Ups and downs..they said when we arrived here, that our lives would be a series of ups and downs, and that’s exactly how I feel. As you may or may not know, I don’t exactly get along that well with my counter-part here..and last weeks intense conversation I am of the belief that this is soon to change (my fingers are crossed). After having a rough two weeks, I am feeling ready to try again..that is, to get my ideas heard.
Last week had a nice start. I went back to visit my host family (Spas and Petra) in the small village and also visited friends in Vratsa. I like going to the village (for only visits)..it is very relaxed there, and I am well taken care of..and for a change I could understand most of what they talked about..and it was lots and lots of gossip. While I was there we had guests visit for dinner who work in Cypress.
Earth Day – helped with an NGO to have Earth Day celebration in the Center of the park. The children used many recyclable mateials to make purses, vases, flowers, pictures..and decorated the park very prettily.
I had a surprisingly decent week teaching all my classes last week..the week before last was torture; no one wanted to learn or listen last week (they had just gotten back from spring break). This week we covered new material and they were ready to learn and practice. I did have to set some ground rules before the class. And we had a fun walk to the river this week to test the water there..it was very challenging..me with this group of 17 kids, but they seemed to enjoy the outing
I have a few favorite restaurants in the city..and living in Bulgaria, I meet many types of peope; from Erasmus college students in other countries, many babas, many friends my own age, people all ages who like to dance Horo’s and Salsa, people interested in sports, or interested in speaking English, and over the last couple weeks I’ve been chatting with a group of construction workers that work in a nearby city..so they finally finished there job there, and invited me to their farewell dinner. I tell you, I don’t think you will find construction workers in America doing the many exciting traditional dances that these guys were doing. It started out with them buying lamb (I think it was)..but anyways, the lamb gets slaughtered and a delicious soup was made and the meat cooked in a large outdoor oven..was absolutely delicious. So the owner of the hotel-restaurant complex is a good guy, and actually brings a small band (3 guys – 1 plays the clarinet and sings, 1 plays the accordion, and 1 plays the drum) to wish them farewell also. These guys definitely have personality, and they were pretty amazing dancers to top it off.
I also had a fun couple weekends with my older English students from the village. Last weekend we had a yummy grilled meal outside at my friends house..her house and garden overlook part of the city and she has a large, large garden with so many vegetables and fruit trees and flowers. So we grilled there and carried it with us up to the hilly fields where the pretty flowers had all bloomed. I forgot my camera..but the views from up there are quite beautiful..there are so many colors in different fields from a distance, and we watched the cows being shepherded..it was nice relax after having that rough week at work. And then, we made ‘Korabi’..a Bulgarian form of cookies this week. We made ones with sugar on the outside slightly resembling peaches
I learn so much about myself in Bulgaria..one of the things I have been learning is about the many foods I never thought I would eat, that I actually kinda like; such as: radishes (raw, right after washing), garlic (also fresh from the garden), tripe soup, chicken drops (sounds appetizing right), chicken livers with onions.
Anyways..I haven’t posted much this month because it was just a difficult month, and it may be a while before I get the chance to post again..May and June are pretty busy months. But—thank goodness, a break from teaching after June. The months nowadays are so packed with events, that time flies by..but at the same time it’s odd because I look at the calendar and feel like I’ve already lived here longer than a year.
My friends reminded me, it was this time last year that I was riding cross country on my motorcycle saying my final good-byes to my friends and family before leaving for the Peace Corps!