through our lens...

I agree with Eli. I definitely think that we are gonna miss this system and life in the USA. We are getting more than we think we are - new perspectives, new friendships, new experiences. For me it is a totally different life. At this point there are massive teacher strikes in BG. There is a huge inflation. I am glad I am here during this stressful period for my country. I feel good here. I am not saying I hate my country....right the contrary, but I would not feel depressed because people complain that my country is falling apart. Here, I can just observe and realize how patriotic I actually am. I suppose I would not have been like that if I was in BG.

The thing is that life and education in the USA is totally different from these in our countries. Maybe that's why it is really hard for us sometimes. It is hard for me, too, although I have had previous experience with the system.

It is natural to feel that way. C'mon, we are 10,000 miles away from home.

I believe that education in the USA is beneficial. The very fact that it is intensive makes you learn more. Imagine if it was like that in our systems - I do not think we would have learned a lot. Here, you have the stimulus to learn - all the time, while in our countries students have the stimulus to learn only once - at the end of the semester. Here, you can still have fun, as long as you are managing your time the right way. I am sure most of the UEPs are having fun - not only studying. I get the impression from the facebook photos. Try to thinkn how many new friends you have in facebook or how many times you got drunk with people, whom you never thought you would know. It is just the attitude you have - if you are open and understanding to the new, you can feel great and enjoy it being here.

Let's enjoy our stay here!!!
Sorry for any grammatical errors, but it is 2am, and I really wanted to respond to the posting:)
And also sorry if I did not post it in the right section.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/223/popup/index.php?cl=4041882

Hey, everybody! I did not participate in the creation of this blog, but I support the cause....it would be nice to share our experiences.

I will start with a story about the most devoted bus driver in the world. Every Tue and Thur, when going to school, I happen to get on the bus that this black, middle-aged guy is driving. And the greatest thing about this ride is that no matter how hard it is for you topen your eyes at 9 am, you have the chance of being woken up in a few minutes...as soon as this bus driver stops only to start playing his favorite R&B CD. Then he plays it at the max volume, so no matter how desperate for sleep you are, in a minute you are awake and ready for feats:P....and this is just because of the sounds of singers you can hardly recognize; mellifluous sounds like YO-YO-YO and UH-UH-UH. Sweet!!!

If by some chance, you are still not awake before the first bus stop...you have a second chance to do it:) Hurray! At the bus stop there are about 100 students and about 50 of them get on the bus. Then the bus becomes so crowded that the driver gets inspired by the students and starts talking authoritatively: "Ok, guys, the doors are closing....and the ride begins." He says the same thing every time he is at this bus stop, as if he adheres to a movie script. Good Actor!

And after the great performance, if you are unfortunate enough to be still asleep, you have a third chance to wake up...hardly anybody would give you a third chance ever:) The ride really begins....he drives so fast that you get the impression you are not in a cute bus (I love the A/C in the buses here), but in a spacerocket....yup, this is a very quick ride....

In less than 2 minutes, you are at your bus stop, and right at the moment, when you are about to get off, you hear the inspiring voice of the 'spacerocket' driver: "There you are, guys, you have to get off. Thank you for your cooperation today and have a good one!" Isn't that exciting? Then you really wake up...not because of what the driver says, but because he simply says something like that!!! Don't know about your countries, but in Bulgaria, nothing like that is gonna happen...ever.

That's why, when getting off the bus, I bursted in laughter...i was awake:)

Funny, huh? But think about it...a funny driver. No hard feelings, just an enjoyable experience:D

The plane that we flew with in the US was so remarkable!

We felt as if it was just for us, so special, it was so tiny, especially compared to the plane we were for 10 hours in. For some unknown reason the AC wasn’t working properly but we are definitely not pretentious… Still, the funniest thing was when we started “driving” for 20 minutes around the airport; we were actually thinking that we will be driving to Athens or something. The pilot did explain more than once where the emergency exits are… And after repeating that important information, we figured out we should listen carefully, as probably we may need to use them?

Welcome everyone!

How y'all doin'?  (Oh my God, this southern accent...)

This is the UEP 2007 amazing blog... We came up with the idea of writing down some funny or sad.. interesting or impressive moments we experience here in the USA... I know we all have our stories to tell, so don't hesitate to do it because trust me, this blog may turn out to be an awesome memory to which we can look back and enjoy!

Have fun.. always!! And smile!