Dear Family and Friends,
Spring is in the air . . . I can feel it every time I feel the warm sun powdering my cheeks, every time I hear the sounds of children laughing and playing in the streets, every time I enjoy my lunch outside to the sounds of chirping birds. For me, spring holds so much promise. Quite honestly, I DETESTED winter with everything in me, I thought I'd never survive it and that I'd be on the next bus home. But, the fact that I made it and that I am now sitting here as spring begins, tells me that I can surely survive the rest of my adventure in Bulgaria. Despite the doubts that winter holds, spring is surely filled with promise.
On March 1st, Bulgaria celebrated a holiday called "Baba Marta Day." On Baba Marta Day, we exchanged red and white pins, bracelets, and necklaces called, "Martinitzas." Coincidentally, "Mart" is "March" in Bulgarian. The white of the martinitzas symbolizes nature and the promises of spring, the red symbolizes life and health. The tradition goes that, when you see the first stork of the season, spring has officially arrived. So, you are then supposed to take of the martinitza you have donned since March first and do one of three things: 1.) Tie it to the first blooming tree that you see for the promise of health and fertility. 2.) Throw it into the river to receive luck and health in the new season. Or 3.) Put it under a rock. If when you return to the rock in a few days there are bugs under it, you will be blessed with much luck and happiness henceforth. Bulgarians, as you see, are very superstitious, "good luck-obsessed" people! So, I was swamped with martinitzas of all shapes and sizes from my students and I will surely be blessed with all sorts of luck and health as I throw a few in the river, tie a few to a tree, and put a few under a few rocks! What a lucky girl am I! :-)
I walked around town some today, delighted to see that the cafes have officially set chairs and tables outside that are now graced by the presence of smoking Bulgarians, children are playing football until their feet beg for mercy, vegetables of all sorts once again complete fruit and vegetable stands like a once-missing puzzle piece, the local market is swamped with people purchasing everything from clothes and shoes to apples and bananas. Certainly I am in a better, cheerier mood because of it! I'm telling you, that cold, snowy weather certainly does something to you! :-( Today, I watched as small shops set out their ice cream stands once again, a memory from the constant ice creams we consumed during our pre-service training. So, I was sure to inhale my first ice cream of the bright, cheerful, glorious new weather like a giddy school kid . . . and end up with a mouth covered in sticky chocolate! Oh, the sheer JOY of it!!! Awwwww, spring is in the air . . . yes, my friends, SPRING is in the air!!!!!
Love Always,
One Very Cheerful Peace Corps Volunteer |
