There are somethings you take for granted. When you flick a light switch, the circuit is completed and by magic the lights turn on (Sorry Mr. Delaney, I wasn't paying that close of attention but I'm 75% sure that is what you said). When you flush the toilet, something happens. These and so many other little luxuries I took for granted in the US. Thankfully, these are only occasional set backs but tiny reminders that I am not in suburbia anymore.
Now, don't get me wrong, if I was a PCV anywhere else I doubt I would have so awesome perks as I do here. There is even a sweet, US style grocery store about 25 km away!
And that is the topic of the day, trying to get there. 25 km is only about 15 miles. I would be a totally easy bike ride. The town of Provadia would def make it worth it. There is the problem of the hill. I may have mentioned the hill before, but the hill is unstoppable. The hill is guardian of Provadia, only the worthy may pass.
So that leaves the bus. The Bus has no problem with the hill. However, the bus is just as difficult as the hill. It is an elusive minx. Impossible to catch. It is like a unicorn and a leprechaun had a baby. Not in looks, but in the ease of catching... you know what I mean.
It has been a week, and despite the constant reassurance that there is in fact a bus at that time I have yet to see it. People in fact have claimed to ridden it. So where is this bus?
So, as I type this.... Seriously, where is the bus?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
You take the good with the bad
So I really need to work on updating this a bit more.
The school year has begun. It is unlike any high school I have ever been in. Marusia was way to great and made controlling the students look so easy. (Side note: I hope all the best for you! Glad you got out from under that horrible woman!) Needless to say, I lack her flair. There are only 2 classes that give me any real trouble. Yet for some reason those classes last FOR-EV-ER! I think my 12th grade class would give me trouble, but I haven't seen more than 3-5 of them on any given day. This might become an issue considering they are a class of 15+ students. Not quite like my brief stint at Linden Hall. Not even the ghetto school (sorry Forrest) in Wilmington. I'm adjusting and we'll leave it at that.
Other than the occasional homesick for America and claustrophobia of living in such a small town life is pretty good.
Last weekend was a perfect example of the good and bad of Bulgaria. I was going to go to Varna to see Neil one last time before he COS-es, takes one last tour of Europe and heads back to the good ol' USA. I was going to take the train up, catch a city bus to the bus station and then walk around the malls and get some thai food. (If you haven't picked up on it, I freaking love Inter-Thai.) The morning train ride started off shitty. There was a drunk guy on the train (at 9:30 am mind you) yelling and making an ass of himself. After I had enough of it I moved to another compartment and he followed me there. Finally the train cop wandered through and after a huge ordeal kicks the guy off at the next stop. Ugh! Then as we get in to Varna it starts to rain! Well, doesn't that just suck? No worries, I'll hop on the next bus and head to the mall and meet Neil. I miss the bus by seconds and have to wait for the next one... in 20 minutes... in the rain. Given my solid even keel and patience of a saint this is no problem. I'm kidding, I flagged down the next cab passing. I meet up with Neil, Ashley and another B24 Tobias who was great company. We have a blast. Great little coffee shop and some cool stores. Head to lunch and meet up with a bunch of other volunteers. (I'm telling you, this place is like catnip for Americans). We head out to another of Varna's malls (It has THREE!?!?!) to check out an amazing store Zara and go to the grocery store in the basement. Zara might become a problem. I've never walked in to a store and liked absolutely everything (with the exception of the skinny jeans. I mean honestly... stop that). Hit the grocery store and bought cheddar cheese. Super excited for Mac and cheese. Kashkaval, bulgarian cheese, just doesn't cut it. The way back to the train station we hit another brick wall of crappiness. Neil and Ashley's train leaves in 25 min. It is only about a 10 min cab ride, so no real worries. Until we manage to get in to one of these criminal cab drivers cabs. Most cities in the modern world have easily and quickly solved the problem of being ripped off by cabs by sitting down and setting a common, across the board rate. Bulgaria hasn't gotten around to this yet and so corruption still reigns. This jerk tries to charge 20 lv for a 4lv cab ride. After a good deal of ugliness we get to the train station and Neil and Ashley make their train. It really pissed me off that what should have been the end of a wonderful day was ruined by petty greed by some jerk.
So, I must say sorry if this comes across as bitchy and dismal, but that's life! Darkest before dawn, keep on trucking, Vote Nader in 04 and all that. Ok, maybe not the last one. But the others work, right?
The school year has begun. It is unlike any high school I have ever been in. Marusia was way to great and made controlling the students look so easy. (Side note: I hope all the best for you! Glad you got out from under that horrible woman!) Needless to say, I lack her flair. There are only 2 classes that give me any real trouble. Yet for some reason those classes last FOR-EV-ER! I think my 12th grade class would give me trouble, but I haven't seen more than 3-5 of them on any given day. This might become an issue considering they are a class of 15+ students. Not quite like my brief stint at Linden Hall. Not even the ghetto school (sorry Forrest) in Wilmington. I'm adjusting and we'll leave it at that.
Other than the occasional homesick for America and claustrophobia of living in such a small town life is pretty good.
Last weekend was a perfect example of the good and bad of Bulgaria. I was going to go to Varna to see Neil one last time before he COS-es, takes one last tour of Europe and heads back to the good ol' USA. I was going to take the train up, catch a city bus to the bus station and then walk around the malls and get some thai food. (If you haven't picked up on it, I freaking love Inter-Thai.) The morning train ride started off shitty. There was a drunk guy on the train (at 9:30 am mind you) yelling and making an ass of himself. After I had enough of it I moved to another compartment and he followed me there. Finally the train cop wandered through and after a huge ordeal kicks the guy off at the next stop. Ugh! Then as we get in to Varna it starts to rain! Well, doesn't that just suck? No worries, I'll hop on the next bus and head to the mall and meet Neil. I miss the bus by seconds and have to wait for the next one... in 20 minutes... in the rain. Given my solid even keel and patience of a saint this is no problem. I'm kidding, I flagged down the next cab passing. I meet up with Neil, Ashley and another B24 Tobias who was great company. We have a blast. Great little coffee shop and some cool stores. Head to lunch and meet up with a bunch of other volunteers. (I'm telling you, this place is like catnip for Americans). We head out to another of Varna's malls (It has THREE!?!?!) to check out an amazing store Zara and go to the grocery store in the basement. Zara might become a problem. I've never walked in to a store and liked absolutely everything (with the exception of the skinny jeans. I mean honestly... stop that). Hit the grocery store and bought cheddar cheese. Super excited for Mac and cheese. Kashkaval, bulgarian cheese, just doesn't cut it. The way back to the train station we hit another brick wall of crappiness. Neil and Ashley's train leaves in 25 min. It is only about a 10 min cab ride, so no real worries. Until we manage to get in to one of these criminal cab drivers cabs. Most cities in the modern world have easily and quickly solved the problem of being ripped off by cabs by sitting down and setting a common, across the board rate. Bulgaria hasn't gotten around to this yet and so corruption still reigns. This jerk tries to charge 20 lv for a 4lv cab ride. After a good deal of ugliness we get to the train station and Neil and Ashley make their train. It really pissed me off that what should have been the end of a wonderful day was ruined by petty greed by some jerk.
So, I must say sorry if this comes across as bitchy and dismal, but that's life! Darkest before dawn, keep on trucking, Vote Nader in 04 and all that. Ok, maybe not the last one. But the others work, right?
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