This one's for you.

This post is not a status update, nor is it another episode of Bulgarian cultural tidbits. But rather it is a dedication, a toast to all you dear-lings back home. I love you and think about you on most days.

Happy New Year!!!

Holidays are on the loose!!!

Drawing it on a calendar, I see that it was only less than two weeks ago when I cracked yet another chapter in world peace by dawning the Bird in my village (see my previous post). But before the fleeting thrill of one holiday could pass, another has come to claim it's glory. It's called Bairam. This is a religious one. And the muslims of Bulgaria are to claim its fame. So without haste, I too sailed the celebration-canoe. Bairam started Monday. But for me and most others in my region, the real anticipation started on Friday, embarking on a 4-day weekend! Since another volunteer was helping put together a concert at the cultural center in her village for the holiday, I decided to kick-off my joys from there. So Monday morning, after a brief exchange with a local grocer at site, a third volunteer and I headed for the SHOW. But as you will know, the mighty arm of friendship has a long reach. Alongside "narodni" (traditional) performances, the people of the community has ever so delightfully embraced America, in the form of FLO RIDA. Needless to say that we all enjoyed the show very much. The rest of the evening was uneventful. Bed.



Yesterday, the fun picked-up where it left off. I had lunch at the mayor's parent's house. After lunch there was tea at another house. Tea again at a hotel lobby. And for the fourth time and place, I deliberately ordered coffee. I figured, why cut short on this holiday myself. So I made banana bread yesterday morning. It proved to me a smooth operation later. When I went over to a friend's house for dinner later in the evening, they were buoyed by my gift. What makes a holiday right? Is the exorbitant gorging of treats? Is it receiving gift from someone just after first encounter? Or is it the feeling of belonging in one's holiday traditions? It's all of the above. The good thing is, I have two more days to go. But the great thing is that the fun-diggity doesn't have to end after that. It will start all over again in the next two weeks that won't stop until after the 1st!


But for now, I say "Bairaminuz Mubarek Olsun!"



Current favorite Bulgarian dish: Keufte - spiced meat wad cooked in oil.

Chestit Den Na Blagodarnosta (Happy Thanksgiving!)

Although I am late on delivering my greetings to the other side of the proverbial fence, I would simply like to recount yesterday's event. It did start like any other day. I woke up only to drag myself out of my warm, womb-like bed to the shivering cold reality of my room. I sucked it up because blood was flowing vigorously through my veins, the clock ticking. Today, I had to prepare the turkey thawing in a laundry-bucket in my bathroom in half-an-hour. The people from my work and friends in Borino had requested that I gather a merry feast in this celebratorious day. We have planned it over in the last week on how the operation would unfold. They would reserve a cafe for the private party. Friends and families would be invited. There will be Turkey. And my friend, a fellow volunteer from a near-by village, and I would sing the Star-spangled Banner. So shedding my bed skin, I put on a warm shirt and fetched to the bathroom. Aah, the technique seemingly worked. So I grabbed the 10-pound bird by it's weight and shallied over to the kitchen, dumped it on the counter and started ripping off the package in wonder and diluted excitement. 

As I powered through the prep, I realized my hand was progressively becoming numb. The turkey was slightly frozen in the inside. But I shrugged off the minor discomfort, keeping my goal in sight. The plan was to cook the turkey in the school's cafeteria kitchen. But that failed after the godhvatch, or cook suggested I wrap the entire pan in tinfoil since the oven cooks "strongly". Consequently Basri, a local friend who drove me to the school, brought me back home so I can try my soviet-style oven that won't close its door all the way shut. But whatever. I seemed destined to make a turkey no matter what. Later that day, my friend from the other village came. We did fun stuff, but mainly prepare for the evening. In the end, we had done a turkey, gravy from the turkey stock and mashed potatoes. Dream accomplished  

So how was Thanksgiving like for me this year? My co-workers really put it neatly - A french bird (because it was actually from France), Bulgarians in a Turkish village celebrated in a grand American way.

It's Chaotic! I am officially an EU resident.

Allow me to not describe the hustle/ hassle that led me to possess the Lichna Carta - an official I.D legitimizing my residence in Bulgaria, and hence in the EU. I am not quite sure what all benefits come with this card besides trolling about the country-side, masquerading as a volunteer. But tell you what, it's pretty cool. May be not as cool as the day I was born, but it's far out.

On a different note, I am doing well. Eating healthy. Not running. Missing you all in gross amounts.

Current favorite Bulgarian dish: Sarma - little rice rolls + ground meat wrapped in cabbage leaf. Served with delicious yogurt sauce.

That's because Lady Ani called it.

From north-south, east-west all across the world through the much carried hype, Obama is now the president. But none of us knew of the outcome, but Lady Ani*. She's a mysterious lady i am told. And she lives in the foothills of some mountain in Bulgaria. Sources claim that she predicted a "big fire" in the United States in the previous millennium (1998), only to see a world crash at our feet few years later. Subsequently Lady Ani visioned a "chereno" leader for America by the year 2010. So what we do know now? It's the sheer pattern of the stars in the cosmos that gave us Obama as out next president. People's will? You're joking. 

* We have disguised the name not because we're concerned of her safety, but that her name could not be verified. 

Moiata Kvartira

A little window into my living situation. :)

Rangers Vs Pearls.

Result: Rangers: coolest. Pearls: poorest

Background: About two weeks ago, some of the volunteers from Smolyan region in Southern Bulgaria congregated for their inaugural meeting. As this idea's been floating in my head for sometime now, I went ahead and put it in on the table - a "clandestine" society of cherry-picked volunteers masqueraded as wizards of various sorts. It garnered a great deal for response from the prospective members. 

Thus forward a covert op assembled, dubbed The Rhodope Rangers. Each ranger has a color, followed by an element of his/ her will. Seeing an idea birth like a magnificent rose, another set of volunteers from near-about went forth with their version of the rangers (calling themselves Pirin Pearls). Subsequently, pervasive and perfunctory claims emerged on rival group's enclave (facebook group) about the Rhodope Rangers. Understand that in Southern Bulgaria, there are two major mountain ranges - Pirin and Rhodope. Each may be highly regarded for its beauty, history and culture. 

Now, given that apples cannot be reasoned to oranges, the "pearls" arrogantly insists on Pirin mountain's superiority over the Rhodope. Sure one is taller; the other - wider. One can boast it's Macedonian lineage, while the other may fire-at-will dialect derived from northern Greece. Tourists may enjoy one's wine unique to the region, only to mesmerize at the other's ancient caves and natural bridges. There may be beautiful lakes in one, but cooler ski-slopes in another. And cynics may surely discover the sheer awesomeness of the two. But this isn't a game of one-up is it? No, it sure ain't. But the pearls will never hesitate to not gain that wisdom.

the South is better than the North...

Until now, I didn't appreciate the North-South dichotomy. I still don't, however, geographically from where I stand at the moment, the grass seems greener on my side. Critics agree. So I moved to my site last week. I know some of you have some lingering questions about my business in Bulgaria. So without further ado, I will make an attempt to answer them.

Q. What do you do in Bulgaria?
A. I am a Community Development volunteer, which means I will do anything and everything to accommodate the community. Currently I work for a non-governmental organization (NGO) called Bio-B-Eko. It's chief mission is to alleviate corruption, raise environmental awareness, improve quality of life in the community and develop rural and Eco-tourism. But I am not restrained by organizational boundary.

Q. Where do you live?
A. I live in the Rhodope Mountain in southern Bulgaria in a small village of 3000 people.

Q. How do you communicate with people?
A. My Bulgarian is at intermediate-mid level right now. But needless to say that I make blunders occasionally, such as I may have asked "to cook someone" rather than "to speak with someone".

Q. Do you live alone?
A. Yes. I have my own fully-furnished apartment with a wood-burning radiator, a soviet-era stove and a small fridge. I have a ready-supply of logs to keep me toasty through the winter. And there are animals around me all the time to keep me company.

Q. Hows the weather?
A. Right now it's around 45 F all the time. Winter is fast approaching. Since I live in the mountains, winter should be quite cold.

Q. And the ladies?
A. Hehe, good-looking.

Q. Hows the cuisine?
A. Delicious. However, a bit salty and oily for my taste.

Q. What will you eat during winter?
A. Potatoes.

Q. Hows your social life?
A. Non-existent right now. But most likely it will involve hanging out with the "babas". They are the grandmothers of my village, the backbone of Bulgaria's social enterprise.

Q. Would like your friends and family to send you presents?
A. Yes, please.

Q. Do you have Skype?
A. Yes - shah.khan84