One Heart Bulgaria Newsletter

The article that I wrote for OHB awhile back is featured in this newsletter:
http://www.oneheart-bg.org/newsletter/FallWinterNewsletter2011reduced.pdf

My article in the Kitsap Sun..printed version!

Interesting article by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. I was really surprised by this.

http://www.bghelsinki.org/en/rights/children-rights/

The national strategy Vision on the Deinstitutionalisation of Children in the Republic of Bulgariaadopted by the Council of Ministers on February 24 2010, marked an important step forward in the delivery of better quality care to children in Bulgaria.

Still, the homes for children with mental disabilities in Bulgaria continue to maintain a practice of malnourishment, violence, physical restraint, and treatment with incapacitating drugs. Results from a joint BHC-Prosecutor’s Office investigation from 2010 indicate that over the past ten years, 238 children with disabilities have died in social care homes: 31 children have died of systematic malnutrition; 84 – due to general staff negligence; 13 – of infections resulting from bad hygiene; 36 – of pneumonia through persistent exposure to cold or long-term immobility; 6 – in accidents such as freezing to death, drowning, and suffocation; 2 – as a result of violence. The causes of 15 of the deaths remain unknown.  Sixty three per cent of all deaths occurred in institutions, as opposed to hospitals. This alarming percentage comes to say that sick children tend not to be hospitalised, regardless of the gravity of their health condition, and that they are left to die in the institution, or hospitalised too late. Since a significant proportion of the deaths occurred during the cold months of the year, it is clear that the very basics, such as adequate heating, food staples, and vital medication are not provided.

Upon completing the abovementioned inspection of all institutions for children with mental disabilities, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated 248 pre-trial proceedings. As of 1 June 2011, 25 of them have been terminated and 21 are still being reviewed by a court of higher instance, said the deputy chief prosecutor of Bulgaria, Galina Toneva at a news conference organised by BHC on the International Children’s Day. Still, not a single indictment has been made. The prosecutors have issued a number of disquieting refusals to investigate cases such as failure to treat a child’s abscess and to provide specialised dental care to a child, to a child abused by means of ill appointed tranquilisers; also cases of sexual abuse, hypotrophy and pneumonia-related deaths, and bodily damage. On 1 June 2011, BHC launched its campaign for access to information in care homes for children by media and civil society for regulative purposes.

***

The reform of the system of correctional and educational facilities, the correctional boarding schools (CBS) and the social educational boarding schools (SBS) has been under discussion for a decade and still has not materialized. The long-awaited reforms in the field of justice for minors and juveniles are also not on the agenda. Over the past twelve years, the number of boarding schools was reduced from thirty-three to nine, as law enforcement bodies realised the placement of children in CBS and SBS has no educational effect. This reduction was also a result of the legislative changes which restricted the arbitrariness of such placements. However, this measure could not completely guarantee the respect for the rights of children at risk. The placement procedure is inconsistent with fair trial standards. The grounds for placement in the case of ‘anti-social behaviour’ discriminate against the children, as they allow for the deprivation of liberty for acts which are not deemed crimes if performed by adults.

My article in the Kitsap Sun

Overseas travels lead to life-changing experiences

I would like to relate my unique experiences during the past year. I left my cozy home in Seabeck to spend a year studying abroad at the American University of Bulgaria. The country of Bulgaria is located in the Balkan region of Eastern Europe, on the Black Sea surrounded by Romania, Serbia, and Greece. This nation is sometimes overlooked, and not widely known by the average American tourist.

However, this post-Communist, newly admitted member of the European Union has a lot to offer a young university student like me.

The American University of Bulgaria was founded in 1991 through a joint American-Bulgarian effort. Getting to experience a liberal arts university with classes in English while living in the middle of Bulgaria was truly a unique experience. With students from over 40 nationalities attending the university, the diversity of students was amazing. What I learned in one year in Bulgaria is more than I've learned in two years at college in Washington. Not just from the educational aspect, but more from the life experiences I had. I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and came to see how much we have in common.

Traveling in Bulgaria was a unique experience. Bulgaria has many hidden treasures such as the Eastern Orthodox Rila Monastery founded in the 10th century and located in the Rila Mountains, not far from the beautiful Seven Rila Lakes, which was one of the most stunningly beautiful hikes I've ever been on.

During my year in Bulgaria, I visited 13 countries and met people from all walks of life. In general, I think Eastern Europe has a negative reputation with both Europeans and Americans. However, from Estonia to Bulgaria I've experienced nothing but warm hospitality from the locals. In comparison to Western countries like France, Germany, or Switzerland, Eastern European countries are much less expensive. I enjoyed discovering places never seen by the average American tourist. Visiting cities such as Wroclaw, Poland or Skopje, Macedonia were a long way off the normal tourist path. I think my favorite part of traveling, besides getting to try all the unique food, was getting to stay with the local people through www.couchsurfing.org. I think when traveling, it makes a big difference in understanding a culture when you are able to stay with locals rather than a hostel or hotel.

In June, on another adventure, I interned with an American organization called One Heart Bulgaria. In 2007, the BBC documentary, "Bulgaria's Abandoned Children" brought to light the situation of Bulgarian orphanages, similar to the conditions found in Romania in the early 1990s. However, with Bulgaria now being part of the European Union, you would not expect such conditions would continue to exist. However, they do. One Heart Bulgaria works with orphanages to improve the quality of life of the children. They do this by supplying basic supplies such as food and hygiene products, but also by providing human-interaction for the children such as music lessons and providing grandmothers to visit the children so that they receive attention and stimulation that they otherwise would not get. One Heart Bulgaria has a website: http://www.oneheart-bg.org/

Being back home in Seabeck now feels a bit strange for me, but I definitely missed the beauty (and cleanness!) of the Pacific Northwest. My experiences in Bulgaria changed me. While on the one hand, it really made me appreciate how good we have it in the U.S., on the other hand it gave me a yearning to move to Europe permanently because I enjoy the pace of life and the unique experience Europe has to offer.

One thing that surprised me about Bulgaria is the differences in quality of life within the country. On one side of the road you can have a BMW and on the other side you see a donkey pushing a cart, even in the Sofia, the capital. In the opinion of most, Bulgaria has, improved for the better, but I think it still has a long way to go before it can be compared to the Western European countries like France and Germany. Based on my year there, Bulgaria is an interesting and inexpensive country to visit for a tourist looking for a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience.

P

Malea Martin is a graduate of Bremerton High School and spent her junior year in Augsburg, Germany as a Rotary exchange student. Malea is presently a student at Eastern Washington University.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/31/my-turn-overseas-travels-lead-to-life-changing/

My new blog in hopeful preparation for my internship in the next year. I've been offered an internship in a position that I never thought I'd get. More details to come!

http://turkishdelightadventure.blogspot.com/

The review of my presentation that I gave to the local Rotary club.

My daddy & I

*NOTE*
I have no idea why the following article looks funny on here.. I suppose it has something to do with cutting and pasting it onto here. 

Basics for Living Abroad for an American

While I realize none of the below is a necessity, I've complied a list of things that  as an American living long-term abroad I really missed, and would love to have to cook with.  

Basics for Living Abroad for an American

·    Jiffy Peanut Butter

·   Molasses

·        Brown Sugar

·        Vanilla Extract

·        Baking Soda & Baking Powder ( I like the American brands) =)

·        Graham Crackers

·        Maple Syrup

·        Ranch Dressing

·        Ranch Hidden Valley dry mix

·        Salsa Mix

·        Guacamole Mix

·        Taco Mix

·        Gatorade Mix

·        Instant Oatmeal Packets

·        Chocolate Chips

·        Reese pieces

         ·        Blueberry Muffin Mix

·        Shake & Bake Spicy Mix

·        Tazo Tea

Starbucks Coffee

·        Cornmeal

·        BBQ Sauce

·        Hot Sauce
·        Trader Joes Garlic Oil


·        Nyquil & Dayquil

·        Melatonin

·        Benadryl

·        Olay Face wash & Lotion

·        Vaseline 

      ·        Listerine Mutli-Action  Mouth Wash

·        Crest Tooth Paste

        Bath and Body Antibacterial Gel

·        Bath and Body Lotion & Scrubs  

·        ChapStick- Plain or Cherry

·        Contact Solution (because it can be $$ in Europe)
  Banana Boat Sunscreen SPF 30 & tanning oil

“The time has come,” the Walrus said, “To talk of many things"

“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing wax—
Of cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings.”  
-Alice in Wonderland 

So my time has come to say goodbye at least for now, alas. I'm glad I've actually managed to keep a blog for a year now. I already enjoy looking back at my post and seeing all the things I've managed to do in a 12 month span.   
My last couple days in Bulgaria were spent in Sofia with my roommate from AUBG, Valya. I am soo blessed to have ended up with such an amazing roommate and her family, I could not have asked for a better experience. I really hope next summer she'll come and stay with me here. =)  On the 13th I left on a 6am flight to Frankfurt, and then on to Seattle. Now I'm back home and although things will definitely not be as fast paced as they have been the last year, I'm looking forward to finishing up my Bachelors in the next year so I can return to Europe as soon as possible. Until my next adventure,

The End.

Vidrare orphanage

A very "safe" slide.

Sadly, he's left like this for nearly the entire day.

Soup mix from BC Gleaners: http://www.fvgleaners.org/

Newly refurbished bathrooms, but I couldn't help but notice the lack of toilet paper in the bathrooms. 

                                               The One Heart Bulgaria link on Vidrare   http://oneheart-bg.org/galleries/vidrare_program.php

Our last days at the Razliv Orphanage

Our last day in Razliv was July 8th. I was really sad to leave these kids because they'd grown on me. It was especially sad to see a few of them cry. What was hard for me was knowing what a small impact I had on their lives and what conditions I left them to live in. It kills me knowing I'm so "small" in the world and that I cant especially change their conditions. However I'm leaving this experience with the knowledge that I'll go back to the US and spread the word about OHB and orphanages in Bulgaria.

Mormon  missionaries from the US play with the children.

This little girl has 4 siblings all in orphanages. Her mom is in jail. 

One of the five I wanted to take home. =(

The kids loved chalk time.

Sadly they dont have a proper playground set which leads them to climb the basketball hoops...

Sisters.

The One Heart Bulgaria link about Razliv: http://oneheart-bg.org/orphanages/pravets.php

Razliv Orphanage

Chalk day. =)