two people, so we go the veal satch. Josh ordered the lamb satch and for the table we ordered the fries which was topped with shredded feta. I’ve never had feta like this, and the fries were some of the best I’ve ever had. When our meal came out, the clay pans were sizzling allowing us to take in the aromas as it was being brought to our table. We shared or meals with the table since it was much larger than I expected and it was at this table that I realized I loved satch. I wish we had more Bulgarian cuisine in the US  because this is what I would order regularly.  We were running late to the tour of the Kordopulov house, a large Bulgarian home build in 1754 that reflects what life was like in this century. It boasted a basement wine cellar where you can partake in wine tasting. 

The home was exquisite and had a number nooks hidden behind walls and on the roof was an accurate sun dial and a lovely little calico cat that was one of the friendliest cats I’ve encountered on this trip. All she wanted was some scratches and love and I was happy to oblige her.

While on the rooftop, we noticed a staircase and a building on top of the mountain across from us. While we finished our wine tasting and the tour of the dark dank wine cellar, I overheard Dr. Bieri ask if there were others that were interested in a hike. 

I’m always up for a hike, but it may not sound like I do if you’re the person with me while we hike. Because of my asthma I am a mouth breather and I’ll sound like I’m dying, but really enjoy the challenge. It means I’m not dying 😊. All in all, there were eight of us, our two tour guides who led us to the path where we can see the historical sites of Saint Nicola Church and Despot Slavova Fortress, Dr. Bieri, and five students. Two of us were more than prepared either with the right shoes or the right training 😂. Thank goodness because there was a patch of the hike that was steep and slick and my shoes were not hiking shoes. On the way down, I hear Leo call my name which halted me in my tracks. The gentleman that he is, he told me to hold on because I didn’t have the right shoes and it was unsafe for me. He was right. I felt much better with him ahead of me. As we were heading down the slope, I hear Ismael coming down quickly and then slowing as he approaches Leo and I while he’s also coaching me on the best way to descend the slope. Clearly I was not bending my nears or moving my feet in a zipzag pattern. I wasn’t ready for that, so slowly in a linear way, I continued down the path to stable ground with Leo’s help. It was a lovely hike. One I would like to do again if I’m lucky enough to do it in this lifetime. If not, at least I have photos to remember the experience. Melnik is a town that has captured my heart. Rich with history, delicious foods, hikes and a quiet life that one could only dream of. 

 

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Global Practicum Kavala - Day 2

 ​March 24, 2026

We packed up and temporarily said good-bye to HIlton Sofia to head to Kavala, Greece. It was an early departure with our tour guide Todor and the bus driver, who’s name escapes me but I recall it sounds like Chiso - and peer of ours - who connected with the bus driver since their names were so similar. On the way to Kavala, many napped on the trip briefly waking up to stretch our legs during one of the required stops so our bus driver can rest. A gloomy day, with heavy clouds and the occasional rain  making the streets slick and the skies grey. I was able to complete one journal assignment on the way to Kavala and submit it reflecting my disorienting experience. Then I read my book for the rest of the way. 

Arriving in Kavala, our hotel was at the center of Kavala with the ocean on

one side and the city on the other side. Rain came down a little heavier but this would not stop our tour of Kavala from starting. The hotel staff was ready for us. Our room keys were ready and as the desk agents called our names, we took them and headed to our rooms. The elevators only allowed for 2 per elevator with luggage so many opted to trek to their rooms via the stairs. Oddly, we were on the 2nd floor but the 2nd floor was not one flight up, but 4 flights up. Once we dropped off our luggage, we met downstairs where our Kavala tour guides were waiting for us in motorcycle type golf carts with rain protection. They were kind enough to prepare a traditional snack for us which was a sesame covered pretzel called Koulouria. This held us over until lunch. 

First stop was the Tobacco museum. The museum is hidden on a quaint street with an unassuming entry way. It almost felt deserted until you walked into the museum itself where two lovely women sat awaiting our arrival.  The smell of. Tobacco was prominent but not offensive like when it is smoked. It is like coffee, the smell of the coffee bean can be delightful and resets one’s senses. Tobacco felt very similar in this form, where tobacco leaves have been preserved for ages. 

The kind lady behind the counter took care of the ticketing and exchange of monies and the other would be our tour guide. What we didn’t expect was actually a history of Kavala and why it was such an important part of Greek history. We were not just there to learn about Tobacco trade, but of the land’s history. She was lively and engaging in how she articulated how Kavala may have gotten its name, the importance of trade, the many different people that may have come through Kavala’s ports, and eventually the purpose of tobacco and how it became a primary trade of this region.  It is not a big museum nor is it fancy but it had so much history and depth that added meaningfully to our experience in Kavala. 

Our Kavala tour guide came in to politely let us know it’s time to go, so we

exited to our next stop. In our golf carts, we. Toured the streets going up steep hills, passing old churches with painted murals, and seeing the statue of Mohammad Ali, “the original”, near the top of the mountain. Around this area is where we stopped to have lunch at a local Greek restaurant. I partook in the sea doggies, which was a type of small shark. It was a very soft fleshy meat, texture seemed more fatty than meaty but nonetheless tasty for the meal. After eating we took a few minutes to do a little bit of shopping in the quaint shop next door where I was able to pick up souvenirs of Kavala for my family. On our way back, our tour guide dropped us off where some stopped for some gelato, and others walked back to the hotel for some rest. Dinner was due only a few hours from the time so having some quiet time helped me reset a bit. By the time dinner came around, I wasn’t very hungry but felt a desire to try Octopus, which was supposed to be great from this area. It was good but a bit overcooked - chewier than it should be. Afterwards, a group of us met at the hotel’s rooftop bar where it overlooked the ocean. The night view of the port was beautiful. There weren’t many in the bar, which made it nice to converse with my peers. Over wine and spirits, we shared why we decided to start this journey into a global leadership PhD, prompted by Liv. It was a great discussion, each of us having different purposes and topics we wanted to explore. What made the conversation so engaging is that everyone wanted the other to be successful in their studies. Cheering each other on to be our best.  After our conversations, I decided to head back to my room and rest while others decided to head out to a local hookah bar. 

The next day, I met Brad and Kit to walk through the streets of Kavala before our 9am departure. On this day, the sun was out, ready to take on the parade set to celebrate Greece’s Independence Day from the Ottoman Empire. 

Some of us had wished we could stay and experience the festivities but the day would bring us to Melnik, another monastary and town to visit. One that would forever be a core memory.

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Global Practicum Bulgaria - Day 1

March 24, 2026

Sleep was as expected when I’m not home. There are moments of deep sleep, and then moments of tossing and turning, staring into the darkness, and wondering what my family is doing back home. In any case, I was up before the sun rose and prepared for the day.

The first thing I do no matter where I am at, is make the bed. I know I’m in a hotel, and technically housekeeping can do this, but it is a habit I formed early on and prefer to own the task of making the bed in which I slept in than having someone else do it. After that, I brushed my teeth and my hair and got dressed to review the agenda for the day. Packing my crossbody with the things that I wanted to bring, pen, notebook, necessary medical needs, and the usual chapstick and hand cream were essential items, then I headed downstairs to grab a bite before we leave. 

By the time I got to the restaurant, a group of my classmates were already seated and having breakfast. Breakfast was a robust spread of a typical English/American/ Bulgarian continental breakfast. We quickly obtained the morsels we needed for the day and met Dr. Bieri in the lobby to set off to Bulgaria’s National museum of History. We had a set time to enter and our tour guide, Todor, was ready with a brief overview of where we are going, what we will see, and took care in how he would guide us through the museum. The gate that we passed through could only accommodate pedestrians despite the vast space between the gate and the museum and the large walk ways that led up to the museum’s entrance. The left walk ways was adorned with ancient stones from the 2nd and 3rd century AD each having a different origin or purpose that was fascinating to see and read about. After dropping off our coats and bags on the first floor, we walked up the stairs into a beautiful opulent space where the first landing joined four stairways, three that lead up to different areas of the museum, and one that leads down which is where we came from.

 Todor took us through the museum from the oldest to the newest. It honestly gave us a better

picture into Bulgaria’s history and was intriguing to learn about. The first picture in the museum was eloquently described to us by Todor of the significance of the photo. It was a picture of an ancient grave, one of the oldest found in Bulgaria. What I found most interesting, based on Todor’s explanation of the photo, is the different metals and materials that were found at the grave site. As Todor explained to us, gold was found but at that time, gold was not valuable, it was just a metal that could be found at the riverbanks. Additionally copper was found but copper mines were not close to the site of the burial site. So how did the copper get there? 

But the most valuable material of all were the shells. Since shells were not plentiful, shells were considered valuable. As we moved through the museum, stopping at notable exhibits, you can see the transition of the materials’ value and the shift they take when man decides that gold is most valuable. What they use gold on and how they manipulate it to create things for their needs.

Another interesting aspect of this museum is how I found certain things that stemmed from Asian culture. For example, there was a Jade buckle from Asia and Chinese porcelain made into a bowl.

​The most interesting findings were references to the first Bulgarian Khans and the use of the lunar calendar. Readings reflect that Bulgaria’s culture stemmed from Central Asia. I asked Todor this but what I didn’t get the feeling that Todor’s knowledge of Bulgaria extended to how Asia influenced Bulgarian culture. One of the things I’m bound to do is to see how and when Asia’s influence started and in what manner. 

After the museum, we headed to one of the oldest church’s in Bulgaria, the Boyana Church. It is a small

church that reflects three centuries of different styles of architecture inside and out. You can see the exterior of the building, the distinction on the old church, the styles of how it was built with different materials and influences of that century. Once inside the church the visit is timed, a group can only be in for 15 minutes and once the bell rings, you must leave. It was so interesting to see the frescas inside the church. There were areas of frescas that were painted and then chipped away revealing a different type of Fresca underneath from prior centuries.

What was unique about this site, outside of the historical value is the notable Sequoia trees on property which originated from the US. There were three in total, supposedly gifts to the queen at the time. This is also the site of Eleonar Reuss of Kostritz burial, the queen. She was the wife of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. They called the yard a garden but it was not a garden that one would think of traditionally but a collection of trees, bushes, and plants that came from diffferent areas of the world. Hence the three sequoia trees presence on property.

 I learned during my travels to Japan, that it is disrepectful to take photos of burial sites no matter how beautiful or meaningful it is, so I stopped taking pictures of sites where the dead rest to honor their peace.

From here we headed back to the Hilton where we had a

lively discussion with Stephen Reiter who is the GM of the hotel and from Switzerland. All of us had questions and took away something from the discussion. What I took away from it is that the Hilton does not provide cultural immersion training to its expats. Stephen mentioned an 8 month acclimation period for one of his assignments but there could be value in reducing the time frame with immersion training. It made me think about businesses that receive lots of different cultures from around the world and how those individuals are prepared to receive customers, guests, or business relationships if they are not prepared for it? How can we create more awareness and education to help people adjust and integrate better in a foreign country. Do business find value in this type of training? Would people be receptive to training? All things that intrigue me - one I will incorporate into my own business and research.

After the lunch and learn, we had a brief moment to freshen up before we were due to learn about Bulgarian culture through Dance and attire. 

This was a lot of fun! Thank goodness for Liv. She teaches salsa so this was easy for her and she was next to me. I benefited tremendously from being next to her. How she counted it out and spoke out the steps made it a little easier for me to follow along. After learning and doing 4 dances to the beat of Bulgarian music, we were sweaty and exhausted. This helped our appetite out as we were ready to spend the calories at Moma a Bulgarian restaurant. The Rose lemonade and the Pitka at Moma were exceptional! Similar to the pita I had at the Hilton, the pitka bread was also crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. It was an exceptional bread, one I proclaimed as the best I’ve ever had. I had wished, in that moment that Jimmy was with me to experience it. He loves bread. I immediately shared my opinion on the bread with him so I can share the moment even though we’re continents away from one another. I wish I had pictures to share but I was too hungry to remember to take the photo. 🤤

After our meal, Courtney, Leo and I left a tad early to catch a cab back to the hotel. It was a great day! One I’ll never forget.

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