The Mother of Invention?

Necessity.  As my apartment becomes more and more refined to my tastes and needs I am slowly checking off little projects.  Today's success story is one I've been mulling over for a while.  I've been "making do" with using a coffee table and stool as my desk.  My back tells me this is not a good plan and do something about it.  So I've been trying to figure out how to convert the coffee table into a better desk.  The obvious requirement is the need for height.
 
I've been collecting a few everyday items I use hoping that one day I will figure out a creative project for using them instead of throwing them in the dumpster.  None quite fit the bill for adding height to a table - plastic yogurt containers - about the right height - 5-6 inches - but they are not strong enough to support the weight.  Another item is plastic water bottles - not the right shape or size.  And lastly, toilet paper rolls - what's left over after the paper is gone.  Hmmm - yes!

I've been hearing a lot of chain saws lately as people prepare their firewood for the winter.  Truck loads of log lengths are delivered  to the street in front of homes.  There the men (haven't seen any women) work on sizing it for the wood-burning stoves - cutting into smaller lengths with the chain saws and then splitting it.  This brings back some fond memories of living in the mountains of Colorado when I actually did some wood-splitting in my energetic 20s.  Now in my 50s I'm pleased to turn a knob and have heat.

Have you guessed the connection yet?  Yes? This morning when I went for a walk around town, I followed the bzzzzz to two men who were sawing and stacking wood.  I said "I had a little table and I want a tall table - could I have 4 pieces of wood" and showed the size I wanted with my hands. Gratefully he got my message right away and smiled.  So I am posting a picture of my new desk perched on mini-logs.  It's still a little short, but hey, so am I and it's much better than it was AND I can sit on a chair now.

To protect the floor I wrapped a piece of cardboard in aluminum foil and then used a flattened toilet paper roll under that for extra cushioning and put the "log-ettes" on top of it all.  So I did get to utilize some of my recycling after all. Another puzzle solved - another happy day!


By the way, the signed poster over the desk came with the apartment.  His name is Veselin Marinov is a popular singer in Bulgaria.  Click here for a 45 second sample of a traditional Bulgarian song.

Perfect Timing - Again

I've been very fortunate in my journey here in Bulgaria.  Every stage has presented me with challenges and gifts.  Whenever I feel fearful or doubtful I get a little message from the Universe reminding me that All is Well - worry not.  Today I've had two.

This morning I wanted to get out walking by 7 or so to enjoy the cool morning temperatures.   I also wanted to return a canning jar to a woman who shared some delicious strawberry jam with me, but wants the jar for summer canning.  Well....I slept in until 6:50, then I ate a little peach and picked up the apartment a little etc.  Finally I made it out the door about 7:45. As I began my walk, guess who I ran into on the street.  The woman who I wanted to return the jar to.  If I had gone out at 7 as was my "plan" I would have missed her.  Instead we headed to the cafe - I had tea and she had her morning coffee and cigarettes as did the other folks at the table we shared.  I listened as best I can to the fast-speaking Bulgarians, but the most I got was a few words here and there and laughing when they laughed.  Then I headed out to resume my walk, although a shorter version.

Then, this afternoon I went to a bigger town Gorna Oryahovitsa to have copies printed of photos from a party at the Senior's Center (Pensioners Club).  While waiting for the prints and later bus, I sat at a cafe, did a few "big town" errands and then picked up the photos.  At the photo shop I had an extended conversation and charade session trying to ask if they have a calendar I could buy with spaces big enough where I can write a few tasks for each day (they said that style is not in Bulgaria).  It took quite a bit longer than I expected, but then I began walking towards the bus station.  Someone honks (very common here) but then they stop.  It's my neighbor and a friend asking me if I want a ride home.  If I had been 30 seconds earlier or later, this probably would not have happened.  Oh joy - no 30 minute wait at the bus stop for this girl!

So it's these moments I choose to remember.  I feel joyful and I feel supported by life, the universe and that greater part of my Being which has many names but one Energy and Love.

Photos from the top of Bulgaria's Mountains

I encourage you to visit Tricia T's website (click on the link in the left column for "A Bulgarian Journey") or here  Mazalat_Sokolovo Hike
and look at the incredible photos she took last weekend hiking along some of Bulgaria's mountain ridges.  Makes me wish I was there.  The descriptions about hiking for 12 hours in a day make me happy I wasn't there.   :>)

There are even photos of wild horses who allowed people in this small group to approach them!  Wow!

Happy Little Food Moments

I had some time in Veliko Turnovo before meeting up with other PCVs on Friday for a birthday dinner.  So I visited a couple natural foods stores.  They are very tiny (maybe 10 x 15 feet) with a limited amount of products but it was nice to see familiar items I haven't seen since Sedona.  For instance I bought a little over one pound of organic quinoa (500 grams).  It's very expensive at 7 leva and 80 ctotinki (or 7,80 BGN) ($5.70 US).  Compare that to other items in same sized packages which I have purchased - brown rice 1,10 BGN (80 cents US); white rice and white beans 1,45 BGN ($1.06) each, and brown lentils 1,80 BGN ($1.31).  I had quinoa for breakfast this morning and it was a little taste of heaven!

Also I found a cafe/restaurant for lunch where I ate fresh, grilled vegetables sprinkled with a little balsamic vinegar and soy sauce.  OMG  - ambrosia (see photo).  It was larger than I expected but I ate it all because it was sooooo delicious!  Then for dessert I had the closest thing to a Starbuck's Frappacino (blended ice coffee) I've found here.  I left the restaurant with a big smile on my face and looked for a hill to climb because I was so full!

Veliko Turnovo is a little city (65,000) and a university town. It reminds me of San Francisco because there are a lot of hills.  So I didn't have to go far to find stairs to climb - and more stairs - and more stairs!!  It was a good workout - I was huffing and puffing.  Here is a link to some photos of V.T.  Click Here

Thursday I had my first avocado here - it was scrumptious too.  These are a few examples - just about everything can be found here, but for me living in a small village, I have to go to larger towns for anything other than staples.  Every village stocks it's favorite little specialties so in one village I buy brown rice.  In another I can buy whole grain bread.  In my village they sell an oatmeal cookie I like not found in others.

After eating and walking I went to the park to sit for a while.  It was a great place to people watch.  There were a lot of moms and babies and there were even some dads.  It was a balmy afternoon and the huge trees provided shelter from the sun.  People strolled by headed to and from and it was a great way to spend an hour and a half.

At this point - what do I miss most?  I miss New Frontiers - with it's great selection of organic foods and I especially miss the convenience of the Deli.  Here there is no "I'm too tired or too busy to cook - I'll just stop by the deli to get dinner."  I'm afraid most of my food is pretty basic and I miss the creativity of the NF chefs!

Peace Coprs Mission

Someone asked me what work I'm doing here and what my purpose is. (thanks, Bob). So I thought I would do a brief review.

The mission of the Peace Coprs is to promote world peace and friendship, by:

• Helping people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
• Helping promote better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served
• Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

Just those three things - retty simple at the core level, eh?

#1  I am here in Bulgaria to help 3 villages learn or improve their English skills, computer skills and assist with development of community projects.  I also have the opportunity to expand in other areas including Environmental awareness, anti-smoking health info, HIV/AIDS education and other issues people in these communities are interested in.

#2  As my language skills improve I can share more about myself and my life in America.  In the meantime, some of my behaviors and habits are different in themselves.  Like going walking and hiking, wearing athletic shoes for support, eating foods mixed together which are not usually mixed here.  For instance salads are typically tomatoes, cucumbers and feta with a little oil or lettuce (not common in my village) and green onions with vinegar and oil.  But these items are not usually mixed together. I on the other hand, like to mix whatever I have in a both and call it a salad.

#3  My blog..........sharing my observations and experiences here in Bulgaria mostly with friends and family in America, but it is public so anyone can read it from anywhere (hello to my new friends in Britain).  And my intention is to do so fairly and honestly as best I can from my perspective.

This summer has mostly been about settling into life in Bulgaria - meeting people, getting my home organized, studying Bulgarian, tutoring and preparing to teach English next month and generally building trust and rapport.

Friday night I went to a birthday celebration of another PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) in Veliko Turnovo.  There were 2 Bulgarian women and about about 10 of us volunteers there, some who arrived with me April 1st and others who have been here a year and are halfway through their service.  It was reassuring because all of the "older" volunteers shared that they were just as "green" as we are with the language and with our work.  Now a year later, they are communicating much better (not everyone - some work with English speaking Bulgarians so their language skills are less developed).  And they have gotten into a rhythm with work - contributing to their communities and/or schools and additional activities with the other topics I mentioned above.

One gal recently attended a perma-culture farming seminar.  Another young man is an assistant at a Scout camp soon and yet another is going to help to "Camp Glow" which was introduced by PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) but now is run by Bulgarians.  It helps train and empower young girls for leadership roles in their communities and social circles.  So there is a lot happening here.  In a few weeks my pace will pick up and I'll be taking my relationships with some of the people I have met and some new ones, to a new level once I begin interacting in a more structured environment - like English classes.

I'm both looking forward to my next step and a little nervous about it.  I know it'll come together and I will eventually get the hang of it, but as a newbie teaching English, there is a lot to learn and organize.   :>)

Time will tell what my work is here....as it unfolds.

Ciao

After the Storm

WOW!!! - I was treated to a magnificent evening show. We've had two glorious rainy days which have cooled the temperature which I am grateful for (by the way if you are ever curious about the weather here - I did add a link in the left hand column). This evening the clouds began to lift and what a spectacular sunset - including a rainbow. I've posted some photos for you to enjoy and I'm sure unless you're reading this with your eyes closed (huh?) you've notice the sunflowers have been replaced with a rainbow.

Most of you in the western US are enjoying Thursday morning and I'm getting ready for bed....so just a few words. My rash is getting better - cool temperatures and Claritin to the rescue. And in a very timely manner I received a newsletter from Sarah and Sig Hauer, my favorite acupuncturist, about taking care of your skin in the summer. I'm eating walnuts and brown rice - with lots more options to work with!

This weekend I'm going to celebrate a birthday with a new friend. She wants friends to meet at a restaurant for dinner and then go out to do some Perseid meteor watching. Yippee. Here's a link to a 3 min. NASA video on the Perseids - now is the peak for watching.

Enjoy the weekend and enjoy the photos!

Up Days and ....

This past week has had its moments – like the field trip on Friday to a town on the Danube called Svishtov, the southernmost harbor on the Danube. The Pensioners and the girls from my village performed at another Folk Festival and I had the opportunity to go on the bus with the girls. They are very cute and like everywhere there is quite a mix of personalities. The teachers combined the singing visit with a sight-seeing tour. The bus ride was two hours north of here driving through lots of farmland – sunflowers, wheat, vineyards, melons, and other crops. I’m posting some photos, so click on the “Newer Photos” page to see them.

We visited a historical mansion, the downtown area of Sishtov and the Danube before heading to a nearby village for the singing festival. The girls loved being downtown and visiting a lot of shops (shoes, clothes, make-up, toys) that our village isn’t large enough to support. We went to the banks of the Danube for fresh air and a little running around time. It was a leisurely afternoon. Then we arrived at the festival and the girls offered a great performance and we hung around for a while to watch some of the seniors perfom. Of course there was a little time to explore the booths that were set up for the “festival spirit.” My big purchase for the day was a Japanese-style fan for comfort on the bus ride home. After our long afternoon exploring Svishtov and the girls performing, I thought they would be worn out and sleepy for the bus ride home. Wrong! They had lots of energy and were chatting, and singing and being silly. :>)

I’m very happy I got to go along for the ride. I’m getting to know some of the girls names so when I begin English classes, I’ll have a head start.

Now I'm going to whine a bit.....

My energy has been low for much of this past week. It’s been hot. I’ve had a low-grade headache and no energy or motivation. And then there is the rash (dermatitis) on my legs, arms and chest. I’ve been doing basic care and patiently waiting for the rash to run its course – which it did on my forearms, but then it kept blooming on other parts of my body. It inspired me to get out my Jin Shin Jyutsu info and begin treating myself again, which I haven’t been doing for a while. But alas, it’s been over 3 weeks that I’ve had the mildly but ever-present itch of the rash – now I’m feeling worn out and grumpy, so I finally sent photos to the Peace Corps doctors yesterday. They gave me a prescription for a topical cream and Claritin, an anti-histamine. Hopefully I will have some relief soon. I have to stay out of the sun and wear long sleeves and pants/skirts which is not my favorite way to dress on these hot summer days. But I’m happy to do it if it will help.

And of course, there are the almost daily bug bites I get. I do everything I can think of to not attract no-see-ums, fleas and other biting insects, but they love me! And it takes about 3 days for the very annoying itching to go away. Rashes, welts from bites and sweat - I'm not liking these hot summer days much.....

And because my energy has been low I’m feeling behind in my learning Bulgarian and preparing for teaching English next month. I’ve been taking deep breaths and meditating and I trust I will have really industrious days ahead where I will feel a greater sense of preparation and accomplishment.

Thanks for listening……all for now.

Morning Walk in the Hills

Thursday mornings I usually travel to one of the other villages I visit. However this month the person I work with is on vacation so I have a "bonus" day every week this month. This morning I decided to go for a longer-than-usual walk and chose to head up into the hills. It's the first time I've ventured up to where the sheep, goats and cows spend their days. It was a cool morning and lovely for a walk.

Near my village the hillside is terraced. Today I found out that many of the trees that divide the hillside into sections are fruit trees. And blackberry (or boysenberry) bushes. First I walked through the pine forest which was shady and cool. On the other side I emerged into the fields which have already been harvested so it was easy walking. I crossed the field and began walking along the greenery when I noticed the blackberries. Heaven!! Immediately I began sampling the biggest, plumpest berries and they are sweet! Then I pulled out a bag I just happened to be carrying with me and gathered berries for an hour or so. It reminded me of northern California in late summer. I was like a kid - so excited about my find!!

I wasn't the only one there - a dog barked at me when it saw me. It was the shepherds dog and I don't know if it was trying to herd me or if it was just alerting the shepherd of my presence. I said hello to the shepherd and kept on picking the berries - they headed farther up into the hills. I found out later that unlike English, Bulgarian has words for different kinds of shepherds"

Animal - English Bulgarian Shepherd
sheep обце обчар
goats кози козар
cows крави кравар

If there are many kinds of animals - sheep, goats, and cows then the word for the human in charge of taking them to pasture is "пастир" (or pastur).
That's the Bulgarian language lesson for today.

I've added a few photos. As you can see the air is not crystal clear. I think the haze is a combination of humidity and smoke from small trash fires.

Speaking of dogs - raise your hand if you saw this coming.....
My dog friend who joined me on walks has become a nuisance to where I live. Feeding her has made her bold and she comes into the building hallway looking for me and sometimes sits outside my door. This makes my neighbors unhappy and rightly so. Not only that, but now there is not one dog but many dogs looking for food. O.K. I have stopped feeding her. Maybe once in a while I'll slip her a hard-boiled egg but not near my building. If she joins me for another walk (alone) then she might get a treat.