A Chronicle of my Changing Times.

Merry Christmas...

These past few days have been a bit touch and go for me.  On one hand I’ve been very busy with friends and parties.  Thursday evening was the choir party for Radna Pecen – the choir I’ve joined here in Haskovo.  I discovered more people speak English than I’d previously thought and felt very much at home and welcomed.  I even received an award for “Best Bulgarian Adaptation” from the sopranos who organized the party.  But honestly, even amongst friends the longer I stayed there the lonelier I felt.  After the party I went out to the disco, Exclusive, to dance and met some friends there – but it was much the same.

Friday was a bit better for me.  I met up with Kalina, one of my closest BG friends, for a café before she had to go to work at KDK.  After picking up my presents for Pauna’s family I headed out to a restaurant for a party with my 11^th class students.  Apparently, I am the first teacher in four years to join them for any of their parties and thus was very warmly received.  I find this fact rather odd since I genuinely like these students.  After dancing and toasting with them (repeatedly) I headed back to KDK to meet up with some friends there. (Pictured: Some of my students)

I danced, drank and sang with them over the din of a very crowded bar.  It amazes me how much people go out around the holiday’s here.  It’s an interesting dichotomy; on one end family is of utmost importance to BG culture – yet people are always going out on days specifically designated family days.  In family is not stressed quite as much, yet we spend more time at holidays with them.  It’s interesting to say the least.  After KDK I met back up with my 11^th class students and went out to a disco and danced until the wee hours of the morning. (Pictured: Myself and some of my students dancing the hora)

But then came Christmas Eve and I spent it alone here in my apartment.  People who I was supposed to go out with ended up canceling on me.  So I stayed home, did laundry, listened to Christmas music and watched too many movies.  All the while I felt very much apart from those whom I love.

Today, Christmas, however has been a different story.  After getting up and making continued preparations for my trip tomorrow, I met with Petya (who’s back from Sophia for the holidays) and we had a café and went to church.  The church was beautiful, although without any Christmas decorations that one might see in .  There was a baptism whilst we were there, though.  Somehow it seemed rather appropriate and I’m glad I saw it. (Pictured: Myself and Lina - a friend and the owner of KDK's girlfriend)

Tonight I’m headed out to Pauna’s for Christmas dinner and such.  I’m looking forward to it even though I’m not quite sure where she and I stand.  If there’s time after Pauna’s I’m headed back to KDK to meet up with Petya and some other BG friends for some drinks.  Oh, and I still have to finish up packing for my trip tomorrow.

I’ll be gone for two weeks to , and – so updates might be spotty at best.  Hopefully I’ll stumble upon an Internet Café somewhere along the road and post something.  And of course pictures will follow whence I return.

But until then, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (should I not update again before then).  I hope that everyone remembers the reason for this season and that the next year carries many blessings for everyone.  As they say here in BG, “Do skoro” (until later).

Posted by: mjmarble at December 25, 2005 17:37 | link | comments

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