| A Typical day in Bulgaria: I wake up around 6:45 am to the sounds of some obscure American music from the 70's or 80's that is somehow still popular here. I go to te bathroom and then to a separate room where the shower is. The shower consists of a square tiled area and a showerhead sticking out of the wall. The shower stands next to the bathtub-but not in it. Shower curtains do not exist here. There is a drain in the middle of the large tiled room because water spalshes all outside the designated "shower area". After I shower, I get dressed and head to the kitched where I am greeted by either my host mother or host sister. I always have juice, sometimes coffee or tea, and usually a very strange but (mostly) edible brekfast. After I eat I get my backpack and head for the door. Outside the front door are my shoes. I slide out of my slippers, and into my sandals. After the obligatory "european" kiss on each chek, my host mom says "priaten den" and "dovizdane" (have a good day, and goodbye). I walk down the stairs and outside, where there is yet another flight of stairs for me to climb down. Once outside te front gate I meet my friend Jake, who lives near me and we head to school. Along the way we chat about the previous day, and compare breakfasts. Depending on how bad it was, I may stop to buy a "Mikitzi" which is similar to indian fry bread and costs 15 stotinki (about 7 cents). I arrive at school around 7:55 and talk with friends until the morning meeting begins. After the meeting classes start. The day always begins with Bulgarian language class, which is difficult because my brain hasn't warmed up yet!! When class ends 2 hours later I am finally ready to get started. Thank goodness there is another language class after a half hour break! After another hour and a half of language we have a lunch break. Lunch usually consists of chicken and potatoes, pizza or something called a jobb sandwhich. I haven't figured out what's in the sandwhiches and frankly, I don't want to know. After lunch there are 2 more sessions: They differ from day to day; language, medical, technical or community skills. After classes I head to the internet cafe where I try to update my journal and read lots of email! Always my favorite part of the day. I usually spend about an hour there and on my way home I walk slow. This is the only time of the day that I have all to myself and I try to make it last. I also have to concentrate because there are poorly made eastern european cars flying down the road with drivers who care little about pedestrians!! I make my way trough stray dogs and cates and say "Zdravete" (hello) or "Dobur den" (good day) to all the Babas (grandmothers) who spend their days gossiping on the benches that line the streets. I dodge all the children out playing in the streets and smile because I know they will still be there until well after dark. As I turn onto my street I am greeted with the wonderful aroma that comes from the trees; thier leaves are used to make "chai" (tea) and there is always a group of Romas cutting some of the branches and bagging the leaves. I also walk by the same old woman everyday. She is taking her goat out for a walk so he can graze on the grasses that line the sidewalks. What is unusual about her is that she keeps her goat on a leash! I still laugh about it everytime! I arrive home and am greeted by my family, who always askes about my day. I break open my language notebook and have yet another lesson as I try to recreate this strange dialect so I can communicate with my family. I am usually sick of the language barrier after an hour of trying to describe my day so I retreat to my bedroom for a quick rest before dinner. I try to avoid Vicky the cat because she doesn't like me. I don't know if it's because I look and sound different, or if she is just moody. Dinner is not until around 9 or so, about 3 hours after my stomach starts growling! I spend that time doing homework, reading or taking a quick nap. Naps have become one of my favorite things, especially since I've learned to sleep through the barking dogs and the rooster that can't figure out what time it is! He just decides to make noise from 5am until midnight, and it's usually at 30 second intervals!! Dinner is always an adventure. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, and other times I try to fill up on juice and bread. My host father has finally stopped trying to turn me into an alcoholic, although I know he hates that I don't really drink. The tv is in the dining/kitchen area, and with 2 teenage sisters it is always on! The shows range from Bulgarian MTV, to dubbed over "sunset Beach", to bad American B movies with Bulgarian subtitles. After spending soem quality time with my family I'm off to the center to meet my american friends. Nothing is ever planned but there is always someone there sitting at the cafe. Usially its a group of about 20 people, and you can't miss them. The tables are all pushed together and you can hear them from blocks away. We all do our best to fill the roles of the "loud americans". I think we are all just excited to communicate effectively with each other, and it sometimes gets out of hand. Walking home after the cafe always proves to be difficult. Nobody wants to walk home alone, so the loud, sometimes intoxicated americans take to the dark streets of Panagyurishe, stumbling on the cobblestone streets and sidewalks full of broken tiles. I arrive home safe and sound and procede up the stairs to find my slippers. No matter what time it is my mother is always waiting up. This means yet another bulgarian lesson!! As soon as I explain that I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, I head off to bed. But not before the last round of "Lecka Nosht" (goodnight). In my room I breathe a sigh of relief. I have made it through another day, and I know tomorrow will be another "hoobov den" (nice day). |
| copywrite: Sarah Cook 7-25-01 |