Kate in Bulgaria

Experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer and some adventures on the side

Sorry

So sorry for not writing in here for awhile. Things have been crazy here with the LPI coming up, had a trip to Sophia, some technical sessions and two days in Pazardjik. But never fear, I am back.

Well, exactly one week and a day from right now I will be on my way to my new Home. I know I have already said I can hardley beleive I have been here for two months, but as the day draws closer, that statement becomes truer and truer.

Like I said, I was in Pazardjik last week for two days, it was ok. Hub days are never horribly exciting, but knowing that it was the last one during this part of my service made it easier to deal with.

On Saturday (Oct. 9), my training group and I completed the community project we have been working on since early September. We worked with some residents of PanaG and came up with the idea of painting the facade of the new children's center. It turned out to be a really good project and we had about 20 people turn up to help. THe art teacher at the center drew tons of designs and pics on teh wall and we painted them. I must say it is quite cute, we even made the newspaper and the local TV News. Not to bad for a bunch of americans living in Bulgaia.

On Tuesday all of the PCTs went to Sophia for a training day and to see the new PC Office. It was a cold wet and nasty day. I do not like Sophia, it is not very pretty, way to many people and cars and it smells. While we were there, Matt, a guy from my group, had his digital camera stolen out of his back pack. The theifs here are so brazen they just unzip your bag and take what they please. PC has us so paranoid now about being stolen from that I dont' think any of us will ever carry around our valuables again. Oh well, guess it is just a lesson learned.



This is my last week of training, and my last week with my host family. They have become very possessive of late. They don't like it when I am not home by 6 o'clock every night. THey invited me to spend Christmas with them this year, I said yes, what else could I have said, but we will see. SOme of us who live in the same region are talking about getting togeather at one of our apartments for christmas. I already have plans for new years, but we will see. I am headed back down to Chepelare for New Years, god I love that town.

The weather has turned distinclty to what I consider Winter. Unfortunatly, I have been told that this is only mid Fall weather and to just wait and I will see real cold in a few weeks. It has already snowed in many of the towns around PanaG and most of the Mountains. I wake up inthe morning and my room is like 10 degrees C, there is no central heating and you can't leave your heater on over night becaue of fumes and such. SO I now set my alarm for 30 mins before i have to get up, I get up, turn the heater on then go back to bed for 30 more mins. This is a most welcome thing, especially after i get out of the shower and my teeth start chattering.

Everyone esle in my group has lived in cold weather climates and find it very funny that I am already freezing in this weather. I have started to become an expert in the art of layer dressing.

On a sad note, one of the dogs that I feed every morning on my way to school died. It is very sad but atleast he won't have to live outside during the winter. There are so many stray dogs all over Bulgaria, it is really a problem that they don't seem to worry about. The PCV i stayed with in Chepelare told me that every spring, when the snow melts, carcasses of dogs are found everywhere throughout the city. Very Very sad.

On a more happy note, I now like peppers. THose who knew of my complete dislike of these vegetables in the states, don't be too shocked. The vegetable here are much better than anything I have ever had in the US, so it isn't really too surprising. But man I tell you, a pepper that has been grilled and stuffed with rice is oh so very good. Wonder what vegetalbe I'll cave in to next?

So, what else. Oh I forgot, I went to a Bulgarian Wedding last Saturday. Now I thought Americans could party, let me tell you, Bulgarians have us beat. It was the longest wedding I have ever been too. There are many different things that happen, but we started at 2pm I left early and got home at 3am. First you go pick up the Groom at his house. ALl of the groom's family is there. One of the customs is for everyone to tie balloons to their cars and to honk their horn continuosly as they drive.. So, after getting teh groom (first the groom's mom throws herbal water at the door and he steps over it, and he and his father take a drink of rakia from a special bottle), we went to get the godfather (bestman). Everyone drove there honking their horns. At the godfather's house, there is a little trio playing bulgarina music (clarinet, accordian and a drum), we all go into the houes, have another drinking ceremony then head back out. Once outside we begin to dance the Horo (bulgarian national dance) in the street for about 20 mins. Next, we all go to get the bride. Now this bride lived about 15 mins away in a town called Banya. The whole drive the horns were a honkin. All 20 so cars.

Once at teh brides, the band is htere, more dancing in the street. Then we go in. THe custom is for the groom to pay for the bride (don't get any ideas from this), if the parents don't want to sell her, he tries bribery with food items and rakia (kick your ass alcohol, much like moonshine only stronger), if that doesn't work, the groom and godfather break the door in. Quite a sight i must tell you.

Once inside, the bride is there with her parents and she tells the groom that she has lost her shoe. SO now a hunt for the missing shoe begins. Once found, it is put on and she declares that it doesn't fit. SO the groom has to put money it it (now this custom I could grow to like). So, shoe on, door broken, here come another drinking ceremony. I'm right surpriesd these people aren't all drunk by the time the actuall reception takes place.

So, we have the bride, we do osme more dancing in the street, god i love the horo, and we leave for the Obshtina (gover. building). The actuall ceremony takes place here by a goverment worker. After this, we all go outside to await the new couple. Flower petals are thrown, candy is given to the guests, adn yes, you guessed it, more dancing in the street. Next it is off to the enternal flame (not quite so eternal though seeing as it went out sometime in teh 90s). After putting flowers down, we head to teh Church for the blessing. That is about a 45 min thing, very formal, singing bulgarian orthodox preists dressed in some amazing smocks. Very long ceremony and I got introuble with the nun that was assisting. Pepa (my host sister) told me I could take pictures (i'm my daddy's daughter, i coulnd't help myself), well evedentily this is a big no no. So the nun came over, chastized me and pepa and said we could only take pics of the couple. Well ok, thats fine, so i took another pic a few mins later and do you know that that nun came back over and said we had to pay 5 lev since i got the priest in the pic. Its not a very pleasant experience getting the evil eye from a Nun.

So, after all of that, we are off to the Reception, only after some mroe dancing in the street though. The reception was much like receptions in America, lots of alcohol, food and dancing. I had a blast and hope I get to go to anohter one.

That is probably quite enough for this entry. I really didnt' mean to get so long winded but I figured it had been awhile since my last entry so it was ok.

I hope everyone is doing well nad enjoing the Fall. I am loving living somewhere where the Fall colors consist of more than Green and Brown (i'm talkin trees here).

Take care of yourselves and keep the emails comin, I really appreciate hearing from everyone. IF anyone wants my new address, you know just incase you wanted to send me somethin, Mama has it.

Love you all and i'll be talkin to you later

posted by: ksension at October 14, 2004 16:24 | link | comments (2) |

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