As my time in Bulgaria is coming to a rather swift
end (I only have 20 more days!), I’ve started thinking and reminiscing on my
time here. The ups and downs. The good and bad. The hot summer days and the
freezing winter nights. I’ve been talking with my volunteer friends and we’ve
shared what has changed about ourselves since we’ve been here. I, honestly,
can’t think of that many things that have changed. Maybe I’m better at improvising
now. Or maybe I’m much more confident walking into a room where I don’t know
anyone or speak the same language as anyone.
I’ll never really know until I’m back in the States and I get put in
these situations again. I will say, though, that there are plenty of things
that Bulgaria has TAUGHT me. These are some of those things:
1) When in doubt, try saying the word
with a different accent.
o
There are many words that are
similar in Bulgarian and English and the only difference is an accent, and
maybe an intonation.
2) Miming is an effective means of
communication.
o
Don’t know how to describe
something? Act it out.
3) Americans call is “stalking”.
Bulgarians call is “courting”.
o
Either way, it’s a compliment,
right?
4) The phrase “Tova e Bulgaria.”
(That’s Bulgaria.) is a perfectly acceptable response to any injustice, no matter the size.
o
The bus is 10 minutes late…again:
Tova e Bulgaria.
o
There’s no water or electricity in
the village for a couple days: Tova e Bulgaria.
5) No good dinner party starts before 8
o’clock and is shorter than three and a half hours.
o
It’s also unacceptable if there’s
not enough food or alcohol for a small army.
6) Never ask what’s in something before
you (are forced) try it.
o
Unless you’re the kind of person who
wants to know that you’re about to eat goat brain.
7) Don’t be afraid to dance with the
locals.
o
You might end up being pretty good
at it.
8) Accept every invitation to dinner
(or banquets) that you get.
o
It’s an easy way to get good food
and build relationships with the people you’ll come to call your family.
Bulgaria, you and I have had some times. They
haven’t always been good and they haven’t always been easy. But, no matter
what, I will always look back on those times and remember what you’ve taught
me. I wouldn’t change a thing about these last two years and I know that I’ll
always remember them as an amazing adventure.
