Catch up with the latest news from Bulgaria directly via our Blog, updated daily by Mr. Mornin and your classmates who are currently on the school trip. Read about their day to day activities and check out some photos. You can also use this page to stay in touch. Feel free to leave a comment!

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Find below some of the comments that the young people made on what they have learned from this orphanage visit.

Erin

Seeing how little personal possessions they had made me sad but they were still very happy with the little they had. I was glad the simple stuff (skipping ropes etc)  we bought for the kids has made them happier.

Sonya

The next time  I am about to give off or gurn at my family I’ll stop and consider all that I have in life .

Kyle

I want to try a bit harder in everything – school and at home and  I realise I’ve been lucky in the opportunities I have had in my life.

Dayle

We have everything compared to the orphans even though at times we feel we have nothing.

Megan

I appreciated the opportunity to come to Bulgaria and help out in the orphanges. I appreciate my parents more now as well.

Gemma

I liked seeing the other side to Bulgaria as I had only every seen the ski resort parts of Bulgaria and I liked the opportunity to give something back to those in need.

Ryan

I now realise that although I may feel hard done by I know there is always someone more worse off.

Naomi

I really don’t like skiing although we didn’t have much of chance to do it, and I need to appreciate that things I have more.

Diemante

Even little things can make a big difference and I want to apply that to my life at home.

Faye

I’ve learned to apprecaie what I have and how the simpliest things can make such a difference.

Alison

What we have done here has been very worth while and I appreciate my parents more.

Chelsey

I learned I  need to value my parents more and all that they do for me.

Daniel

I’ve learned more about Bulgaria, its people and the cultural diffences that exist. This visit has also allowed me to appreciate more what I have.

Craig

I want to appreciate things more and shouldn’t taken things for granted as much.

Samuel

After my week in Bulgaria I think I should do more around my home.

 

12th Feb 2010

Our final day in Pamporovo and it was a fun day!! some relaxed and went shopping and some skied all day.  This has been a very exhausting trip but a fantastic one.  We are not looking forward to the journey home as we will be travelling all night but we are looking forward to our own beds.  We will post some of the highlights and thoughts form the group later this evening.

11th Feb 2010

This was a very busy day again, it started with one of the group not feeling well and they had to be taken to the doctor by Mr Mornin.  The rest of the group went to the  monastery with Tim.  This was an excellent trip and we had the opportunity to see real monks.  It was snowing all day and we didi’nt return until 2pm.  This was after being stopped by the police to get the chains put on the tires.

In the evening we took Emile, Vasco and Radka with us for a meal at the Whitehart, some good basic food was really appreciated.  These three people have been very helpful during our visit.

10th Feb 2010

Early start to the day, had to up and ready for the orphanage at 9am.  On the way Mr Mornin and Emile took Ryan and Chelsea to see the Stoykite orphanage which we had put window into.  The standard of this one compared to the one that we are working in is so different, the walls are cracking, rooms are very untidy but most of all the smell was awful.  The shower room was not clean and the toilet was just a hole in the ground.  We also had the opportunity to stop in the school which was connected to this orphanage, the facilities is so different to our, no interactive whiteboards etc just a plain chalk board.

The team worked really hard all day painting the various bedrooms and hallways, the director was always there and very thankful for all our help.  In the afternoon Mr Mornin took Erin and Kyle to Chepalare to purchase some items for the children.  The items which we purchased included books, pencils, games, a football and also we gave the orphanage three printers and a photo copier printer .  Before we left the director said a thank you to everyone in the group and gave Mr Mornin a certificate and a letter of appreciation.  On the way to the bus we also had the opportunity to look around the school beside this orphanage, again the facilities are much different to ours.  It was decided that on the way home we would let everyone see the Stoykite orphanage, the general feeling was one of sadness and shock when everyone seen the conditions.

Back to the hotel for dinner and off to the RINGOS, what fun!! basically sliding down a hill in a rubber ring finishing off with a hot chocolate.  Everyone was very tired and went to bed, ready for an early start to visit the monastery in the morning.

9th Feb 2010

We started off our morning by skiing which was very enjoyable but also very hard work. After a spot of lunch we headed off to spend a second day in the orphanage to do some more painting. All of the orphans were very pleased to see us and all liked to laugh and chat but we couldn’t understand a word they were saying.  It seemed that we got as much paint on ourselves as on the walls due to a massive paint fight started by Alison Martin.

Dayle

Today at the skiing we got to ski down to the place where we have lunch which is always very enjoyable. We then headed straight to the orphanage were we started straight into work , it is lovely seeing the kids smile and wave at us , they are so happy yet they have so little. The trip has been amazing so far and I hope the remainder of the trip is just as good. I think one thing I have realised is that we are so lucky , we have so much back home and the people hear have so little. I feel I, along with the other group members are making a difference , it may just be painting , but what we are doing is making a difference. as well as learning how to ski when we are not on the ground , or painting in the orphanage , I have made some new friends and we have had some laughs , especially when rio is in the group. I am looking forward to painting all day tomorrow , I could stay here forever but have to go back to school. Skiing this morning was well worth the pain of getting up this morning, as everyone had a good laugh and a few tumbles. The weather today was really nice, and most of the group was able to see the sun rising this morning, which was a really nice scene.

Alison

After we had spent the morning skiing we went to a restaurant for lunch which was really nice. The pizza’s are hard to beat! We then headed off to the orphanage which was great. The group and I loved seeing all the children smiling and trying to talk to us even though we couldn’t understand them and they couldn’t understand us. By painting the Orphanage I felt like I was making the place feel more like home to the children and was making the building a brighter place. The painting was also great fun, which ended up in the majority of us coming home with white hair and black hands. Everyone had a really good time today and we all had a fun day. I am looking forward to spending the whole day in the orphanage tomorrow and being also to mix and play with the orphans. The entire trip has been great fun and also very beneficial to me, as it has opened my eyes to a different world and made me realize that we should never take what we have for granted.

Sonya

8th Feb 2010

Snowing all day! Went to visit the baby orphanage today, due to the children being unwell only four of the group was able to go up and visit their rooms.  Mr Mornin left 500GBP with the director which will also be spent on the replacement of windows.

We were three of the four that were able to see the babies in the baby orphange, we had set ourselves up for a more heart rendering sight, however we were relieved to see how happy and well looked after they were. The director of the orphanage was very hands on and knew every single child, lifting several babies and cuddling them, much to their delight. In total we gave twenty two shoe boxes full of baby clothes and toys along with the 500GBP.

Only a few yards away was the orphange for older children. They greeted us up the path smiling and waving. On arrival, we were shown their rooms and also the work which needed to be done. Deimante had brought balloons and made balloon swords and animals for every child, creating a smile on every face. Everyone got involved with the painting, whilst under the watchful eye of the children! On leaving the orphange we were high fived and waved at, before they suprised us with an attack of snowballs! They had extremly good aim, clearly they’d been practising! Tomorrow we will go armed with a plan of attack and with our own stash of snowballs!

Gemma, Megan and Faye

7th Feb 2010

An early start to the day with everyone up for breakfast at 8am (6am home time).  Met up with Emile again in the morning and spent some time on the slopes.  After lunch and three ski lifts later we went to the Greek Orthodox church in the centre of the town.  The paintings inside and out were fantastic.  Back to the hotel for some relaxation except for Mr Mornin and Tim who headed off to Stoikite orpahanage to give them some money for the new double glazed windows.  650GBP paid for four windows, the director stated that the temperature in each of the rooms have already improved by 10 degrees.  This orphanage has 37 young people in it and conditions were poor.

Tomorrow we visit the baby orphanage to deliver the shoe boxes and also start the painting in the orphanage next door.

6th Feb 2010

All arrived safe and sound after 12 hours of travel. We have met with Emile, our Bulgarian contact for the week, and he has lined up 4 days of painting for us. By 10:30 all of the group were fed/watered and ready for bed. Keep an eye out for photos of our progress.