Kate in Bulgaria

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

I'm back.  Istanbul was nice, for those of you who knew I was in Istnabul.  For those who didn't, I went to Istanbul.  Me and 5 other volunteers went down last Monday and spent 5 very interesting days experiencing what has to be described as "a different world".  It isn't just the obvious culture differences or the lanauge, Istanbul really is a whole little world into itself.

 For people who have never really seen women dressed head to toe in black veils, that is the first clue you aren't in Kansas anymore.  The skyline is dotted with Mosques, with numbers that can only be likened to Baptist Churches in the South.  Prayer calls are blasted through enormous speakers for the entire city to hear and men on the street try to sell you everything from underwear to remote controlled cars.  Some of these things I remember expereincing from the last time I was in Istanbul with my Mayor and some other Bulgarians, but expereincing it as an American was a totally different thing.  Its like they can smell you coming; here you are all innocent, walking down the street and the whole time you are unaware that just ahead is an army of salesman ready to pounce.

 You are constantly being bombarded with "Yes Please" and "hello my friend", phrases that every single Vendor in Istanbul must have learned at Vendor school.  IF they know no other English, "yes please", they are convinced, will be just the phrase to get you to come over to them and buy their particular goods; Which just happen to look exactly like the goods the next 5 vendors are also selling, but because you are their very special friend, you can have a special price.  One would think that this would only happen in places that have numerous vendors, i.e. the Grand Bazar (even a place that I was overwhelmed by.) But alas, no matter where you went or what your intentions were, "hello my friend" and "yes please" followed you around like a marching band in a 4th of July parade.  In certain places, you almost had to psyche yourself up to walk past the vendors.  It was like preparing to go down the gauntlett, only it was your level of patience and manners that were being tested, not your physical strength.

 Of course that all is just one, all be it a large one, but nonetheless one aspect of Istanbul.  The Mosques are gorgous, the apple tea divine, the views are amazing and where else in the world can you walk around with millions of dollars in your pocket (for those who dont' know Turkish money comes in millions).  And, due to its proximity, I can also say that I have now been to 3 continents.  Yes that is right, I have been to Asia.  All it took was one little boat ride and there I was, smack on a whole other continent.  Granted I was still in Turkey, but come on, how many people can say they walked from Europe to Asia. 

 So, what else has been happening.  Oh, I find out on Friday whether or not I got my SPA grant.  I think that my Mayor and Counterpart dont' realize that not getting it is an option.  I certainly hope that they are not dissappointed.  If it does not go through, I'm not quite sure what I will be doing next.  I am counting on this project to keep me occupied or the next 6 months or so.  Other than that, I dont' really have any work right now.  I spent the week after I turned my grant in in a town called Tetevan.  I was observing one of the TEFL teachers in the hopes that I might pick up a few things for when I have to teach my class.  The next week i was in Istanbul, so thus far I have been busy.  Now that I am back however, I am again faced with trying to keep myself occupied and holding on to the fact that in just 3 short weeks, Mama and Daddy will be here.  I can't even express how excited I am about their visit. 

 My town is having a big festival on Friday.  I'm not exactly sure why, but from what I have come to understand, every town has one day during the year that they celebrate as their own holiday.  We are having sports compititions, paintball, a concert by the school and lots and lots of traditional Bulgairan food.  To top it all off, Mr. Mayor has gotten a Chalga (I'm sure i have explained what this is before) singer to come.  Emiliya something or other, Chalga singers do not have last names.  I will be here for the days activities and will even help out with the sports stuff, but I am planning on skipping town before the Chalga starts.  Chalga as a rule is rather annoying music and something that with great luck, I will never have to listen to again after my time is up here in Bulgaria.

 Well then, tomorrow is June, I hope you all had a great May.  Enjoy the wonderful weather and go eat some seafood for me. 

 Oh by the way, just a little side note.  I would like to announce that I, Kate Sension, have now seen a real live Stork.  I can also attest that they actually look nothing like turkeys and will attribute that little missidentification to my eagerness to remove those bracelets I had to wear until I did indeed see a real live stork.   

posted by: ksension at May 31, 2005 13:24 | link | comments |

So, today is a day for celebration, I finished my SPA!!!!!!   It has been a long process, with lots of rewrites, editing, frustrations and lots and lots of help.  But as of about an hour ago, I am finished. 

Ok then, so what has been happening lately????  Well, the SPA obviously, but i have managed to squeeze in some fun as well.  I finally manged to get over that stupid Virus after 16 days.  Stupid virus went from nasua and headaches to blisters in my throat.  It was not fun, spent two, yes two, weekends stuck in bed in Letnitsa.  I did manage however to get over it, and to celebrate I spent last weekend (Easter here) in the town of Kostenets with 8 friends.  This past Sunday was the Orthodox Easter so we all had Monday off.  It so happened that it was my friends Wendy and Jenn's birthdays so we had a little celebration for them up at this Hidja in the Mountains of Kostenets.  A Hidja, I know your thinking, what in the world is that.  Well a Hidja is a sort of boarding house for hikers.  They are all over the Mountains, spread out on the hiking paths that you can take from one town to another.  This one was pretty traditional, the upstairs had the bedrooms that slept anywhere from 5 to 10 people, one regular toilet, and one turkish toilet/shower without a head combo.  I know hikers usually rough it, but the only thing to use for washing was the spicket that was located just in front of the Turkish toilet.  I cant' tell you how un-nerving it is to have to pay attention to where you put your feet when bending over to wash your hair for fear that you will accidentily put your foot in the toilet hole that is not 1 foot away from you.  EWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

Toilets and showers aside, we had a great weekend.  Did some hiking, lots of eating, played cards, hung out and just chilled American style.  Weekends like that are vital to keeping your mental health. 

To top off having Monday off this week, I also have Friday off.  Friday is ST. George Day, and seeing as how Georgi is the most popular name in Bulgaria, it is also the name day for them and therefore we get it off.  So I am headed down to Panagyurishte to visit the family.  They had invited me to come down for Easter, but I had already made plans to go to Kostenets.  It will be nice to see them again, haven't been down there since Christmas.  Pepa and I will plan Mama and Daddy's visit.  When they come we will go to PanaG to see the family then head down to Rila Monestary with them for a little trip.  Rila is the largest and Oldest Monestary in Bulgaria.  Speaking of my host family, they got another volunteer last week.  A young girl from Arkansas.  I hope she treats them well, they are great people.  Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, my host sister Pepa is flying out of Sofia with Mama and Daddy. She is going to Seattle to visit a friend and managed to get on the same flight out of Bulgaria as them.  It is her first flight and first time out of country, i'm sure she is a bit nervous.  She speaks really good English so I'm sure she will be fine, but I know she is happy to have the company.  Plus she can help settle Mama down when she has to get on the plane and leave me in Bulgaria. 

I'm going back to Istanbul in two weeks.  My friend Matt, another Matt, wants to celebrate his birthday down there, so 7 of us are going down.  We will stay for  5 days, see the sights, eat the food, and spend lots of money on Turkish trinkets.  Istanbul is really the most amazing city.  It is soooo colorful.  We will head down on Monday the 22nd, its only 6 hours from Brett's new town of Kurdjali, get in around 4 and stay till late Friday evening.  We have Tuesday off of that week, Bulgarian National Culture Day, so we only have to take 4 vacation days.  I'm rather excited about going back, my last trip was rather rushed and it will be nice to expereince it with other Americans. 

Well I'm off.  It is almost lunch time and I've got to go talk to a man about a bug problem.  Don't ask.  Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

 

 

posted by: ksension at May 05, 2005 09:03 | link | comments |

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