When I visited World Learning to interview Matt Brown, Matt and I had the kind of meeting most often seen in after-school specials.  Both carrying ourselves at people-with-a-purpose speed, we approached a hallway corner head-on and nearly hit.  I'm certain had we been carrying textbooks, they would have come crashing to the floor.  So quick was Matt on his feet, that he prevented the crash, introduced himself and pointed me toward the right door before I had exhaled.

That was my first sign that, well, Matt Brown means business.  He's matter of fact, a master of languages, unafraid to raise eyebrows and someone who looks you in the eye - even through his small round spectacles (not glasses, you hear me, but spectacles).  Matt is also an expat who has accidentally "taken on" Bulgaria.   Much like a professor who picks up an extra class only to become surprisingly engaged by its students, consumed by its discussions and dedicated to preserving its future, you'll learn that this New Yorker from a quiet neighbourhood in the Bronx, is now comfortably captivated by our evolving country.

Matt's journey began back in 1991.  Following his English lit degree at NYU, he joined the Peace Corps as a teacher in Pakistan.  However, he'd been there only six months when they pulled out due to safety concerns.  While grateful for the experience, Matt admits there were more challenges than pleasures in the conservative Muslim country.

"Such a complete separation of the sexes was difficult to accept," says Matt.  "I don't think I ever would have come to enjoy Pakistan as I have Bulgaria."

Prepared for another round, Matt entered Bulgaria as a "B1".  In Peace Corps terms, that means he was part of the first group to serve here.  (I'm a B18, for example). Matt was an English teacher in Stara Zagora and he explains that in 1991, most Bulgarians were either completely suspicious or completely thrilled to meet Americans.

"While Bulgaria was understandably resistant to change, this was also a period of incredible potential and optimism," says Matt.  "People didn't know exactly how, but they knew everything was about to change."

Matt picked up Bulgarian within his first year and before finishing, he was offered a position with the American College of Sofia, teaching musical theatre, English and Latin to Bulgarian high-schoolers.

"The ACS director, Roger Whittaker, was one of the most amazing role models - for me and many others - that I've ever known."

For Matt, staying in Sofia was a lot closer to the familiar city life he'd left behind in the States.  But his story's far from over.  In 1995, Matt returned home to receive a masters degree in inter-cultural management and administration and then became a language trainer for the Peace Corps in Macedonia.  While researching his thesis there, he applied for his current job as country director with World Learning, an American NGO which supports the entire portfolio of USAID technical assistance with training, study tours, conferences, workshops and small grants.  The World Learning position was in Bulgaria.

"When I returned, Bulgaria had become a capitalist society," explains Matt. "Aesthetically, everything looked a lot more Western."

Primarily, World Learning has implemented USAID's Participant Training Programme since 1993.  This initiative is designed to support institutions, professionals and leaders associated with USAID's programmes through study tours where participants study successful foreign practices and politics and then incorporate these models into their work.  For example, to enhance the monitoring and control systems for procurement in hospitals and increase taxpayer's confidence in Bulgaria's health care expenditures, World Learning organised a study tour for ministry officials and hospital administrators in Ireland.  In another case, USAID's Counterpart Social Enterprises Project sent representatives from 20 Bulgarian social institutions to the Czech Republic to learn how art therapy classes and craft development could generate income to support their home's mission. 

While USAID plans to graduate from Bulgaria in 2008, this NGO leader is one step ahead, as I'm sure, even after knowing him an hour, is Matt's usual MO.  He and his dedicated staff recently established the Bulgarian Centre for Development and Training to respond to Bulgaria's ongoing development need and the legacy of interest stimulated by USAID's significant work.

It's obvious that Matt is passionate about his well-carved career.  Though he's learning Spanish, likes to salsa and plays tennis regularly, he happily admits to spending too many weekends at his desk, frantic and busy, but .in a good way. 

"The one thing I miss about America is my grandmother," he says, with pursed lips. "But I like it here because I like what's hopeful; I thrive on the successes and progress.  This is a place where, with enough creativity, anything is possible.

I doubt if Matt will be graduating from Bulgaria anytime soon.  And for that, Bulgaria is quite fortunate.