Dobur Den (good afternoon)!
I now live in the beautiful town of Varshets; located in North Eastern Bulgaria, Varshets is about 30 minutes outside the city of Vratsa and has a population around 7,000 Bulgarians and Roma.
Bulgarians from around the country travel to Varshets to kupoo (bathe) and piy (drink) in its rejuvenating natural mineral water. There are spas (old and new) around Varshets, as well as, many ornate water “fountains.” They are more like statues with spigots and free flowing natural mineral water. Today was my first experience drinking it and I think it’s already relieving me of the crippling arthritis in my hands ;-) Just like Sycamore springs in San Luis Obispo, the mineral water here has a hint of sulfur and local Bulgarians say not to drink it every day, but every other day, because you don’t want intense sulfur deposits in your body. Supposedly it can kill you, lood (crazy) Bulgarians!
My home is right across the street from the biggest mineral water fountains, how shtactliv (lucky) I am!
Weather in Varshets right now is chilly. I’m wearing pants, shirt, and a thermal top during the day. Hopefully the cluntse (sun) begins to do its job soon.
SO, each morning I’m woken by my families petel (rooster) around 6:30 am, I first thank it for acting as my alarm clock then rise to begin my day. Zakoocka (breakfast) is at 8am, and I head to the Training Center (5 minute walk) for 3 hours of Bulgarian ezik (language) izoochavam (study). We then break to yam (eat) so much obed (lunch) that I want to povrushtam (vomit). I yam with my dyado (grandfather) and baba (grandmother) at our kushta (home). My host parents both rabota (work) in the municipality and cannot join us for obed. After obed we have 4 hours of project training/more ezik izoochavam/culture izoochavam/or some other training. We are done with training at 5pm and have free time to go for a byagane (run) or use the internet. Also, making friends with local café workers and those that work in the local tourist center (where I use the internet).
Most used phrases:
Eden café, molya (one coffee, please)
Da, razbierham (yes, I understand)
Preyatin Den! (have a good afternoon!)
Kolko stroova, koorva? (how much, whore?) (haha, kidding.)
Dovishdane! (goodbye)
