Week 6

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The weeks appear to be going by quicker and quicker now... too quick for my liking. Half way through already.

With regards to the children's home, our role was to set goals for each of the individual children and work alongside them to achieve thier goals by our final week of placement. With us being half way through, I reviewed the goals I set and feel on target for the children to reach their goals by the end, if not before. They are achieveing above and beyond our expectations, using Supernanny's naugthy step technique for the behavioural issues, giving the children the choice and freedom to play, allowing them to explore a variety of environments to stimulate all their senses, and ensuring the more disabled ones sit in a variety of positions through the day to promote movement. I've even managed to get one of the children self-propelling in her wheelchair which is fantastic (as long as the staff put her in it and not just on the floor).

It's Easter Sunday today. Easter is celebrated in such a big way here. A few adults with learning disabilities from the community joined us for an activity afternoon organised by the church during the week. We got involved to play gross motor games with them using a parachute but anothe activity they did was painting their easter eggs. They boil their eggs then use dyes to colour the shells. They look lovely. We are going to church later today to celebrate and soak up more of the culture and see how Easter is celebrated, Bulgarian style. Not seen one overpriced chocolate easter egg on my trips to the supermarket (so feel free to post me one!)

The sun has finally decided to come out after a wet start to the week. Wednesday it rained and rained and rained however that is apparently now the last of the rain for the summer (fingers crossed) so the bikini has been out, operation tan has commensed and I'm going to play catch up to Dad's tan (as on Skype he looks rather brown... and it's not fair!) It's been about 24 degrees on averave I think and its so nice to see Ruse in flower, and wake up to breakfast on the balcony, and see the kids enjoy the sunshine.

All getting on really well, with eachother and with the other students. Feel we have made some brilliant friends who we all hope to stay in contact with when we eventually have to return...
We have had some fun nights in and out on the town, enjoying the cheap food and alcohol and are definatly making the most of the time here. Elijah drove us to the highest point in the town on Friday to enjoy the sunshine and the view which was lovely. We could see all of Ruse and the Danube, then Romania in the distance (which I am still to visit but plan to soon).

We go to Istanbul on Tuesday night/ Wednesday, travelling once again to Sofia (this is now the fourth time I have done this 5.5 hour journey!) to meet the other Erasmus students, then from there we take a coach across the country, travelling over night to cross the border into Turkey at about 5am, then arriving in our hotel for 10am. We recieved the timetable via email a few weeks ago, with sightseeing through the day and partying at night (very little time for any sleep!). Thoroughly looking forward to it 😊

Hope you are all well and enjoying the good old British weather. I miss BBQ's - we might try have one some time next weekend although the meet isn't half as nice as it is back home.

Enjoy the pictures.

Much Love x

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Photos

My tea- served on a sword!
Traditional bulgarian restaurant.

Comments

[Debbie Pearson]

Hi Rachel! Finally I have had chance to read your blog and catch up with your exciting adventure! It sounds as if you are having the time of your life and learning so much into the bargain. It sounds so good that I am considering giving up the day job and applying to do OT at university in the hope that I, too, can do an international placement!!!Seriously, though, it's fantasitic that, despite some barriers, you have been able to have such an impact on client's occupational experiences and work towards improving their occupational potential - keep up the good work! Looking forward to keeping up with your blog during the final few weeks. Take care Debbie