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.