WHAT ALLEGRA DOES
as of March, 2001

    So I thought I'd send you all an email about what it is that I DO here as a job. Oftentimes I'll get an email asking, "so what have you been doing for work...what are these projects you talk about...etc." and, well, I thought it time to talk a little Peace Corps talk.

    I came here as an ecolog - for those of you that don't know, I studied Wildlife Biology at Davis and was interested in pursuing that field. The Peace Corps fills positions in Parks & Wildlife and when I first applied they slated me for a Parks and Wildlife slot in Eastern Europe, eventually landing me in Bulgaria. The group I trained with was divided into three sections - Environmental (ecologs), English teachers (TEFLs) and Community Economic Developers (CEDs). My ecolog group, of which there are about 20 volunteers, was further divided into smaller groups - Parks, Forestry, NGO's and Municipalities, or Environmental Education. The only time those categories really affected our training was when we went on pre-site visits (for those of you who remember, mine was to Vratsa!) or had the rare focus-specific lectures. After site announcement, actually, a number of people who had originally been in one group were reshifted into another - Forestry guys working in Parks, Municipality folks working for NGO's, etc. I stayed in Parks, having been assigned to work for the Vratchansky Balkan Nature Park. At site announcement we were given an envelope with brief job description - mine pretty much focused on environmental education, leading kids on the ecotrail...stuff like that.

    It has been 6 months and a few days since I arrived in Vratsa and began my work here. It has been only in the last 2 or 3 that the role of the PCV in this country has become more defined -- most of you, as I did, probably think of volunteers living in "mud huts", in the middle of nowhere, with no running water or electricity. There ARE volunteers like that, yes, but not in Bulgaria - at least nobody that I've heard of. Here we have apartments, TVs and VCRs (not me, though). I can take yoga twice a week, have cornflakes for breakfast, and take my cats to the veterinarian.

    It has been an interesting time, trying to figure out my place in an office that seems to work so smoothly without me. A main goal of PC Volunteers is to develop sustainable systems -- projects that will continue to go on even after we leave. Some volunteers work in offices that have only recently been formed; the PCV's can be active idea generators and human energy sources for new projects. Others work in offices where noone (on the surface, anyway) seems interested in much of anything, from new activities to increasing efficiency. I, though, work in an office that is totally capable, motivated, and sustainable. Things would work just fine if I weren't here!! I mean, there is probably some "skills transfer" that could happen...but it's hard being this American girl in an office of totally qualified and skilled Bulgarians, trying to find a position from which I could say, "well..why don't we do it THIS way..?" I watch how they develop project ideas and ask of myself, "why try to fix what isn't broken?" That's not to say that there aren't projects that I don't participate in -- for example, this last Wednesday was World Water Day. Some other volunteers organized some river clean-ups and I thought it a good idea to do something like that here. So I said, "well the 22nd is so-and-so date and maybe we could schedule something the following Saturday in the park..." And, well, they took the idea and ran with it. So - yes, I played a role facilitating an idea; that they could take it and develop it without much more of my input is very very valuable. I don't doubt that other things like that will come up - the other day at lunch, for example, I was talking to my colleague, the park biologist, about looking for wolves. I told him about something I'd worked on years ago in Montana, some of the techniques we used, and the idea of doing something like that in our park was sparked. I have to remember that those conversations are more valuable than I think they are. OH and another thing, which, if all works out, could turn out to be really cool...the next big idea that I'm supposed to be a big part of involves the creation of a new club, Friends of Vratchansky Balkan. It would function as an NGO, involving not only adult "friends" of the park, but already developed clubs in town AND kids looking for something new to do. Qualified individuals (including me!) :) would host specialized sessions - photography, caving, etc. Like I said above, our role here as volunteers is not easy to define. In some countries, the struggle is how to live rather than how to work. Here, it's more of a struggle figuring out how to WORK than how to live.

    So...yes, I am involved with the projects that the park works on. In most cases it's as a fund-seeker. It is a Peace Corps "theme" that we don't want to be here just as moneymakers -- that's not our role and that's not how we want to be viewed. But someone recently made a point -- if you work for an organization, and they have everything BUT the money to execute a project, then that's what you're role is, and that's where you can help - by finding funds. I have written a project to get some money for some computers to be used by the office and the clubs associated with the park (scouts, caving and climbing, kayak and ski). A small hurdle was getting past the Peace Corps Bulgaria admin, but after following through on some recommendations I was approved and the project was forwarded on to DC where final review and approval happens. Now it's just a matter of waiting to see if that works out. I have also been asked to look for funding for a number of other really cool projects -- unfortunately there's a lot of WAITING to be done here, and that's where I am right now. Just waiting. It is a hard thing, because being here as a volunteer one really wants to feel like they're needed, like there are things that need to be done and for us to do. It's not always like that, though...like I said, our purpose here is a lot more subtle.

    Another thing to keep in mind is the seasons and how the weather affects work. During the winter, not much of anything can be done outside. These days, though, as it's getting warmer and summer is approaching, I sense that there'll be a lot more to do - whether it's heading up into the mountains with my counterpart to look for plants or getting involved in other projects that are slated for the summer, things should be more dynamic, which will be nice.

    Beyond the work at the park, though, I'm really interested in getting involved with some social projects. It was just a few weeks ago, actually, after a conversation with a new friend of mine, that I've recognized the issues faces by single mothers in this community. Facing the onset of depression, she can't even find a reliable counselor to turn to - the two she's talked to have told her either that she's crazy or that she needs to get on medication right away. It sounds like in most cases single mothers have the support of their parents -- they'll bring food in from the village or help watch the kids. But for women like this friend of mine, who don't have that kind of support, where can they turn? I just had a meeting with a prominent group in Sofia this Wednesday to discuss some ideas for developing a women's support group. As it turns out, a new women's organization was just formed in Vratsa a few weeks ago. I am VERY interested in getting in touch with them to see if I can help out, or to at least request some help facilitating a support group. I spoke with my mom about it, also, and she gave me a good idea to make it geared towards women with children, single OR married. That way women can bring their kids along, and while the kids are playing, they can talk, or a lesson of some sort can be given, or a counselor made available to lead a discussion...regardless, it's something that needs to be addressed, and maybe I can facilitate it somehow.

   So now...well... I'm going to bring this to a close. I'm sorry if this was long-winded or too big or something...I hope that for those of you who have gotten this far you have a better idea about what it is that I'm doing here. :) If there are more questions about all of it than there were before I wrote, well, bring 'em on. Talking about what I do here, trying to give you guys a better idea about what this country is all about, is one of my roles as a Peace Corps volunteer...so you better be taking notes. :)

                   With love,
                     Allegra